An inexpensive weekend in Nashville

Described as "Hollywood with a touch of twang" by Jason Aldean (Crazy Town), Music City makes for a fun getaway, even if it's just for a few days. We spent two days and two nights in Nashville, Tennessee, and even though we had some thunderstorms that prevented us from zip lining and horseback riding, there's still plenty to do on a rainy day in Nashville. 

• Check out the honky tonks on Broadway. It's the main strip. Full of neon signs and live music blaring from every bar you pass, it's like a cool country/rock n' roll miniature Vegas. We started with dinner at the Hard Rock, then grabbed a beer and took in the talent at several different bars. There's also a super cool pedaling tavern going down the road, but we were told you had to make reservations.
• Buy yourself some real cowboy/cowgirl boots! There are a bunch of stores where you can pick up a fancy cowboy hat or genuine boots, but you definitely want to go to the stores that offer buy one get two free boots, like Boot Country! I got myself a tan/floral pair, a red pair, and a sexy black pair.
• Give in to that sweet tooth. Also on Broadway, you gotta check out Mike's Ice Cream. It's a classic, and of course, it's delicious. There's also Savannah's Candy Kitchen, full of all kinds of caramel apples, every kind of candy, fudge ... the works. You'll know you're close by when you smell the sugar in the air.
• Grab a latte and breakfast at the Frothy Monkey. After reading this article with Taylor Swift's Nashville recommendations, we decided to hop on over to the Frothy Monkey. We're complete coffee addicts and love trying out new coffee shops when we travel. The latte art was lovely; I only wish we had time to stay for breakfast. The food we saw looked absolutely delicious! It has a really cool vibe, very "granola," as our Nashville-resident friend described it. You can also check out Garage Coffee Company, if nothing else then for the really neat decorations! I can't help but think the pickers had something to do with it -- with the massive old Gulf sign inside and vintage car fender turned chalkboard. Speaking of pickers, just next door is the American Pickers' second location:
• Pick the Pickers at Antique Archaeology in Nashville! If you're a fan of the TV show American Pickers, you'll enjoy perusing their shop, Antique Archaeology. Some things are for display only, and other things you can actually purchase. And if nothing else, you can get a little magnet that says "I picked the pickers." Cute.
• Parthenon. You're walking through the park, and then, out of nowhere, you think you've wandered into Athens, Greece. It's a replica of the real thing! It's massive. Go see it.
• We got together with a few old friends who recently moved to Nashville. But if we had more time, we'd have tried a tour. There are tons to choose from! There's of course the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium, but also tours that show you the homes of the stars, ghost tours, ABC's Nashville tours, and more.

The Iron Furnace, Cumberland Gap National Park

 After living here for about a month, I must say, it's been a real treat exploring the beautiful hiking trails and history of eastern Tennessee! I've used my free time (with the husband in school all day and me not having a job) to explore the quaint little town of Cumberland Gap, Tenn., and the surrounding Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. 
The town itself has a delicious coffeehouse, a stylish and cute boutique, a rustic Italian restaurant, a few antique stores and more. And just a few steps from the downtown area, you have easy access to this unique landmark, the Iron Furnace, and some really nice walking trails.
After marveling at the remnants of a 19th century Newlee iron smelting factory, I took the Tennessee Trail up to the Wilderness Trail and walked for about 30 minutes or so with the puppy. She's a long-haired miniature dachshund, and even though she's just 3 months, the hound in her absolutely loves the adventures of exploring the outdoors.
Whether you're planning an economical family vacation or an unplug and unwind trip for two, I highly recommend checking out Cumberland Gap National Park at the intersection of Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia. Here are a few of my Instagram photos from my adventures this afternoon:

5 fabulous things to do in Palm Beach County, Fla.

Oh the beautiful Palm Beach, Fla. -- home to Mediterranean-style mansions behind lavish gates, flashy fashion and floppy hats at Sunday polo, and where media moguls and business tycoons dock their multimillion dollar mega-yachts. The likes of the Kennedys have called this elite island one of their homes, but very few make this island their full-time residence.

Though Palm Beach is known for being a winter playground for the wealthy, it's a fantastic tourist destination for the average traveler. In fact, many of us "normal people" live right over the bridge in the beautiful city of West Palm Beach. I only recently relocated to Tennessee so my husband could attend medical school here. But West Palm will always stay close to my heart.

So even if you don't have the money or desire to shop at the famous Worth Avenue or stay in the renowned Breakers resort, there are so many nearby attractions you can enjoy year round! 

Once you've finished gawking at the abundance of Aston Martins, Ferraris, Maseratis, Bentleys and Rolls Royces, be sure to check out this list of must-dos in Palm Beach County:

1. Catch a polo game at the International Polo Club in Wellington. If you're in the area anytime between January through April, you've got to stop by on Sunday for a polo match. The sport itself is regal and mesmerizing, but just as entertaining is watching the attendees in their brunch dresses and bow ties, as well as sipping champagne while stomping the divets. General admission tickets range from $10-$30.
2. If shopping and dining is your scene, be sure to peruse CityPlace in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, Clematis St. (just a few blocks over), and Mizner Park in Boca Raton (30 min. south). Of the three, Clematis St. is ideal for nightlife with lots of bars, clubs and restaurants to choose from. The burgers at Grease are to die for, or if you love Asian cuisine, Palm Sugar gets high marks. But if you're looking for some retail therapy, head on over to CityPlace or Mizner.
3. Stroll the Green Market on Saturday mornings at the waterfront (head east on Clematis). The Green Market is not your average farmer's market, with just a few produce stands and maybe some honey and jam. This weekly exposition of local businesses includes loose tea, spices, donuts, cupcakes, homemade pickles, grass-fed beef, flowers, lotions, honey, guacamole, handmade pasta, coffee, crepes, fresh produce, candles, smoothies and much more. My personal favorite: the coconut stand. They just slice open a green coconut and hand you a straw -- voila, fresh coconut water. Simply delicious! Once you've had your fill at the Green Market, you can wander through the antique flea market one block north.
4. Go on a safari at Lion Country Safari! It's literally what it sounds like. You get to drive through the preserve, just like you would on an African safari. There are no fences or boundaries; you're right there in the middle of  these animals' habitat. 
5. If you're planning a summer getaway to South Florida, plan on 90+ degree weather. The most obvious way to cool down? A mix of air-conditioned attractions and a dip at the beach. A more exciting way to cool down? Rapids Waterpark. With everything from wave pools to heart-dropping plunges, every visitor from 5 to 85 will enjoy their rides.

Those are just a few suggestions, coming from a former West Palm Beach resident. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. There's always the Norton Museum of Art, the South Florida Science Museum, the Flagler Museum, Palm Beach Kennel Club, Jupiter Inlet, deep-sea fishing, paddleboarding, Peanut Island, plenty of golf courses, and the obvious -- beaches!

And if these aren't enough, you can always drive two and a half hours north to Orlando, 45 minutes south to Ft. Lauderdale, or a little over an hour to Miami.

Introduction

Hello!
Bienvenue! I'm Anna.
I've started this blog as an outlet for one of my huge passions, which is traveling and exploring new places!
I hope to share with you both the hidden gems only locals know about and my experiences doing all the cheesy, over-the-top tourist attractions. While I've had my fair share of jet-setting and roadtrips all across this beautiful US of A, I aspire to cross the "Big Pond" and have many exciting adventures overseas -- hence the aspiring part of the blog's title. I also hope to showcase my travel writing and photography skills to be able to make freelance travel writing a career. Thanks so much for reading!
Bon Voyage,
Anna