Plan a Camping Trip to Cherokee National Forest
Covering over 655,000 acres in East Tennessee, and just 45 minutes away from Kingsport, the Cherokee National Forest is an outdoorsman’s playground. However, the forest’s proximity to the UNESCO-listed Great Smoky Mountains often leaves it as an afterthought. That said, if it were located anywhere else in the South, it would be a definite hot spot. The next time you’re in the mood to get outdoors and avoid the crowds, book your trip to Cherokee National Forest.
Fees and Permits
Before you go, it’s important to budget the cost of fees and permits. The best way to enter the forest is by purchasing an annual pass. For $30 if purchased before May 1 and $20 after May 1, this annual pass allows unlimited entry into the forest for an entire year. It’s also good for other national forests around the country.
Permits are also necessary for certain recreational activities in the park. Check ahead if you plan to have a party of more than 75 people or you plan to hit the off-road tracks throughout the forest.
Three Places to Adopt a Pet in Kingsport, Tennessee
Every year, the Humane Society estimates that 2.7 million cats and dogs are euthanized in the United States alone, simply because pet owners never consider adoption as an option. This statistic demonstrates the need for adoption and awareness throughout the country. Not only can you save an animal, but you can also find a playmate, confidante, and best friend. If you’re in Kingsport, check out these local establishments that offer quick and easy pet adoptions.
Sullivan County Humane Society
Serving the communities of Kingsport and surrounding Sullivan County, the Sullivan County Humane Society should be the first place you go to find a new pet. The animal shelter treats all its guests with the utmost respect during their stay, and when you arrive, an employee will walk you through the facility.
Once you find the dog or cat to call your own, fill out an adoption application. Renters should also be able to provide the number and name of their landlord for approval. Adoptions cost between $20 and $85 depending on whether they’ve been spayed or neutered. Checks, credit cards, and cash are all acceptable forms of payment.
What’s New on the 2019 Toyota Avalon?
Fresh off its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the 2019 Toyota Avalon is the next exciting installment in the Avalon series. This year ushers in the fifth generation of this iconic luxury sedan, boasting more amenities, enhanced performance, and a bolder style. Once you’ve seen everything the vehicle has to offer, you’ll be impressed. Here’s a look at all the new gadgets and features on the 2019 Toyota Avalon.
Apple CarPlay
For the first time ever, Toyota incorporates Apple CarPlay into one of its automobiles, which should send iPhone users into a frenzy. Prior to the inclusion of CarPlay, Toyota relied solely on its Entune 3.0 infotainment system. Although Entune had many superb features, it wasn’t able to streamline all the functions of the iPhone into the car’s head unit.
With Apple CarPlay, you can sync your phone to the 2019 Avalon to access more sophisticated apps, use your phone contacts, and listen to your playlist, all while keeping your eyes on the road. It’s just another way that the Avalon improves the overall driving experience.
The Tri-Cities Top 3 Indoor Attractions for Families
When the summer temperatures start heating up, you may be looking for fun activities you can do in the Tri-Cities area with your family. Instead of staying home all summer long, check out these spots that offer family-friendly indoor fun.
Escape Room Kingsport
Escape rooms are all the rage right now, offering an exciting adventure for participants of all ages. At Escape Room Kingsport, book your experience in advance and decide which room is most appealing. Options include Houdini, in which you can challenge the mind of the great magician; Virus X, which involves an experience in the year 2037 as you try to overcome terrorists using a deadly pathogen as a bioweapon; and Taken, where you’ve been taken captive on a hiking adventure in the Great Smoky Mountains.
No matter which experience you choose, you’ll have an adventurous time as you use your logic and brainstorming skills to break free. After you finish the 60-minute experience, be sure to take a photo to remember your attempt to escape.
4Runner
The Toyota 4Runner is a traditional SUV with a solid rear axle that’s similar to what you’d find on a pickup truck, along with frame-on-body construction. It’s one of the only SUVs available that’s built more like a truck, so it’s meant for off roading. This SUV comes in six trim levels, although the TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, and TRD Pro are the best options when you’re planning to head to the mountains.
The TRD Off-Road and TRD Off-Road Premium come equipped with a crawl control function, a locking rear differential, and wider tires. With the TRD Pro, features include revised front springs, all-terrain tires, a front skid plate, and Bilstein dampers with rear reservoirs. Beneath the hood, you’ll find a 4.0-liter V-6 engine that puts out 278 pound-feet of torque and 270 horsepower. When properly equipped, the 4Runner can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Bristol, Tennessee, might not be top on the list of many people’s must-visit Tennessee destinations, but there’s a surprising amount of amazing things to do in the city that make it well worth making the effort to gather the family and make a day trip. In fact, here’s a helpful list of some of the best attractions and activities that are available in Bristol that we’re hoping you’ll agree will help catapult the destination up that list of places to go.
