While I’ve been noticeably missing from my blog, newsletter and social media for the month of May, I’ve been out exploring the length and width of the great state of Tennessee, and we never once took an interstate. I’ve taken the time to visit some fantastic historic sites (look for a newsletter soon about our amazing visit to the Green- McAdoo Cultural Center.) We stepped off well-travelled paths to see monuments and museums, state parks, murals, and some truly beautiful views. Along the way we stayed in historic and luxury cabins, ate some delicious meals, and met some truly incredible people. I’m finally unpacked, and have enjoyed some time with all of my adult kids back at home, and now I’m ready to organize my thoughts and start sharing all of my amazing adventures with you! (Well, I have a few June trips in the works, but I hope to write more on the road this time!)

My May travels took me in a giant figure eight around the edges of TN, with our Lynchburg home at the center, tying our West and East Tennessee adventures together. I hope you enjoy following along on my travels that ventured from Union City in the Northwest corner of the state all the way to Carvers Gap in the very northeast portion of the Tennessee mountains at the very spot where they meet both North Carolina and the Appalachian Trail.

This trip was the first time my husband and I have been away alone together for this long since we were married 23 years ago. It seemed like it was time to get out there, do some exploring of the state we’ve called home this whole time, and just get reacquainted with each other as we move into this next phase of life together. We had so much fun! I can’t wait to share all of my reflections on our travels; especially the day a WWII soldier stepped out of the fog and asked for a ride, the day I learned what “tall people secrets” were, and the afternoon we spent tracking down a church in Crossville, TN built from an old army surplus building from right here in Tullahoma.

While neither of us are from Tennessee, we have learned to love this place we call home, and both truly enjoy exploring its history, nature and beauty from north to south, and east to west. One thing that I have definitely learned from my travels so far is that every place, no matter how big or small, has a history. There are stories of the men and women who came before current generations wherever you go, and every single one of those stories is worth hearing. If you get a chance, get out there and explore your local area, see what’s there, talk to the people you meet, and your life will be richer for it. Meanwhile, keep following along here as I explore further and further afield from my own home base, and you never know, maybe I’ll see you out there.