A look back at what inspired Seeing Southern in 2025
Where has the year gone? Just like that, we’re heading into 2026 with new expectations and exciting adventures on tap.
As we look back at our travel during this busy year, many destinations linger in our memory as the best and most inspirational. Here are a few that have stayed with us. Let’s look back at our travel, including personal and press, sure to inspire your new year’s travel itineraries.
January took us to one of our favorite South Carolina destinations, the Camden area. We love staying at Old McCaskill’s Farm; this time a beautiful pink wool blanket (I have wanted one for so long) which I purchased in their farm store followed me home. This visit, the South Carolina Railroad Museum mesmerized us. Who doesn’t love trains? It wasn’t on our press itinerary; we saw it as we drove from one spot to another, and quickly we did a U-turn. Free entry and please, take the tour and make a donation which goes to the preservation of the museum. Then, go have lunch at Cornwallis House Tea Company.
The South Carolina Railroad Museum in Winnsboro, SC
March took us to downtown Hiawassee where each Monday, volunteers gathered to grill burgers for the Appalachian Trail hikers. We heard inspirational stories of those who were hiking, many thru-hikers. There was not a singular reason for taking on the Georgia-to-Maine trail; some took it on to see if they could conquer the two-thousand plus miles, others for mental clarity and to figure out life. Since our move to the mountains, we have watched hikers walk the city streets when they rode the shuttle into Hiawassee to restock supplies. This season, we received clarity as to why people take on this massive undertaking. It’s never as simple as taking a walk.
Chili Pepper (trail name) carried his mom’s pin for inspiration.
A few weeks later, we followed the two guys we had met and continued to text with to Erwin, Tennessee, for their crossing of the Nolichucky River. The Chestoa Pike Bridge (cutting off over three miles of the AT route) was destroyed by Hurricane Helene in 2024, forcing the community to rally around the hikers providing a free ‘ferry’ for the water crossing. From March to June, volunteers sat at water’s edge - at the front door of Uncle Johnny’s Nolichucky Hostel - partnered with Wahoo Adventures - and shuttled them across. It was inspiring to see how everyone rallied around the hikers.
The ferry crossing on the Nolichucky River. Bridge remnants can be seen on both sides. Funds have been approved for the rebuild.
Spring took us to Florence and Muscle Shoals, Alabama, now considered part of Nashville’s Big Back Yard. Not our first trip to these lovely cities and certainly not our last. We experienced the Muscle Shoals sound at FAME and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio - always fun - the Billy Reid studio in downtown Florence, dined (and stayed) at the Renaissance Shoals Resort 360 Grille - honestly the BEST steak of my entire life. And the 360 degree revolving restaurant provides views of Florence and the Shoals. However, what always inspires me is the Rosenbaum House, a creation of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, a pure Usonian prototype. Simplicity lives here and teaches that you only need what you need. Regardless of how often I visit, the house continues to teach lessons. Don’t miss the tour.
The Rosenbaum House, Frank Lloyd Wright design in Florence, Alabama.
With a full photography schedule, we did manage to slip away to Townsend, Tennessee, for a couple of days. We had slipped through there before, but this time, we got to experience a true Smoky Mountain experience. We met sixteen-year-old Wyatt Ellis, the mandolin prodigy that is taking bluegrass music by storm. What a future he has! And our friend Jeff Arnett (former master distiller at Jack Daniels) at Company Distilling just off the main drag is pumping out amazing whiskey on his own terms. Do stop by and tell him Judy and Len said hello. We explored Cades Cove, drove an ATV and dined on true Appalachian cuisine at Dancing Bear Lodge (wow).
Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
A last minute press invitation to the Vaud region in Switzerland in June allowed us to add another pin in our travel map. What a glorious adventure to one of the most stunning destinations in Europe. The Swiss Alps, still topped in white, surrounded every community we visited. A UNESCO site, cheese fondue, eco-friendly hotels, luscious food, the incomparable train system (you can go anywhere and everywhere on a train), and so much more. Find our coverage in the print editions of Lake Oconee Living and North Georgia Living, as well as here.
The city of Montreux along the shores of Lake Geneva
Less than a month later, we made a life-time journey to Belgium and France. Following in the steps of Len’s father during WWII, we visited Lamormenil where his father was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery in battle. It’s hard to put that visit into words: watching Len feel his father’s presence, understanding the difficulty of that 1945 winter, being proud to be the son of Neil Garrison. His story can be found in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Then, we were off to France, spending time in Normandy and Provence (the lavender fields with Ala Francaise tours, only in July and truly exceptional). And, Paris. Oh Paris, you stole my heart. A return trip is on the books.
Len with historian Eddy Monfort to learn more about Lamormenil, Belgium, and the Battle of the Bulge.
Omaha Beach in Normandy
The lavender fields in Provence
2025 in Review
Editorial
49 published articles (in outlets other than Seeing Southern)
Photography
15th year of professional projects including editorial, weddings, commercial and family - 40 projects in 2025
Book
ONE amazing submission - SEE ROCK CITY BARNS - which will be published March 3, 2026 (History Press) - the culmination of 2 years of research
New Outlets
AAA * Atlanta Journal Constitution* MSN
Travel
NYC
Old English District, SC
Townsend, TENN
Nashville's Big Back Yard, TENN
Johnson City, TENN
Vaud, Switzerland
Belgium
France
Rochester, NY
Finger Lakes, NY
Nashville, Country Music Hall of Fame
Costa Rica
Scotland
Ireland
Every destination teaches lessons. Whether it be through its history or beauty, every destination provides a story worthy of being told. Often, our travel doesn’t produce content for print publications until much later but each journey lingers in order to add color other journeys and other narratives. It’s odd how every place in the world weaves its story into other places - that in the everyday world - would never have anything in common. That’s our job to find it. We discover the common denominator and share those stories with you, plus how Len and I fit into the story. We hope we inspire you to follow your dreams and go further than you think possible.
