Travel Writing
The only thing more fun than getting to travel to fun and exciting places is to tell the stories about the people you meet and the places you go along the way. At Flack Rabbit, we love the challenge of experiencing a new destination and learning about its culture, food, vibe and mojo -- and being able to share it. A few examples of our work are below.
Have a sneak peek at Bolt Farm's new Mirror Cabins: 'Our environments shape who we are'
Floor-to-ceiling glass-encased hotel rooms have traditionally been found only in urban, high-rise buildings.
Until now.
Seth and Tori Bolt, owners of Bolt Farm atop Whitwell Mountain in Whitwell, Tennessee, have created the ultimate best-of-both-worlds scenario with their newest endeavor: a Mirror Cabin mountainside village. These glass cabins drop a modern, sleek 200-square-foot hotel room in the middle of the woods with nothing separating the natural beauty of the outdoors from the climate-controlled interior but a sheet of two-way mirrored glass.
What elevates the Mirror Cabins above mere glamping is the seamless environment the unobstructed views bring to the experience, and in this case, the finishing touches the Bolts have become known for, such as engaging all of the five senses with music, scent diffusers and, of course, the breathtaking views.
Kathleen Greeson/For The Tennessean
Writer Melonee Hurt shares how Tennessee road trip story came together and why
What's better than getting to go on a fun trip?
Getting to go on a fun trip and then write about it.
My phone's camera roll is packed with photos of food, sunsets, beaches, mountain vistas, flowers, hiking and biking trails, wildlife and maybe a few hundred too many of my dog, Ranger, who loves exploring as much as I do. The journalist in me loves to document every adventure and then share my favorite places and moments from my travels — especially the lesser-known people and places I consider hidden gems.
So when my editor asked me if I'd be interested in writing a summer Tennessee road trip story, I kinda laughed to myself thinking "Duh, I've already got that photographed and researched." It's an assignment I've been prepping for my whole life.
Adventure, family time, couples retreat: Road trips to take without leaving Tennessee
As summer approaches, warmer weather and kids being out of school means one thing: Vacation time!
Whether you need a luxurious weekend away from the kids or a full-on adventure with the kids, there's a little something for everyone within a few hours' drive from Nashville. We scoured the state to find the ideal spots for each type of vacation.
Want to sleep in a bubble? Hike to an underground waterfall? Cap off a mountain bike ride with a round of beers? Dine on a chef-curated meal atop a 1950s fire tower? It can all be done without crossing the state line.
We found all kinds of adventures within driving distance, which means there's no airport security line standing between you and your perfect summer destination
This luxury resort lets guests hear chart-topping artists unplugged
PUNTA MITA, MEXICO ‒ Alvaro Mackissack ambled across the sandy beach.
It was just before sunset as he joined several friends on a gathering of soft couches oriented toward a small stage with waves lapping behind.
Most people have to crowd into a packed 1,000-seat venue for a show like this. But Mackissack and his family got an ocean sunset – and a front-row seat to see singer/songwriter Marc Scibilia – with only 20 or so others in attendance.
The small crowd is not something Scibilia is used to, but this one was by design.
Scibilia was a guest at Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort in Punta Mita, Mexico. It's a property that, at full capacity, houses only 30 guests in 15 tented bungalows. The resort is a frontrunner for "experiential tourism," and the most recent addition to the lineup of experiences there is its unplugged concert series.
photo by Stephanie Amador
Does your hotel pair you with a falcon to hunt? Why this Tennessee inn focuses on adventure
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — It was a blustery February day at Southall Farm and Inn in Franklin when my husband and I met David Hudson at an outdoor pavilion. He was about to introduce us to something we'd never done before.
Within minutes, I had a large hawk flying at me. We made serious eye contact just before she gently landed on my gloved arm. After learning about falconry, the birds, the process and the 6,000-year history of the sport, we headed out for the hunt.
Known as "squirrel hawking," we walked through the woods with Goldilocks, a Harris's hawk, who would light on tree limbs high above and just behind us. We'd take a few steps and she'd follow, hoping we would flush out a mouse or squirrel for her to swoop down and eat.
My teenage daughter had never been to NYC, so I had her guide us. Here's why.
It’s noon on a chilly Manhattan day in December and my 14-year-old Tennessean daughter is staring down the steps into the 42nd Street/Bryant Park subway station.
