Melissa Hickson is not a thrill-seeker.

Editor's note: By the time you read this, our mass emergence of spring cicadas may have already come and gone.

Known as the Houseboat Capital of the World, Russell County is said to be home to the largest fleet of rental houseboats in the United States.

Located atop Lookout Mountain, Mentone is commonly touted as a place where time stands still. But dig a little deeper and you'll find that this scenic mountain town is as quirky as it quaint.

Filled with friendly locals and overloaded with charm, small towns make the perfect getaway for those looking for a change of pace, a place to ditch city life for just a bit.

Even the name Bell Buckle has a ring to it that brings a smile to your face, so it's no surprise that it's often considered a small-town treasure — just 450 residents — and one of the most picturesque in the Volunteer State.

You won't have any problem finding time on your hands in Hiawassee — population 815, according to 2019 figures — nor will you struggle with finding inspiration to explore the great outdoors just beyond.

Waynesville is Haywood County's largest city, but with only 10,000 residents, it's still pretty small. What it lacks in population it makes up for in charm.

Chattanooga is home to some of the most unique swimming holes ever sculpted by Mother Nature, and a quick look at some of our favorites will show you what we mean.

Nature-lovers know the Southeast is a gem, worthy of protection.

Eric and Kaley Hayes dream of driving their Land Rover from Alaska to Argentina, following the 19,000-mile Pan-American Highway — regarded as the world's most famous overland trail.

Five years ago, Dale Weiler and Loti Woods met at an art show in Tryon, North Carolina, which neither of them had particularly wanted to attend.

The sign at the gate recommends bringing a beacon, shovel and probe - essential tools for avalanche rescue. It also recommends bringing a partner so there is someone there to do the rescuing.

If you've already explored almost every square inch of the great outdoors just outside your front door and are itching for some adventure after months at home, outdoor recreation is the perfect socially distanced solution.

In mid-July, officials decided to cancel both Chattanooga's summer and fall Ironman competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Tennessee Aquarium recently launched a project focused on sustainable agriculture — which seems like a shift for an institution dedicated to fish.

In Jim Ledbetter's opinion, wolverine meat was the worst.

The word "Ocoee" has become synonymous with whitewater. But opportunities for adventure in the small mountain town run beyond the banks of its world-famous river.

Last week, the New York Times published a story announcing the arrival of "murder hornets" to the United States.

A common box turtle slow-steps onto a two-lane byway, carrying the weight of its ornate shell and a bounty on its head.

A revival is stirring right now; a return to our roots, to our deepest nature.

The North American passenger pigeon was once the most abundant bird in the world. In the 1600s, settlers wrote of flocks so large they darkened the skies. Then, those settlers discovered the native bird was an easy food source, and by the early 1900s, they had hunted it to extinction.

From Georgia to Maine, the Appalachian Trail winds through forests, gorges and over mountaintops. But just as important as the trail's scenic beauty are the communities through which it passes.