Hello All!
So, last week my husband, oldest daughter and I went on a vacation to Tennessee. Leaving Minnesota on the evening of October 9th, we drove all night and most of the next day. We wanted to have as much time as possible to see all we could for the seven days we would be there. With only two minor detours, we made it, albeit tired and stiff from all the time in the car.
To remember all that we did, I had to keep notes in my phone. This also helped me keep the days straight.
We stayed in Crossville, the golf course capitol of Tennessee. (That’s what their water tower said, honest!) Crossville is in between Nashville and Gatlinburg. We spent a couple days in Crossville, one day in Gatlinburg, one day in Nashville, then on the way home, one day in Memphis.
Here are some of the highlights of what we saw and did.
Crossville Model Railroad Club (https://crossvilletrains.org/welcome/)
Totally amazing what these club members have done with model trains and their settings. Being October, they also had a Halloween set up with a fall carnival.
Smoky Mountain Ziplines (https://smokymountainziplines.com/)
Totally amazing, running on lines above the trees in the fall. One of the members of our party was 83, so age isn’t always a show stopper. He was funny, brazen and had a wonderful sense of humor. I hope to be as adventurous as him at that age.
Muscle Car Museum (https://musclecarmuseum.com/) Jim is a gear head so we did this for him
We checked out Ozone Falls State Natural Area, since my daughter wanted to hike in one of the many state parks there. The falls were a little hard to get down to but the views were remarkable.
On to Nashville, we went to the Country Music Hall of Fame (https://countrymusichalloffame.org/)
Johnny Cash Museum (https://www.johnnycashmuseum.com/)
Walk of Fame, Music row going into Jason Aldean’s and Florida Georgia Lines’ having food, drink and listening to live music. And a trip to Tennessee isn’t complete unless you stop at Graceland.
We got to Graceland late enough in the afternoon, that there were only the three of us on the tour. With Covid, we were handed tablets and head phones for the guided tour. Actually, a smart way to go because you could stop the audio and go back and listen to a part over, which I did several times. It left me awestruck seeing the place with the cars, planes, clothes and records of someone who was so famous around the world. In the record room, there were plaques from other countries! One of the attendants asked if I were old enough to remember him and what I was doing when I heard he had died. She had been born after and was astonished at how many people she asked and the answers she received. She thought he was a striking looking man and very talented, knowing then what all the fuss about him was.
All in all, it was a great time! Would I go back? Yes, since we only scratched the surface to see the oodles of sites and places to see there.
It is my hope for all my readers, that if you are in the area take in the sites of Tennessee. People of Tennessee, thank you for the hospitality and an enjoyable experience.
Until next time, be safe and enjoy life!
