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There are plenty of great resorts in the South, and Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is an impressive one. Located in Nashville just a stone’s throw from the Grand Ole Opry, the resort is made up of three atriums—and there’s a river running through it. The waterway constructed in the resort winds through the Delta Atrium, the largest conservatory in the resort. It’s a leafy space with shops, restaurants, and a riverboat tour....

While we’re certainly not above using heat-and-serve rolls, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of pride that comes from making a basket of warm, homemade dinner rolls from scratch. Sure, baking bread takes a bit more time. But it’s easier than you might think and the results are so much better than anything store-bought. A feeling of accomplishment and hot, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth dinner rolls—what could be better? Whether you’re brand new to bread baking or the designated baker in your family, this yeast roll recipe is worth bookmarking because you’re going to return to it again and again....

To bean, or not to bean. When you’re making a pot of chili, that is the question. And depending on whether or not you’re from Texas, there is a very definitive answer. Mainly, if you’re from Texas: NO. If you’re from elsewhere: Maybe. We here at Southern Living straddle both sides of the fence on this red-hot (ahem) issue. We’ve published recipes for all types of chili, from a chunky, long-simmered beef chili, to Slow Cooker Turkey Chili using Northern beans....

The hot month of August is a bit like a Sunday sermon–sometimes it seems to go on forever. But just when you think you’ll spend eternity shuttered inside an air-conditioned room, September turns down the thermostat. It’s fall outside, the days are cooler, and the flowers are simply killer. Asters, mums, sedums, and fall sunflowers. For these and many other perennials, now is their time to shine. So why aren’t you planting?...

Travel the Blue Ridge Parkway in spring, when the tips of trees and shrubs show off a splendid mix of whites, yellows, and pinks (looking even brighter against a backdrop of dark green conifers), and it’s immediately apparent why this scenic road is the most visited parkway in the entire national park system. Running through North Carolina and Virginia, the ribbon of asphalt cuts a path along the valleys and crests of the Appalachian Mountain range, connecting Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Shenandoah National Park....

When choosing a home design style, it can feel daunting to settle on just one. There’s no wrong answer, but perhaps too many that feel right. While it can be difficult to delicately combine a love for white walls and a fleeting penchant for bright patterned wallpaper, you can easily combine design styles—and there’s one such hybrid trend that has silently been taking over. In 2022, you’ll be hearing a lot about transitional design, which we like to call the “people pleaser,” in the best way....

You may recognize the town of Wetumpka, Alabama, even if you’ve never visited: The fictitious town of Ashton in the popular 2003 movie Big Fish was mainly set in Wetumpka, about 15 miles north of Montgomery. Seventeen years later, camera crews were back, as the city of about 8,000 was chosen (out of more than 2,600 towns!) for HGTV’s Home Town Takeover, which debuted in 2021. The star power and expertise of the show’s Erin and Ben Napier, combined with local efforts to revitalize downtown including the formation of Main Street Wetumpka in 2016, really brought the town into its own....

If you’ve found yourself wondering what’s become of Saul “Shorty” Sanchez—Fixer Upper’s unsung, diminutive hero—since the HGTV hit came to an end, you’re not alone. One particularly concerned fan recently reached out to the Gaineses on Twitter to inquire about Shorty. “I really miss Shorty from Fixer Upper,” Courtney Podgorski wrote. “I hope he’s living his best life. @hgtv @joannagaines @chipgaines he must be protected at all costs.” Chip replied promptly....

As the Fourth of July approaches, the city of Houston and its neighbors gear up for some unforgettable celebrations. Houston has some of the best fireworks shows in the South, and we’ve tracked down the best places to watch Houston fireworks on July 4th. From downtown to nearby Galveston and the Woodlands, we’ve put together a guide for your Independence Day fireworks adventures. (Not in Houston this holiday? Explore the fireworks in D....

With roles in popular television series like The Walking Dead, This is Us, and Virgin River, you’d probably expect to find Alexandra Breckenridge living amongst her peers in star-studded Los Angeles. Well, she tried that. But, like her Virgin River character Mel Monroe, it turns out she couldn’t resist the appeal of small-town living. Breckenridge, who was born in Connecticut and grew up in California, married Katy Perry’s guitarist Casey Hooper in 2015....

