2016

Townsend, Tennessee (visited in 2016)

Hey friends! When you think about Tennessee I am guessing that the two big places that pop up in your mind are Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Up until this fall, those were the two places that I thought of first too. I have been to some amazing places in Tennessee including the lively Nashville and the iconic Memphis, but there is just something about the beautiful Gatlinburg area that has kept me and my family coming back again and again. If you don’t know, I am a HUGE hiker! I love hiking in areas around where I live in Kentucky (and I have even hiked the Swiss Alps) but my favorite hikes almost always happen in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

This past October several of my friends and college coworkers invited me and my boyfriend, Derek, to rent a cabin with them in Tennessee for fall break. Both of us love hiking and so we jumped at the opportunity. Ironically, he and his family have always loved visiting a place called Townsend, TN (yes, like my last name) so when we were planning for this trip, he asked if I would like to drive and spend some days in Townsend which is really close to the Pigeon Forge area and where we were staying. I had already seen some of the gorgeous and breathtaking pictures from the area that he had shown me so I esctatically agreed! Let me tell you now, the pictures did not do the place justice. The hiking in Townsend is unrivaled with breathtaking waterfalls and mountainous rock formations and little pathways lined with trees and to top it all off, we saw it during fall when the landscape is painted in the reds, oranges, and yellows of the falling leaves. One day there and I instantly fell in love!

P.S. The difficulty of the hiking trails vary, so even if hiking really isn’t your thing, there are easy trails that consist of mostly flat walking but still present stunning views of the scenery. There are trails that suit all types of fitness levels and interests. Plus, you are only a short drive away from the bustling life of Pigeon Forge!

We started out our first few hours in Tennessee by having dinner together at this quaint and adorable restaurant. I love eating at places like this because the food is great and the clientele are even more amazing. We got dozens of compliments from older couples about our “young love” and our waitress even asked if we were newly weds because we just looked so happy and in love.

I am not quite sure of the location because we found it on the edge of a pretty beaten path, but Tennessee is full of restaurants like this that offer local food and are owned and run by families. The food was amazing and it put us both in an extremely happy mood so we couldn’t wait for the rest of our adventures.

(A well deserved dinner for two after hours of driving)

The next day, our hiking adventures began. Derek was excited because he got to return to some of the places he loves and I was thrilled to see these breathtaking places with my own eyes for the first time! I had never seen a waterfall in person before, even a small one, so I was practically jumping out of childish excitement! There were two waterfalls we saw. This one was the first one and it is the one most frequented by tourists because it is relatively easy to get to and kids love it.

(Look at this cutie making funny faces)

Next came the second waterfall, which we had to climb to reach but, man, was it worth it! SOOO beautiful and it holds a very special place in my heart because Derek dubbed it “Our Waterfall” and that is how we always refer to it now. It is secluded and the nature that surrounded us was truly magnificent. To this day, this waterfall holds some of my most cherished memories. Plus, it helps that I got to experience it for the first time with the love of my life :).

(Sorry for the cute pic overload)

( I felt like such an adventurer posing by our waterfall)

(One of the paths further along on our hike)

(I felt like I was in that scene from Dirty Dancing. Channeling my inner Baby!)

(Then, my Johnny joined me up here :)! )

(Look at that handsome navigator!)

(So many incredibly fun climbs)

(One of my favorite pictures from the trip)

After a full day day of hiking, Derek and I both agreed that we deserved a romantic and delicious dinner! I suggested taking us to one of my family’s favorite restaurants in Tennessee, the Apple Barn. I was amazed that he had never been there before because whenever I talk to someone about Tennessee, the Apple Barn is almost always brought up. The restaurant decor is beautiful and they offer food for everyone. I have food allergies so it can be difficult to find foods that I can eat, but this place has several options for everyone. Some of their seats are actual porch swings on either side of a table so you can literally sit on a porch swing while you eat lunch or dinner! How cute! Check this place out! Ever since we went there, Derek has been begging me to take a weekend trip back to hike and eat at the Apple Barn again. I’m sure not complaining!

(Dinner at the Apple Barn)

(Look at this DELICIOUS food! I got chicken salad and fruit and Derek got chicken Fettuccine Alfredo)- his fave!

