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👋🏼 I'm Yanitza! Travel writer, certified travel advisor and your guide to hidden history, local gems & authentic adventures.
Based in North Georgia, exploring everywhere. 🏆 Best Outdoor Lifestyle & Travel Blog in Florida, LUXLife Magazine Travel & Tourism Awards 2024
🏆 Best Travel Blog Nominee, TBEX Travel Content Creator Awards 2024
🏕✈️ 🗺 Outdoor travel and lifestyle blog focused on slow travel and adventures for those who seek unique and authentic travel experiences.
Most people don’t know this Georgia battlefield is home to one of Appalachia’s most famous legends.
For over a hundred years, people near this Georgia battlefield have told stories about what walks these woods at night.
Some say it’s a soldier who lost his head in battle - buried without it, still searching for what was lost. Others say something was already in these woods long before the war ever started, something far older.
There’s even a version that says it isn’t a soldier or a creature at all, but a guardian left behind by ancient mound builders to protect this ground.
Rangers and visitors have reported strange encounters at two exact spots you can still walk to today - Snodgrass Hill and Wilder Tower.
In 1976, the park’s own Chief Ranger allegedly came face to face with something at 4am - a tall figure with eyes he described as glowing, almost greenish-orange.
Whatever it is, the eyes are the one thing every story agrees on. Locals call it Old Green Eyes - one of the most well-known pieces of Appalachian legend in North Georgia.
During fall, a small festival dedicated to the legend takes place right in downtown Chickamauga - a must for folklore enthusiasts.
Would you visit these grounds knowing the legend of Old Green Eyes?
📍Chickamauga Battlefield, GA
08/04/2026
Let's support the McCaysville/Copperhead community in any way we can! ❤️
The last few days have been incredibly difficult. We’ve dealt with lost income, health regulations, damaged equipment, and the loss of inventory. We still need to navigate the complicated process of insurance claims. Through it all, our focus has remained the same: taking care of our employees and getting back on our feet.
We especially want to thank McCaysville Chief of Police Michael Earley and his staff. Their dedication, compassion, and commitment to our community have been remarkable.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us by visiting our Blue Ridge location. To those asking how to help from afar, you can order our famous rum cakes online or purchase gift cards for a future visit.
https://www.rumcakelady.com/rum-cakes
Every order, every share, every message, and every prayer makes a difference.
Most of all, thank you to our amazing staff, who rolled up their sleeves, worked tirelessly, and reminded us that Rum Cake Lady is more than a business. We are family. ❤️
We may have lost a lot, but we have gained an even greater appreciation for the incredible community we are blessed to call home.
🙏 From one small business to another, thank you for supporting local businesses when they need it most.
David & Elizabeth
https://www.rumcakelady.com/rum-cakes
08/01/2026
It's August 1st and that means one thing - fall travel planning starts NOW!
If national parks are on your list this season, this guide is for you. Fall is honestly one of the best times to visit, with fewer crowds, cooler temperatures, and some of the most breathtaking foliage you'll ever see.
I teamed up with fellow travel bloggers to put together the ultimate guide to 17 breathtaking national parks in the U.S. and Canada for your fall bucket list.
The guide includes gold aspens in Rocky Mountain National Park, turquoise waters and ancient cliffs at Bruce Peninsula in Canada, some of the dramatic slot canyons of Zion, and Shenandoah's iconic 105-mile Skyline Drive with 75 overlooks and zero crowds.
I also included my personal tips for Shenandoah - which is a very special place for me with one of the most stunning fall views on the East Coast 😍
Link in comments 👇
Which national park is at the top of your fall bucket list?
🍁 US & Canada
According to Georgia’s own tourism website, more than 700 spirits are said to haunt this former hotel 😱
The Kennesaw House in Marietta is where James J. Andrews and his Union raiders stayed in 1862 before stealing the locomotive General - launching the 90-mile Great Locomotive Chase.
Survivors received the first Medals of Honor in U.S. history and The General itself is now on display at the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History in Kennesaw.
Now home to the Marietta Museum of History, this building once served as a Civil War hospital and morgue - and it’s said to be one of the most sought-after spots in the South for paranormal investigators.
Visitors report a surgeon riding the elevator, a lady in an antebellum dress, and a basement that briefly reveals a bloody hospital scene before returning to empty.
With so many spirits allegedly haunting it, would you still go inside?
📍 Marietta, GA
07/12/2026
This hike in the U.S. has just been recognized as the most beautiful in the country!
In a small but fascinating study, SportsShoes did a global eye-tracking study to measure how quickly stunning scenery caught people's attention and how long it held their attention - then used that data to rank the world's most beautiful hikes.
Out of 64 trails and 200 participants worldwide, The Narrows at Zion National Park ranked #6 in the world and the most beautiful hike in the entire U.S. with a score of 87 out of 100.
This hike takes you through the Virgin River inside a slot canyon with walls that stretch hundreds of feet above you. It genuinely looks like another planet, with 60-70% of the hike being in the water.
The full hike is 16 miles, but no matter how far you get, you'll find yourself completely immersed in its captivating beauty.
Do I think it's the most beautiful in the U.S.? Not by a long shot. But It's definitely in my personal top 10.
👉If you're ready to hike The Narrows in Utah, check out my packing list recs here: https://nextstopadventures.com/the-narrows-packing-list
👉Check out which hikes around the world made the list: https://www.sportsshoes.com/advice/hiking-hub/trails-inspiration/most-beautiful-hikes
Have you hiked The Narrows? Or is this going on your bucket list?
📍 Zion National Park, Utah
I have big plans this weekend and none of them involve
being productive 🤭
Who can relate?
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