Tag: Travel
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From Fog City to Sierra Granite: My Golden State Introduction
California is less of a state and more of a diverse nation masquerading behind a single name on a map. It is too vast, too culturally complex, and geographically varied to understand in a single visit. Growing up on movies and TV shows, I had a specific image of California: endless sunshine, palm trees, and…
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The Long Haul: Surviving Knoxville to D.C. in a Single Day
They say that Virginia is for lovers, but if you drive from Knoxville to Washington D.C., you’ll realize that Virginia is actually for driving. Endlessly. I recently tackled the 500-mile stretch from the heart of East Tennessee to the nation’s capital in a single run. While 8 hours of drive time might not sound impossible…
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Oak Ridge and ORNL: From Secret City to Scientific Powerhouse
The story of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is unlike that of almost any other American city. Hidden in the Appalachian foothills, Oak Ridge was born out of secrecy, urgency, and one of the most consequential scientific efforts in human history: the Manhattan Project. The Birth of a Secret City In 1942, during World War II, the…
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The Nashville White Castle: A Cult Classic You Should Probably Skip
Picture this: It’s 2:00 AM on Broadway. You’ve just survived the honky-tonks, your ears are ringing with country music, and suddenly, you see it—the glowing white fortress. White Castle. For many tourists in Nashville, a pilgrimage to this fast-food icon feels mandatory. It is culturally significant, cheap, and open when everything else is closed. However,…