Vacation in Tennessee

Monday, May 21, 2018

Last week we started looking at some possible vacation ideas for states surrounding Kentucky (since a lot of my readers live here). We've checked out places in Kentucky and western Virginia that looked pretty cool. And since the Cincinnatti zoo has a membership that offers half price tickets to reciprocal zoos and aquariums, I listed a bunch of places in neighboring states that are on their list.

So today I want to look at a few places in Tennessee.

I love going to the Smoky Mountains and there are so many things to see and do there. If you're an outdoorsy kind of a person, there are countless places to hike and camp. One of my all-time favorite things to do is to go whitewater rafting and Tennessee boasts the best rivers in the southeast. I've done two of the three and they were big fun.

• Pigeon River
• Upper Ocoee
• Lower Ocoee

Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are two places we go with some regularity because they are relatively easy to get to and have a lot of things to do. (They also have a Fuddruckers!) Whether you like amusement parks, themed dinners, games, or shopping, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg have plenty of options. Last year we rented a cabin and made most of our meals there. It was lovely.

Speaking of Fuddruckers, not only is there one in Sevierville, but in Johnson City and Knoxville, as well. Whenever we are on our way through Knoxville, we always have to stop for a good burger. 

Cookeville Performing Arts Center is a place well worth a visit to see a good play. We saw the Phantom of the Opera there once. It's a small theater but the performance was second to none.

When we lived in western Kentucky, we ventured down to Nashville a time or two. They have got some nice family-friendly things to do there. It's a great place.

• Adventure Science Center 
• Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
• Rocketown -- great for teenagers
• The Lane Motor Museum
• Nashville Children's Theatre
• Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, home of the People's President
• Tennessee State Museum
• Belle Meade Plantation
• Parthenon
• Cheekwood Estate and Gardens
• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
• Grand Ole Opry
• Bluebird Café
• Nashville Shores
• Nashville Sounds -- triple A affiliate of the Oakland A's

Hopefully if you are thinking about visiting our neighbors to the south, you will find some really fun things to see and do. Let me know if you take in any of these places and what you thing about them.

Coming up: Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. Got any places you want me to include in my entry?

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