My Tennessee Story

I am one of a few that can truly say they are a native of Nashville. Born in 1963 at the old St. Thomas Hospital that is now Baptist Hospital, I have seen iconic moments that have long since gone, from the Nativity at Centennial Park, to Christmas time at Harvey’s downtown the pasttimes. I attended the opening of Opryland in the 70’s and the opening of Opry Mills. I shopped for my prom dress… Read More

For three generations my family has enjoyed the annual World’s Biggest Fish Fry the last week of April in Paris, TN. It’s a week-long event filled with fun for the whole family, starting with the carnival several nights that week. A trip to the Rodeo. Watching and getting a good start on a tan at the parade with entrants from all over the region and the grandest floats. Kids use to skip school to go… Read More

It was mid-October and a group of friends rode our Harleys up through Tennessee to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway. The main reason for our trip was to see the leaves changing colors. This is something Florida palm trees do not do!

The colors are magnificent in Tennessee. The ride through Georgia is mostly pavement, but the sight of the Tennessee border was wonderful. The leaves were turning, the days were perfect, nights were chilled… Read More

My family went to Tennessee to be near Nashville (country music) and Memphis (Elvis). The closest we could get was Crossville, TN. That was three years ago, and now half my family lives either in Crossville or Cookeville, TN. The rest of us will be moving in June 2008 when my husband retires from 20 years of teaching. We first were enticed to Tennessee for the music and Elvis. Now we are staying for the… Read More

My wife and I have vacationed in Tennessee for the last 5 years now. We have enjoyed rides in the General Jackson paddleboat in Nashville. That was a “GREAT” adventure. Those people are the most courteous people there are. The food and entertainment is excellent.

Also we went to the Grand ‘Ol Opry. Again that was “GREAT.” The mall there had a very wide selection of shops and food courts to choose from also.

On… Read More

I grew up at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and can see or be happy in no other place. Although I have lived other places, the mountains keep calling me home, and when I finally see them all is well within me.
There are so many things to do and see there, such as Cades Cove…the 14 mile trail where a person can see deer by the herds and bear, wild turkey,… Read More

Growing up in Northern Alabama, my daddy taught us the importance and beauty of the outdoors. We would take that long road trip through Tennessee in an old Volkswagon station wagon to stay in the Smokies. We didn’t have a lot of spending money so we just enjoyed the park but that was enough. The mist in the valley blanketing the Mountain Laurel., the bears sneaking through the campsite at night and the road to… Read More

My husband and I love motorcycle adventures. We love to combine trips where we plan an activity, but create the trip as we go. Last summer we decided to do a trip through middle and eastern Tennessee on the bike. Mind you, the time was August and it was the hottest on record; not necessarily the best time to take off into the elements. But we have romantic ideas that we get so few moments… Read More

Every year my family chooses a new spot to go on vacation and, about four years ago, we chose Tennessee. Since then, every year we go back there rather than choosing a new place to visit because we love it so much. On the last visit we stayed at the Gaylord Opry Land Hotel right next to the Grand Ole Opry house. The hotel itself is absolutely amazing, but what made it even better was… Read More

Im a 42-year-old widow from Ohio, with 2 children and 4 grandchildren. Going south to the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains was the only place my late husband wanted to go to on vacation trips. We went 2-3 times a year. Some trips were with my in-laws and friends.

I can remember a trip we took in the early ‘90s. We decided to hike (Clingman’s Dome, I think)! During the hike I ripped my jeans, it… Read More