Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is Now Open!

Its no secret that Summer in Atlanta gets hot. Hot and sticky with very few breezes. Of course that means we are always looking for ways to cool off and relax. A way to make the Summer a little less brutal.

This year, one of Atlanta's favorite places to hang out and have some thrilling family fun is also the newest place to have some water fun! Six Flags Over Georgia opened its Hurricane Harbor attraction this Summer! With over 7 new acres dedicated to Hurricane Harbor it is sure to have something for everyone.

For starters, Calypso Bay is a 38,000 square, zero entry wave pool second to none. Stay at the entry and enjoy the waves gently lapping at your toes or brave the true surfside experience closer in. The boys had a blast splashing and jumping in the waves that were just their size around the middle of the pool. They even provide the life vests for the less aggressive swimmers and tubes for lazy floating.

Then there are the two new water slides for those that crave a little more of an adrenaline rush! Tsunami Surge is the worlds first zero gravity hybrid slide, which drop kicks you down five stories, swirls you around, and gives you that weightless feeling that is both terrifying and fun at the same time. Then there are the Bonzai Pipelines with 180 and 360 degrees turns which you can ride solo or with a friend.

For the smaller ones in your life, be sure to check out the Paradise Island attraction. With slides for everyone from the most adventerous tots to the slightly more cautious, this is a structure with a whole of opportunity. Rope ladders, spray guns, and huge water buckets dumping galore, my boys had a blast exploring all the different levels and slides.

My biggest tip for those going with kids would be to invest in some water shoes. The concrete gets hot between the attractions and running around on it all day can leave sore tootsies! I would also plan on renting a locker to store your dry clothes, cell phones, etc so you arent worrying about them while enjoying the fun. I was pleased to find they were generously sized!

If you are planning a trip to Six Flags over Georgia this year, definitely be sure to make time for some water adventure at Hurricane Harbor. It definitely adds to the experience and gives you the chance to cool off and relax between roller coasters!

*I was invited to the Grand Opening Celebration and given tickets to return another day for my review of Hurricane Harbor but all opinions are my own!

Where to Eat in Knoxville, Tennessee: A Short Guide

So, I shared the places we toured with you already but now I need to share the places we filled our bellies with while we worked our way through the whirlwind our. Something that I enjoy most about traveling in general is having the chance

Inside the Oliver hotel was the golden speakeasy called the Peter Kern Library. With drinks named aptly after classical literary characters I had to go through the whole bar menu (cleverly hidden inside vintage encyclopedias) before I finally decided on a drink called the Artful Dodger. After I got my drink, it was a little too easy to relax in the slow, easy ambiance and get to know my fellow travel tourists and our hostesses.

As we were chatting, we were treated to lunch from the Tueplo Honey Cafe attached to the hotel. If you have ever been to Asheville, North Carolina, you undoubtedly know about Tupelo Honey Cafe. Known for their transformation of traditional Southern food, they serve the best shrimp and grits and biscuits you will ever come across. With everything farm fresh and made from scratch, you can't beat the creativity and taste that comes from the arts of Asheville. I, of course, has to try out the shrimp and grits and I was far from disappointed.

That afternoon, after our Knoxville Museum of Art tour, we hit the new to town Knox Mason located in the Historic district. Using hyper-local staples and local craft and micro brews, Knox mason keeps its seasonally focused menu fresh and down home Southern. With appetizers like pork rinds and pimento cheese, you can't help but get into the atmosphere. I had the braised beef as my meal and let me tell you, I have never had a cut of beef melt like that before. I'm talking no knife needed, eat with a fork tender. You would think that after having such a huge lunch I would not have been able to eat another bite but I couldn't stop.

The next morning, we were treated to a little hideaway called the Plaid Apron in the Sequoya Hills district. We had a family style meal of frittatas and pork belly with home made biscuits, gravy, and local jellies that make my mouth water just thinking about them. We had a beet salad that I would not have thought to enjoy for breakfast but made an excellent addition to a heavy meal.


Overall, there was a Southern fusion feel to all of the places we had the pleasure of dining with but they were all different enough that it didn't seem like we were being forced to chose between the same Southern staples each time. Knoxville is blooming into a culinary destination in its own right. It is rapidly growing and seeing a restaurant renascence in the downtown area with less chains and more resident owned restaurants. So, if you are a typical foodie (or just love to eat like me), Knoxville is a place to see and taste the movement towards something oh so tasty.

*For more information on any of the restaurants listed, just check the links in this post. If you are looking for more indepth information about the culinary experiences of Knoxville, you can find a comprehensive list of the best of the best on the Visit Knoxville website.

The Tennessee Theater #WW

Knoxville, Tennessee: Posh Family Fun Meets the Smokies

Last week I had the pleasure of heading North to Tennessee and checking out the beautiful city of Knoxville, Tennessee. Knoxville is just under 3 hours from the Atlanta area and is a nice, relaxing country side drive North. I'll admit that when I got the invitation from Visit Knoxville, I wondered a little about what all Knoxville could offer a jaded family travel writer like me. Turns out, there is a lot in Knoxville to do and enrich your mind with. Our tour of the city was fast and furious at just about 24 hours but we got to get peeks at a lot of what the city has to offer.