The exterior of the Apple Barn is beautiful, as well, with several gazebos and lights hanging across porches and lining the pathways.

(Hanging out in a gazebo outside of the restaurant)

(Look how adorable these fall decorations are!)

On our last day in Tennessee, we decided to drive over to the Gatlinburg area and do some window shopping and sight seeing. We found a beautiful little shopping center that offered all kinds of shops and we had a blast! Down below you can see me nerding out to a Wizard of Oz display outside of one of the shops!

(My childhood dream!)

(And of course, I had to enjoy lots of coffee and I was dying over the cuteness of this cup. I felt like Marilyn Monroe with those lips :)! )

I couldn’t fit everything from our trip on here, but I tried to include some of my absolute favorites. Tennessee has something to offer for everyone, so even if you aren’t that into hiking, there is PLENTY for you to do! It is perfect for a trip with friends, family, really anyone. But, no matter where you go or what you do, the experience is always made by the people you get to share your memories with. I know for me, this trip was made perfect because I got to spend it with Derek and some of our close friends. With that being said, there is nothing wrong with traveling by yourself either because I have done that too! It is all up to you because both experiences can be incredible!

I hope you all enjoyed this post and didn’t mind the overload of our pictures. Adventure on, my friends!

Lots of love,

The Traveling Brunette

New York City, New York (visited in 2015)

Welcome to the “City That Never Sleeps”! New York City is one of the most iconic cities in the world. From “Sleepless in Seattle” to “Home Alone” to “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” this city is booming with life, love, and adventure! Whether you are looking down on the city from one of its many skyscrapers, or strolling the streets of Brooklyn, or grabbing a bite to eat from a local street vendor, this city will always keep you entertained. NYC has much to offer so I have decided to break it up into several different posts so you can see just how much adventure can be found here. For my first post on NYC, I am going to focus on one of its most famous structures: the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building is one of the most popular tourist spots and for good reason because it gives you the best view of the city. First, let’s get a look at some of the origins of the Empire State Building.

(The lower level of the inside of the Empire State Building)

From the Beginning: *

The building was originally constructed during a race to create the world’s tallest building! During the economic boom during the late 1920’s, builders were restless to try to build the world’s largest skyscraper.
The building has a total of 103 floors.
It was finished in record time. It took only 410 days to build from start to finish!
At first, it was considered a financial fail, mostly because of the start of the Great Depression. The building only became profitable during World War II.

*Checked by: http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/10-surprising-facts-about-the-empire-state-building

Fun Facts: **

Shocking kisses: Static electricity gathers at high heights, and under the right atmospheric conditions, couples can experience a slight electric shock when they kiss.
As far as the eye can see: On a clear day, you can see five different states from the top of the building: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Zipping: The Empire State Building is home to so many businesses it has its own zip code: 10118.
Lightning Show: The building is struck by lightning on average of 100 times per year.
True love: Every year, the building holds a Valentine’s Day Weddings contest in which 14 couples are selected to get married on the observation deck.
A True Wonder: The building was named the eighth Wonder of the World (the only one built in the 20th century).

**Checked by: https://www.walksofnewyork.com/blog/empire-state-building-facts

The View:

I could write about the spectacular view all day long but I think it would be wiser to let the pictures speak for themselves. So, without further ado…

From this high up, you can truly tell that NYC is surrounded by water. The view is honestly breathtaking. Words cannot describe it.

Literary Recommendations:

For books set in New York City, you have to check out the classics! Some of the best literature based in New York City are The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote, and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath to name a few.

For this post, I would be crazy not to offer some movie recommendations too. Some of the most popular movies featuring the Empire State Building are “King Kong”, “Sleepless in Seattle”, “An Affair to Remember”, “The Amazing Spiderman”, “Annie Hall”, and the holiday favorite, “Elf”. There is a plethora of pop culture that features the Empire State Building, but if you take my advice, I would plan a trip so you can see it for yourself! NYC can be an easy and inexpensive trip if you do your research and plan ahead of time. (Tip for students: many popular sights give student discounts for tickets!) Stay tuned for more posts featuring NYC!

P.S. If you’re lucky you might just meet your own Tom Hanks at the top of the Empire State Building!

-The Traveling Brunette

***All pictures taken by me!

Tales of a Traveling Brunette

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