I’ve been meaning to write about Boone, N.C., since Sweetums and I visited there in 2018. It is a picturesque mountain town with quaint shops and a historic art deco theater. Boone, population 19,677, is named for legendary pioneer Daniel Boone, who is reported to have camped at a local site in the current city… Continue reading Visit Boone, N.C., the quaint mountain town named for Daniel Boone
Category: Blog Post
A visit to Monterey, Tenn., and historic Imperial Hotel
Sweetums and I stumbled across the small town of Monterey, Tenn., population about 2,800, on a road trip in the spring. We just drove through, due to COVID restrictions, but it was a quaint town so we took a few photos and I looked up the history when I got home. Monterey was once a… Continue reading A visit to Monterey, Tenn., and historic Imperial Hotel
Why do I write about weird places and quirky history? A brief explainer
Below is a shortned version of the introduction to my new book, "Guide to the South's Quirkiest Roadside Attractions," Books-a-Million exclusive. You can order one here for $16.95. Every now and then I wonder: Was I born being attracted to weirdness? Or was I an ordinary kid whose mind was somehow warped over the years?… Continue reading Why do I write about weird places and quirky history? A brief explainer
This quirky folk-art garden is filled with whimsical wonders
The following is excerpted from my book "A Guide to the South's Quirkiest Roadside Attractions," which is sold exclusively in stores and online from Books-A-Million. Purchase it here for $16.95. The book features sites in 11 Southern states. The Courtyard of Wonder is a colorful, lively folk-art garden outside the Kentuck Arts Center in Northport,… Continue reading This quirky folk-art garden is filled with whimsical wonders
We got this plague doctor figure to commemorate 2020. Here’s why they wore creepy beaks
One day, while searching for a small additional Father’s Day gift for Sweetums and a birthday gift for his soon-to-be 17-year-old son, I came across something perfectly weird and creepy: a plague doctor ornament. It was too perfect for 2020 and I thought they would make great mementos of this crazy time. I ordered them… Continue reading We got this plague doctor figure to commemorate 2020. Here’s why they wore creepy beaks
