Author: Benjamin Strickland

A general store has been selling supplies beside a mountain river here since 1936. Even better, that same general store once doubled as a post…

One Tennessee trail sends hikers down a stone staircase inside a giant crack in a cliff. That opening is about 10 feet wide and more…

What if your next grocery run also came with fresh kimbap, homemade kimchi, and a hot meal worth sticking around for? That is what makes…

A former antique shop in Tennessee became a steakhouse in 1968, and the same family is still running it today. Another restaurant traces its roots…

After 25 years of renting other people’s barns, one horse rescue finally got a 40-acre home of its own. That move happened in December 2024,…

Road signs and license plates cover the walls of one Tennessee steakhouse. The decor leans hard into a junkyard theme, and the name proudly matches…

Half a cow, cut your way, labeled, and packed for the freezer. That’s an actual order option at one East Tennessee meat shop. I have…

Santa climbs aboard this Christmas train and walks right down the aisle to visit every family at their seats. No long line in a chilly…

A few beads can turn into a bracelet, but 3,200 square feet of jewelry supplies can turn a quick shopping trip into an entire afternoon…

An eight-acre cornfield spends its October days as a cheerful family puzzle. Then the sun goes down, and the chainsaws come out. That cornfield holds…

Tide laundry detergent sold in a five-gallon bucket. That alone tells you this store plays by different rules. The shelves here are really pallets. They…

A fried chicken recipe in Memphis reportedly includes cinnamon, and honestly, I can’t stop thinking about it. It comes from a great-grandmother’s secret family recipe,…

A grocery trip gets a lot more exciting when the smell of freshly cooked food makes you forget everything on your shopping list. At one…

What could possibly make a juicy steak dinner even better? How about going back for another helping of your favorite sides without worrying about an…

What can you still buy for just $1 these days? A candy bar might cost more, but one charming Tennessee attraction offers something much more…

Autumn has a way of making Tennessee look completely different. Mountains glow with red and gold, quiet lakes reflect fiery trees, and familiar overlooks suddenly…

Who needs a plane ticket to Italy when a breathtaking piece of European architecture is waiting right here in Tennessee? With its towering dome, grand…

The sound of a banjo drifting through a mountain town, the smell of cornbread baking in an old kitchen, and stories passed around the dinner…

What happens when a historic downtown trades its usual weekend routine for pumpkins, costumes, and a whole lot of fall excitement? Streets fill with families,…

A bookstore gets much harder to leave when a cat might appear around the next shelf. In a small Tennessee town, thousands of books fill…

Sometimes the best escape is the town almost nobody thinks to plan around. Less than an hour from Nashville, one small Tennessee community trades crowded…

What makes a restaurant recipe worth keeping for decades? In Nashville, the answer often starts with family. Across the city, certain dishes have stayed on…

A good craft find feels even better when it was headed for the trash. One Tennessee shop is giving unwanted creative supplies another chance through…

Sleeping in has consequences when a bakery only gives you four hours to make your move. This Tennessee spot opens for a short morning window,…

If you grew up taking road trips, you probably remember the restaurants almost as clearly as the destinations. The good ones became landmarks of their…

Seeing a bald eagle in the wild usually means looking high into the sky and hoping for a lucky glimpse. At one Tennessee sanctuary, you…

College costs can make even the most exciting acceptance letter feel a little intimidating. For some Tennessee families, though, one public university is making that…

Barbecue rankings are where friendships get tested. Ask ten people in Knoxville where to find the best ribs, brisket, or pulled pork and you may…

Some recipes earn their place by refusing to change. One Tennessee candy kitchen has been making taffy with the same recipe since 1950, keeping a…

Daylight makes this Tennessee park look peaceful enough. Forested ridges, quiet trails, and still water set the scene for a calm afternoon outside. Then the…

Smoke curling out behind a roadside restaurant is still one of the best signs you can see in a small Tennessee town. It usually means…

Holiday baking gets a lot easier when the pantry is already stocked with the good stuff. Across Tennessee, country markets make that part of the…

A road that cuts straight through a wall of rock is already unusual. One that locals call the world’s shortest tunnel is even harder to…

One bite of crispy pork and garlicky plantains can completely change your lunch plans. This Tennessee kitchen brings Puerto Rican comfort food to the table…

Fall gets a lot more interesting when one afternoon includes a corn maze, pumpkins, and rows of sunflowers stretching toward the horizon. This Tennessee festival…

Southern food gets serious when the biscuits are warm, the chicken is crisp, and the sides taste like somebody actually cared about them. Middle Tennessee…

A quilt can start with a few pieces of fabric and end up inspiring an entire trip. At one Tennessee arts school, quilting workshops bring…

Cleveland might not be the first Tennessee city that comes to mind when you start planning a great meal, and that is exactly why eating…

Few things make a fall weekend feel more exciting than a riverfront lined with artists, food vendors, and live music. Tennessee gets exactly that when…

Retirement gets a lot more appealing when your monthly budget leaves room for more than just rent. Tennessee has several waterfront towns where slower mornings,…

Some seafood meals just hit better when they come with paper baskets, crowded tables, and a menu regulars barely need to read. Tennessee serves up…

There is something different about a grocery store where the family name has been part of the sign for generations. Tennessee still has markets like…

Fall weekends hit differently when the mountains are glowing, the air smells like kettle corn, and hundreds of makers are showing off what they do…

What makes a country cooking restaurant worth driving across Tennessee for? Maybe it is fried chicken with a crackly crust, cornbread still warm in the…

A day spent chasing waterfalls has a funny way of making dinner feel urgent. Around Cookeville, Tennessee, that usually means muddy shoes, tired legs, and…

What happens when small towns start adding homes, businesses, and new residents faster than people expect? Upper Cumberland is giving Tennessee a pretty clear answer….

Some lake places become part of the family calendar without anyone ever formally deciding it. Summer after summer, Tennessee families return for boat rides, fishing…

The smell of warm bread can do a lot of convincing before a single bite is taken. East Tennessee still has country stores where the…

What if some of Knoxville’s most memorable meals are hiding behind the plainest storefronts? That is part of the fun here. A tiny dining room,…

Early mornings feel better when the river is doing most of the talking. One peaceful Tennessee trail gives walkers a shady path, gentle water views,…

September changes the mood fast when piles of pumpkins start showing up beside country roads. Suddenly, it feels like fall is calling your name, and…

September has a special kind of energy. Summer is starting to loosen its grip, pumpkins are showing up again, and weekend plans suddenly sound better…

Jellyfish in Tennessee sound like the start of a joke, but one quiet lake has actually had them drifting through the water. Tiny, clear, and…

Retirement sounds a lot better when the view includes water and the monthly bills do not eat up your whole budget. That is exactly why…

Not every outdoor adventure needs to leave your legs begging for mercy. Tennessee has scenic walks where the distance stays short but the reward still…

There is a big difference between grabbing a sandwich and driving somewhere specifically for one. Tennessee has Italian delis where that difference becomes obvious after…

A full grocery cart should not feel like a financial decision. Yet for a lot of families, every trip through the checkout line seems to…

Some restaurants could move to another city and barely change a thing. This one feels tied to East Tennessee down to the vegetables on the…

Ever walk into a country market for one thing and leave wondering how your arms got so full? That is the danger at this Sevierville,…

Sometimes the best summer plan is the one that barely counts as a plan. Find a patio, order something good, and stay until nobody feels…