With each trip to the mountains I come back feeling extra thankful to live a short drive down the road from such beautiful views.

June is my favorite time to visit the mountains because the flowers are in full bloom and the bluegreen mountainsides bathed in sunlight are too pretty to fully capture in a photo.

When I was younger I wished I lived closer to the beach. But as I get older, I realize how lucky I am to live in a landlocked state. East Tennessee has its own unique personality. Its geographical features draw tourists from all across the country to come and soak in its natural beauty, and I hope that every person who visits the national park leaves feeling like they just took the biggest breath of fresh air.