• During a recent trip to Italy, I visited Solomeo, a small village in the Province of Perugia.
• The fairytale-like village was restored by billionaire fashion designer Brunello Cucinelli.
• I loved exploring the 12th-century town, which feels pristine but honors the past.

On a recent trip to Rome, I left the major tourist city behind to spend an afternoon in Solomeo, a small village in the Province of Perugia.

The stunning village, with cobblestone streets and beautiful views of the rolling hills, looked like something straight out of a fairytale.

One of the most fascinating things I learned, though, was that Solomeo was restored by billionaire Italian fashion designer and regional native Brunello Cucinelli.

Here's what it was like to explore this charming Italian village.

The 12th-century town feels pristine but honors the past

Cucinelli, best known for his eponymous luxury-fashion brand, has invested significantly in restoring and conserving the village over the past 35 years.

The conservation efforts date back to 1982 when Cucinelli bought the village's castle and converted it into his company's headquarters. Today, most of the company is based out of buildings in the valley below Solomeo.

In part because of all of the restoration work, Solomeo felt like a postcard. The town, which is called a medieval hamlet, sits high atop a high hill overlooking stunning rolling hills.

As I walked around, I felt transported into the past. Although the city looked old and historic, I didn't see any cracks or crumbling foundations that these types of cities often have. Everything felt overwhelmingly peaceful.

Today, the village is mostly home to businesses and private residences

Only several hundred people call the village home, and I hardly saw anyone during my midday visit.

As I explored the city, I passed a lot of brick-laden private residences, a Brunello Cucinelli boutique, the company headquarters and factory, and the School of Contemporary High Craftsmanship and Arts, which opened in 2013.

Live entertainment, including concerts and ballet shows, is a fixture of the village. Events are hosted at the Cucinelli Theatre, which opened in 2008.

The theater was inspired by Renaissance architecture and has modern touches. There wasn't a show happening during my visit, but I was able to explore inside. The intimate theater had a clean, minimalistic design, with mostly white tones that drew the eye to the oak details.

The town is also home to the centuries-old Church of Saint Bartholomew. With its soaring ceilings and colorful, ornate details, it was stunning to see in person.

Solomeo was a can't-miss destination in Italy

Although I only spent a few hours exploring the small village, my visit was memorable.

Solomeo is truly a picturesque place to explore with its hilltop views and thoughtfully refurbished buildings.

My day trip felt like a nice way to get a taste of the past and was unlike any place I've experienced. It's definitely worth a stop if you're nearby.

• I attended one of Dolly Parton's famous dinner shows, Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud.
• My party of two spent $165 on the multicourse, two-hour dining experience.
• The dinner show was very entertaining, and our meal was delicious, making the price tag worth it.

During a recent visit to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, I checked out Dolly Parton's Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud show.

I'd been to her nearby Dollywood theme park many times while in the area — and Parton's other dinner shows — but this was my first time visiting this particular venue.

Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud is loosely based on the real-life feuding families from the 19th century. Operating since 2011, the two-hour experience features a live show and multicourse meal housed in an extravagant theater.

Adult seats start at about $60 each, though visitors can pay more for VIP perks. Reservations can be made online, over the phone, or in person at the box office.

I booked two adult tickets in advance for $135. Here's what the dinner show was like.

First, we explored the merchandise shop.

Before showtime, we walked around the venue's large merchandise shop. I'd heard about the dinner show's famous soup, so I couldn't resist purchasing an at-home mix and branded soup bowl.

Before heading into the theater, we also passed a bar selling alcoholic beverages, like moonshine cocktails.

The theater's seating setup offered great views all around.

After we checked in, we were seated in the theater. The seating was stadium-style, meaning you could have a great view of the stage from just about any vantage point.

We were immediately greeted by our server, who offered unlimited Coca-Cola, tea, or coffee, included in the cost of the experience. Dinner was promptly served after.

The first course was the famous soup.

I couldn't wait to try the show's famous starter, which is simply called the original creamy soup.

It was deliciously rich and savory without being too heavy.

The Southern-style main course was next.

The main course was a homestyle Southern meal featuring bread, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, buttered corn on the cob, fried chicken, and pulled pork. I couldn't believe how large the portions were.

Dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free meals were also available by request.

The fried chicken was my favorite.

I enjoyed everything but was especially impressed by the fried chicken, which was crisped to perfection with a juicy interior.

It ended up being my favorite of the main course, along with the extra creamy and garlicky mashed potatoes.

The show began after the meal and was extremely entertaining.

The elaborate stage was impressive, featuring water and fire elements, as well as a 24-foot-deep diving pool.