First I will tell you about all the wonderful sites I was able to visit and take a peek at, then I will tell you about our culinary adventures in Knoxville later in the week.

The first stop on our tour was our hosting hotel, the Oliver. After I got checked in and went up to check out my room, I was immediately impressed with how well they had preserved the history of the old hotel but added those ever so nice modern day touches that we all seem to need so badly these days. Thinks like large, flat screen tvs and enough electrical outlets to power a house mixed with lush period furniture and a well appointed mini bar. Not to mention the plush king sized bed with plenty of soft, squishy pillows to surround myself with after a day of touring.

As soon as we got settled into our rooms, we had cocktails at the Peter Kern Library inside the Oliver and were treated to lunch by the adjoining Tupelo Honey Cafe. More on that later.


After we had stuffed ourselves silly, we took off on a caravan tour of downtown Knoxville. We passed the historic courthouses and theaters. Took a ride up into the Sunsphere and surveyed the beautiful spread of Worlds Fair Park. The Sunsphere itself is an attraction that warrants a good look over. Built in 1987 for the World's Fair, it is 266' of shiny, 24 karat plated glass that offers gorgeous views of the city with the Tennessee river winding through it. From the observation deck, you can see the smokies or your can see the bustling downtown area. Every where you look is a sight to be seen.

After that, we got a tour of the South's Finest Chocolate Factory. It was cool to see the inner workings of the chocolate factory that supplies caramels to Biltmore house. For 30 years this manufacturing facility and retail store, located in downtown Knoxville, has been open to the public and on any given day you can see a variety of candy making techniques in action. We got to sample some of the most amazing chocolate covered cherries I have ever tasted. This little hideaway of a candy kitchen is a must see for all those chocolate lovers out there.


Then it was a short walk up to the Knoxville Museum of Art. Free to the public, the museum celebrates the art and artists of East Tennessee, "presents new art and new ideas, educates and serves a diverse community, and enhances Knoxville’s quality of life". I can definitely agree with all of that. We witnessed the art of Knoxville's past and present in the upstairs galleries but the downstairs galleries were in transition. Guess I'll have to make a trip back up!




Of course after dinner at Knox Mason, it was time to waddle back to the hotel and prepare ourselves for a treat at the Tennessee Theatre. We were lucky enough to get to attend the opening night of the Broadway musical Mary Poppins. Now, if you have never seen the show, you need to. Seriously the most energetic show I have ever seen. The real treat though was the Tennessee Theatre. I shared a little last week about its history and similarities to the Fox here in Atlanta but I have to say the Tennessee's grandeur, although on a very different scale, could give the Fabulous Fox a run for its money. The Tennessee is easily half the size of the Fox, if not smaller but the attention to detail during the renovations is astounding. The colors are bright, the ambiance endearing, and the acoustics right on par.

The next morning we woke bright and early to a snow covered Knoxville. It was a beautiful and relaxing surprise but it did put a hamper on our plans for the day. We did get to do our tour of the Tennessee Theatre, which was still hauntingly gorgeous the next day. We got to hear about the renovations and how they came up with color schemes and how they had the carpet rewoven new to match the exact same pattern as it was before. It was a real treat to me considering history and theatre are two of my biggies.

We were supposed take a tour of the Knoxville Zoo after the theater but considering the snow, it got cut out. I have heard it is a definite must see if you are in the area though. Along with several other of Knoxville's little hidden treasures like the World's Largest Rubiks Cube or taking a tour on the river boat, the Star of Knoxville, down the grand Tennessee river.

Truth is, what ever you are looking for in a family vacation, you are likely to find it in Knoxville. They have a little of everything and it is in a central location that lends itself to a perfect weekend trip from just about anywhere. Honestly, I think it might be better for families with more of a middle to high school range aged children. The age that would appreciate the arts and history of Knoxville. Something they place great pride in and something that is well worth seeing. With a lack of younger children's attractions like a children's museum (which they say is coming soon), the little ones just might get lost in the mix.

To learn more check out Visit Knoxville online or down load the app to your smartphone. To learn more about each venue, simply click the highlighted link through out! Be sure to check back later this week for all about my culinary tour of Knoxville!

On The Road Again

Today, I am headed up to explore the City of Knoxville, Tennessee. With a population of  Knoxville is the third largest city in the state of Tennessee and a short 3 hour drive from Atlanta. Perfect for a weekend getaway or a more leisurely, Historic tour. Knoxville's culture and history can be explored and discovered in its 20 museums, numerous performing arts venues, and its historic neighborhoods.


