Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg TN, and Pigeon Forge TN are huge vacation destinations complete with theme parks, ski resorts, and other fun attractions. Smoky Mountains Hotels provide a comfortable place to recharge for the next day’s adventures. The southern boundary of GSMNP in North Carolina is the town of Cherokee in the Qualla … Read more
The state of Tennessee is widely known for its music scenes, including the Delta blues of the Memphis area and the Appalachian music (including bluegrass, country, and folk) created by the Scots-Irish people of central and eastern TN. But anyone who’s explored the state in any depth knows it also boasts stunning natural beauty, including the Blue Ridge … Read more
While Nashville may be considered the home of country music today, many experts consider Bristol TN/VA to be the birthplace of the genre. After all, it was in Bristol where the earliest recordings of country music took place. To my pleasant surprise, rather than being a museum focused on modern music, The Birthplace of Country … Read more
Every season of the year has its highlights, but Fall in the Blue Ridge Mountains has to be my favorite. Living in the Blue Ridge Mountains at this time of year, as we do, is wonderful for a number of reasons. In our experience, nothing beats cruising the Blue Ridge Parkway in Fall for … Read more
[Updated on September 18, 2023] The Appalachian Mountains encompass a massive portion of the United States. They span 420 counties in 13 states, with foothills as far south as Alabama and all the up into New York State. Before the arrival of Europeans, the region was home to numerous indigenous tribes, including the Cherokee, Iroquois, Powhatan, … Read more
As the sweltering days of Summer say their goodbyes, the nights and mornings get a little cooler, and the promise of changing leaves in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Fall is tantalizingly close. Living in the Blue Ridge Mountains (as we do) offers year-round treats, from Spring blossoms and Summer wildflowers to Winter wonderlands. … Read more
Having worked in restaurants for 9 years through college and grad school (including everything from a casual café to fine dining), I’m always curious what eateries will be offering where I travel. In recent years I’ve become a homesteader in North Carolina, which puts me in touch with food in a different way and makes me appreciate … Read more
[Updated July 18, 2024] Late Summer and early Autumn are among the most popular times to be outdoors in Tennessee, particularly in the mountains, where the temperatures turn downright pleasant and the leaves start to change. It’s also the best time to find a fair in Tennessee, and Tennessee fairs are huge fun! They’re typically … Read more
Autumn is arguably our favorite season, bringing with it promises of cooler temperatures, gorgeous Fall colors, pumpkin patches, and apple picking. As someone who loves a bit of frightful fun, I also look forward to the start of the spooky season, when we can visit the best haunted houses in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. … Read more
“O Bessie Bell and Mary Gray, they were two bonnie lasses…” Written by a long-forgotten author in the 1700s, this poem memorializes a haunting tale from Scotland about two young cousins who succumbed to the black plague. There are countless other poems, songs, and stories that were brought to America by the Scots-Irish people. … Read more
