Angela Addington -

Great Smoky Mountain Wheel Pigeon Forge Review: Is It Worth It?

The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel rises 200 feet above The Island in Pigeon Forge, offering Smoky Mountain views from enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas. This firsthand review covers what the ride is like, whether it works for people nervous about heights, day vs. night rides, accessibility and what to know before you go.

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Swimming with Pigs in the Bahamas: My Royal Caribbean Excursion Review

Swimming with pigs became one of the highlights of my Bahamas cruise. Here’s what the Royal Caribbean excursion was really like, from bottle-feeding pigs to holding a piglet.

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Family Travel, International Adventures, Outdoor Adventures

Don't let this be your travel day routine

The Ultimate Travel Day Routine: From Wake-Up to Wheels-Up

Follow a practical travel day routine from the night before your flight through packing, leaving home, airport arrival, security, the gate and boarding.
The current TSA guidance supports building in enough time to arrive early, preparing before entering the checkpoint, and having identification and boarding information ready; TSA PreCheck continues to provide expedited screening benefits for eligible travelers, though screening procedures can vary.

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Travel Tips

The Incredible Christmas Place: Year-Round Holiday Magic in Pigeon Forge

The Incredible Christmas Place brings year-round holiday magic to Pigeon Forge with elaborate displays, festive décor and colorful photo opportunities. Here’s what to expect, how long to allow and why it is worth visiting even if you do not plan to shop.

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Family Travel, Shopping, US Travel Adventures

Bigfoot’s Country Barn Pigeon Forge: Gift Shop & Free Selfie Park

Bigfoot’s Country Barn in Pigeon Forge combines a quirky Smoky Mountain gift shop with a free outdoor selfie park filled with colorful photo backdrops. This firsthand guide covers what to expect, current visitor details, shopping, photo opportunities and whether it is worth adding to your Pigeon Forge itinerary.

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Outdoor Adventures, Photography, Street Art

Themed miniature golf scenery with rock formations and course features at Professor Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf in Pigeon Forge

Professor Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf Pigeon Forge: Is It Worth It?

Professor Hacker’s Lost Treasure Golf in Pigeon Forge combines two 18-hole mini golf courses with caves, waterfalls, themed ruins and a memorable mining train ride. This firsthand review covers what to expect, how long to allow, photography tips and whether the experience is worth adding to your Pigeon Forge itinerary.

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Family Travel, US Travel Adventures

Sunliner Diner in Pigeon Forge: Burgers, Shakes and Retro Fun

Sunliner Diner combines freshly made burgers, milkshakes and generous portions with a complete 1950s atmosphere. This firsthand review covers the food, service, parking, cost and what to know before visiting its Pigeon Forge location.

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Family Travel, Restaurants, Road Trip

Churchill Downs racetrack and Twin Spires in Louisville, Kentucky, outside Kentucky Derby week

Feel the Spirit of Churchill Downs Without the Derby Madness

Visit Churchill Downs outside Kentucky Derby weekend for a quieter look at the Twin Spires, Kentucky Derby Museum, guided track tours and regular live racing in Louisville.

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Family Travel, Kentucky Travel, Sports

Southern Belle Riverboat docked on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Riverboat Views in Chattanooga: A Glimpse of the Southern Belle

Read my Southern Belle Riverboat Chattanooga review with current sightseeing cruise prices, duration, river views, photography tips and what to expect onboard.

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Family Travel, US Travel Adventures

Front view of the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center in Madison, Georgia, a historic red-brick building with Romanesque architectural features, arched windows, and a central bell tower. Surrounded by large trees and green lawns, the structure was formerly Madison Grammar School, where Oliver Hardy began his education.

Oliver Hardy Madison GA Walking Tour: Childhood Sites & History

Follow Oliver Hardy’s childhood story through Madison, Georgia, on a self-guided walking tour connecting the Turnell-Butler Hotel marker, Hardy House site, his former grammar school and the historic streets he knew as a child. This guide includes verified history, walking tips and a bonus stop tied to the Oliver Hardy Festival in his birthplace of Harlem.

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Road Trip, US Travel Adventures

Vibrant mural of a bird in mid-flight with layered wings in blue, yellow, and black tones. The background includes bold red and yellow arcs, with the word 'Hope' written in white script to the right.

Healing, Hope & Courage Murals in Watkinsville, Georgia

Three colorful roadside murals in Watkinsville, Georgia—Healing, Hope and Courage—turned an unplanned drive home from Lake Oconee into a memorable street-art stop. See each mural, what the imagery meant to me, photography tips and how to add this unexpected find to a Georgia road trip.

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Street Art, US Travel Adventures

Exterior view of the historic Madison Station building in Madison, Georgia, part of the Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails. The photo includes the cream-colored brick depot with black shutters, a Georgia Civil War Trails marker with a red star, and nearby railroad crossing signs and tracks under a clear blue sky.

Madison Station Georgia: Civil War History & Train Photography

Madison Station in Madison, Georgia connects Civil War history with the city’s railroad past. Learn what happened here during Sherman’s March to the Sea, the role Joshua Hill played, what the historic markers explain and why the active rail corridor also makes an interesting stop for train photography.

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Road Trip, US Travel Adventures