Joe Glad

Each year thousands of people from around the world come to Gatlinburg, TN during the summer; they fill the streets of downtown, can be seen hiking the trails of the Great Smoky Mountain Park and have every cabin booked months in advance. Nature enthusiasts and leisure seekers alike can appreciate the fresh mountain air, friendly people, local food and shopping that is a part of any vacation spent in Gatlinburg.

Although southerners are notorious for approaching life at a slower, more laid-back pace, they are always sure to keep their social calendars full. Whether you are a native or come from another part of the country (or world!) there is something for everyone this summer, so start planning and get your family and friends together for a great time.

Below is a list of just a few of the fantastic events that are already scheduled for the summer of 2010 with dates and locations:

April 30th-May 2nd: The second annual Gourmet & Grapes weekend is a great way to get your palate geared up for summer! This three day event will feature chefs from around the Lowcountry that work to assemble a menu so decadent and delicious that you will not want the festival to ever end.

Surrounding by the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains the residents of Gatlinburg are aware of the precious environment that they live in and just how necessary it is to preserve it. Many move or choose to vacation here to get away from their noisy, polluted cities and towns, breathe the fresh mountain air and "go back to the basics." As our country becomes more modernized and is susceptible to higher pollution rates, garbage disposal problems and other environmental crises preserving the areas that are still considered natural and completely green has become an important issue.

Throw on a pair of sandals, dig out your favorite pair of shorts or sundress and put some sunglasses on - summertime is fast approaching and the people of Kiawah Island, SC are getting excited for everything that their favorite season has to offer. When it comes to relaxation, having a good time and throwing together the occasional impromptu beach bash the locals love to celebrate the warmth, beautiful beaches, and endless rays of sunshine that make the island such a fantastic place to vacation at and live on.

As I write this I am looking out the window from a condo in the mountains in N.C. The views are magnificent, temperature is cooler then the city, people are friendly, and there is much to do and see. We are visiting friends for the second summer in an exclusive area that is populated with people that we know. It is certainly a change from what we are used to and inviting to others and us as a place for a summer or fall getaway.

Sanctioned by the USATF and listed as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, The Kiawah Island Marathon will be held December 11, 2010. The course is a double loop for the full marathon and runs through the Kiawah community, so you enjoy all the Lowcountry has to offer from maritime forests to salt water marshs. On Friday, there is a Chicken and Pasta Dinner Buffet held at the East Beach Conference Center.

Seabrook and Kiawah the bright spots in the real estate market. Charleston's newspaper the Post and Courier quoting the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors, reported that home sales fell 37% in July. The group attributed the drop to the first time home buyers $8,000 tax credit expiring. The Association also said that the median sales price rose to $196,573 in July verses $181,889 a year ago.

For many Americans retiring to Florida is part of the American Dream. Thoughts of the Sun in the Fun, Golf, Tennis, Water Sports, and Fishing are a real lure. The thoughts of no snow, continuous rain, and less congestion in certain other states are certainly inviting to escape from. Florida has done a great job marketing their state. Television has painted a euphoric setting awaiting everyone.