PHOTO: COURTESY OF TENNESSEE TOURISM
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Market Square in downtown Knoxville.
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College towns can be experienced one way as an undergrad and an entirely different way as a full-fledged adult. Here are guides to the elevated sides of eight Southern college towns (with splashes of youthful joie de vivre).
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Sunny Italian wine patios, a diverse indoor bazaar,
and plenty of love for local musicians
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Hiking trails galore, ham biscuits at Dan’l Boone Inn,
and the renovated Appalachian Theatre
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Congaree National Park, museums and galleries,
and the oldest Italian restaurant in the state
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An oasis for Southern writers, Thoroughbred farm tours,
and a restaurant in a castle
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A dynamic food scene, 4,500 acres of parks and green space,
and an abundance of murals
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Custom-made cowboy hats, an Art Deco theater,
and full-moon dinners in the forest
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One-of-a-kind hot dogs, a new gin distillery,
and book signings at the revered Oxford Books
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Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
A retro arcade bar, a charming English-inspired village,
and a contemporary theater company
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Hendersonville, North Carolina. Our family stayed in a charming cabin nestled in a valley of rhododendrons in the tiny lakeside town of Lake Lure, though we spent most of our vacation tootling around the back roads, stopping at just about every farm stand and trailhead. One of our favorite day trips was to Hendersonville, famous for its apple orchards and artsy bear statues. Here’s what we loved about the town:
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Homegrown goodies: Held in the town’s historic district through October and boasting around sixty vendors (and local musicians!), the Hendersonville Farmers Market is a great way to spend a Saturday morning. I snagged a basket of sun-ripened heirloom tomatoes, amber wildflower honey from Honey Bee Bliss, a few jars of cinnamon apple butter from Mimi’s Mountain Mixes, and a spicy jalapeño-and-cheddar soft Bavarian pretzel from Underground Baking Co.
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Main Street excursion: A few miles from the farmers’ market is the town center, which features an eclectic variety of boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants along its begonia-lined sidewalks. After a hearty lunch at Hannah Flanagan’s Irish Pub (the bangers and mash are a must-try), we made a few kid-friendly pit stops at the Hands On! Children’s Museum and O.P. Taylor’s, the self-proclaimed “Coolest Toy Store on the Planet.” A few doors down, I stocked up on summer reads at The Joy of Books, a used bookstore with an impressive selection of Southern authors.
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Underwater exploration: After reading about freshwater river snorkeling, we were inspired to don our masks and try it out for ourselves in the nearby Broad River. We didn’t see nearly as many critters as my coworkers did, but it was fun to take a peek below the surface and see what lurked along the rocky river bottom.
Follow Emily on Instagram @emilykdaily
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AN ART AFFAIR: Join G&G and executive editor Amanda Heckert in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, for an immersive weekend exploring the destination’s thriving creative community. With historic bed and breakfast Victoria 1883 serving as home base, guests will venture to downtown galleries, meet local artists, and enjoy exclusive culinary experiences that showcase the best of the NSB Arts Trail. Reserve your tickets here.
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