Where to Vacation in Tennessee?

[scarlett1]

Since we have a Vacation line of post going
My nephew is getting married in Nashville in July, I know HOT. My husband and I are looking to add to the end or start and vacation in Tennessee (or Southern Kentucky near the TN border)

I'd love to see the Great Smoky Mountains again, I haven't been there since I was in my single digit years. But they may be just too far away, for 2-3 extra days since we will fly into and out of Nashville and rent a car.- Why couldn't the bride have been from Knoxville?

Any Suggestions- Rules:
1- NO Elvis
2- No Country Music
3- NO NASCAR EVER!

My husband does love Horses and we have been to Louisville and Lexington in Kentucky before.

We tend to be active on our Vacations, we usually need a vacation from our vacations, so Civil War, Historical Markers and Sites are great or other Cultural activities such as Museums would be great too. I have looked at the Nashville area but we are looking to expand to more of the Mountains, (we live in Kansas so I want to see some mountains again) or more Country, rural areas, Remember I'm talking about July here. We are trying to avoid the heat

Thanks.

[blueknight]

1. go to lake cumberland

in southern ky! about 30 minutes from the tenn. border. lots to do in the summer

[SCDem]

2. Ideas

We went on a road trip, my brother wanted to see Hazzard KY because he thought Dukes of Hazzard was filmed there. Warning do not go to Hazzard KY and Dukes of Hazzard was filmed in the foothills of Southern California!

That being said on our way running as far as we could get from Hazzard we camped at Cumberland Gap, one side of the Mountain was KY the other Tennessee. Beautiful area, great hikes, even a fun cave trip with stalagtities and stalagmites. Also the AT in Virginia is kind of close.

Have fun!

[On the Road]

3. I Remember Memphis as a Nice City

If you want to stay away from cities, the eastern border is right along NC's Smoky Mountains. You can take your pick.

[scarlett1]

4. TN NC Smoky Mountains

- How far away from Downtown Nashville to the Smoky's - It seems to be at least 3 hours looking a the map. The Smoky's are my first choice, but my husband wants something closer to Nashville so he doesn't have to drive so far to get to the destination. 60 - 90 minutes if possible.

[HamstersFromHell]

5. Smokies may not be too far away for you...

Roughly a bit over 3 hour's drive, and it's still my favorite 3 day getaway. (I live in Nashville.)

If you think you'll decide to head to the Smokies, PM me for some ideas...I've been there over 100 times, and can give you some tips on some nice places to stay, etc.

[scarlett1]

6. Thanks, Hamster

or is it Hell. LOL I may just do that.

[HamstersFromHell]

9. Hammies will do fine.

:)

The reason I didn't post a list is I didn't want to spam the messages with links to places I've stayed. I'd also prefer to know what your interests are before recommending anything, since the park is quite large and depending on where you stay, getting to where you want to go may be a bit of a drive.

Some folks love all the "tourist trap" stuff (and Gatlinburg is tourist trap, USA), some want scenery and just to drive around, some want seclusion.

Hammies!

[CottonBear]

7. Chattanooga

Historic Antebellum Read House Hotel downtown
Tennesee Aqaurium and the Tennessee Riverwalk and Greenway
Arts district (on the bluff near the Hunter Museum of Art)
Walnut Street Bridge (world's longest pedestrian bridge)
Coolidge Park (connects the Riverwalk/Aqaurium to Coolidge Park)
Bell South Park (minor league baseball park downtown on the river)
riverboat cruises and dining
Imax 3D Theater and Cinmema Multiplex downtown
upscale shopping downtown
electric trolley buses
Chattanoog Choo Choo Hotel and Complex (historic train station)
Children's Discovery Museum
many other museums and historic sites, including civil war sites

I grew up there. It is a nice city to visit.

Chattanooga is an easy drive from Nashville via intersate highway.
It is a family friendly destination.

[FreedomAngel82]

31. That's where I live

There's a lot to do here. Here's a website that is good for tourists. http://www.chattanoogafun.com/ Sometime in June Wille Nelson is supposed to be at our ballpark. Hopefully we'll get to go. :D There's a lot of great stuff to do downtown and a lot of nice restaurants as well.

[CottonBear]

34. Hi FreedomAngel82!

:hi:

Chattanooga is so much nicer than it used to be. I lived there from 1968 to 1981 and off and on from 1981 to 1983. My friends and family are still there. The city sure has come a long way from the days of massive air pollution and race riots.

