I never went to camp as a kid and I’ve always regretted it. I wanted in on the kind of lifelong friendships that are born from sweaty summers spent singing ‘On Top of Spaghetti” around a campfire, splashing around in a muddy lake, and checking each other for ticks. As a sort of consolation prize […]

When you think of Franklin, Tennessee, your mind probably goes straight to its historic downtown, filled with shops and restaurants and Civil War-era homes and buildings. Much has been written about the downtown area and I’m definitely one of its biggest fans — but there’s so much more to do and see in Franklin and […]

Planning to visit The Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee? Here’s everything you need to know before you go. A few weeks ago, I had dinner with a group of women, all of whom are fairly new to Nashville. “I see these historic plantation tours everywhere,” one of them said, “but I always wonder if they’re portraying […]

Hidden deep in the forests surrounding Chattanooga are blue holes — crystal clear blue pools of water fed by underground rivers. Want to see and even swim in one yourself? Read on! We hiked a mile and a half through a forest just outside Chattanooga before arriving at one of Tennessee’s elusive blue holes, a […]

Looking for the best Nashville hikes out there? You’ve come to the right place! I’ve made it my mission over the years to hike all of the Nashville area’s trails and I’m happy to report there are some fantastic ones to choose from. On the trails I’ve listed below, you’ll find amazing scenic views, old […]

I think of Gatlinburg as a rite of passage for every American traveler. Snuggled up against the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the bustling town offers a colorful juxtaposition to the ancient mountains beyond. Enter Gatlinburg and you’ll find yourself immersed in a dizzying swirl of pancake houses, souvenir shops, tourist attractions, and hordes of […]

I’ve learned over time that what often makes a shop or a tour or even a restaurant really, really special is the owner or guide or chef you interact with while you’re there. When I’m researching a city or town, I sort through hundreds of user reviews, seeking out the bookstore with the charismatic and […]

Machine Falls near Tullahoma has been on our short list for a few years now, for two reasons:  First, we’ve heard it’s an impressive waterfall by Middle Tennessee standards. Second, State Naturalist Randy Hedgepath told me a couple of years ago that Short Springs Natural Area– where Machine Falls is located– is one of his […]

Like most of you, after months of quarantine, we are so very tired of being cooped up in our house — At the same time, we’re being extremely cautious about traveling this summer. It’s hard to find a place right now that meets our standards of crowd size, cleanliness, and plain old fun, but we […]

Cooler weather is (finally!) here, which makes it the best time of year for weekend family field trips. I’ve always had two ulterior motives when planning weekend activities for my family — No matter what we do together, I want my kids to get active or I want them to learn something. Fortunately, there are […]