Tennessee is largely a rural state in the southern United States, well known for its country music and cuisine. The state's great natural beauty is evident in the popularity of the Smokey Mountain Range. Tennessee's mountains, woodlands, and caverns offer some of its most breathtaking landscapes. Nashville and Memphis get much of the attention in Tennessee as the two major metropolises. Eastern Tennessee is home to many towns just a short … [Read more...]
New Activities, Restaurants, and Renovated Lodging in Jackson County, North Carolina
Jackson County's Tourism Development Authority shares a list of recent additions to enjoy this fall & winter season JACKSON COUNTY, N.C. (November, 2021) – As a year-round destination, Jackson County Tourism Development Authority (JCTDA) is excited to welcome seasoned and new vacationers back to the Western North Carolina mountains this fall and winter season to enjoy new experiences, restaurants, and renovated lodging that were not around … [Read more...]
The Biltmore, Asheville North Carolina – July 2021
This impressive property features what is the largest still privately owned family home in the United States of America - the mansion is over 178,000 square feet featuring 250 rooms. It was built between 1889 and 1895 by businessman and art collector George Vanderbilt (part of the banking and steamship family). More then 1,000 laborers were hired to complete this uniquely impressive home - that somewhat resembles a French chateau. Vanderbuilt … [Read more...]
Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival Is in Full Bloom April 23 through June 7
More than Half a Million Flowers, New Dining Pass and Inspirational Entertainment Are Highlights Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (April 20, 2021) -- Springtime visitors to Dollywood, the world-famous theme park located in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, will find more than half a million flowers blooming throughout the park from April 23 through June 7, all part of the spectacular "Flower & Food Festival." The air is filled not only with the … [Read more...]
The Pull of Haystack Rock: Why I Keep Coming Back
I'm from a sleepy town in the Triad region of North Carolina. All my life, my parents took us kids to the closest beach on the east coast there was: good, old-fashioned Myrtle. Even back in the mid-1990s, it was a treasure trove of commercialism, with high-rise condos juxtaposed against centuries-old motels still somewhat holding on, amid the tearing down of the old Pavillion and the installation of a brand-new boardwalk. My toes never touched … [Read more...]
How I Twice Failed in Saint Augustine (and still won)
Nope, it's not Jamestown. Nor is it Plymouth. And neither is it the lost colony of Roanoke. Bet you didn't know, the oldest permanent European settlement in the US was founded in St. Augustine, Florida by Spanish conquistadors as early as 1565. It predates the next oldest European city (Santa Fe, New Mexico) by more than 4 decades. As of the time of this writing, the city has been continuously inhabited for 453 years. By North American standards, … [Read more...]
United’s New Houston To Sydney Route Takes Flight
If a trip Down Under is on your bucket list, take note that United Airlines launched a new Houston to Sydney daily nonstop service on January 18th. United is the only airline offering nonstop service from Houston to any Australian destination. I was lucky enough to be on board for the festive inaugural flight. Here’s the scoop on the 8,596-mile journey. Aussie Treats To Tempt The Taste Buds The party started at Houston’s George Bush … [Read more...]
Pea Island National Refuge is for the Birds! Humans can visit. [OBX, NC]
Many have been to Pea Island National Refuge when they drive down Hwy 12 in North Carolina’s Outer Banks (OBX) on the way to somewhere else. But, they may not know it. It’s a lonely stretch of road, often driven in silence as you take in what could be the country’s largest sandcastle held together by a strip of asphalt and a delicate truce with Mother Nature. Usually, vacationers are eager to get to their destination. They see this stretch of … [Read more...]
Naughty City Names
Sperling’s BestPlaces finds 13 real U.S. cities and towns with hilariously risqué names 1. Buttzville, New Jersey - Population 194 - Median Home Price $172,700 According to Wikipedia, the town was named after its founder, Michael Robert Buttz. Naturally, he wanted to spread his grief to future generations by naming a town Buttzville. Sure, he could've gone with Michael City but perhaps that sounded too cool. 2. Dick Johnson, … [Read more...]
Knoxville Rocks the History Trail
Tennessee is really a fascinating place, particularly for history buffs. There are sites exemplifying pioneer history, the founding of the United States, the Civil War, the Great Depression, WWII, and the Civil Rights Movement – all easily accessible from Knoxville (itself named after Henry Knox, Revolutionary War hero and Secretary of War under President Washington). Most interesting to me is that America as the grand experiment - a country … [Read more...]