[FreedomAngel82]

35. Definitely

Hi! :hi: In high school my health teacher told us how the city used to be so dirty. I've seen the photos and it's beautiful now. Lots of parks and clean lakes to swim in. The city definitely has come a long way with tourism and everything. I really like living here. :) I'm sure there will always be some race stuff going on like all over the country but I think all in all it's a lot better now days. Our new mayor is great so far (I was happy to vote for him). The last mayor (republican Bob Corker) wasn't bad and did a lot for reconstruction of various parts in the town and roads and stuff. I love how the downtown area still has that "old" look to it in some parts. Have you been back for the Riverbend festival? This June it's supposed to be a great show since it's our twenty-fifth anniversary of the festival. If you google for it you can find their official site (just include the city name).

[CottonBear]

37. I've been to Riverbend. My mom always goes.

My friend's band played a couple of years ago.

I love the Christmas boat parade with fireworks and seeing Santa parachute onto the riverwalk!

I'll be up there in June for a visit and a backyard BBQ with all of my best girlfriends from High School.

Who is the new mayor and are they a Democrat or a Republican?

[lpbk2713]

39. If you're a Civil War buff........ Lookout Mountain

Ruby Falls and Rock City all close to each other.

Link: http://www.lookoutmtnattractions.com/history_0.asp

[ElsewheresDaughter]

8. President Clinton's library ..right across the river from memphis....

and here is a link to natural and manmade attractions

http://www.tennesseehosts.com/attractions_natural_educational.htm

[asjr]

10. In the late 40s and 50s the Smokies were great. Pigeon Forge

was just a small place in the road. Nature was present in all its glory. I took my grandchildren recently to Dollywood and they enjoyed it, but I don't think I will ever want to go back for myself. Shelbyville has walking horses. Chattanooga is a lovely area to visit, but very very hot in the summer. Lynchburg has Jack Daniels distillery which is nice to go through. It also has a neat "downtown" and some nice shops. In the summer Lynchburg is full of tourists.

[SCDem]

11. Pigeon Forge is just a t-shirt tourist stop

at least that's what it seemed to us when we were on our road trip. And Dollyworld (my brother was hoping to see lots of look a like Dolly's) seemed just to be you pay to go in a park to apy for crafts and crap.... there were a few rides but we were pretty disappointed. But still the Cumberland Gap area was pretty fun.

[asjr]

14. You are certainly right about PF. It is a total ripoff. And

as far as restaurants are concered they are all overpriced and the food is mediocre at best. We used to go to PF when I was younger for the beautiful scenery and one particular restaurant that served food right from the garden. Their creamed corn and fried okra and fried chicken was to die for. Everything homemade. Ah, those were the days when you could see the forest and the trees. Progress has created jobs around that area but it has also created ugliness.

[scarlett1]

20. So If I'm reading this correctly

avoid PF and stay at Gatlinburg or Seyierville, if we decide on the Smokies.

[HamstersFromHell]

21. Yes. Unless you like tourist trap stuff and outlet malls...

But Gatlinburg is just a bad in a different way. More crafts, less amusement park stuff. The "crafts community" on the southern end of town is a must visit if you like little trinkets.

But try the Townsend side of the park instead. It's much more laid back, although recently it's becoming more and more "developed" (and I use that as a bad thing). Townsend offers close access to the park.

Stay away from Cherokee as well. Since the casino opened there, it's nothing but a mile long non-moving traffic jam.

My favorite "getaway" is going to the opposite side of the park...Tapoco Lodge in particular. Locally family owned by some super nice people who go out of their way to make you comfortable.

www.tapocolodge.com

Just be warned that you a long ways from most anywhere here, but some truly nice driving and scenic roads, like the Cherohala Skyway are close by.

Hammies!

[RebelOne]

27. I like Pigeon Forge because I love outlet malls.

And Gatlinburg had good shopping also. I got some really good bargains there.

[Lars39]

23. Stay in Townsend; it's quieter, not nearly as developed.

:)

[carpetbagger]

42. It's all one strip of road between those three towns.

Seriously, if three hours is at the limit of what you're willing to do, avoid the Smokies. It will take you an hour or more just to get through those towns.

[Taragui Junkie]

50. Go to Asheville NC

If you're going to go to the East (and I would, in July, it's much cooler), go all the way to Asheville. Beautiful town, and the Biltmore Mansion is pretty impressive, even if it is an homage to capitalist pigs.

[scarlett1]

56. Asheville hmmmm

Maybe we'll look at that

[FreedomAngel82]

32. Piegon Forge is awesome too!

My family and I went a few years ago with my dad's side of the family and it was so much fun. Of course I was younger then and haven't been back in a while so it could've changed.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. While you're in Nashville, visit the Hermitage

Andrew Jackson's home.

