Unexplored Adventures with Dawn

Unexplored Adventures with Dawn Join me while I travel to off the beaten path places and find new unexplored adventures.

A Slice of Heaven...in Monticello, FloridaThe Monticello Watermelon Festival is by far one of my favorite events that I ...
06/05/2026

A Slice of Heaven...in Monticello, Florida

The Monticello Watermelon Festival is by far one of my favorite events that I attend anywhere and its coming up this weekend. It combines all of my favorite things...watermelon, arts and crafts, a parade, and watermelon. Did I mention I really love watermelon? Watermelon holds a variety of flavors from sweet, bitter and sour. The bitter flavors keep the sweet from being overpowering and the sour makes the bitter flavorful which is why watermelon is so appealing to so many. In June each year, in the beautiful town of Monticello, Florida, the longest running Watermelon Festival in the entire state of Florida is held, the Monticello Watermelon Festival. This event, which celebrates 71 years this year, will be held the weekend of June 17th and 18th.

Since the early 1900s, watermelons have played a key role in the development of the town of Monticello. What better way to celebrate this history than having a Festival where the whole town as well as welcomed visitors gather annually for fellowship, a parade, street dancing and a plethora of festivities.

Aside from sampling watermelon, there's a little bit for everyone at the Monticello Watermelon Festival. You and your family can enjoy hundreds of arts and craft vendors, an antique car show, BMX Tricksters, and my favorite...watermelon games. The games include watermelon eating contests, seed spitting and even exploding watermelons. Yes you heard that right, exploding watermelons. Personally, I can eat watermelon any day of the year but this weekend I plan to come back and get some of the best watermelon around. Their theme this year is "Sweetest Smiles of Summer" which perfectly depicts what you can expect when you come out this year. Lots of sweet smiles, savory watermelon and lots of fun! For more information about this festival and a schedule of events visit their website at www.monticellowatermelonfestival.com

Take a Seat at Donna's Table...If you ever find yourself wandering through Tennessee near Tellico Plains on any Unexplor...
03/22/2026

Take a Seat at Donna's Table...
If you ever find yourself wandering through Tennessee near Tellico Plains on any Unexplored Adventures, do yourself a favor and follow your nose (and maybe a few locals) straight down the road a bit further to Donna's Cafe in the heart of Madisonville, Tennessee.
This isn’t just a restaurant, it’s the kind of place that feels like a warm hug the minute you walk through the door.
Family-owned since 1994, Donna’s has perfected the art of Southern hospitality. And I don’t mean the kind you just hear about, I mean the real deal. The kind where you’re greeted with a smile, called “hon,” and somehow feel like you’ve been coming here your whole life…even if it’s your first visit.
Now let’s talk about the food, because wow.
We’ve made a tradition of hitting their breakfast buffet every time we’re in town, and trust me, this is not your average buffet. This is the kind of spread that makes you want to loosen your belt before you even sit down. Crispy bacon cooked just right, farm-fresh eggs, fluffy biscuits that practically melt in your mouth, and rich, creamy sausage gravy that deserves its own fan club. It’s the kind of breakfast that says, “Go ahead, have seconds…you’re on vacation.”
But on this trip, after a full day of chasing waterfalls and mountain views, we decided to come back for dinner, and I’m so glad we did.
Donna’s does not mess around when it comes to comfort food. The fried chicken was perfectly golden and crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside...the kind that makes you pause mid-bite just to appreciate it. The fried fish was just as impressive, and the fresh vegetables tasted like they came straight from someone’s backyard garden that morning. And don’t even get me started on the homemade desserts…let’s just say leaving without pie should be considered a missed opportunity (and possibly a poor life choice).
The atmosphere? Cozy, welcoming, and filled with that easy, small-town charm that’s getting harder to find these days. It’s the kind of place where conversations flow easily, laughter is shared across tables, and the staff treats you like you matter, because here, you do.
Donna’s isn’t just a meal...it’s an experience. It’s comfort, community, and really good cooking all rolled into one.
So if you’re anywhere near Madisonville, make the stop. Come hungry, stay awhile, and don’t skip dessert.
Trust me…you’ll be planning your next visit before you even leave the parking lot.

