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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
Press
Contact

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Day: August 15, 2023

Destinations

Staithes, England | Yorkshire’s Quiet, Idyllic Coastal Village

August 15, 2023

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“At first the Mississippi seemed to recede from it

“At first the Mississippi seemed to recede from its banks, and its waters gathering up like a mountain… It then rising fifteen or twenty feet perpendicularly, and expanding, as it were…the banks were overflowed with a retrograde current, rapid as a torrent […] And lately it has been discovered that a lake was formed on the opposite side of the Mississippi… upwards of one hundred miles in length…”
—letter from Eliza Bryan, March 22, 1816

I had known that Reelfoot Lake is the state’s only large natural lake; what I didn’t know is how recent that happened. On December 16, 1811, an earthquake shook northeast Arkansas. Over the next two months, two more major quakes and their aftershocks hit this area of the New Madrid seismic zone, the most powerful this side of the Rocky Mountains in history.

It was the hottest week of summer so far, but a beautiful stay at @reelfootlakestatepark as we visited our 40th @tennesseestateparks!
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#tnstateparks #naturaltennessee #lakelife #optoutside #outdoorfamily

🌿 I had no idea this shaded little neighborhood oa

🌿 I had no idea this shaded little neighborhood oasis even existed…

Deerwood Arboretum in Brentwood is a small nature reserve on the Little Harpeth River. It’s hidden within winding subdivision roads and is perfectly quiet.

⏱️1-mile loop
🚶‍♀️Paved surface
🏔️No incline
🌳Mostly shaded
🚻Yes, restrooms
💦Access to the river bank for creek stomping and picnics!

We encountered people of all ages and so many dogs on our walk!Scooters and strollers are common, too. ⚠️ There is a parking lot but it only has about 12 spots.

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

It’s just all too familiar. 🫠 @dominotracks and I

It’s just all too familiar. 🫠

@dominotracks and I cracked ourselves up personifying all the wildlife while touring the @tennesseeaquarium. I hadn’t been since I was probably a 2nd grader, and it was such fun to add a dose of humor to the trip. Nature is awesome! 🐠

Thanks for hosting us during @witsummit!

#witschatt #visitchatt #momlife #parentinghumor #exploretennessee

We’re trying to visit the nearby cities that we’ve

We’re trying to visit the nearby cities that we’ve never actually been to, so we spent the Juneteenth long weekend exploring Birmingham and its Civil Rights District!

This area and the surrounding 4th Ave Historic District were once the vibrant hub of the Black community. In the first half of the 20th century, when Jim Crow laws prohibited Black access to white establishments, this neighborhood boasted over 300 Black-owned businesses.

Our main destination was the @bhamcivilrights (free for kids 3rd grade and under!) It’s hard and complex subject matter, but presented in a visual way that, with guidance from an adult friend, is so wonderfully accessible for kids.

Across the street is Kelly Ingram Park that served as ground zero for Birmingham’s demonstrations in the early 60s, when reports of brutal police response to peaceful protesters were televised for all the world to see.

I am really, really happy with the experience we had with our kids on this trip, and there’s still so much we didn’t get to see. Highly recommend!
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#BirminghamCivilRightsDistrict #InBirmingham #FamilyTravel #HistoryWithKids #blackhistoryisamericanhistory

🌿 This fully flat, paved, shaded trail is perfect

🌿 This fully flat, paved, shaded trail is perfect for hot summer days…

We’re heading across town this week to the east side of Percy Priest Lake. I’ve posted about the Couchville Lake Loop at @longhunterstateparktn a few times bc it’s one of our most frequented walks in any season.

⏱️2-mile loop
🚶‍♀️Paved surface
🏔️No incline
🌳Mostly shaded
🛝Also has a playground, fishing piers, and paddle boat rental available!

Just to note: though you’ll see some rule-breakers, bikes and scooters are technically not allowed.

👉 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 #nashvilleoutdoors #tnstateparks #nashvilletrails

So glad I drove 2 hours to ignore my friends of 25

✌️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! ❤️)

@hopsandskips

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