The Best Lake Day Gear & Accessories for Summer

Lake Day

My lady and I are HUGE lake day lovers, and have been for years.  Since travel is work for us, a day at the lake feels like a vacation, with time for swimming, enjoying a lake float, grilling food, watching birds and butterflies, and just hanging out with friends and family.  We’ve been going to Lake … Read more

The 20 Best NC Swimming Holes for Summer

Midnight Hole - Swimming Holes in NC

[Updated March 1919, 2023] There is nothing quite like getting to the end of a 90º+ day of working outside to remind you to appreciate the many high-quality NC swimming holes. I’m writing this at 7:45 PM in the middle of June, still waiting for the temperature outside to fall below 80º. Summer doesn’t even … Read more

Things to Do at James H Floyd State Park in Summerville GA

Fishermen at James H Sloppy Floyd State Park

[Updated on 7/20/21] We honestly didn’t know much about James H Floyd State Park (a.k.a. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park) before our first visit to Summerville GA.    But the 561-acre park’s laid-back blend of immense natural beauty and rich (some would say colorful) history won us over within minutes after we pulled through the gate.  … Read more

Peacock Performing Arts Center in Hayesville NC: 2025 Events

Peacock Performing Arts Center Tribute Band Performance

Hayesville NC is a tiny mountain town (0.64 sq miles, population under 500) located near the northern shores of Lake Chatuge, which straddles the NC/GA border. Established in the 1860s, the town was named after 19th-century politician George Hayes, who helped the Cherokee people resist deportation and enabled some Cherokee communities to remain after the … Read more

Visiting the Asheville Botanical Garden in Asheville NC

Gazebo at Asheville Botanical Gardens in Asheville NC

Spring has officially sprung, and with it comes the seasonal mixed blessing of beautiful wildflowers and bountiful pollen (ah-choo!).  One of our favorite things to do as the weather turns warmer is to go for walks where we can see nature’s blossoming beauty in full bloom.  And whether it’s the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Asheville’s NC … Read more