Tag: East Tennessee
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Visiting Every National Park Site in Tennessee
After sharing about the Junior Ranger program a couple of weeks ago, I started thinking about the many National Park Service sites we’ve visited—especially those close to home. Exploring these parks and historic places has become one of our family’s favorite ways to travel and learn together. Over the years, we’ve slowly worked our way…
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Five Favorites : Autumn Hikes in Tennessee
Fall is officially here! It’s my favorite season—the hot, heavy days of summer give way to cooler air, vibrant colors, and the chance to finally step outside without hiding in the comfort of air conditioning. This time of year, you can usually find us on the trails of Tennessee’s state parks, soaking in the crisp…
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Music, Races, & Art- A Weekend Guide to Bristol {Tennessee & Virginia}
One of our favorite places for a weekend getaway is Bristol, a charming border town that quite literally sits in two states at once. At first glance, Bristol may seem unassuming, but spend a little time here and you’ll quickly discover a city rich in history, culture, and character. Bristol is best known for its…
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Made in Tennessee: 5 Iconic Foods, Traditions & Cultural Favorites
In the four years we’ve lived in Tennessee, we’ve had the chance to explore beautiful state parks, fascinating historical sites, and a vibrant cultural scene that stretches far beyond what we expected when we first moved here. Tennessee is widely known for its music, Dolly Parton, whiskey, Civil War history, and landmarks like Graceland—but there’s…
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A Collection of Holiday Delights
We’ve been hitting the festivities of the season pretty hard for the last few weeks. Our days have been busy with meeting up with family and friends, holiday parties at work and school, and trying to cram in all the festive frivolity we can. Even though we’ve been busy, I have loved this time and…
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Waterfall & Colored Leaves at Fall Creek Falls State Park {Tennessee}
The last couple of years I have worked with international students and one of my favorite things to do is to take them hiking at one of the many state parks here in Tennessee. I love sharing these parts of the state that they wouldn’t see otherwise and I love that they find there is…
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Camping in Big South Fork National Recreation Area {Tennessee}
We have not had good luck with camping over the years. Even though we love camping and wanted it to be part of our family’s adventures- we have not done it very much due to the mishaps of prior trips and the growing concern that maybe we’re cursed. Our first attempt came when we were…
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Between Extremes of Park & Gas Station {Tennessee}
You know those days when you find yourself going from one side of the extreme scale to the other in a short period of time? It leaves you feeling a little disoriented, off balance, and torn between anxiety and restful. This day began with a visit to a beautifully serene state park. It concluded with…
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Food, Fun, and Kitsch in Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg {Tennessee}
The areas of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg sit right in the foothills of Great Smoky Mountain National Park. These areas have become sort of resort towns in a way with the millions of visitors that go through on their way to the park. Because of this high volume of tourists, there is no end to…
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To Dolly With Love – A Day at Dollywood {Tennessee}
There is no question that Tennessee loves its music artists. Nashville of course is teaming with stars that have found their place in country music. The west part of the state boasts of being home to the King himself where visitors can tour Graceland and see where Elvis came from. But the east part of…