Park Wanderers

12/16/2025

Light the Park in Farragut, TN is a festive, walk-through Christmas light display and one of the easiest holiday stops near Knoxville 🎄✨

📆 Dates:
Now through January 1 (seasonal event)

⏰ Hours:
6pm - 10pm

📍 Location:
Founders Park
405 N Campbell Station Rd
Farragut, TN

🎟️ Admission:
✨ FREE ✨

Perfect for a quick holiday stroll, families, or anyone looking for a low-key festive evening without the crowds or ticket lines.

What’s your favorite Christmas light display near Knoxville? 🎄👇

12/11/2025

Spend a festive day in Putnam County, WV with us! 🎄✨ From cozy cafes to local shops and holiday magic in the park, this little corner of West Virginia is full of charm this time of year.

We started our morning at Bridge Café & Bistro, sipping coffee and digging into the warmest comfort food (their biscuits + gravy… incredible).

Then we wandered through Oodles Gift Shop, a beautifully curated boutique that feels like stepping into a Christmas dream. Every corner was decorated and filled with gifts for literally everyone on your list.

Next up: a stop at Meeks Mountain Trails for a breath of fresh air and a look at their 600+ acres of wooded hiking and biking trails. Such a peaceful spot right in town.

For dinner, we visited Belknap Dough Company - and the hype is real. The hummus plate was stunning, the Hurricane Haze pizza was a local favorite for a reason!

We wrapped up the night at Light Up Valley Park, taking in the Christmas tree, lights, live nativity, and all the small-town holiday joy that makes this event so special.

If you’re looking for a cozy winter weekend getaway, Putnam County is full of surprises, great food, beautiful shops, and festive fun. ✨❤️

12/09/2025

This weekend, we had the chance to visit Sugar Maples for their opening day - and it’s already a fantastic new addition to Putnam County! 🍁✨

Located between Hurricane and Teays Valley, this family-run coffee shop feels cozy the moment you walk in. Fresh-baked goods coming out of the kitchen, ice cream ready to go, and the sweetest family working together behind the counter (everyone truly has a role!).

We spent some time talking with the owner, Chad, and loved hearing the story behind the shop. We even ended up meeting the mayor while we were there - you can’t beat small-town moments like that. 🤎

If you visit, do yourself a favor and try the Brown Sugar Maple White Mocha made with local maple syrup. It was our favorite by far!

So excited to see Sugar Maples grow and become a go-to spot for the community. ☕️✨

12/02/2025

We spent a great weekend exploring Oxford, Ohio, and had such a wonderful time getting to know this small college town! From the high-energy RedHawks hockey game to late-night crepes, local makers, and quiet trails in the woods, Oxford has a little bit of everything packed into a walkable uptown area.

If you’re looking for a fun and easy weekend getaway, here are a few places we loved and recommend checking out:

⭐ Oxford Farmers Market – holiday shopping, handmade goods & local makers
⭐ Goggin Ice Center – caught a packed Miami RedHawks hockey game 🏒
⭐ Chop Bento – one of Oxford’s newest restaurants (huge portions & so good!)
⭐ Richard & Carole C***s Art Museum – culture, history & creativity all in one
⭐ Chocolate Euphoria Crepe Café – open late with amazing crepes 🍫
⭐ Helen S. Ruder Preserve – a beautiful, quiet walk through the woods 🌲

Huge thank you to Oxford, Ohio for hosting us - we loved experiencing the energy, local flavor, and charm of this community. 💛

Have you been to Oxford before? What should we check out next time?

11/22/2025

Looking for the best easy sunset hikes in Shenandoah National Park? These three trails check the two boxes that matter most for golden hour:

✨ West-facing views
✨ Less than a mile(ish) back after dark

📍 Bearfence Mountain — 1.1 miles • 311 ft gain • 360° summit
📍 North Mount Marshall — 1.2 miles • 272 ft gain • multiple rock outcroppings with wide valley views
📍 Blackrock Summit — 1.1 miles • 180 ft gain • dramatic boulder-field overlook

Do you have a favorite sunset trail in SNP? Drop it below! 🌄

11/19/2025

We were in the Indianapolis area and wanted to find a farm-to-table restaurant to try, being in the heart of agriculture country. We lucked out with a last-minute reservation at , and it ended up being the highlight of our trip.

The restaurant is located in the loft of a barn on a working dairy farm, and it’s unlike any place we’ve ever eaten. It’s elegant, cozy, and the attention to detail in the food was incredible. Watching the cows being milked at 6:30 and walking the grounds afterward made the whole experience even better.

If you’re near Indy, don’t miss this one.

11/18/2025

There’s something magical about hiking in the fog! We headed out to Hen Wallow Falls in the Cosby area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a drizzly afternoon, and it ended up being one of the most memorable hikes of our trip.

The trail winds through thick hardwood forest and rhododendron, with multiple stream crossings on narrow one-log bridges that make the whole hike feel like a little adventure. By the time we reached the waterfall, it was roaring from the recent rain. Hen Wallow Falls drops nearly 90 feet, and we could feel the power of the water long before we saw it through the mist!

📌 Trail Info

• Distance: 4.5 miles round trip
• Elevation Gain: ~900 ft
• Trail: Gabes Mountain Trail to Hen Wallow Falls
• Parking: Cosby Picnic Area (walk ~100 ft back to the trailhead)
• Parking Tag Required: Grab a day pass online or at a visitor center

Has anyone else hiked in the Cosby area of the park? What’s your favorite trail over there?

11/18/2025