A Tennessee Tapestry Dream
Things To Do, Agritourism, History and Heritage, Music and Arts, Nature and Outdoors, Shopping
Tennessee’s tapestry of color is stunning year round. With its landscape of hills and valleys, and unique shades of rocks and trees, the breathtaking scenery is outstanding. Glistening sapphire lakes are as intriguing as the stalagmites and stalactites dripping from ceiling to floor in Tennessee’s’ beautiful caves such as Blue Springs and Bull Cave.
My companion and I shared this adventure together, enjoying our freedom on country roads, taking in the panoramic Smoky Mountain view, and smelling the fragrance of mountain laurel. Tennessee has such an endless amount of memorabilia and history to be digested our dream vacation could not possibly cover it all in a short amount of time, although in a dream anything is possible!
As we waltzed across the state, we headed for the Bell Witch Museum in Adam, then to Cross Plains to see if the Muffler Man Indian is still standing his ground. At Cookeville, we investigated the Elephant and found her polka dot bikini is faded now.
In Oak Ridge, we saw that the World Trade Center of rusty debris had been taken over by the Big Dragon Statue, and did not catch a revival in the Minister’s Tree House at Crossville, Amen for the day! With the car fueled at the airplane-shaped gas station in Powell, then a blessing for good gas mileage at The Cross, in Royal Blue, our excursion continued.
Gatlinburg was an interesting town with numerous museums including Salt and Pepper Shaker and Hollywood Wax Museums. I was impressed with the wonderful shops, and exciting city nightlight at the top of the ski lift. It was raining, and the streets shined like mirrors as people strolled through this romantic town.
A couple of days in Pigeon Forge shopping, stopping at the Moonshine Bar in Cosby and braving the Forbidden Caverns in Sevierville, then further on down the road to Dollywood. We felt like kids again with the exciting rides and fabulous shows. Our day was complete with something to eat and horsing around, tapping the ground at the Dixie Stampede.
Our journey continued as we swerved through the Smoky Mountains; the sharp turns and rollercoaster hills made the ride exhilarating. Although we did not find the Lost Sea in Sweetwater . . . by now, we are lost but not at sea! I cannot remember whom the rocks were gossiping about in Rock City’s because Ruby Falls at Lookout Mountain made me forget. We flew by the Flying Saucer House and looked for a paper clip in the Holocaust Boxcar big enough to hold all the treasures I collected on my Tennessee vacation.
A setback in reality was a ride on the Incline Railroad, then the Chattanooga Choo Choo; those were the days when people took life slow and easy, stopping long enough to enjoy the beauty of our country from high atop a pristine mountain. We saw a view of this radiant city from the Southern Belle Riverboat during a starlight dinner cruise . . . and our breath was taken away, on a ride down the rapids of Ocoee River.
After a restful sleep in the extraordinary Chattanooga Marriott, we took off for another adventuresome day.
It was a toss up for cocktails between the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg, and George Dickels, in Normandy . . . and we acquired a taste for both before the trip was complete.
I guess it is time to wake up from the dream and face reality. I thought about my next dream and visiting the virgin territory of Nashville and Memphis, cruising through the quaint little town of Kenton while watching for white squirrels playing in the streets, and then stopping for crumpets and tea at the Teapot Museum.
The down-home southern hospitality and friendly atmosphere of Tennessee give a person the feeling that they are always welcome in this part of the country. Now I know why Elvis was “All Shook Up”!
Rating: 2.0/5 (1 vote cast)