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ICE! at Gaylord Opryland: A Nashville Holiday Tradition

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Year after year, the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville offers an incredible Christmas experience. Between the stunning decorations and the endless activities, it truly is a winter wonderland. Every few years, we make a point to visit the ICE! exhibit and spend the evening wandering through the hotel’s festive displays. One of our first experiences at ICE! was the Peanuts themed exhibit back in 2017. It was amazing to see larger-than-life ice sculptures of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, and the rest of the gang. This year, the exhibit featured the holiday classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer . The most impressive sculpture, in my opinion, was the monstrous Abominable Snow Monster, which stood roughly 18 feet tall! Another favorite was the scene depicting Santa in his sleigh, pulled by his team of reindeer with Rudolph leading the way. Altogether, it takes about 30 to 45 minutes to walk through the exhibit at a leisurely pace—including a few trips down the signature ice slides! Pr...

Jubilee Deep Sea Fishing Review: Panama City, FL

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Deep-sea fishing during our fall vacation is quickly becoming a family tradition. This past fall, we spent a week in Panama City Beach, Florida, and the fishing did not disappoint. After doing our research, we settled on Jubilee Deep-Sea Fishing , and the entire experience was top-notch. The fishing was great, the crew was friendly, and the boat was spotless! Getting Started We stuck with our tried-and-true plan: grabbing biscuits and coffee from the McDonald's drive-thru. We arrived at the dock on time, and the check-in process was seamless. Prior to boarding the Jubilee —a 90-foot party boat—the captain gathered everyone together. This was the first time we’d had a pre-trip briefing like this, and I really liked it. He covered safety instructions, mentioned the onboard concessions, and gave us an update on sea conditions. Based on his report, I only took a quarter of a Dramamine and felt totally fine the entire trip. A Family-Friendly Atmosphere The captain also emphasized that J...

Miles Through Time, Car Museum and Antique Store

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If you are searching for info and reviews about Miles Through Time , there is a good chance you’re interested in the automotive museum. This hidden gem boasts a wide variety of vintage machinery: Model T Fords, hot rods, military vehicles, race cars, and motorcycles. There is even a massive collection of vintage pedal cars and model kits if you are into nostalgic toys. At the start of the tour, many of the vehicles are set within period-accurate scenes. You’ll walk past a general store, a barber shop, and even a jail while taking in an impressive line of Model Ts. With each step, it feels as if you are literally taking a stroll through time. It’s a fantastic concept, and I hope the owners continue to expand on these immersive displays. Whether you’re looking for a trip down memory lane or a glimpse into the past, plan to spend at least an hour here. It took us a bit longer than that, but since it is a self-guided tour, we felt no rush to leave. While I can’t recall the exact admission...

Bizarre Sea Creature, The Sea Robin

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The Sea Robin is a truly magnificent specimen and a perfect fit for our "Bizarre" series. While fishing about 8–10 miles offshore in 100 feet of water, we pulled up this vibrant, otherworldly creature. Even our deckhand—a Gulf Coast veteran—was surprised, noting he’d only seen about five in his entire career. This rare beauty doesn't just boast stunning, wing-like fins; as you can see in the photo below, it also features tiny "legs" that it uses to crawl along the seafloor in search of its next meal.  Updated 3/6/2026

Freeport Cafe Review, Freeport Florida, Delicious Burger!

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If you find yourself cruising about 30 minutes outside of Panama City Beach, there is a local treasure you shouldn’t miss. Freeport Cafe is the ultimate pitstop to grab a legendary burger—and since it’s a short drive from the coast, you’ll actually have time to let it settle before hitting the sand. First Impressions (Why You Should Stop) To be completely honest? The building is a total dive. It’s small, a bit weathered, and looks like the kind of place you might drive past without a second thought. In fact, if we hadn't been absolutely starving, we might have kept right on going. The moment you step inside, the vibe shifts completely. The interior is clean, inviting, and decorated with a cozy touch that makes you feel instantly welcome. But the real giveaway that you’re in the right place? The smell. It hits you immediately—the unmistakable aroma of a grill doing exactly what it was meant to do. This cafe is clearly a neighborhood favorite. As we waited for our food, we watched o...

Hemlock Studio Gallery, Clarkesville, GA, Great Art Studio

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Since I am doing a review for an art studio, I felt that the photo should be "artsy". I used to dabble in photography in my younger days so I knew this would be fun. Because of my experience with photography, and because my wife and son both enjoy art, we always take time to enjoy an art exhibit when we travel. So, when we were in Clarkesville, Georgia over the summer, Hemlock art gallery was on our agenda. Hemlock Studio and Gallery did not disappoint. Located just off the town square, it looks small from the outside. But once inside the store, it is much larger than I expected. The owners of the store moved to Georgia from Maine; they were friendly, fun to talk to, and very knowledgable. They did not mind showing us around the gallery, but they also allowed us to browse at our own pace. The studio provided a wide variety of artistic pieces by local artists: photography, paintings, pottery, rock sculptures, woodworking, jewelry, stained glass, and much more. One of the coole...

Bizarre Sculpture, Willie the Wildewood Bear, Helen GA

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For this Bizarre post, we have the amazing Willie, the Wildewood Bear. Willie is located in Helen, Georgia. He stands around 8ft. tall and he is more than happy to take pictures with kids of all ages. His right paw is designed perfectly for holding a small child or a really large jar of honey. After a photo with Willie, be sure to check out some of the cool wind chimes inside the Wildewood store.  View Wind Chimes Video Continue Reading: The Antique Mall, Clarkesville, GA More Bizarre Posts