going places . telling stories
I missed the official Rhododendron Festival that was held at Roan Mountain on Father’s Day weekend so we went to see them yesterday. The rainy weather was less than ideal but it didn’t stop us from enjoying these gorgeous purple blooms. Honestly, the mist created by the rain made it feel like we were walking through a fairy garden. Continue reading “ROAN MOUNTAIN RHODODENDRONS”
On Friday I wrote a post about the 5 best places to eat in Bristol so today I thought I’d shine a spotlight on one restaurant in particular. Bristol Cafe and Market has become our new Friday lunch date for good reason. Let me show you around! Continue reading “BRISTOL CAFE AND MARKET”
Since moving to the Bristol area a few years ago, I’ve compiled a list of the best places to get a bite to eat and I wanted to share them with the You, Me, and Tennessee family.
One of the best things about living in East Tennessee is having access to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In a short drive you can be in the middle of the most visited national park in the country. How amazing is that? When I’m in the park I feel at peace with the world. It’s a spiritual retreat for me.
If you’re interested in hiking the Smokies in the coming months it can be hard to know which trail to choose. In an effort to offer guidance I made a list of 5 of my favorite tried-and-true hikes to go on this spring. For the most part these are easy hikes so bring the family and make a day of it! Continue reading “5 HIKES IN THE SMOKIES TO EXPLORE”
This week’s Friday 5 are 5 of the best restaurants in Pigeon Forge. When you drive down the Parkway there are restaurants everywhere and it can be overwhelming. You can find yourself going to the same places over and over again instead of trying something new. Hopefully this will help the next time you’re trying to decide what’s for dinner! I tried to include places that were unique to Pigeon Forge and not big chains. In the process of looking through my favorites I decided to add Pigeon Forge Deli to my list of places to try. They have great reviews and they make their own bread. Score! Let me know your favorite in the comments. Continue reading “5 OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN PIGEON FORGE”
Bloom is a new coffee shop and cafe in downtown Bristol that has been on my radar since Rhythm and Roots back in September. I popped in to this State Street newbie for a coffee a few weeks back but last night I was able to stay for trivia. The theme was “Stranger Things” and it was a huge success. Many patrons, much like the owner pictured below, dressed as his/her favorite character. The list of team names included “Barb’s Search Party” and “The AV Club”. The dinner special was called “The Upside Down” which consisted of bacon, gouda cheese, turkey, apples, and apple butter sandwiched between two Eggo waffles and served with a side of maple syrup. It was strange, of course, but also delicious. Eleven would definitely approve! I snapped a few pictures so you could have a look around the shop. Not shown are the gorgeous herringbone hardwood floors and the stained glass trim around the door frame. I’ll have to go back when the natural light is beaming through the windows. Continue reading “BLOOM CAFE AND LISTENING ROOM”
If you’re looking for more cold-weather activities to enjoy in Tennessee I’ve got you covered. The temperature inside Bristol Caverns is in the 60’s year-round making it the perfect place to explore even in the winter. Continue reading “BRISTOL CAVERNS”
It’s been a while since my last wedding posts but you can look at Part One and Part Two if you missed them. This is the final installment all about the wedding reception aka the whole reason people come to your wedding. Time to drink champagne and dance on the tables! Continue reading “WEDDING PHOTOS: THE RECEPTION”
I’ve said this before but I like to consider myself somewhat of a donut connoisseur. I’m constantly on the hunt for the new greatest donut of my life. In Gatlinburg, there is no better place than The Donut Friar. Located in The Village this shop is a donut hole in the wall. Once you enter The Village from the parkway just go straight back. Look for the sign with a friar holding a piled high plate of perfection and get in there! Continue reading “THE DONUT FRIAR”
Happy Monday everyone! I’m enjoying my day at home since the clinic is closed in observance of MLK Day. I hope you’re all staying warm and getting your Vitamin C. Our area of Tennessee has been frigidly cold this month but that doesn’t mean your only choice is to stay inside. Not that I have anything against snuggling up under a fuzzy blanket in my favorite sweatpants. That’s what we did all weekend until we decided we should take showers and rejoin humanity. We ended up at The Birthplace of Country Music Museum in downtown Bristol and learned a lot about this city’s heritage. Continue reading “BIRTHPLACE OF COUNTRY MUSIC MUSEUM”
