Porches may not be native to the South, or even America, but Southerners sure do love them.

For those looking for a way of reducing stress that doesn't involve putting something toxic in your body or feeling awful the morning after, euphorics seem like an appealing option.

In the mornings, Lisa Lemza's yard takes on an ethereal glow. Yet her Missionary Ridge home is shaded by thick trees that have grown up with the century-old houses.

Salads are often more of an afterthought that adds color to a meal, but they can actually be all you need for a complete and satiating repast.

The back of Lookout Mountain has a new getaway spot, McLemore, which is ideal for a golfing weekend with friends or a quick mountaintop escape for couples or families seeking a change of scenery.

If you squint just right, or maybe turn your ear to the wind at just the right angle, you might be able to see the light or hear the music at the end of the tunnel in regard to live music and events and tours like we were used to pre-COVID-19.

Cassius Cash knew about the healing power of the Great Smoky Mountains long before the upheavals of 2020 — a pandemic that led to mass quarantines and a season of social unrest after the killing of George Floyd Jr. by police last spring in Minneapolis.

A recent survey by Scotts Miracle-Gro reports that 55% of American adults are gardening during the pandemic as a way to stay busy, relieve stress and get closer to their food source.

Last summer, after kids had been locked down in their homes for the first few months of the pandemic, the chance to escape to summer camp had them revved up like a NASCAR engine.

In these uncertain times, a dose of familiarity is refreshingly welcome.

If you've ever planned a wedding, gone to prom or wowed the guests at a children's birthday party, you're probably aware of the abundance of items you can rent to make an event a success — everything from tables and chairs to tuxes and limos to bouncy houses and petting zoos.

Soul food began during the tragic years of slavery in the South, when slaves would get cuts of meat and vegetables that were considered inedible by their white "masters." Following the great migration of former slaves to other parts of the country after the Civil War, soul food spread across America.

I don't know about you and yours, but me and mine have been feeling a little stressed.

Normally, I'm not big on "best of" lists, though I've certainly created and read plenty of them. They have their place, which is really just to attract eyeballs and generate discussion, though that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

It wasn't until Steve DuBose retired after 27 years of teaching and coaching in Gilmer County, Georgia, that he discovered his inner green thumb.

Mental health is one of the biggest pandemic issues we'll face in 2021.

On an afternoon in December, The Launch Pad feels like the home of a skilled holiday host: Scented candles emit the pleasant aroma of warm spices.

As the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic stretches to nearly a year, it's become clear that while people are staying home more often, they're drinking more often as well.

Grief is like a supernova, says Ashley Jones.

The Bible's Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes says there is a time for everything: A time to be born and a time to die a time to mourn and a time to dance.

Start each month of the new year off right with a subscription that ensures you have the things you want and need, while keeping your distance from others during the ongoing pandemic. Not to mention, you'll be providing small local businesses with reliable income in these crazy times.

With new found time on my hands as a result of working from home for the past nine months, I've taken the opportunity to try new things.

Almost a year into the coronavirus pandemic, one of the best escapes I've found is a good old-fashioned walk.