On the Road: Millington and Covington, Tennessee

Since Jonathan and I moved to Memphis seven years ago, we have wanted to drive to Millington, Tennessee to pick peaches at Jones Orchard. I'm not sure why seven years have gone by without a visit, but on Saturday, we finally decided to go to the orchard. The day was blistering hot, but we didn't care. When we arrived, a clerk handed us a basket and sent us down a gravel road to pick our $10 worth of peaches. It was a little confusing at first, but soon we saw signs that directed us to the peaches that were ready for picking. From there we ventured off the beaten path in Jonathan's truck, feeling hundreds of peaches and trying to determine which ones were the sweetest of all. After a while, we figured out that the peaches on the highest branches were the best, so Jonathan backed his truck up to a tree and scored a ton that were ready-to-eat. We left with about 40 peaches and had a great time as well. Bonus: the truck smelled like peaches all the way home! After our peach picking excursion, we drove on to Covington because we had always heard good things about it. The town square did not disappoint, boasting not one but TWO old theaters, several antique stores and a very quaint coffee shop, Coffee in the Attic, where we enjoyed sandwiches and a brownie sundae. Although they didn't have veggie options on the menu, they created a toasted lettuce, tomato and cheese sandwich for me that was so good that I've been craving them ever since. The brownie sundae hit the spot as well, as you can see!

Something I noticed everywhere we went -- the people were incredibly charming and warm. It's really nice to explore new places and be welcomed like old friends. We will definitely visit again soon!

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On the road to Water Valley, Mississippi

Just down the road from Oxford, Mississippi is Water Valley, a quaint railroad town that takes visitors back to simpler times. Water Valley's heyday was from the late 1800s to the 1920s, and most of the homes and buildings are from that period. When the railroad stopped running through Water Valley, the area became somewhat of a ghost town, but it has seen a revival in recent years thanks to a mix of resourceful locals and transplants. You can read a little more about that in this recent New York Times article. In addition to two quirky art galleries, Yalo Studio and Bozart's Gallery, downtown Water Valley offers gems such as Turnage Drug Store, which has been serving customers since 1905 and still whips up  delicious sandwiches, ice cream and milkshakes from its soda fountain. Sartain's Hardware Store is another old-timey favorite where locals can pick up tools and supplies as well as the type of genuine customer service that can be hard to find in today's world.

A new addition that feels as though it has been there for decades is the B.T.C. Grocery, which offers "small-town food with a big-city feel." The store carries everything from local produce to hoop cheese to quinoa (hard to find in most small Mississippi towns). It also boasts a cafe that serves some really yummy sandwiches, soups and desserts. To see their mouthwatering daily menus, like them on Facebook.

Downtown Water Valley is an inspiring place that reminds visitors of the potential in small-town America and why we should invest in our history and our heritage.

It is definitely worth a visit, perhaps during the first weekend of August for the Watermelon Carnival?

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