Travel and Dine with Amanda Raye

12/23/2025

Big news✈️ Tri-Cities Airport has added even more nonstop destinations to help you reach the mountains faster. That's TWO new airlines and THREE new major hubs to fly from!

Say hello to our newest direct routes: ✨ Chicago (3x daily) ✨ Orlando (2x weekly) ✨ Washington D.C. (2x weekly) Getting to the heart of the Appalachians just got easier! Fly direct to TRI from 10+ major cities and start your vacation the moment you land.

Start planning: northeasttennessee.org/fly

12/18/2025

Thrilled that our local airport in Tri cities is offering more destinations for us to get to!!!

With the recent announcements of NEW direct flights through American Airlines from Chicago (ORD) to Tri-Cities Airport (TRI), and Dulles & Orlando through Breeze Airways, we have a question for our visitors to Bristol and the Tri-Cities TN/VA region:

✈️ Where would you like to see direct flights to/from Tri-Cities Airport?

12/18/2025

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic exceeded our expectations. The weather was ideal with temperatures in the low 80's, and Paradisus resort was stunning. I had a fantastic time celebrating my birthday and my parents' 50th anniversary with my family. If you're considering escaping the cold for a tropical getaway, I'd be delighted to discuss your options and help plan your trip.

12/18/2025

✨ Exciting News! ✨

I’m thrilled to officially share that I’ve started a new journey as a travel agent! 🌍✈️

Travel has always been about more than just destinations—it’s about experiences, memories, and those once-in-a-lifetime moments. I’m so excited to help others plan trips that are stress-free, personalized, and truly unforgettable.

Whether you’re dreaming of a relaxing beach getaway, a romantic escape, a family vacation, or an adventure-filled journey, I’d love to help make it happen.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way—I can’t wait to start this new chapter and help you turn your travel dreams into reality! 💼💙

📩 Feel free to message me if you’re thinking about planning a trip!

10/29/2025

Aubrey’s
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
430 PINNACLE PARKWAY, BRISTOL TN

https://aubreysrestaurants.com/bristol/

This was my first time visiting Aubrey’s
and I can say that I wasn’t disappointed with anything. I enjoyed the low lighting ambience of the restaurant and it wasn’t as loud as some of the other restaurants I have reviewed. Our Waiter was awesome upon introduction and gave is enough tome to go over the menu and decide waht we wanted to try out. He always kept our drinks full, which is something I always look for in good service, which he was prompt and overall a 5 star waiter which I admire.
Here is a breakdown of what we ordered and how it went.

Appetizer- Thick Cut Potato Chips Double serving with buttermilk garlic dipping sauce.

Lee ordered- Filet Bites Potato dumplings, asparagus tips, baby arugula, mushrooms, Madeira wine sauce and a side of Mashed Potaoes.

My meal- Haystack Pasta Grilled chicken, sautéed mushrooms, linquine, parmesan, mushroom cream sauce.

Dessert- Seasonal Pumpkin Cheesecake.

The appetizer was just as described, thick cut seasoned potatoes slightly crisped on the outside and soft on the inside. They were delicious and the dipping sauce complimented them very well.

Lee very much enjoyed the Filet Bites and by the way the steak was ordered rare, so you can have those cooked to your personal liking. I tried the gnocchi in wine sauce and WOW!!! what an awesome flavoring the Maderia wine sauce brought to this dish. 👏🏻
The mashed potatoes were fresh and creamy and just the way I enjoy mine.

My dish was also very good, but for me it was just like any Fettuccine Alfrado pasta dish and I felt it lacked more of a mushroom sauce. This dish isn’t something I personally would order again in the future, but definitely worth trying for a first time dish.

Dessert- The Pumpkin Cheesecake is a huge thick slice of Pumpkin flavored Cheesecake that I honestly was a bit disappointed in. I felt I wanted more of a pumpkin flavor and found the cheesecake to be more sour then I have ever found in a cheesecake. With this being said I personally won’t order this particular dessert again. Lee on the other hand highly enjoyed it. ☺️

10/29/2025

Happy 4th Birthday to my fur baby Lolla!!!
October 27th 🎂