Elvis in Tupelo, Mississippi: The Ultimate Guide to the King’s Hometown

There’s one word most travelers associate with Tupelo, Mississippi: Elvis. The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll spent the first 13 years of his life here, and his legacy remains woven throughout the city—from the humble…

A Weekend in Starkville, Mississippi: Best Things to Do, See & Eat

Starkville was the first college town I visited as a prospective student back in 2000. My cousin attended Mississippi State University at the time, and somehow, 25 years later, we both ended up back there on the…

Madrid Travel Guide 2026: The Ultimate Cultural and Culinary Destination in Europe

Madrid has been on my mind lately, particularly with the wrap of the Mutua Madrid Open professional tennis tournament—one of the next bullet points on my mom’s and my bucket list tennis trips. As we look to add Spa…

How to Commission a Mural (Without Getting It Wrong)

Public art can be one of the highest-impact investments a small town makes. A well-executed mural doesn’t just beautify a wall—it becomes a landmark, a storytelling tool, a piece of long-tail marketing that sho…

Here’s How I Travel for Free (Using Credit Card Points and Miles)

If you’ve ever looked at my Instagram or blog and thought, how is she constantly traveling?, the answer might surprise you. No, I don’t have a trust fund. No, I’m not taking free international trips because I work…

Is the SUMMIT Worth It? A View from NYC’s Tallest Tower

If you’re planning a trip to New York City, you’ve probably come across SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, the immersive observation deck that’s become one of Manhattan’s buzziest attractions. With mirrored rooms, glass l…

How to Plan a Trip to California’s Indian Wells Tennis Tournament

When my mom and I were planning a trip to Indian Wells, one of the major tennis tournaments, a couple years back, I had so many questions. What sessions should we buy? Where should we stay? And how many days on…

The Easiest Way to Get the Southwest Companion Pass

With all of Southwest Airline’s recent changes—assigned seating, baggage fees, the list keeps growing—it’s more valuable than ever to have a Companion Pass. On my fourth year of having one, and I’ll tell you exact…

Where We Traveled for Free with Our Southwest Companion Pass

Tis the season … to get credit card points for all those purchases and tax payments you’re already making! Six years ago, I became serious about the credit card game, which has led me to book free trips to Haw…

Books a Million: My Favorite Reads of 2025

I read 72 books in 2025. My goal started at 52, then I began listening to more audiobooks, and the goalpost kept getting moved up. It’s hard finding time to read a physical book or even a Kindle, but popping my A…

What It Costs to Run a Media Business or Blog in 2026

I’ve been working from home for 20 years in a variety of media-related roles: as a writer, editor, project manager, marketer, photographer and production coordinator. And while, running your own business from h…

Attending Roland-Garros: A Complete Guide to the French Open in Paris

Last year, I had the pleasure of attending Roland-Garros with my mom, and I chronicled every moment of the experience. Every year now, I update this post with new ticketing details for the Grand Slam tennis event…

This is Your Sign to Take a Solo Trip to Franklin, Tennessee

Franklin has long been one of my favorite destinations in Tennessee. It’s just an hour and fifteen minutes from my house to Main Street, yet it feels like a completely different than the Tennessee I grew up in: H…

Planning a Tennis Trip to Melbourne for the Australian Open

If you’re a long-time reader, you’ll know that my mom and I are on a mission to attend all four tennis majors—the Grand Slam events in England, New York, Paris and Melbourne—as well as the other 1000 and 500 WTA…

Best Travel Credit Cards for Points & Miles (updated March 2026)

As I continue my quest to travel on credit card points, my list of personal best travel credit cards is constantly evolving. I’m big on my American Express cards as I get so much value out of them—the AmEx Pla…

How to Plan a Trip to Ridgeland, Mississippi for Couples

When Scott and I travel, we’re always on the lookout for places that strike a balance with outdoor adventure and plenty of good food and cocktails—if there’s an arts scene, that’s a huge bonus. Ridgeland, Mississ…

Choose Your Own Adventure in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Growing up in a small town south of Nashville, we ventured out to Murfreesboro regularly: for summer camps, doctor appointments, shopping, you name it. What felt like a small town then, the home to Middle Tennessee…

How to Make the Most of the Outdoors in Ridgeland, Mississippi

If you’ve ever road-tripped the Natchez Trace Parkway, you’ve likely breezed right past Ridgeland, Mississippi without realizing this vibrant city is one of the Trace’s best-kept secrets. Situated just north of Ja…

What to Expect from Pilgrimage Festival in Franklin, Tennessee

Every September brings with it countless festivals in Tennessee, and one of my absolute favorites is Pilgrimage Music Festival in the impossibly charming town of Franklin. While other music festivals in Tennessee…

One Day in Franklin: Eating, Shopping + Civil War History

One of the best things about living in Tennessee is the number of day trips available to us on any given week. We live just an hour south of Nashville, which affords us regular outings like a quick trip to the…

Where to Stay in Franklin, Tennessee: the Harpeth Hotel

One of my favorite weekends getaways is Franklin, Tennessee. It’s just an hour from where we live, but sometimes it feels necessary to break up your routine and reset your mental battery for a weekend—the clo…

Why Franklin is One of Tennessee’s Most Pet-Friendly Cities

Long-time readers know that no one loves a good road trip quite like our pup Ella If she could, she’d go with us everywhere. The problem? Not everywhere is pet-friendly—well, not everywhere is pet-friendly like…

Visit Maker City: Exploring the Knoxville Art Scene In Depth

It’s no secret that Knoxville ranks high up on our list of must-visit destinations. Much of my family was born there, and I’m a proud graduate of University of Tennessee. But despite my extensive knowledge of Eas…

A Weekend in Murray, Kentucky’s Charming College Town

I don’t know what I expected Murray to be like, but a lake community with a college campus at its center and a thriving art scene anchoring it all was not it. A weekend in Murray, Kentucky combined so many d…

How to See Synchronous Fireflies in the Smoky Mountains

As a native Tennessean, there was one thing that was always on my bucket list and that was to see the synchronous fireflies in the Smokies. I also just assumed I’d never be able to get there because it’s a hig…