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The Antique Mall, Clarkesville, GA, Great Stop with A Wide Variety

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Don’t let the minimalist branding fool you If you’re looking to take a literal step back in time, you’ll find the portal in Clarkesville, Georgia. On Google Maps, (at the time of writing) this spot is listed simply as "Antique Mall." While the name doesn't exactly scream "marketing genius," don’t let the minimalist branding fool you. In an era where most antique stores have quirky, pun-heavy names that sound more like a pub and grill, this place tells you exactly what it is. Besides, even the cleverest names often lead to shops that leave much to be desired; this one lets the inventory do the talking. The Layout: Wear Your Walking Shoes Once you step inside, you realize the "Mall" part of the name is no exaggeration. This is a massive operation. You’ll find dozens of long walkways chock-full of vintage goodies. To give you an idea of the scale take a look at the picture below: the store is twice as wide as it is long, and the depth alone is enough to...

Canoe The Caney, Silver Point, TN, Canoe and Kayak Tips

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Canoe The Caney: A Scenic Float (and a Workout) If you ever find yourself near the Caney Fork River in Middle Tennessee, you’ll likely spot them: a fleet of bright yellow canoes and kayaks drifting lazily downstream. These belong to Canoe the Caney , a popular outfitter in Silver Point, TN. They offer several trips of varying lengths and provide everything from kayaks and canoes to tandems and even floating cooler carriers. During a recent camping trip, we decided to trade the campfire for the current. Here is the breakdown of our experience, along with some "lessons learned" so you don’t have to learn them the hard way like we did! The Logistics We arrived at the outfitter on the morning of our trip and were greeted by a helpful staff. The check-in process was a breeze. After a brief safety orientation, we piled onto a classic black school bus for a short ride to the drop-off point. Once your paddle hits the water, you're on your own to enjoy the scenery. The river is pe...

Bella Nashville Wood-fired Pizza, Nashville, TN Farmers Market

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When visiting the farmers market in Nashville, TN, it would be hard to miss the massive and multi-cultural food court. There are plenty of options to choose from: vegan Mexican, Caribbean, Greek, and fresh filled crepes cooked to order. In the mood for coffee, wine, or beer? You are in luck because you can find them all in one convenient location. The food court, located inside the Nashville farmer's market. On our visit, we chose to eat at Bella Nashville, Wood-fired Pizza. Considering the variety of foods available, pizza may come across as boring. However, Bellas is more than just pizza, its authentic Italian cuisine. On this visit to the farmers market, we arrived near closing time. Because business was beginning to slow, we had a chance to speak to the owner of Bellas,  Franco Ballarini . Franco is incredibly nice; he is originally from Italy and has been serving fresh pizza for over 20 years. After talking to Franco, I came to understand that the only secret to making a grea...

Bizarre Sea Creature, The Oyster Toadfish! Should We Have Eaten This?

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This Bizarre find is not some road-side attraction, or a novelty item found in a gift shop. No, this fascinating creature is the work of nature. We were deep-sea fishing when my wife pulled in an Oyster Toadfish . The slimy creature measured 12-14 inches and was ugly as the day is long. Our guide said that no one eats these fish and advised us to throw him back. I have since read online that they are safe to eat and that they are surprisingly tasty. But trust me, I am not disappointed that I did not have Toadfish for lunch, he did not look the least bit appetizing The mouth of this fish was disproportionately large when compared to his body. As the name suggests, they are known to eat oysters. The large mouth allows them to capture a whole oyster shell in their mouth. The power of these massive jaws allows the fish to crack the shell open to access the meat inside. While this sea critter is bizarre, he is also quite magnificent. Continue Reading: Voyager Deep-sea Fishing Disaster - Mus...

Supper Heros, Great Menu! Eat like a Superhero in Huntsville, AL

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My son and I arrived in Huntsville, AL just before lunch. We wanted to try something new and memorable. We were looking for a restaurant that is local, kid-friendly, and awesome. It did not take us long to find the Supper Hero, which checked all the boxes. I'll start with the overall atmosphere. The Supper Hero is a small sit-down diner, the entire room is decorated with action figures, comic books, posters, and comic memorabilia. The idea is great, and it is unlike any other restaurant that I have ever experienced. So, what's the problem? It is simply too much. The lights are painted with logos and the windows are painted with superhero murals. The lack of lighting makes the room very dim and gives the overall atmosphere a claustrophobic and cluttered feeling. The menu is quite unique as well. The entire menu is in the form of a comic book, there are pictures, text bubbles, and well thought out descriptions of each menu item. Overall, this is a great idea, and it is very well-...

30 ft. Golden Statue, Michelangelo’s David, Louisville, KY

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Michelangelo’s David is one of the most famous sculptures of all time. When you drive by the massive golden replica located in Louisville Kentucky you will immediately recognize it. My 8-year-old son however, did not recognize the artwork but got a kick out of seeing this huge naked sculpture. The statue is an impressive 30 ft. tall and stands proudly at the corner of South 7th and West Main. While modesty is of little concern, on this visit, someone had taken a moment to ensure that the statue was portrayed as socially responsible. As you can see in the picture, David is wearing his Mask. Could the sculpture be wearing a speedo when you visit? Who knows?  Thanks for reading please like, share, and follow on Facebook. Continue Reading:  Voyager Deep-sea Fishing (Disaster) Patriot Point Maritime Museum Review

Huntsville Space and Rocket Center Review, Father and Son Trip

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My son and I found ourselves in an unfortunate situation over the Christmas holidays; my wife had to work and we were both free. We usually take a family trip after Christmas so staying home after the holidays would simply be wrong. We have a rule around our house that we do not fret over the things we cannot change, we work through them. After discussing the plan with my wife, my son and I decided to pack our bags and take a short father-son road trip. After searching other nearby destinations, we decided on visiting the Space and Rocket Center located in Huntsville, AL. I had been to the Space center on an elementary-school field trip many years ago, knowing my son as well as I do, I knew he'd enjoy it too.  The Interactive exhibit -  We booked our trip online and also purchased tickets for two shows in the planetarium, I'll tell more about the planetarium later. We arrived an hour and a half prior to the first show which allowed us plenty of time to explore the interactive ...