historic
-
Sweetwater and Fort Loudoun, TN
The boys had just under a week for their winter break, so I decided that we would take just an overnight trip as our vacation outing. We settled on going to Sweetwater, TN because it is the town where the Lost Sea Underground caverns and lake are and it sounded like a fun destination. It is only 2 hours from our house and there appeared to be more things to do in the area. When we arrived, we went to the visitor’s center which gave us some ideas for lunch and dinner, and also made us realize that there was a fort nearby to visit. We first had lunch, then…
-
Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina
A couple days before the end of our Christmas school break, we took an overnight trip to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. It is about a 3h45 min drive from us, so we spent the night in Asheville before heading to the estate. The Christmas decor was still up, but the admission price had gone back down after the increased prices of the Christmas season. It was still expensive ($75 per adult 17+, ($45 for children, but free for the 8 year old), but much more affordable. I definitely do think it is worth visiting while all the trees and decor are up because it created a very…
-
Old Town Scottdale
I stayed in Scottsdale a few years ago for my brother’s wedding, but we didn’t had time to do much sightseeing, and only had hiked near where we stayed. So when Jodie mentioned the possibility of spending some time in Old Town Scottsdale, I jumped at the opportunity. I was surprised at how picturesque and fun it was, and there is more to explore for another time! I am thinking that if the hubby and I make an anniversary trip there in the fall of 2026, that a couple days in Scottsdale followed by a stay in Flagstaff or somewhere within an hour’s drive would be really cool. This horse…
-
A trip downtown Nashville, TN
Planning a trip with family is a little different than planning a trip I would like to take with girlfriends. With that in mind, my visit to Nashville included things that I would everyone would like, including the hubby and children. I probably would have liked to visit the trendy murals, shops and restaurants, but settled for visiting places that the kids would be interested in. The Parthenon I thought this would interest the boys as it is a large structure, they know a little bit about Greek history from school and the building and sculpture are quite impressive. Quick Stop by Opryland I really would have liked to go…
-
A Visit to Franklin, TN
We stayed in a hotel in Cool Spring, TN for spring break which is just 10-15 minutes from Franklin, TN. What a cute little town! The area around Franklin is lush and green with beautiful pastures and fences and rolling hills. The town itself boasts a nice square and boutiques and several restaurants. We first found a place for coffee which led us to the Factory. The Factory used to be a furniture factory, but now houses trendy shops and restaurants. We stopped for coffee, but returned for lunch. The sculpture outside was really neat, so I had to share it here. We passed by that evening after dinner and…
-
Historic Banning Mills: Anniversary Trip
A few months ago, my husband and I took an overnight trip about an hour and a half from our house to Historic Banning Mills. It is located just a little south of I20 on the west side of Atlanta. The area offers trails to walk with swinging bridges, waterfalls, ziplines as well as a few other activities you can book. The mill has a lodge, cabins and some treehouses you can rent for just a couple or a family. In the summer, there is a pool, mini golf and camps for children. We rented a treehouse for one night: I thought is was pretty overpriced as the accommodations were…
-
Ruby Falls, TN
Many friends were surprised that even though we have lived in the Atlanta for more than 20 years, this fall was the first time that we visited Ruby Falls Ruby Falls is located in Chattanooga, TN and is about 1 hour and half from our house. We have gone many times to Chattanooga for day trips and overnight trips, but we had never visited the falls. We have visited other caves and caverns in the past, and this was the most expensive one to date. We visited the Tuskaleechee Caverns, TN and I share them here, and I share caves we visited in the Republic of Georgia here. What makes…
-
Batumi Fortress: Gonio Apsaros Fortress
We are nearing the end of my posts about our trip to the republic of Georgia! Today, I am sharing our visit to the Gonio Fortress which is the oldest fortress in Georgia. It dates back to the Roman times. The fortress is 15 km outside of Batumi and 4 km north of the Turkish border. The oldest reference to the fortress is in 1st century. You are greeted at the entrance with 2 large statues. The outside walls of the fortress all remain and it is quite impressive to behold. I have been to medieval castles in France and seen some old ruins in Italy, but never something of…
-
Adventures in the Kakheti Region
We rented a car for a week in preparation for our trip to Batumi and took advantage of having a car with AC to take a trip a couple hours out of Tbilisi. My husband wanted to visit the monastery of St. Nino and we booked a horseback ride nearby. As usual we used the Maps.Me map, but we still had to ask for directions! On the way, we saw a small fortress near the road and stopped for a bit. We can never pass up a fortress! There are a lot of lookout fortresses and towers throughout the country. Georgia used to be part of the silk route and…
-
Mtskheta: Vibrant Center of Orthodoxy in Georgia
Mtskheta stands at the confluence of two rivers, Mtkvari and Aragvi about 20 miles outside of Tbilisi. It is a UNESCO protected site and “was a site of early Christian activity resulting in the Christianisation of Iberia, where Christianity was proclaimed the state religion in 337. It remains the headquarters of the Georgian Orthodox Church.” (Wikipidia). The Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (meaning the Cathedral of the Living Pillar) is an Orthodox Christian cathedral. It is a treasure of the Early and High Middle Ages, and is the second largest church building in Georgia. Below are two of the tombs you can find in the church. The one on the right is of Erekle II. Ten Georgian kings…