Jackson was good news and bad news. He was the first president elected after property restrictions on voting were removed, and the Washington upper crust hated him.

However, he also ordered the removal of the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole tribes from their ancestral lands and sent them to Oklahoma on the so-called "Trail of Tears," where thousands died.

You may have seen pictures of Andrew Jackson in which he seems to be very tall. They had some of his actual clothes displayed, and he wasn't tall at all by modern standards.

Anyway, it's an interesting old house.

[Lars39]

13. I just came back from Smokies a week or so ago.

We camped and did a little hiking, froze our buttocks off. :)

A neat place is the Museum of Appalachia;I could spend hours there.
I've heard the July 4th festivities are fun.

http://www.museumofappalachia.com/

I've been wanting to check out the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville
after I saw a couple of the cars being driven in Centennial Park.
http://www.lanemotormuseum.org/

Franklin, TN has Civil War sites, houses to tour(?), horse country...
I'm not up on the latest it has to offer, though.

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

15. I live in Nashville and my fav vacation spot within about 90 minutes is

Center Hill Lake. It's gorgeous. The lake itself it enormous and is surrounded by beautiful green hills. I've been a couple of times. You can rent a cabin. Hang out. Hike trails. Eat at the little restaurants. Rent a boat. Swim. It's a great getaway from the Nashville heat.

If you're interested, I would start making reservations now though. Also, check out Center Hill Marinia, if you go. They have a great restaurant on a dock. Looks like a lot of fun though I've never been (to the restaurant).







Also, if you're in town (Nashville), try to hit Loveless Cafe for breakfast. Excellent home cookin' and a great taste of the South. They now have call ahead seating so you may only have to wait about 15 minutes for a table....not so bad considering it used to be a 45-90 minute wait!!!

[scarlett1]

16. Looks really pretty-

I'll check it out - Thanks

[RandomKoolzip]

22. Paul- WTF, man?

How come we never went there when I was living in NAshville, dude?!? That place looks fuckin' great!

The only place me and Mrs. Koolzip ever wenrt that was comprable was Percy Priest, which blew dead whales. Dead fish in the designated "swimming areas," six pack rings everywhere....ick.

Fuck...If I ever make it back to Nashville, you are taking me and the wife.

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

24. I've driven by and marvelled at it several times...

but I hadn't gotten out there in a boat until last year. We could have gone together if only I had known sooner.

[RebelOne]

17. I just returned from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.

I, my daughter and a friend rented a cabin in Sieverville, which is just next door to Pigeon Forge. It had all the luxuries of a hotel. And it only cost each of us $158 each for a four-day stay. I loved Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge because there is some great shopping. There is a lot to do there and it doesn't have to be just Elvis or country music. There is something for everyone. And you can also hop on over to Cherokee, N.C. for some gambling.

[Eagle_Eye]

18. Go to Lynchburg

In Lynchburg is the home of Jack Daniels Whiskey. Then drive a little piece north across highway 41 and you can see the home of George Dickel Whiskey.
There are some Tennessee Walking Horse farms around there also.
If things get a little slow, head over to Pulaski, the town where the KKK was founded.
If you are in Nashville, check out the Exit-Inn. Lynyrd Skynyrd played there before they became famous.

[scarlett1]

28. Lynyrd Skynyrd

Cool

[Eagle_Eye]

33. I forgot,

If you special order a Saturn car from the dealer, you can make arrangements to go to Columbia Tennessee and watch them put your car together. They allow you to follow it all through the plant (except for the paint shop) and watch the workers put the screws to it.
They give tours of the plant every day.

[Wcross]

41. Spring hill- not Columbia!!!! n/t

[Fifth of Five]

19. Mammoth Cave National Park in southern KY

It's close to Nashville, interesting, and not as crowded as the Smokies.

I live 20 miles from the Smokies, yet hardly ever find the time to go. Must check priorities.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

29. That's where I'd go!

I'd love to see it: http://www.nps.gov/maca/

Magnificent inside the cave and out!

[Tsiyu]

25. Hey Scarlett1

Glad you'll be in our state.

Our family enjoyed Land Between The Lakes, which isn't far from Nash Vegas. If you want to stay cool, Little Big Fork

http://www.blueridgecountry.com/sfork/sfork.html

is nice and you can ride horses there.

If you want mountains, try the Cumberland Plateau. I love the Smokies, but it gets extremely crowded in the summer. Try the Cumberland Plateau ( just type that in a search) and you will find a virtual plethora ( lol) of historic places and outdoor activities.

