As a Nashville native and a food and wine enthusiast, I’m always in pursuit of legendary restaurants and amazing food. If my Instagram and bathroom scale are to be believed, the past few years have been extraordinary.
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2020 will be the first year since I’ve entered the workforce where I have an excess of vacation. I know, first world problems, but it’s one that I have yet to encounter during my career. Usually, I am over here adding days to long holiday weekends just to squeeze in one more trip, while many of my coworkers feel guilty about leaving or simply don’t want to deal with the piles of work they will come back to. Regardless of the situation, I’m sure we can all relate to one of these.
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Hi Everyone!
Over the past several months, I’ve noticed a lot of new faces around here. I wanted to take a moment to say welcome and thank you for reading. It’s hard to believe that Blonde Voyage Nashville has been around for four years. FOUR YEARS! I still can’t believe it.
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Over the past few years, I’ve spent so much time exploring other places that I forgot how beautiful Tennessee truly is. With so many charming towns and breathtaking landscapes, it’s easy to see why people want to visit. A few weeks ago, I had a chance to hike Cummins Falls State Park and explore Cookeville, Tennessee. It was such a treat and the perfect day trip from Nashville.
For those of you in need of a chance of scenery, I’ve put together some of my favorite sites, bites, and brews.
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Even though I have found a sense of contentment in my hometown, I miss traveling terribly. There’s something so exhilarating about tasting new food and trying new wines. You can learn more about culture and heritage in one meal than you often can reading a book or wandering through a local museum.
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Like many of you, I’ve wanted to hit the fast forward button on 2020. Astrologers, psychics, heck, even the Farmers’ Almanac did see this one coming. The pandemic has literally turned the world upside down, multiple times, in fact. Instead of wishing away the remainder of 2020, I’m looking forward to what the fall season has in store. There’s nothing better than pulling your favorite sweater out of the back of your closet, curling up near a fire and sipping on your favorite autumnal cocktail. I find the flavor of fall so comforting and familiar. One event that I am most looking forward to this fall season is the 146th running of The Kentucky Derby. Yes, COVID-19 rescheduled that event, too.
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Until this pandemic is officially behind us, I plan on making the most of this situation or least distracting myself from it. I can’t say that I’m the most outdoorsy person. Call me cliche or high-maintenance for that matter, but camping for days on end without wi-fi, air conditioning or running water is not something I’m excited about. Tell me there’s an outdoor patio, and cocktails are involved, and I’m there. But like many of you, this pandemic has redefined my definition of adventure. I’ve traded in fitness classes for “driveway workouts” and walks around the neighborhood and rather than catching flights, I’m taking the road less traveled and discovering all the hidden treasures in Tennessee.
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Is it possible to feel normal when nothing is normal?
Let’s face it, we are six months into this pandemic, and living our best life looks and feels drastically different. Pre-COVID-19, all I needed were my keys, cellphone, and the occasional handbag. Now, I am masking up and making sure that I have an arsenal of hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and gloves readily available. Hugs and high-fives have been replaced by a friendly social distanced nod and travel seems to be a distant memory as COVID-19 cases continue to spike and more borders close.
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If someone mentioned the idea of a staycation to me a year ago, I would have quickly dismissed that notion as fast as they recommended it. But, my how times have changed. Like many of you, I’ve been working from home since March. While I adore my home, it’s safe to say I’ve yet to spend this many consecutive days within these walls since I’ve moved in. In desperate need of a change of scenery, and no, I don’t mean moving from room to room, I decided to plan a little staycation at the Graduate Nashville.
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From Coney Island to your favorite baseball stadium or backyard barbecue, hot dogs are indisputably one of the most relished foods in all of American cuisine and no summer gathering is complete without them. In fact, some might argue that they are a quintessential piece of Americana. With hot dog season officially upon us, Nashvillians are celebrating this momentous occasion at gourmet hot dog mainstay, Daddy’s Dogs.
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Despite the fact that many international borders are closed and flight restrictions are abundant, I’ve been trying to keep travel and exploration alive during COVID-19 quarantine. I’ve looked at photos from my past adventures (honestly, I never realized just how many photos I took), cooked ethnic recipes from around the globe, and watched just about every food documentary housed on Netflix. While all these are great ways to pass the time, it doesn’t satiate my appetite for travel. Travel allows us to broaden our perspective and shapes our minds in ways we didn’t even know were possible and I am missing that more than ever right now.
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Life in Nashville as I once knew it revolved around restaurant experiences, quality time with family and friends, live music and travel, lots of travel. Riddled with a sense of bewilderment, I’m slowly adjusting to what many hate to call the “ new normal” where masks are the newest fashion statement, catch up sessions occur via FaceTime, and travel is almost nonexistent.
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If you know me or have been following Blonde Voyage Nashville for any amount of time, it’s no secret that I LOVE wine. Aside from my weekly wine reviews (TJ Tuesdays), I have total geek-out moments when I open my World Atlas of Wine and learn about a new wine-producing region or a grape varietal that I am unfamiliar with. Given my passion for wine, I travel to Napa Valley and surrounding areas at least once or twice a year to explore new vineyards and revisit some old favorites. Even though the airlines are taking the utmost precautions, I’m just not ready to fly.
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We are living in unprecedented times. If I were to describe the mood of most Americans, words like tense, apprehensive, and anxious come to mind. Many of us have been quarantining in our homes for what feels like an eternity, separated from loved ones, family, and friends. Now that city restrictions are lifting, (Nashville continues to remain in Phase 2 during the time of this post), I am more than eager to get out of the house.
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2020, I’d like a do-over.
To say it’s been a hell of a year, is the understatement of the century, especially for those of us who live in Nashville. First, deadly tornadoes swept through Nashville in early March causing severe devastation in East Nashville, Germantown, and other surrounding areas.
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South Africa is well known for its wildlife and wilderness, but did you know it has a thriving food and wine scene? Even though I spent most of the trip in the African bush, I had a few days to explore Franschhoek, an area known for its magnificent landscapes, charming vineyards and fine cuisine. Many would argue that it has become the culinary capital of South Africa.
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Leaving behind the wild beauty and adrenaline-filled safari drives, I hopped on a plane and headed west to the charismatic and colorful city of Capetown. Known for its picturesque beauty, sweeping seaside vistas, and world-renown wine regions like Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, I couldn’t wait to explore it for myself. As soon as I was settled, I began wandering throughout the city, My first stop, Bo-Kaap.
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I’ve never met a piece of chocolate that I did love. It’s been my weakness for as long as I can remember. So, when one of my friends suggested checking out Honest Chocolate while we were wandering around Capetown, it was a decision that I fully supported.
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An African safari is one adventure that should be at the top of everyone’s bucket list. This is not just a trip of a lifetime. It’s an experience that roused emotions that I’ve never felt before when traveling. I was filled with wonderment as I watched these majestic creatures in their natural habitat the first time grazing along the lush African bush, interacting with their respective “tribes,” and searching for their next prey. I kept thinking “ cue Circle of Life.” In all seriousness, driving through the African bush will capture your heart and imagination like no other.
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Nashville, Tennessee is the country music capital of the world. While country music cliches, boozy ballads, and cowboy boots are still prevalent on lower Broadway, Nashville has assumed a new identity as it has evolved into one of the premier dining destinations in the United States. Anchored by Southern hospitality and hot chicken, steakhouses are becoming more prevalent throughout Music City. Gone are the days of ordering a premium cut of meat at any old restaurant, carnivore connoisseurs are splurging at some of the cities most popular steakhouses.
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