Tennessee: Good Music and the Great Smoky Mountains
- Kaitlen Daigle
- Jun 19, 2024
- 4 min read
Driving through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we entered Tennessee from North Carolina. There is actually a sign that designates the state line. We explored more of the park and then continued north toward Kentucky. We drove through Gatlinburg, TN, and stopped at Dolly Parton's Stampede. They were all decorated for autumn with a bunch of pumpkins outside. After taking lots of photos, we went to the Dolly Parton statue in town. Then we decided to stop at a bakery called Ham'n Goody's, which has legit the best lemon cookies I've ever tasted. After that heavenly dessert, we headed to get gas and everything else we could possibly want at the largest Buc-ees in the U.S. in Sevierville, TN. This place was incredible, you could get gas but also clothes, food, and home goods. It took me forever to decide what drink I wanted because there were so many options. After this stop, we continued on our way to Kentucky.
After visiting Kentucky, we entered back into Tennessee with our first stop being in Gallatin. We have friends living in Gallatin and they have a good amount of land for their animals to roam. One unique animal they have is alpacas, which I got to feed. I had just traveled to Peru a few months prior, where they have a lot of alpacas and I became obsessed with them. So getting the opportunity to feed the alpacas was a super cool experience for me. Next on our trip, we headed to Nashville, which is the country music capital of the world. My mom and I stopped at our hotel first, then took a shuttle to downtown. We walked around and stopped at a few bars to listen to music. We stopped at a food hall and had Nashville hot chicken, which was much hotter than any other Nashville hot chicken I'd had. So after eating that, I followed it up with some ice cream.
The next morning we headed to Opryland and walked around. I had no expectations for it but it was incredible. It was like a little town inside with a waterfall and everything. After walking, we went to Paula Deen's restaurant and got an ooey gooey bar, which was phenomenal. We continued on the road to Memphis.
When we arrived in Memphis, our first stop was the Peabody Hotel. The Peabody Hotel is famous for its tradition of the "Peabody Ducks." Since the 1930s, the hotel has featured a daily Duck March where a group of ducks, led by the Duckmaster, march from their rooftop palace to the lobby fountain at 11 AM, and then back at 5 PM. This quirky tradition has become a hallmark of the hotel's charm and was the main reason why we were there. Once we witnessed the duck march, we hung out and had a cocktail. The next agenda item was to search for some good Memphis BBQ. We found Rendevous and their food was so tasty. It was hidden in an alleyway and once you open the door, you go down to the basement to order the food. It was truly a hidden gem.
After picking up our food, we went to visit the Lorraine Motel. The Lorraine Motel holds significant historical importance as the site where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Originally a segregated motel for African Americans during the Jim Crow era, the Lorraine Motel is now part of the National Civil Rights Museum. The museum complex includes the motel itself, preserved as it was at the time of the assassination. This was a powerful thing to witness and I definitely recommend anyone in the area to spend some time there and delve into all the history.
The next morning, we stopped by Graceland to check it out. We didn't have time to tour Graceland but we saw it from the outside and saw Elvis's planes, which was pretty cool. Then we headed on our merry way to my mom's last state (my 49th state), Arkansas.
If you want to visit Tennessee, here's a list of possible things to see and do:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Explore America's most visited national park, known for its diverse wildlife, hiking trails, scenic drives, and historic structures.
Graceland: Visit the legendary home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, featuring tours of the mansion, exhibits on his life and career, and Presley family artifacts.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: Located in Nashville, this museum showcases the history of country music through exhibits, artifacts, and interactive displays.
The Grand Ole Opry: Attend a live performance at this iconic venue in Nashville, renowned for showcasing country music legends and contemporary stars.
Jack Daniel's Distillery: Take a tour of America's oldest registered distillery in Lynchburg, learning about the whiskey-making process and the history of Jack Daniel's.
Dollywood: Experience the theme park in Pigeon Forge founded by Dolly Parton, featuring rides, live entertainment, crafts, and Southern cuisine.
Civil War History: Explore key Civil War sites such as Shiloh National Military Park, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, and Fort Donelson National Battlefield.
Music Scene: Enjoy live music in Nashville's honky-tonks on Broadway, as well as in Memphis's Beale Street, known for its blues clubs and vibrant nightlife.
Tennessee Whiskey Trail: Embark on a journey across the state to visit distilleries and taste Tennessee whiskey, including stops at smaller craft producers.
Outdoor Activities: Tennessee offers opportunities for hiking, fishing, boating, and camping in its state parks, rivers, and lakes, such as Radnor Lake State Park and Cherokee National Forest.
If you want more suggestions on what to do in Tennessee, I suggest you check out their tourism website.
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