For starters the iconic Tennessee Theater calls Knoxville its home and in 2005 opened its doors after a $23.5 million dollar renovation to restore the theater to its original grandeur. Of course with some modern improvements that is. Of course us here in Atlanta remember our fabulous Fox theater undergoing a similar renovation and updating in the late 80s to save it from Southern Bell's wrecking ball. So, of course, the Tennessee is something I am most looking forward to checking that out.


Of course then there is the infamous World's Fair Park Sunsphere. The 266' tower decked out with glass panels layered in 24-karat gold dust and cut to seven different shapes, was built for the 1987 World's Fair. Its become the most recognized feature of the Knoxville cityscape, it has remained vacant or nearly so for most of its life. Its observation desk was reopened to the public though in 2007 and in 2008, parts of the rest of the sphere were rented out to privately owned businesses.

My "day" tour will take me around these and several other places around Knoxville including the South's Finest Chocolate Factory, the Knoxville Museum of Art, and the Knoxville Zoo. I will also be seeing the Mary Poppins live performance and I am super excited about that. We all know how much I love live theater. Of course there will also be some supreme restivities at the Oliver Hotel as well. I am looking forward to touring and exploring Knoxville and being able to tell you more about my adventures when I return.

Have you ever been to Knoxville? What are your must see attractions and places?

Au Revoir 2013

Well, 2013 has come and gone. Even at its worst, its been better than some of the previous years. I won't complain. I've found happiness and joy in 2013. I've lost and I've gained. Admittedly, I have been rather absent in 2013 as well. Call it a mental health year I guess.

Still, there were a lot of memories made. Just like years past, I want to share some of my favorites from the year with you. Even when my heart isn't in it completely, I do still love to share my little corner of the world with all of you.

In January, I spent some time getting my groove back and battling the Thursdays.

February brought our Staycation in the ATL and we welcomed Spring with open arms. 

March was a month of exploring new cities and spending time in a beautiful place. 

April saw the joy of two handsome boys and the shock of a nation.

In May, I bought my shiny and took a little trip with my boys.

June brought us to the Braves game and a little relaxation time at the local beach.

In July, we got a ridiculous amount of rain but we still found time for some fun.

August saw our television debut!

October meant a partial Hootie

September, November, and December were unfortunately quiet around here though. Like I said, mental health... months? That doesn't mean there wasn't fun times to be had, just that there were so many I didn't share. 

As for the 2013 list? It was a big failure this year. I hate it and its really bothered me in the last couple of months but there just didn't seem to be enough time this year. Of course that just means that next year will bring some of the same challenges but I am okay with that. I am more than ready to bring the A game and get it done for the new year. 

What are you looking forward to in the new year?

A Little Aquarium Fun In Gatlinburg, TN

*We were provided the tickets for this visit Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg, TN. If you are ever in the area, definitely check it out.

Wilderness at the Smokies

This past weekend, the boys and I took a mini getaway to the Smoky Mountains. We went one a quick weekend jaunt to Wilderness at the Smokies, an indoor water park and hotel. We spent most of our time playing and swimming but we also spent quite a bit of time at the all you can eat buffet. We are all exhausted AND stuffed to the gills. I hope we can go back sometime soon for a longer trip!

A Little Gamble

At the end of last week I took a little trip up to the casino in Cherokee, North Carolina. I was kind of reluctant about going because I am generally the unluckiest kind of person. I don't know if its a personality flaw or just plain inexperience though, so I agreed to the trip.

Plus there was a chance at spending some time in the Smokies while there and I'm not like to turn that down. Ever.

We got up early and drove through some of the most dense fog I've ever seen for what seemed like a ridiculously long time ,but was really only about 3 hours, before we got to the Indian Reservation that the casino calls home. I'll just say I wasn't really impressed by the outside of the casino. It was kind of run down looking compared to what I was expecting I guess.

The inside though was gorgeous! There was a huge water feature and cool lighting and an electronic poker room. It was a lot bigger on the inside than I expected too.

Of course they don't build pretty (inside) buildings by people coming there and winning either. All in all I think we walked out with a little less than we went in with but it was a lot of fun wasting what little we did. My highest win was a dollar and I got all excited about it until my friend sat down at a machine and won fifty bucks right off. My poor deflated ego. 

Lets Go Down to the River

O brothers let's go down

Let's go down, come on down

Come on brothers, let's go down

Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray

Studying about that good ol' way

And who shall wear the starry crown?

Good Lord show me the way

~ From "Down to the River to Pray" by Alison Krauss

We had an awesome weekend on the river with some amazing friends. It was nice to be unplugged for a bit and just spend some time doing nothing. No worries, no cares, no rush.

The boys had a blast and are crazy excited to head back some day. D was more excited about catching fish than I have seen him about anything in a very long time. Who knew trot-line fishing could be that exciting to a 5 year old? K on the other hand was more excited about playing with new made friends and riding in the boat. So much so that every time anyone got close to a dock he would come running and want a ride (which of course he didn't get. Poor bubs.).

I hope your holiday weekend was as relaxing and warm as ours!