Cheaha State Park was our third stop on a whirlwind tour of southern high points in early 2025, and honestly, it surprised us in the best way. From CCC-built stone cabins to mountaintop views and even a glamping tent option, this park had way more going on than we expected.…
Talladega had been on our radar for a while, and with a solid plan in place, we were excited to dive into everything this corner of Alabama had to offer. Over the course of 11 days, we checked off some big bucket-list items: exploring the Talladega Superspeedway and its rich…
I didn’t know I liked pinball three hours’ worth. But apparently…I really do. We popped into the Roanoke Pinball Museum thinking it’d be a quick, quirky stop- maybe 30, 45 minutes tops. But somehow, three hours flew by, and the only reason we left was because our stomachs were growling…
Tucked away in the rolling hills of East Tennessee lies a place that feels like stepping back in time. The Museum of Appalachia isn’t your typical museum, it’s a living history village where the spirit of the Appalachian people lives on through handcrafted cabins, ancient tools, and stories etched into…
After some time at home for a conference, we were back on the road again the second week of March. We headed down to southern Illinois for just under two weeks. Last year we started our full-time travelling in southern IL because we wanted to see spring ephemerals. We should…
We spent most of the winter at our home base in the Chicago suburbs and by mid-February we were itching to get back on the road. We had a conference back home the first weekend of March, so we couldn’t go too far, but we wanted to at least spend…
Our visit to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was like stepping into a hidden chapter of American history. Known as the “Secret City” during the Manhattan Project, Oak Ridge played a pivotal role in the development of the atomic bomb, and today, it offers a unique glimpse into its mysterious past. We…
The Natchez Trace Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in the South, and the stretch between Tupelo, Mississippi, and Cherokee, Alabama, is packed with history, nature, and some unexpected hidden gems. Over the course of three days, we explored this 59-mile section while camping at Tishomingo State Park,…
Norris Dam State Park turned out to be the perfect home base for our 2 week stay in November. We camped in the East Campground, enjoying crisp fall weather while exploring nearby Oak Ridge and Knoxville. With miles of trails, a scenic lake, and plenty of history, this park has…
Washington, D.C., is packed with famous landmarks, but one of its most beautiful spots often flies under the radar- the U.S. National Arboretum. This massive, 446-acre green space is home to stunning gardens, scenic walking trails, and one of the most unusual photo ops in the city: the Capitol Columns,…