It's her first foray into a large metropolitan subway system, and her dad and I have decided to let her get us to SoHo.
She resists our urging to ask the attendant for a subway map, but reluctantly agrees and then (because she is 14), looks up at us as if to say, "What do you expect me to do with this fossil?" We mainly wanted her to walk up to a stranger and ask for help. Mission accomplished.
Tiny Homes & Glamping at Little Arrow Outdoor Resort
Mention the Great Smoky Mountains and you likely think of Gatlinburg, Dollywood, or Pigeon Forge. But one area of the Smoky Mountains that may not come to mind is what’s referred to as the “peaceful side of the Smokies” in Townsend, TN. Just south of Knoxville between Maryville and the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Townsend is a quaint stretch of town dotted with local shops, small river outfitters and motels. At last count in 2017, the population hovered around 450 full-time residents.
As the road through Townsend narrows and begins to gently wind along the Little River, just before the national park entrance, you’ll come upon Little Arrow Outdoor Resort.
Visitors to Little Arrow Outdoor Resort will find a bustling resort with food trucks, fresh coffee and a multitude of accommodations suitable from the most rugged camper to the least likely to spend a night in the woods.
Have You Heard of the Silo District? Here’s What You Need to Know!
After watching HGTV’s “Fixer Upper” since its first episode and becoming one the millions of Americans who feel like they know Chip and Joanna Gaines personally, going to see the property they lovingly redeveloped in Waco, now known as the Silo District, was high on my bucket list.
I felt like I’d already been there thanks to the couple chronicling each redevelopment project on their show, but there’s something about seeing all of it in person that was just, well, pretty cool. It was almost like looking at a house online via a virtual tour and then getting to cross the threshold. The property was everything I had hoped it would be: the grounds were beautiful, the shop was chock full of fun items that celebrate and showcase Joanna’s iconic taste, and every employee we encountered seemed as if working for the Gaineses was their dream job.
How to spend a weekend with the whole family in San Francisco
San Francisco is known for many things, from the towers of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and the twists and turns of Lombard Street, to the historic cable cars and beautifully drastic topography. The city has a rich history and a history of being home to the rich.
But an aspect of San Fran that you might not have considered is it being a wonderful destination for a family getaway. There is so much to see, do and eat in that are fun for kids of all ages.
Everything that was planned on our short, three-day itinerary worked beautifully for my husband and I, but also for our 10-year-old, who not only enjoyed the thrill of riding a cable car from the running boards with no seatbelt, but also snapping photos of all the things she’d never seen before.
It’s almost cliché to say that we wore sweatshirts in late July, but guess what? It’s true. The coldest I have ever been was this past summer in San Francisco.
The historic seaport building not only still functions as a seaport terminal, but also houses a plethora of local shops and a farmer’s market.
The seasonal Blue Bonnets show their amazing display of color at the entrance to their namesake cafe in Marble Falls, Tx.
Highland lakes region of texas
Walking up to the unassuming Blue Bonnet Café in the heart of Marble Falls, Texas, you might suspect it’s just another roadside cafeteria. Flanked with a bank of actual majestic blue bonnets blowing in the wind, you’ll quickly realize this isn’t your average lunch spot. For starters, we went in at 2 p.m. on a random Thursday, a time when many restaurants are closed. But not the Blue Bonnet. We had to wait in line for a table. The place, which can seat nearly 400 people, was packed.
Little gems like the Blue Bonnet are the crown jewels for Marble Falls and the entire Highland Lakes region of Texas, which is just about an hour northwest of Austin nestled in the Texas Hill Country’s Burnet County. We spent some time trekking up and down Highway 281 and have compiled a list of all the must-see stops in the area including places to stay, outdoor activities and, of course, places to eat.
HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
Hot Springs, Arkansas, has quite a storied past. What once was on the fast track to becoming the Las Vegas of the South in the early 1900s, complete with gambling, casinos and brothels in plain sight on the town’s main drag, became a popular destination spot for its thermal mineral water that bubbled up naturally out of the ground and was thought to have healing power.
Local folklore says the water on one side of the street could cure you of everything you caught dabbling in the casinos and brothels on the other side. In the late 1800s, doctors would even write prescriptions for people to come to Hot Springs just to take a bath.
The Anthony Chapel in the stunning Garvan Woodland Gardens.
The view from the Whiteside Mountain Trail high in the hills of North Carolina.
