I thought I knew Tennessee pretty well. From our base in Nashville, my husband and I frequently road-trip to play in the mountains and adventurous Cumberland plateau. I had never gone west far enough to hit Memphis, the fabled Home of the Blues, Soul, and Rock ’N’ Roll. But over our recent three day stay, that storied city won our hearts, unlocked a whole new dimension of essential history and vibrant culture in my home state. We stayed in the most unique lodging of my life - a 231 foot tall pyramid which encapsulates the world’s largest Bass Pro Shops store, a luxury hotel, a bowling alley and a restaurant with rooftop views of the entire downtown area. Here’s everything else you don’t want to miss…

What a year it’s turned out to be! As with most people we know, our travel opportunities have been few and far between, but our appreciation for the great outdoors and our beloved home state is stronger than ever. Hiking and exploring local parks kept us sane through the tightest shutdowns and the suspension of many social events. As we all rally around small businesses and the treasured features of our communities, we hope everyone will continue to be intentional about taking the daily steps that will help everyone be as safe as possible while celebrating and reclaiming the seasons of change and growth around us.

Late fall in the Great Smoky Mountains: There are many ways to experience this legendary destination in it’s most vibrant season but almost every itinerary has to get around to Gatlinburg at some point. It was high time for us to check out some of the recent buzz-worthy additions in town and we were delighted to find some new favorites worthy of sharing.