Ask any Southern family what their holiday traditions are and I’m sure you’ll find both shared and unique ones—like a pickle ornament hidden within the branches, waiting to be found. For my siblings and me growing up, we received a sterling silver ornament from our grandmother each year. As a kid, I felt it was by far the least exciting gift to receive (rivaled by the inevitable socks), but now I look forward to that little box each December....

Easter is one of our favorite holidays to celebrate with family and friends. From church to brunch and of course the Easter egg hunt, it’s a fun (and fashionable!) day for all. With these funny Easter jokes, you’ll have something in your back pocket to make everyone around you smile all day long. Since everyone is wearing their Sunday best, Easter is a perfect opportunity for family pictures. If you need the right caption to go with your Easter snap, why not use a cute Easter pun?...

The term “ladies luncheon” might make you think of your grandmother’s generation—a group of women getting together for dainty finger sandwiches, tomato aspic, and girl talk. But there’s nothing old-fashioned about getting together with your friends for a great meal. Whether you’re planning lunch for a baby shower, book club, garden group, or just a regular old Saturday afternoon get-together, avoid these common mistakes. Strong cocktails. Lunch with friends should feel fun and for some people, that means enjoying a glass or two of wine....

When my family and I moved into our new house, we heard rumors of the amazing persimmon tree in our neighbor’s yard—Japanese persimmons grafted onto a Carolina persimmon trunk. When the tree set fruit, it was magnificent. Bright orange persimmons are a shock against the crisp fall sky. I came home one day, and to my delight, a basket full of these fall beauties was on my kitchen counter. Two varieties of persimmons are readily available in American grocery stores: Fuyu and Hachiya....

Wedding bells are in the air for Ree and Ladd Drummond’s oldest child, Alex, and her now fiancé Mauricio Scott. While the pandemic has left the exact timeline for their nuptials up in the air—though the couple hopes to wed in spring of 2021—we’re happy to learn that Alex was able to enjoy a special day of wedding dress shopping in Dallas, Texas, this past weekend. In classic Ree fashion, the proud mama chronicled the entire experience in a blog post over on ThePioneerWoman....

Cardamom might not be the first spice that comes to mind in holiday cooking and baking, but some of our favorite dishes wouldn’t be the same without it. If you’ve enjoyed a slice of Christmas stollen or sipped a fragrant cup of warm chai, you’ve tasted cardamom. As the spice’s popularity has soared in recent years, we’re seeing cardamom added to traditional recipes that didn’t originally call for it, such as gingerbread, spice cookies, pear pie, and winter squash soup, where it fits right in with other warm spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger....

Cheetie Kumar delights in change. “I love transitions in general, in life and seasons,” says the chef behind Garland in Raleigh. “I’m excited by the vast array of things that might be possible. It forces you to evaluate the decisions you’ve made and figure out what’s still relevant and what’s not.” Courtesy of Cheetie Kumar Born to Indian parents in Pennsylvania, Kumar and her family moved to Chandigarh, India, when she was just 6 months old....

Every woman needs a go-to pair of clogs: shoes that are easy to slip on but look elegant, whether with cuffed jeans or floaty dresses. This fall-ready pair from Dolce Vita—available in cognac, black, or camel shades—is a favorite whether headed to errands, events, or other occasions. Better yet, they’re available now for a whopping 40 percent off. Dolce Vita bases its designs on classic silhouettes, embellished with funky trend-informed details that bridge the timeless and the timely....

There are countless reasons to escape to the north Georgia mountains, especially in autumn. If you crave fall color, this town is a delightful display of some of the South’s best foliage. Shades of crimson and gold cascade down mountain peaks as we flip the calendar from October to November each year. Though the area’s Appalachian views may be its calling card, the charm of small towns like Ellijay, Georgia, keeps visitors coming back....

The Social Security Administration (SSA) ranks the 200 most popular baby names for babies assigned either boy or girl. Their comprehensive list comes from an analysis of names given to the more than 35 million babies born during the 2010s. According to the SSA, the most popular names “were taken from a universe that includes 20,081,085 male births and 19,174,576 female births.” Notable appearances include Jayden and Mason for the boys, which broke into the top 20 for the first time, and newcomers Harper, Evelyn, and Addison for the girls....