Champy's Famous Fried Chicken If there is one universal truth in life, it’s this: when you find truly great fried chicke...
03/08/2026

Champy's Famous Fried Chicken
If there is one universal truth in life, it’s this: when you find truly great fried chicken, you remember it forever. And tucked into the lively food scene of Chattanooga sits a place that understands this sacred responsibility better than most, Champy’s Famous Fried Chicken.
Walking into Champy’s feels less like entering a restaurant and more like stepping into a celebration. The place hums with energy. Bright colors splash across the walls, laughter bounces off the tables, and the aroma of perfectly seasoned fried chicken hangs in the air like a promise that you’ve made a very good life decision.

This isn’t just fried chicken. This is serious fried chicken. Each piece comes out golden, crispy, and crackling with flavor. The crust has that perfect Southern crunch that lets everyone at the table know you’ve taken a bite. Inside? Juicy, tender, and cooked exactly the way fried chicken should be, simple, honest, and downright glorious. The kind that makes conversation pause for a moment while everyone at the table silently acknowledges, “Yep…this is the good stuff.”

But here’s the twist, Champy’s doesn’t stop with chicken. The appetizers alone could start their own fan club. From the first bite, you realize this place knows exactly what it’s doing. And then there’s the crawfish. Oh my goodness. Piled high, seasoned perfectly, and begging to be shared with friends around a table full of laughter and cold drinks. It’s messy, fun, and absolutely part of the experience.

The atmosphere ties it all together. Champy’s is colorful, busy, and wonderfully alive. Servers move quickly through the room carrying platters of food that make every nearby table glance over with envy. Locals chat, visitors grin like they’ve discovered a hidden treasure, and the whole place feels like the kind of restaurant where memories are made as easily as meals.

In a city already packed with great food, Champy’s still manages to stand out. It’s not fancy. It’s not trying to impress you with complicated ingredients or culinary gymnastics. It’s just doing what the South does best:
great food, great flavor, and a whole lot of fun around the table.

So next time you're in Chattanooga area, you might as well go and eat the best fried chicken in Chattanooga.

Strategic Survival Planning at Little Debbie ParkEvery great adventure requires a solid survival strategy. So naturally,...
03/08/2026

Strategic Survival Planning at Little Debbie Park
Every great adventure requires a solid survival strategy. So naturally, during our Tennessee explorations just outside of Chattanooga, we made what can only be described as a critical preparedness stop, the home of Little Debbie.
Now, some people might say we simply visited Little Debbie Park and the Little Debbie Snack Store. But that would be wildly underestimating the seriousness of our mission.
This was reconnaissance.
Because if the Zombie Apocalypse ever happens, you want people like us on your team. We now know exactly where the Cosmic Brownies are stored.
That’s just smart planning.
Little Debbie Park itself is absolutely adorable, giant snack-themed displays, cheerful playground areas, and plenty of places to sit and reflect on life’s important questions, like:
How many Oatmeal Creme Pies is too many?
(The answer, scientifically speaking, is apparently “we’ll let you know when we find it.”)
But the real moment of glory happens when you walk into the Little Debbie Snack Store. It’s like W***y Wonka designed a convenience store specifically for anyone who grew up opening lunchboxes in the 70s, 80s, or 90s.
Shelves upon shelves of snack cakes.
Swiss Rolls.
Nutty Bars.
Zebra Cakes.
Star Crunch.
Cosmic Brownies… stacked like delicious little bricks of survival.
If civilization collapses, I’m confident this place could sustain a small, well-snacked community for years.
Naturally, we stocked up. Because preparedness matters.
Once our emergency snack reserves were properly secured, we continued our Chattanooga adventure, antique shopping, wandering the streets, and finding things we absolutely didn’t need… but clearly needed.
All in all, it was a wildly productive day.
We explored.
We shopped.
And most importantly…
We now know where the Cosmic Brownies live.
And honestly, that feels like the kind of information every responsible traveler should have. Enjoy...

02/02/2026

One of my favorite Unexplored Adventures was in Juliette, Georgia and the town where Fried Green Tomatoes was filmed. The The Whistle Stop Cafe (Original) was amazing...the Secret's in the Sauce!

02/02/2026

Unexplored Adventures with Dawn Discover Taylor County's unspoiled Gulf Coast, Florida's home to longest stretch of undeveloped shoreline...raw, peaceful and breathtakingly real. TaylorFlorida.com
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