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Blog
Categories
- Destinations
  - All Destinations
  - Asia
    - Japan
  - Europe
  - North America
    - Mexico
    - United States
      - Midwest
      - Northeast
      - Southeast
      - Southwest
      - West
  - Oceania
    - New Zealand
  - South America
    - Colombia
    - Peru
- Tennessee State Parks
- Nashville Local
- Books
- Personal Essay
About
- My Story
- Work with Me
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Day: November 20, 2019

Destinations

Seattle, a Toddler, & Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease | Misadventures in Family Travel, Part 1

November 20, 2019

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✌️Hi! I’m Kari, and it’s time I personalize this a

✌️Hi! I’m Kari, and it’s time I personalize this account a bit by re-introducing myself.

I’m your go-to guide for Tennessee outdoor adventures and atypical family destinations and experiences. But I’m also just a woman obsessed with travel and finding ways to fit it into my life with kids and a full-time job. Here, my goal is to:

✅ Inspire you to seek travel and adventure amidst your busy everyday lives.
✅ Guide you to places you wouldn’t usually consider for a family trip.
✅ Tell the deeper stories of people and places, more than just a highlight reel.

As a public school librarian, I’m a huge advocate of civil rights, strong communities, and equitable access to information, and I believe in the power of stories to bring a greater sense of compassion and commonality to the human experience.

You won’t usually find me in front of the camera, but just so you know more about me: I’m a native Nashvillian who spent 9 formative years living in NYC; I’m an outgoing introvert with a dry sense of humor; I often quote movies or TV shows; I’m obsessed with Beyoncé; and I always have a book with me.

Whether you’re here for TN state parks, family travel, or just pretty pictures, I’m glad we found
each other!

And tell me in the comments: What brought you here?

(📸 And mad photo props to @akemisadventures for the first acceptable professional pic I’ve ever had taken! ❤️)

🌿This state park trail was once the site of a 1930

🌿This state park trail was once the site of a 1930s vacation resort…

Hidden Lake is one of the 3 main areas of the segmented @harpethriverstatepark, located off Hwy 70 just past Bellevue.

⏱️ 5 different trails, most under half a mile; combine them all, and it’s still under 3 miles!
🚶Natural surface
🏔️Small portions of moderate incline
🌳Mostly shaded
⚠️A portion of the Ridge Loop Trail does have a steep drop off one side (but great views!).

I recommend hiking the Bluebird Trail to the Ridge Loop Trail, and you can’t miss the Hidden Lake Trail spur to see remnants of the resort’s terrazzo dance floor!

👉 SAVE this post for your next family outing, and follow along for a new trail idea each Friday this summer!
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#nashvillemoms #hikingwithkids #tnstateparks #nashvilleoutdoors #nashvilletrails

EXT. SMALL TOWN IN MOUNTAIN FOG - MORNING You can

EXT. SMALL TOWN IN MOUNTAIN FOG - MORNING

You can hardly see the mountains for the fog that has descended on town. The day promises adventure, but not yet—now all you can manage is a slow cup of coffee, a pastry, the familiar “Good mornings” and pleasantries that define small-town charm. You imagine this as your everyday routine, and even if it’s not realistic, you can certainly relax into this pace for the next few days.

(Setting the scene of a stay in the rural @tennesseeoverhill)
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#madeintn #smalltownusa #easttennessee #weekendgetaway #slowliving

This quiet, 1.6-mile trail is tucked into a reside

This quiet, 1.6-mile trail is tucked into a residential neighborhood in south Nashville.

Rogers’ Walk is on the campus of Ellington Agricultural Center in the heart of Crieve Hall. The location itself has historical significance, and the land is home to a variety of native ecosystems.

⏱️1.6 mile loop, with short additional add-ons available
🚶‍♂️Natural surface
⛰️Some incline
🌳Mostly shaded
💦Creek access

Visit on a weekday, and you can also check out the @tennessee.agricultural.museum that’s FREE and located on campus!

👉 SAVE this post for your next summer family outing!
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#nashvillemoms #thingstodoinnashville #hikingwithkids #optoutside #nashvilletrails

A full day of adventure in East Tennessee 💦🌿🍄 👉 S

A full day of adventure in East Tennessee 💦🌿🍄

👉 SAVE for Tennessee road trip inspo!

(Hosted stay)
This is the @tennesseeoverhill: Polk, McMinn, and Monroe counties, located 1-2 hours outside both Knoxville and Chattanooga (smack dab in the middle).

The region is perhaps most well-known for recreation on the Ocoee and Hiwassee Rivers, but as I learned during my 3-night stay, it’s loaded with history, art, food, nature, and small-town vibes, as well!

Special shoutout to my @witsummit ladies!! @poorinaprivateplane @thewayfaringfoodie @dannaliz @staying_afloat_ @akemisadventures

#witschatt #madeintn #easttennessee #summerroadtrip #tntravelguide

Summer island aesthetic ☀️ Prince Edward Island i

Summer island aesthetic ☀️

Prince Edward Island is definitely a vibe. Save this one to your vacation inspiration board!
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📍1/ Coastal view at Point Prim, 2/ kids running towards New London Lighthouse, 3/ a lobster roll from Water Prince Corner Shop, 4/ house and boat in fields of Victoria, 5/ kids playing on Thunder Cove Beach, 6/ old church at Orwell Corner Historic Village, 7/ sailing on Charlottetown Harbor, 8/ fish mart building in North Rustico, 9/ customers sitting outside Cow’s in Avonlea Village, 10/ yellow houses in North Rustico
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#explorepei #cottageseason #anneofgreengables #maritimes #canadasfoodisland

“Now I see the secret of the making of the best pe

“Now I see the secret of the making of the best persons,
It is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.”
—Walt Whitman

🌿

Family camping at the Big Eagle Base group camp
📍Paris Landing State Park
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#tennessee #campinglife #outdoorfamily #madeintn #optoutside

@hopsandskips

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