I’m Carly, a traveling Tennessean on a real life budget. I love searching for hidden gems in my favorite state and beyond. My weaknesses include donuts, dogs, and engineers named Chris.

While I’ll admit to serious case of wanderlust, I’ve lived in Tennessee my whole life including Knoxville, Gatlinburg, Chattanooga, Nashville, and now Bristol.

I grew up in a small town in Tennessee surrounded by the Smoky Mountains and people who have never been outside the state. I started traveling in high school and I feel deeply that with each trip I become a more empathetic person. I had to get out of my comfort zone and let it change me for the better. With every step I have taken away from my “home” I have realized that there is more that unites than divides us. Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

You, Me, and Tennessee began as an effort to get Tennesseans to approach travel in small bites and also to tempt travelers to see some of the incredible attractions the Volunteer State has to offer. I also use this space as a digital scrapbook for my little family! I’m a new mama and I can’t wait to show my baby girl the gifts that are gained from wandering.

No matter where my travels take me, Tennessee will always be home sweet home.

Thanks for reading! I hope you can stay a while.