Plus: NOLA summers; Texas road trips; a writer’s visit to Scotland

PHOTO: IAN CRESSWELL

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which occupies more than 250,000 acres in East Tennessee, attracts countless outdoor adventurers every year, but don’t sleep on the stellar—and free—state park system all around it. At Rock Island State Park in Middle Tennessee, “winding rivers and waterways draw visitors seeking world-class paddling and fishing as well as riverfront hiking trails, serene swimming holes, and dramatic waterfalls,” writes G&G contributing editor Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin in her guide to exploring this beautiful and rugged landscape.

DISCOVER PUERTO RICO

A TASTE OF PARADISE: Beautiful beaches are just the beginning of the earthly delights you’ll find on Puerto Rico’s 3,500 square miles. There’s Guánica, one of the foremost examples of a dry forest in the world; El Yunque, the only rainforest in the U.S. national forest system; and Mosquito Bay, the best place on the planet to witness bioluminescent waters. The island’s culinary pleasures are equally transcendent: ocean-fresh fish tacos, slow-roasted pork served with rice and pigeon peas, and hot taro fritters, to name a few. Ready to see for yourself? Plan your Puerto Rico getaway.

G&G CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Edinburgh, Scotland. Swap scotch for bourbon, haggis for boudin, and sticky toffee pudding for bread pudding and Scotland might as well be a culinary outpost of the South. Or maybe the South is the outpost of the Highlands? After all, immigration to the U.S. from Scotland boomed after the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Foodways persist, as we discovered during a weeklong trip, along with other cultural cornerstones.

Writers: As a writer, I’m in favor of shrines to writers. This city displays an uncommon reverence toward its literary past. From Waverley Train Station (“the only train station named after a novel,” a sign noted) to the Writer’s Museum in the shadow of Edinburgh’s castle to the statue of Arthur Conan Doyle, it’s a city built on words.
Royalty: The grand Edinburgh Castle atop a crag lords over the city. But a mile away at the base of the hill is the Place of Holyrood House, the King’s official residence in Scotland. We spent about two hours on a self-guided ramble (admission includes a well-done audio tour), intrigued by history both ancient (Mary Queen of Scots’ bedchamber) and modern (Prince Harry talking of his affection for the place). A tram ride away is the Royal Yacht Britannia, which the royals took to the seas between 1953 and 1997. The tour offers a detailed look at the upstairs/downstairs life of royals, crewmen, and staff.
Drinkers: We splurged on a $99 membership in the Scotch Malt Whisky Society before arriving, which got us access to two lovely clubhouses in the city. The Queen St. outpost offers drinking chambers on three floors, where we could sample dozens of drams from hand-picked barrels, each with fanciful names and descriptions. The city’s bars were uniformly impressive, especially the Nauticus Bar in Leith, with a friendly mix of regulars and destination drinkers; the Gleneagles Townhouse set in a opulent and ancient bank lobby; and the pub-like Bon Vivant’s Companion, which was lit with candles and served a stellar Sazerac, which made us feel right at home.