The show, which featured dozens of talented performers, was engaging and funny. It also had pyrotechnics, stunts, dancing, and live music.

At the time of booking, diners choose which side they'd like to be seated on, either Hatfield or McCoy. So, the audience was split and encouraged to root for their respective side.

Overall, the content felt family-friendly, making it perfect for audience members of any age.

The meal ended with dessert.

By the time we got to dessert, I was pretty full.

Still, the pudding and whipped cream were refreshingly light, which was perfect after a heavy meal.

I've been to Parton's other dinner shows, but this was my favorite.

I've dined at Parton's other shows, including Pirates Voyage and Dolly Parton's Stampede, but the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud show is now my favorite.

From the delicious food — especially that fried chicken — to the engaging entertainment, I thought it was worth the $165 price tag for two tickets.

I definitely recommend checking it out if you're in Pigeon Forge.

• I've visited the Smoky Mountains with my husband every winter for the past 15 years.
• With large-scale holiday events and snow-capped mountains, this area is perfect for a getaway.
• There's so much to do, including visiting museums, going to Dollywood, and dining out.

About 15 years ago, I moved to Nashville and was excited to learn that it was located just a short drive away from Tennessee's Smoky Mountains.

Since then, it's been a regular trip for my husband and me. Our favorite time to visit is during the winter, and we make a point of doing so every year.

The mountain area is perfect for a couples' getaway (or family one) with its many activities, eats, and scenic views.

I love the range of hotel options in the area

When we visit the Smoky Mountains, we typically stay in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, the two main tourist towns in the area.

Both have a variety of hotels for a range of budgets.

My favorite in winter is Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge & Resort. Its luxe, rustic feel sets the perfect tone for the season, and I love its on-site dining options.

I also love the Margaritaville Island Hotel, which has a year-round tropical vacation feel. Its location is ideal as it has several restaurants and tourist attractions steps away.

The food scene is pretty awesome

I've dined at many restaurants in the area, and my favorite is definitely Smoky Mountain Brewery.

The local spot has its own craft beers on tap and tasty bar classics, like pretzels with housemade beer cheese. There's often live music, which makes it the perfect place to relax after a busy day.

I also love that Pigeon Forge has several dinner shows to choose from.

One of my favorites is the Dolly Parton Stampede, which combines a thrilling show with horses and aerial performances with a multicourse meal.

Breakfast is also a huge deal in the Smoky Mountains. The area has tons of impressive breakfast spots, and my favorite is Frizzle Chicken Farmhouse Cafe.

The food is excellent, and the restaurant is highly themed with dozens of animatronic chickens. It's unlike any place I've ever been to.

There's also so much to do in the area

I love Dollywood year-round, but the theme park is extra special during the winter because of its Smoky Mountain Christmas celebration.

This time of year, Dollywood is adorned with gorgeous decorations and tons of lights. Plus, the park has special seasonal shows and incredible winter-inspired menus.

As a seasoned theme-park reporter, Dollywood's holiday celebration is well worth the visit alone — it's my favorite theme-park event.

While in the area, I'll also typically stop at the Titanic Museum. I'm continually impressed with how it honors the passengers.

The exhibits feel top-notch with real artifacts, and my favorite is the tribute to the ship's onboard musicians.

I particularly enjoy the interactive nature of the museum experience. At check-in, visitors are assigned a passenger, and you learn about them and follow their journey throughout the exhibit to ultimately learn their fate.

There's no shortage of thrill activities in the area, either. Although I don't ski, I'm a big fan of indoor snow tubing at Pigeon Forge Snow.

The indoor snow park is a great spot for anyone who wants to have wintery fun without being outdoors.

Plus, there are great places to shop and walk around

I always visit The Island, a large dining and entertainment district that reminds me of Downtown Disney at Disneyland.

Of the many shops and restaurants, one of my favorites is Ole Smoky Moonshine, which offers tours and tastings. The area also has rides, including an observation wheel and SkyFly: Soar America, an attraction similar to Disney's Soarin'.

When we visit the Smoky Mountains, we also stop in The Christmas Place, which is considered to be the largest Christmas store in the South.

The massive shop has thousands of ornaments, nutcrackers, and other decor.

Visiting the Smoky Mountains has become my favorite winter tradition

Of course, I must mention how all of these experiences are set against the stunning backdrop of the Smoky Mountains.

The mountains are beautiful all year but particularly pretty in the winter when the tops are capped with snow. Exploring the area in December feels magical, like being inside a real-life Hallmark movie.

I love our annual tradition of visiting East Tennessee. With such a range of activities, each trip offers something new to try.