Traveling alone, not lonely.

Wordless Wednesday: Smoky Mountain High

Bear Jam! Nope, a Bear Jam Isn't Something You Spread on Toast. Cades Cove Loop Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Business travel has landed me in Knoxville, Tenn., this week and after a work-day that started at 6 a.m. and ended around 5 p.m. (mind you, that 6 a.m. was not the time I woke up but time I started working) on Tuesday, a trip to the great outdoors was needed.

Enjoy these snapshots from a very brief visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the Cades Cove Loop Drive.

Horse is a Horse... Cades Cove Loop Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Oh, Deer! Cades Cove Loop Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Primitive Baptist Church - Cades Cove Loop Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

It's a Bear! Photo is Out of Focus but It's a Bear! Cades Cove Loop Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Jenn

Jennifer A. Huber is an award-winning travel and outdoor blogger and writer in Southwest Florida. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led her to a career path in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. She spent a decade with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Everglades National Parks. She founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely. The unexpected death of her former husband in 2008 reminded her how short life is. His passing was a catalyst for sharing her experiences with the goal of inspiring and empowering others to travel solo. Jennifer holds a Travel Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society, is a certified food judge, member of the NASA Social community, and alum of the FBI Citizens Academy. When not traveling, she is either in the kitchen, practicing her photography skills, or road tripping with her dog, Radcliff.

Some people choose to run with the bulls. I chose to swim with the bull sharks! Florida Shark Diving, April 1, 2023.

My First Time Swimming with the Bulls. A Jawesome Time with Florida Shark Diving in Jupiter

Some people choose to run with the bulls. I chose to swim with the bull sharks! My experience with Florida Shark Diving out of Jupiter, Fla., was JAWESOME! I needed a little adrenaline rush in my life and this trip on April 1, 2023, yes, April Fool’s Day, was perfect.

Photograph by Outdoor Afro from Nature Swagger by Rue Mapp, published by Chronicle Books.

Adventure Featured Inspiration Nature Travel

New Outdoor Book “Nature Swagger” Celebrates Black Joy

“Nature Swagger: Stories and Visions of Black Joy in the Outdoors.” is a book by Outdoor Afro CEO and Founder Rue Mapp.

View of the Myakka River from Snook Haven Restaurant in Venice, Fla.

Featured Florida Fun Nature Travel

Florida Travel: Ten Ways to Love Venice’s Outdoorsy Side

Shark tooth collecting, bicycling, and walking an urban forest are some of the ways you can connect with Mother Nature while visiting Southwest Florida. Here are 10 outdoorsy things to do in and around Venice.