Western North Carolina
North Carolina has a lot to offer within its borders. There are the beautiful and scenic Outer Banks and beaches that dot the coastline. There are big cities with leading universities and industries.
But the Western side of the state, bordered by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Nantahala National Forest, is home to a handful of scenic little mountain towns chock full of sightseeing, hiking and waterfalls as well as fine dining, lodging and shopping; just with a bit of a scaled-down pace.
Just a two-hour drive from Atlanta, the town of Cashiers (which we learned while there is pronounced “Cash-urs,” not “Cash-eers”) is the perfect home base for a weekend of adventure in the North Carolina Mountains.
franklin, tn
Your girl squad contains a foodie, a shopaholic, a history buff, an athlete and a self-confirmed hotel snob. So how in the world do you find a weekend getaway that pleases your entire Breakfast Club? Look no further than Franklin, Tennessee.
Franklin is located about 15 miles from downtown Nashville, but a fun weekend with your girls, no matter how eclectic the group is, can be had without having to venture to downtown Music City.
Franklin, TN, has a little something for everyone like this artisan village called Leiper's Fork.
The view from The Westin Nashville rooftop. Image: Tausha Dickinson
the south's most luxe hotels
In the past, if you wanted to travel and stay in a truly unique hotel, you would have to seek out a smaller, locally owned boutique hotel to expect much of anything out of the ordinary, but that’s just not the case anymore. Many large luxury hotel chains have evolved into looking less like a franchise, where every single location needs to offer the exact same amenities and services, and operating more like a brand that is focused on delivering boutique services and, more importantly, experiences.
We did a little homework and have compiled a list of some of the South’s most premier luxury hotel chains that are excelling at crafting an experience that goes way beyond a clean room and a cup of coffee in the morning.
10 TOP SOUTHERN SPAS & WELLNESS CENTERS
We are knee-deep in the time of year where the cold winter weather and shorter days have us feeling the effects in a big way. It not only challenges the energy level and makes us fight wanting to do anything that doesn’t involve a fuzzy blanket, glass of Merlot and Netflix, but your body suffers during the winter months as well as your psyche.
Cold and wind wreak havoc on your cuticles, your skin turns to ash no matter how much lotion you apply, and your hair can’t decide if it wants to stand up from static or frizz out from damage.
But we are here to offer you a much-needed ray of light in the form of 10 of the South’s most stellar spa destinations that are amazing even in the dead of winter.
Reconnect with a Deep Healing Woods yoga session with The Wellhouse at Blackberry Farm. Image: beall + thomas photography
Schlitterbahn water park in New Braunfels, Texas, is a playground of water for kids of all ages.
SCHLITTERBAHN WATER PARK
Somehow, spending two full days running around outside in the 98-degree sunshine in south Texas in the middle of June, my family and I managed to not die from heat exhaustion. I bet it had something to do with all the nice, cool 72-degree water compliments of Schlitterbahn Water Park.
TUPELO, Mississippi
Tupelo, Mississippi, will always be known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, and that will likely never cease to be the town’s biggest tourism draw. But there’s a lot more to Tupelo that makes it a quite unique and well-rounded vacation stop with offerings for everyone in the family.
Tupelo is home to numerous festivals, car shows and hiking trails, and there is an abundance of live music. “A fan favorite of our Tupelo Elvis Festival held every June is the Elvis Pet Parade and Pageant, where people dress their pets up to look like Elvis,” shares Jennie Bradford Curlee, public relations and international sales director for the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The annual Gumtree Festival features the Gumtree 10k.
The clear waters of Watauga Lake make for a beautiful kayak excursion that suits any skill level.
NORTHEAST TENNESSEE
If you are one of the masses of Middle Tennesseans who thinks East Tennessee means Knoxville, then you need to do one thing: Keep going.
The northeastern part of the state, 100 more miles east of Knoxville, might surprise you with its blossoming restaurant and craft beer and distillery scene, its natural beauty and proximity to just about any outdoor activity.
With borders reaching into Virginia and stretching up toward the mountains of North Carolina, the trio of towns including Johnson City, Kingsport and Bristol are a beautiful setting for an outdoor adventure trip for the whole family. The Tri-Cities area and its surrounding bodies of water and mountainous peaks and valleys are an outdoor lover’s paradise with everything from world-class fishing and kayaking to hiking, road cycling, mountain biking and even zip-lining.