Tag: Southeast
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The French Quarter & Riverwalk- New Orleans {Louisiana}
My job brought me to New Orleans for a conference, but I arrived a couple of days early for one simple reason — I wanted to walk. That first morning, I slipped out before the city fully woke up. The sky was just beginning to lighten over the French Quarter, and the air still held…
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Gardens, Art, & Trolls-Visiting Cheekwood Estate & Gardens {Tennessee}
Tucked away among the rolling hills of Nashville, Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is one of the city’s most beloved places to experience art, nature, and history all in one afternoon. Spanning 55 acres, the estate combines botanical gardens, woodland trails, seasonal art installations, and a historic mansion that feels like stepping into another era. On…
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When Blog Friends Meet: The Hungry Travellers
I had been following along with Phil and Michaela of The Hungry Travellers as they traveled the world sharing incredible destinations, cultural experiences, and what might just be the ultimate example of retirement done right. They always seemed to be packing their bags for another adventure, and I loved following along through each new country…
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Exploring Rock Island State Park {Tennessee}
As the weather finally started warming up here in Tennessee, all we could think about was getting back outside and exploring again. For the past few years, we’ve been slowly working our way through Tennessee’s state parks, always looking for a new favorite place. But after recently driving two hours to visit a park that…
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Exploring the Historic Heart of St. Augustine {Florida}
One of our favorite weekends when we lived in Florida was visiting St. Augustine, a city where history seems woven into every street and building. Often called the oldest continuously inhabited European-established city in the United States, St. Augustine was founded in September 1565 by Spanish explorers arriving on the shores of Florida’s first coast.…
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Celebrating Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon at Middle Tennessee State University {Tennessee}
One of the great things about working at a university is getting to experience the wide variety of events and cultural programs that happen across campus. It also means being “in the know” about some truly special places that many people—sometimes even those who work here—don’t realize exist. One of those hidden gems is the…
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Cave Tour at Ruby Falls {Tennessee}
We have been to Chattanooga many times over the years, yet there are still places that remain on our list of things to see and experience. Near the top of that list has always been Ruby Falls on Lookout Mountain. We have visited the nearby attraction Rock City Gardens a few times, and each visit…
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A Snowy Day at Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park {Tennessee}
Snow in Tennessee is always an event. For weeks we had watched other places get snow while we looked hopefully at gray winter skies waiting for our turn. Then finally, the clouds delivered, covering much of the state in a rare winter storm. Whenever snow is in the forecast here, the entire state seems to…
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Lanterns & Pandas at IllumiNights-Zoo Atlanta {Georgia}
After experiencing the Chinese lantern festival at the Nashville Zoo the year before, we already knew how magical these nighttime lantern events could feel. So while we were visiting the Atlanta area and discovered that Zoo Atlanta hosted its own lantern festival called IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta, we immediately added it to our plans. The…
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A Winter Hike at Tallulah Gorge State Park {Georgia}
We ended the year with a short trip to the mountains north of Atlanta, joined by my mom and one of my college friends for a visit to Tallulah Gorge State Park—one of the most beloved outdoor destinations in the state. The park had appeared in several of our favorite travel books over the years,…