Emma Gallagher 
Springtime offers endless opportunities to catch glimpses of the different types of wildflowers native to Tennessee. Many wildflowers in Tennessee bloom throughout spring, while others start to pop up in the summer. Some even give the splendid fall colors of changing leaves a run for their money, blooming later in the year. While native wildflowers … Read more
With hundreds of memorials, museums, and VA battlefields to see, visiting all of the Civil War sites in Virginia would be an impressive feat. In fact, there are more Civil War battlefields in VA than in any other state! Almost anywhere you travel, you’re just a stone’s throw away from historic sites dedicated to the … Read more
Is Andy Griffith’s Mayberry a real town? That depends on who you ask. In our experience, many folks living in Mount Airy NC would like to believe so. As you walk down Main Street in this friendly little North Carolina town, you can’t help but notice the many homages to The Andy Griffith Show. Of … Read more
There are plenty of fun things to do in Cherokee NC, which is located on the Oconaluftee River, just 10 miles from Bryson City and 5 miles from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Located within the Qualla Boundary (a land trust held on behalf of the federally recognized Eastern Band of Cherokee), Downtown Cherokee is … Read more
Ancient Indigenous tribes once thrived across the region now known as Georgia, living here for thousands of years before the first European settlers arrived. Many of them were forcibly removed after the Georgia gold rush brought an influx of prospectors to the state in the late 1820s, which led to the Georgia land lotteries. But … Read more
There’s something about eating a fresh-from-the-plant strawberry that takes me right back to the days of strawberry picking in my grandma’s garden. If you find yourself a little underwhelmed by the mild flavor of store-bought strawberries, local farms are the way to go. Fortunately there are plenty of options for farms that offer opportunities for picking … Read more
With the endless array of things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it can be difficult to figure out which activities and attractions to prioritize. If you’re even remotely interested in the history of the Appalachian range, don’t miss a chance at visiting Mingus Mill in NC. Located just 4 miles north of Cherokee, … Read more
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is so studded with outstanding attractions (including myriad hiking trails and waterfalls), it can be difficult to know which ones to prioritize during your visit. From hiking to the top of Clingman’s Dome and spotting the Cataloochee Valley Elk to visiting Mingus Mill and exploring the Mountain Farm Museum at the Oconaluftee Visitor … Read more
Whether it’s the haunting blue eyes of the Moon-Eyed People, the mysterious Brown Mountain Lights, the hellish Mothman of Point Pleasant WV, or ubiquitous sightings of Bigfoot, many people find themselves drawn to things that are seemingly inexplicable, eerie, and often outright terrifying. If such spine-tingling tales get your pulse pounding, you’ll find that Appalachian folklore offers … Read more
Deep within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, at an elevation of 2,200 feet, the Smokemont Campground is a must-see for anyone wanting a true Smoky Mountains camping experience. Located along Newfound Gap road, just a few miles from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and myriad other activities and attractions, Smokemont offers a perfectly secluded spot for … Read more
