Tennessee Bound: Finding Our Homestead & Falling in Love with the Land 🏡🌿✨
It was time to head back to Tennessee—but this time, we had one big mission: finding our new Karpen homestead.
Our journey north took us through the usual Forsyth KOA in Georgia for a quick overnight, where we battled all the wonderful Florida and Atlanta traffic before finally rolling into Whitewater RV Park in Ocoee, TN. This small, no-frills campground put us just 30 minutes from Athens, right where we needed to be for some serious house hunting.
One of the best perks? Being just a mile from the entrance to Cherokee National Forest and a short walk to Sugarloaf Mountain Park, where we could take in the view of the Ocoee River Dam.
Mountain Mornings & House Hunting 🌄☕🚙
Even with a packed schedule, we kept up our fitness journey, making early-morning treks to Planet Fitness in Cleveland—just a 20-minute drive. But honestly? The best part wasn’t the workout; it was the drive back.
☕ Coffee in hand, watching the sunrise over the mountains—it never got old. What a way to start the day!
But this stop wasn’t about sightseeing—it was about finding home. We spent most of our time exploring properties, determined to find that perfect slice of land. Some days, it felt hopeless, like what we were looking for just didn’t exist.
Then, on what we had already decided would be our last attempt before putting the search on hold… we found it.
The moment we stepped onto that land, we just knew—this was it.
Celebrating With Friends, Wine & Good Eats 🍻🍷🍽️
Before diving into the logistics of purchasing the property, we made time to reconnect with friends:
✔️ Meeting up with our Canadian friends from Florida in Copperhill, TN—so good to see them again!
✔️ Trying Dragon Slayer—Nick’s new favorite sour beer at the local brewery. 🍺
✔️ Dinner at Waterfront Bar—outdoor seating right on the river? Yes, please! 🏞️
Work travel also took me to Boston, where I spent some much-needed girl time with Erin—good food, drinks, live music, and those soul-filling conversations. 💛 Meanwhile, back in Tennessee:
✔️ Tsali Notch Vineyards—for my favorite Muscadine wine (plus a special coffee truck treat for Leo!) 🍇☕
✔️ Sweetwater Taps—where Nick enjoyed another good ol’ sour 🍻
Getting to Know Our New Home 🏕️🥾🎶
While in town, we dove into Springtime hiking in the Cherokee National Forest and checked out the quirky Ramp Tramp Festival in Reliance—a festival dedicated to wild-foraged ramps (onions), bluegrass music, and hearty Southern breakfasts. 🌱🎶
And because no RV trip is complete without a little upgrade…
✔️ We added a bidet & soft-close toilet seat—small changes, big comfort! 🚽✨
Another fun wine stop? Bear Claw Winery in Georgia—a hidden gem with great wine, tucked away in the middle of nowhere. 🍷 And of course, Spring in Tennessee brought some severe thunderstorms, but thankfully, nothing major in our area! ⛈️
Closing on the Property & Looking Ahead 🏡🚜🔑
With the property officially ours, we quickly learned that red clay after rain is NO joke. 😅 A whole different beast from Minnesota’s sandy soil! First task? Immediate driveway repairs before heading out for summer travels.
To celebrate? A trip to Roo Mountain Winery in Ellijay, GA, where the breathtaking mountain views, amazing food, and delicious wine left me wanting to explore even more of this area. 🍷🌄
Then, we witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime event—the epic Cicada hatch. Two broods emerged at once for the first time in 221 years! The deafening hum on our property was unreal. 🐛🎶
We also started exploring our new hometown:
✔️ Misfit Tacos in Cleveland—our new go-to taco spot! 🌮
✔️ The Social, a college bar in Athens—not really our scene, but fun to experience once! 🍹
And since the property sat for a month after closing, the grass went wild… giving me my first introduction to a brush hog. An essential tool for keeping our land manageable! 🚜
Final Tennessee Adventures Before Summer Travels 🐵🐐🌿
Before leaving, we made time for one last adventure with the Rotella family—a fun-filled day at the Knoxville Zoo! 🦁🐼🐵
For Dad’s birthday, we honored him in the most fitting way—by spreading some of his ashes at the Ocoee River, where the Olympic whitewater rafting took place. He would have loved the river and mountain scenery. 💙
We also made a few final stops before heading out:
🍷 The Press Wine Bar in Cleveland—perfect for a relaxing night.
🍇 Morris Vineyard in Charleston—stunning views & delicious wine.
🏞️ Benton Falls—a gorgeous waterfall hike and scenic overlooks!
The Start of Our Next Chapter 🚐🌄💛
Looking back, I started writing this journal thinking we hadn’t done much over the past three months. But in reality? This was one of the most meaningful chapters of our journey so far.
Between finding our homestead, soaking in Tennessee’s beauty, reconnecting with friends, and making plans for the future, this time wasn’t just about searching for a place to live—it was about discovering where we belong.
The next adventure? Preparing to make this land our home.
Stay tuned, because this is just the beginning! 🏡🌿✨
