tenchired: Travel articles and stories from the south and beyond

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

Until we cruised up the inland waterway from Alabama and onto the Tennessee River, I had never even heard of  Chattanooga . Little did I know that this cute waterfront city would charm me enough to stay three summers and counting. Traveling up and down the eastern seaboard, and now inland through Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee has given me lots of opportunities to explore many small towns and cities. From my observation, Chattanooga is the most successful in redeveloping its downtown and riverfront, transforming the city from an industrial manufacturing town to a beautiful waterfront city that now competes with Nashville, Memphis and Gatlinburg as a tourist destination. Located in southeastern Tennessee, this little gem is an easy two hours drive from most major cities in the area - Knoxville, Nashville, Atlanta, Georgia, and Huntsville, Alabama; a tad longer to Birmingham, Alabama and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. From the mountains to the river, Chattanooga has much to offer