Unusual geological features in our area

By Mike Steely We are so blessed to live in an unusual part of our nation. You may not think of it but there’s lots of places within a day’s drive where you can encounter oddities of nature and man. For instance, Cumberland and Pine Mountain in Tennessee, Virginia and...

‘Every three steps’ at Brushy has a story

By Mike Steely So much violence, sadness and history is woven into the place but it’s a place you’ve got to visit and experience for yourself. Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary opened on August 4th as a tourist attraction and if you’ve ever wondered what prison life...

Taking the Ocoee Loop

By Mike Steely Looking for an afternoon drive? How about heading south along what was once the Old Federal Road? The route was first developed in a treaty in 1805 and improved in 1819 as a toll road. Today we know the basic route as Highway 411. The highway skirts the...

Visiting historic courthouses

  By Mike Steely   When I was a child the courthouse square in my small town was a hub of activity with trials during the week and also on weekends. Whittlers sat around the square on benches, trimming wood back to nothing or making axe handles and shavings...

Dam good places to visit

By Mike Steely Getting away from Knoxville on an outing can be fun and educational. Don’t tell the kids it is educational, surprise them. Ever taken a day to visit the many dams in our region? People who fish know most of them, especially if they fish from shore as...

Ever been to the Nibroc Festival?

By Mike Steely Are you interested in three days of free festival fun just 90 minutes north of Knoxville that includes two stages of music, a car and motorcycle show, a 2K run, street parties and carnival rides? If your answer is yes, you should check out the Nibroc...