Bristol Caverns
From two iconic things synonymous with America to, perhaps, something different, far below the Earth’s surface Bristol Caverns offers an interesting and exciting view of one of the most untouched, lesser-known and seen parts of the world, underground! These are more than just rocks with paved, well-lit walkways winding through the underground pathways offering visitors a stunning view of the natural stone formations, stalactites, and stalagmites that are millions of years old. With tours daily, you’ll also learn about how the caverns were formed, when they were formed, and who might have used them in the past.
Buying a car is expensive as it is, especially if you splurge for the optional extras and pricier trims that come with all of the safety features and technological advances that are supposed to prevent the worst from happening, such as a collision or breakdown. That makes shelling out even more hard-earned money for an extended warranty a tough decision, with it possibly not seeming worth the extra cost. However, we’re here to help weigh the pros and cons of buying an extended warranty for your new car.
Pros
With recent studies suggesting that reliability and durability are important factors many of us consider when buying a car and car owners are now keeping their cars for longer than ever, it seems that extended warranties might be more popular. However, they very rarely feature in a list of many car buyer’s top priorities. But what are the pros of purchasing an extended warranty?
Even though many car dealerships offer warranties as standard, there may be more to a customer’s needs than those warranties offer. Third-party extended warranties can be significantly more flexible in terms of what they offer. This means that if you want longer coverage, tailored coverage on specific things such as bumper-to-bumper, or handy extras like roadside assistance, these things can be tailored to fit specific needs. Read the rest of this entry »
Though fishing is available at many local rivers and lakes, fishing at state parks has its benefits, like comfort, appropriate equipment and facilities, and options for other activities. For fishing options in Kingsport, check out one of these locales.
Warriors’ Path State Park
Located at 490 Hemlock Road, and named after the Great Cherokee War and Trading Path, the Warriors’ Path State Park gathers travelers and outdoorsy people from all over the country. The park features 950 acres of land, covering the shores of the Patrick Henry Reservoir on the Holston River. The park is a popular spot for boating, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. It features an award-winning educational nature program and a golf course of national significance. This is the only state park in Tennessee with a Boundless Playground that gathers children of all physical and mental abilities.
Fishing is allowed at Fort Patrick Henry Lake, a man-made reservoir on the South Fork of the Holston River. Common fish species are bass, crappie, catfish, trout, and Hybrid Striped Bass. Anyone over the age of 13 must have a fishing license. Licenses can be obtained at local sporting goods stores, online at www.tnwildlife.org, or by calling 888-814-8972.
SR
The SR is the entry-level trim of the 2018 Toyota Tundra. At a price of just $31,120, it’s also a bargain, considering how many standard features it provides. Choose from either a 310-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8 or the 381-horsepower, 5.7-liter V-8 for exceptional speed, performance, and power to tow up to 6,800 pounds. You’ll also have three bed lengths to suit your needs: 5.5 feet, 6.5 feet, or 8.1 feet.
Other standout amenities of the SR include the Entune infotainment system with 6.1-inch touch-screen display, Bluetooth, six-passenger seating, an integrated backup camera, and power windows and locks. Toyota Safety Sense P makes its first appearance on the Tundra, providing an array of driver-assist features and giving the Tundra a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Three Lip Smackin’ Finger Lickin’ Barbecue Eateries
Whether you love a dry-rubbed, fall-off-the-bone rack of ribs or a pulled pork sandwich smothered in a sweet and spicy sauce, Tennessee barbecue is in a class all its own. While Nashville gets the lion’s share of attention for its meaty delicacies, Kingsport is a sleeper for the most delicious barbecue in the Volunteer State. If you’re in the mood for perfectly smoked meats and delectable sides that bring the meal full-circle, make sure to check out these lip-smacking, finger-licking barbecue joints in Kingsport.
Pratt’s BBQ
Located off E. Stone Drive, Pratt’s BBQ is easy to find thanks to a 20-foot-tall Native American statue greeting you from the road. It stands in front of the iconic red barn that functions as both a restaurant and a catering hall, while also giving you a country-style atmosphere unlike any other. A Kingsport institution since 1971, Pratt’s is most famous for their glazed hams and ribs, although almost everything on the menu is a home run.
The St. Louis-cut ribs get a dry rub of secret ingredients and then hit the smoker for four hours over a bed of Tennessee hickory wood chips. Pratt’s legendary honey-glazed ham is also a popular menu item. If neither of those strike your fancy, grab a brisket sandwich, pulled pork, barbecue chicken, or catfish. Make sure to pair them with one of Pratt’s “sidekicks” like smokehouse beans, bacon-laced mac n’ cheese, or fried okra.
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