Toward my way is South Cumberland area, and there are some gorgeous hiking trails.

Hope you have a blast. And remember, the Plateau is at least five degrees cooler than the lowland. Beersheba Springs is one small town full of beautiful summer "cottages" of wealthy Nashvillians escaping the pre-AC Southern heat.

Hope that was helpful!

[scarlett1]

38. I think we found a winner in Cumberland Plateau.

I am looking for the Smokies I remember of the late 1960's. Since we lived in Pennsylvania my guess is we went to the North Carolina side of the Smokies. So it seems like the Cumberland area may to my liking, and not as crowded and fits the not as far to drive from Nashville, gas prices ya know.

[Elidor]

44. If you're going to be around the Plateau

There are some really great wildlife areas nearby with lots of great hiking, caving, kayaking and scenery. Fall Creek Falls, Virgin Falls/Bridgestone-Firestone Centennial Wilderness, Fiery Gizzard Trail, Savage Gulf Park, Rock Island Park.

As for Civil War stuff, Chattanooga of course is obvious (Missionary Ridge and Chikamauga battlefields), Franklin, TN was the scene of a horrific battle, and one of Grant's early victories was at Fort Donelson.

[carpetbagger]

45. You could do far, far worse.

They are mountains, about as nice as anything in PA. I can't remember there being any spruce-fir forests like the Smokies or nearby NC ranges, but there are high ridges and some decent state parks in the area. And I mentioned in a separate post that driving through the western approach to the Smokies in summer's like driving through Manhattan. Almost exactly like Manhattan, except with fewer taxis and slower jaywalkers. I've been to Falls Creek Falls and Cumberland Mtn State Parks, but never got up to the Big South Fork area.

On the way there or back, Stones River National Battlefield's worth a few hours' stop. One of the least-known major battles of the war, this was probably one of the few battles where the Confederate army actually had a chance to win the war with a victory of realistic scale (the others would be Chickamauga, North Anna, Monocacy, and maybe Cedar Creek, although I think it's pushing it to think they could have done much more there, even without Sheridan's counterattack).

Along other directions, and commenting on other suggestions, Mammoth Cave NP in KY is of course not hot, but plan it well in advance with reservations for cave tours, etc. The Natchez Trace Parkway is wonderful, but getting down into the lowlands in July does involve extra heat, and there's no mountains.

The Jack Daniel's distillery tour is something every person ought to do. One of the best industrial tours in America. you could do it in conjunction with going to either Chattanooga or the Cumberland Plateau. It gets a little hot, so do it in the morning. You could drive in a look from there to Falls Creek Falls.

Speaking of chattanooga, the I-24 ride south from Nashville once you pass Manchester or so is one of the nicest interstate rides in the United States. The Chickamauga Battlefield is one of the best-preserved major battlefields of the Civil War, and the section on Lookout Mountain (different battle, same campaign) is one of those cool scenic ridgetop views where you can see the entire city and river, etc. below. A short side-trip to Russell Cave National Monument in Alabama (really just 10 miles off I-24) is a not-heavily-visited archeological site that's worth an hour if your in that direction.

[Tsiyu]

47. I am flattered!

PM me if you want some more details or help!

Fall Creek Falls is one of my favorite places. My kids made me jump off one of the cliffs on the smaller falls. I could never resist a dare! We had a blast there one summer when I was a camp cook not far away.

I think you've made a great choice.

[northzax]

26. Dollywood!

americana at it's finest.

[FreedomAngel82]

30. What about

Gatlinburg? It's a nice place to go if you just want to get away.

[Zenlitened]

36. North Carolina.

:evilgrin:

[Wcross]

40. Stones river and the Battle of Franklin.

Both battlefields have museums. If you have a rental car you can go to southwest Tennessee to the battle of Shilo site. I live 5 miles from the Battle of Hoovers gap area. There is a confederate cemetary on my way to work every morning. Natchez trace runs south to Tupelo, Miss. and you can see the place Lewis (Of lewis & Clark fame) killed himself. The Natchez trace parkway is a two lane road which bars commercial traffic and runs from Nashville to south Missisippi. I have enjoyed my many drives down the trace. Plenty of roadside markers/ places to see. It really opens your eyes to the beauty of the south. Its great you are going to be here in July, the area has its own feeling during the summer time. Sure its hot but the heat is part of the south. You can visit the state park at Fall creek falls, it is beautiful. You have to go to the Opryland hotel on one of the days you can't travel out of the city, they have a beautiful attrium at opryland. You might enjoy a lunch at one of the many resturants inside the hotel. I always take the out of towners to Opryland hotel. They have a huge mall next door worth a walk through- I even went there once to gawk and I HATE malls.

