LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO - It was announced during a press conference that the Lake of the Ozarks will make a second attempt at breaking the current record for the largest official boat parade in the world on Saturday, June 11, 2022. The current record, according to Guinness World Records, stands at 1,180 vessels and was set in Terengganu, Malaysia in September 2014. Over the years, there have been many attempts to break the record by different … [Read more...]
How International Travel is Revolutionizing Pizza Making for American Restaurants
Did you know that the number one comfort food for Americans is pizza? Yep. According to a Harris Poll, 67% of Americans claim pizza is their go-to, yummy indulgence. While that’s all well and good, our passion for pizza doesn’t always speak to the quality of our favorite nosh. To explain, many pizza joints are simply about slapping out pies in a soulless, conveyor-like process. That simply won’t do for hungry citizens of the pizza nation. … [Read more...]
Unravel the best-kept secrets for adventure in the smoky mountains
The Smoky Mountains are the most popular and most-visited region in the United States. The popularity is understandable, for the area is brimming with an abundance of action-packed adventures and recreational fun. There's something uniquely spectacular to excite every traveler, from children and teenagers to adults and seniors. Honeymooners, backpackers, high-altitude trekkers, extreme sports adventurers, retirees, and families with children … [Read more...]
5 Breathtaking Places That Offer Quietude and Peace
Mother Nature has endowed our world with breathtaking wonders of oceans, exotic islands, soaring cliffs, and alpine regions. Some regions are famous for their azure waters and white sandy beaches, while others take pride in their snow-laced peaks. Nature is the best antidepressant, they say, and if you're craving some peace, head out for an adventure. There are moments and stages in one's life when the noisy humdrum of everyday life gets … [Read more...]
Horror Talk with Rich Ragsdale – Director, Composer, Producer and Writer
“Ghost House” is one of the best horror movies I have seen in a long time. The horror elements are so original and raw - the jump scare, the atmosphere, the soundtrack etc, everything is done completely right. The movie does not throw in excessive unnecessary special effects or follow the Hollywood’s formulaic scare tactics. It hit me in a way that most horror flicks hadn’t. I remember when the movie was over, I immediately pulled out my phone … [Read more...]
Dollywood Announces New Resort Property, Half-Billion Dollar Investment Strategy
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (June 10, 2021) — Having just finished a decade of unparalleled growth, The Dollywood Company is embarking on an ambitious investment strategy that will see the Smoky Mountain vacation destination invest more than half a billion dollars over the next 10 years across its properties. Announced today, one of the first projects in the campaign is Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge & Resort, a 302-room property currently under … [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...]
Gray Fossil Site: An Accidental Discovery
On the morning of January 20, 2018, I found myself roaming the back roads of Washington County, Tennessee with my camera and an itchy shutter finger. I had been in Kingsport for a week on business and was desperate to find something to write about in the area. It was by pure coincidence that I happened upon Gray Fossil Site and General Shale Natural History Museum. Dig Site In May of 2000, a Tennessee DOT crew was grading an unsafe hill … [Read more...]
Enjoying an Elvis Extravaganza at Graceland in Memphis
No trip to Memphis, Tennessee, is complete without a visit to the Graceland home of Elvis Presley, and with over 650,000 visitors each year, this National Historic Landmark is the second most visited house in America, only surpassed by the White House residence of the US President in Washington. Of course, for many fans of Elvis and his remarkable musical career, a visit to the Graceland mansion is almost like a pilgrimage, or even a once in a … [Read more...]