tenchired: Travel articles and stories from the south and beyond

The recent rock falling at Yosemite National Park resulted in the closing of 18 cabins at family friendly Curry Village. In 2008, a major rock avalanche in the same area had the park fenced off more than one-third of the 600 cabins in Curry Village (Web: U.S. News on msnbc.com .) Will this incident slow down the onslaught of tourists who have helped make Yosemite one of the most visited parks in the national park system? Probably not. Tourists and die-hard national park enthusiasts remain undaunted and will continue to make the trek to Yosemite. Following are some tips for first time visitors who have only a couple of days at the park. Stay inside the Park Accommodations are plentiful, both inside and outside the park. I highly recommend staying inside the park, as it enhances your national park experience (just walking from the bath houses to the cabin under the shimmering moonlight is so romantic.) This means making reservations in advance, like a year in advance. Or you can

I am lucky to have siblings living in Calgary, Canada. Every time I visit, I always take a side trip to Banff National Park , about 78 miles west of the city. It is one of my favorite national parks in North America. As I write this article, my brothers and my dad are spending some time, male bonding at Banff National Park. I wish I were there with them. My last visit to the park was almost a dozen years ago. The first time I set foot on the resort town of Banff, I was surprised to find the cute little town dotted with shops and restaurants owned mostly by Japanese. I loved the unique shops, the sushi and the noodle restaurants. I thought I had gone to Japan! Even though Banff is nowhere near the coast, it served up some of the freshest sushi and sashimi, and everything was cheaper here than in Japan. According to my brother, there were less Japanese stores and tourists these days. As a matter of fact, he noticed the crowd was thinner than in previous years. A blessing for the park.

The vibe in the state of Tennessee is music. From blues and rock ‘n roll in Memphis to blue grass and country in Nashville , music is everywhere. When it comes to live entertainment, there is no place like Nashville. The downtown is lined with bars, clubs and restaurants, most of them with live entertainment. Every June, country music’s biggest stars descend on Nashville for the four-day annual CMA Music Festival . The  country singers perform all day and night at various stages set up throughout downtown Nashville. Fans can get up close and personal with their favorite artists. With so many bars and clubs available, choosing one is not easy. Here are the top 3 bars that I highly recommend. Legend’s Corner Around the corner from  Ryman’s Auditorium ,  Legend’s Corner  is the perfect place to stop for a drink. Country’s biggest stars have been known to hang out here after performing at the Ryman, so you never know who you are going to run into. You can always find a grea

The Blue Angels, Jax Sea and Sky Spectacular on Jacksonville Beach Remember Janet Jackson’s infamous ‘wardrobe malfunction’ when she performed with Justin Timberlake during the 2005 Super Bowl halftime show? Jacksonville was put on the map when it hosted that year’s Super Bowl. Located on the St John’s River in the northernmost tip of the Florida peninsula, Jacksonville is the largest city in Florida,and with much to offer. But if you're looking for day trips outside of the city, here are some exciting destinations, all less than an hour’s drive away. Lightner Museum Castillo de San Marcos St Augustine, Florida Any history buff will be thrilled to visit St Augustine ! A forty-five minutes drive from Jacksonville bring you to St Augustine, the oldest European settlement in America. The preservation of the city’s history is impressive, with restored buildings dating back as far was the early 1600s. You can see this fascinating city on board a trolley or horse-dr