I could go on and on but I would have to send a bill to the chamber of commerce if I did.

[Taragui Junkie]

51. I used to work at Opryland

Gaylord is the Evil Empire. Ugh. Gaudy and tacky.

Stones River is interesting...a bit haunting.

[Purrfessor]

43. There is always some free bluegrass music, especially FRI and SAT nights

ask the locals, then sit back back and enjoy the pickin and grinnin.

[yellowdogintexas]

46. My 2Cents worth as a former Nashville resident:

1. Highly recommend Mammoth Cave National Park. Take a cave tour, (or more) nature hikes (guided and not). Try to eat a meal in the dining room ..the food is quite good EXCELLENT fried chicken..and home made biscuits...just across the footbridge from the visitor's center. Then you can also tour Mammoth Onyx cave outside the park, and if you are there overnight, you can take in a play at the Horse Cave Theatre. They have an excellent Summer Stock repertory series there every summer.
Travel time to the park from Nashville approx 90 minutes. You can go straight up I 65 to the cave area exits OR get off in Bowling Green, see the Corvett factory and take 31W up to the park and go through the beautiful farmland and small towns along the way. The park has accomodations and there are tons of places to stay along the interstate. One must not forget Wigwam Village in Cave City. Little stucco teepees that are real motel rooms.

2. I also second Land Between the Lakes...Kentucky Lake and Barkley Lake, about 90 minutes up I24 west. OR you can take 40 W towards Memphis and take the exits to the southern end of the LBTL area.

3. Nashville has a fairly new zoo, a nice science museum, Cheekwoood for fine arts, don't forget the Parthenon (which has an art gallery in it) BelleMeade mansion, the Hermitage, and Tulip Grove, all fine old historic homes,

4. Civil War stuff abounds: Franklin, Murfreesboro, Shiloh National Battleground (to the south about 90 minutes or so.

5. Chattanooga is also accessible and wow what a change in that city since the old dirty days. It is a gorgeous drive down there..don't forget you jump a time zone when you get there. same with the smokies.

6. Only 90 miles or so to Huntsville AL and the NASA center, with its tours and IMAX. Excellent museum.

7. Reelfoot lake, northwest corner of Tennessee. Formed by an earthquake in 1814 or thereabouts. If another of that magnitude occurs there again it would probably drown about a million people...it made the river run in reverse.

there are just tons of lakes around the mid south. just pick one.

do visit the Loveless Cafe if you can it is worth it.

Try some Tennessee style barbecue too.

Visit the Opry land Hotel, if you are brave, try the Sunday Brunch, you can hang out for a long time, just don't give up your table, and youcan get breakfast AND lunch ..at least you used to be able to do that but the hotel is really neat, and the food is good.

If the Exit IN is still open, see what is happening there, it used to be the place to see talent on the edge of the big time: Kristofferson, Steve Martin and Linda Rondstadt all played there right before they made it big.

caution: you will run into more smokers in public places up there than in other parts of the country. And Nashville drivers are nuts.

but have fun. PM me if you have questions...

[Tsiyu]

48. Yes, Tennessee isn't too legalistic

Kind of a free-spirited place. Beer sales on Sunday in many places ( though Moore County - home of Lynchburg - is actually a DRY county LOL)

And dogs own the streets at night in small towns. We have a group in our town I call "the Mayor and his City Council Members" who own a certain part of town at night. I drive extra carefully there at night. So also watch out for the dawgs!

[Zomby Woof]

49. SEE ROCK CITY

Make sure you SEE ROCK CITY and get a SEE ROCK CITY birdhouse, lol.

(And make sure you visit Hixson, near Chattanooga, and pay a visit to the childhood home of ZombyWoof) ;-)

[yellowdogintexas]

52. and LookOut Mountain ..if you go to Rock City you

may as well go on up to the top of the mountain.

I repelled off Sunset Point once.

[scarlett1]

53. Repelling Huh

That sounds cool

[yellowdogintexas]

57. probably spelled wrong, but my friend who is a mountain rescue

person rigged me up in a harness and dropped me off the point. What a rush! I actually did it twice.

[solinvictus]

55. Chattanooga!!!

Visit the Tennessee Aquarium, which has doubled in size, the Hunter Museum, the Choo Choo, Lookout Mountain, and the outdoor Chattanooga Market. It's a beautiful city and I miss it every day.

[datasuspect]

54. hazzard county

hang out with sheriff roscoe and help him catch those duke boys once and for all