A Trip Through Tennessee
We planned a road trip east for the first time ever from our home outside of Dallas. Heading for the East Coast, we wanted to make an adventure out of the trip. So we decided on a tour through Tennessee, starting with Memphis traveling to Nashville and then through Gatlinburg, home of the beautiful Smoky Mountains. This is our 5 day adventure through the state of Tennessee that we hope helps any first timer on their visit as well.
1st Stop - Memphis
What a great town! It is surprisingly only a little over 6 hour drive from Dallas, TX. We arrived mid-afternoon and headed straight for Beale Street, home of the Blues. It was dreary and damp but we didn’t let that stop us.
BB Kings
There was live music playing from almost every bar. Of course, we picked the iconic BB Kings bar as our start. They have a large bar area with a mezzanine, serving food and drinks all day long.
We listened to a couple of sets from two different bands. They were both very good. But it was time to decide, do we stay, as we had great seats, or do we head elsewhere to see more of Memphis?
Famous Barbecue
We chose to leave, and we were not sorry we did. We ended up at the famous Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous restaurant. They are known for their barbecued ribs, and since we’d heard about them for years we had to try for ourselves.
Watch out for it, as it’s down the stairs, down an alley.
They did not disappoint, as they were sooooo delicious. We were so busy eating this was the only picture we got.
Check out the signed apron in the background. None other that Paul and Julia Child must have dined here at one point, which makes sense as, this restaurant has been around since 1948. It was a great experience overall.
If you find yourself in Memphis don’t miss the Civil Right Museum at the Lorraine Motel. This is the hotel where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated and now a museum. On this day, it was bright and sunny a sharp contrast to the devastating events of April 4, 1968
Here is the hotel restored very similarly to it’s original state. The classic cars outside are just like the cars parked in those very spots on April 4, 1968. It was humbling to stand in this spot and reflect on the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. for a bit.
The museum is equal parts emotional and educational. It is very well done, giving an in depth history of the enslaved American’s freedom, that was shadowed by segregation, and the work of the many, that fought for civil rights for all.
One of the most moving exhibits was the Montgomery, AL bus boycott. We’ve all heard of Rosa Parks, the brave woman who in 1955 would not give up her seat in the “white section” of the bus. Her arrest sparked, in a deeply segregated south, a boycott on the bus system that lasted an entire year. This placed hardship on those using the bus every day as they had to find different transportation to get to their jobs and anywhere else they wanted to go. In December for 1956 the Supreme Court ruled segregation unconstitutional, a pivotal ruling in the fight for civil rights.
This was just one of exhibits that deepens the understanding of those who fought so valiantly for the most fundamental of human rights. We would highly recommend a stop at the National Civil Rights museum while in Memphis.
2nd Stop - Nashville
We arrived in Nashville on a chilly but gorgeous day. The skyline just sparkled. Downtown Nashville is very walkable to everything you’d like to see, including the museums, football stadium, bars and restaurants.
We headed right for Broadway Street, known for it’s bars filled with music. What was surprising, is that we expected all country and honky-tonk, live music. What we heard and saw was also a broad mix of music up and down the street. We walked to find just the right spot to hang out.
Of course, we picked a rooftop bar. There are many to choose from. The music from downstairs was piped to the roof so we could enjoy it. We had a great birds-eye view of all of Broadway and the city.
Soon it was time for lunch. Rather than hang out in a bar, we chose to stand in line for our first ever “hot chicken,” at the famous Hattie B’s. This newer location is right on Broadway, but there are locations throughout the area. The restaurant opens at 11AM and customers start lining up earlier to get some of this delicious chicken.
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken Was So Good!
They serve various chicken cuts with different heat levels. We both prefer dark meat so we got the “bones” (thigh/leg) plate with two sides. I got the medium heat, which I loved. He got the mild and still thought it was too hot. Thank goodness they have “Southern” sauce, which has no heat.
The sides are awesome too. I loved the mac ‘n cheese as well as the black eyed pea salad. So good!
(FYI - Texas friends, there is a location now in Dallas too!)
We are not huge country music fans, but since we were in the heart of it all, we wanted to visit the Ryman. This historical hall is the original location of the Grand Ole Opry. Ryman Auditorium was originally built in 1892 as a gospel auditorium. There is a long history of ownership and how this venue was used, until it finally became the the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1925-1974. It is still used for special events today.
The Stage at The Ryman.
The tour is terrific, which includes a great interactive movie presentation reviewing the history and all the incredible artists that have performed here. Afterwards, there is a self guided tour that includes a photo op right on the stage where many greats have played in the last almost 100 years.
The Ryman has been well preserved, right down to the beautiful glass windows. This 2,300 seat auditorium is a great stop to learn more about the musical history in Nashville.
If you’re so inclined, one of the hot tours is the “pedal tours,” where you sort of peddle a bike, while having the beverage of choice, cruising the streets of Nashville. This is as close as we got! Nashville was a fun stop, with lots to see and do in a city easy to get around in.
3rd Stop - Gatlinburg
This charming town was never on our radar, but as we had a desire to visit the Great Smoky Mountains and Gatlinburg is the closest town to one of the park entrances. The town is just on the other side of Pigeon Forge, home of Dollywood and many other attractions. We chose Gatlinburg as it seemed a bit quieter for us. There are a large variety of hotels and short term rentals to choose from in all price ranges in town.
The shopping areas are so cute! Lots of local candy, coffee and souvenir shops to choose from.
Gatlinburg is not that large, so it’s easy to walk through town in an afternoon. All the restaurants are in walking distance as well.
We were there off peak but we could see how busy this place could get. Between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg I’ll bet we saw 20 miniature golf courses. This could be a great vacation spot for the whole family.
Some nights nothing is as good as a great pizza. We found a terrific pizza at Smoky Mountain Brewery, just a short walk from our hotel and right in the center of town. They looked to have a great assortment of beer made right in their local brewery as well.
4th Stop - The Great Smoky Mountains
Despite a very unseasonably cold day for May, this National Park did not disappoint. The green under the canopy of trees was gorgeous right from the entrance. This National Park does not have traditional fees per se, however, if you want to park for more than 15 minutes anywhere, a parking pass is necessary. Parking passes can be picked up ahead of time online or at kiosks at Visitor Centers throughout the park.
This is why they are called the Great Smoky Mountains. According to National Geographic, the smoky look is a fog caused by, “water and hydrocarbons exuded by trees produce the filmy "smoke.” The park is over 800 sq miles large, making it the largest protected area in the eastern US.
But It Was Cold! It was 26 Degrees on an Early May Day
One of the must see stops is Clingmans Dome. It is the highest peak in the park and has a platform that offers incredible 360 degree views.
There are beautiful rivers and creeks throughout the park with miles of hiking and biking trails to see them.
On the eastern side of the park is a visitor center and former farm of a family that lived in this valley over a hundred years ago. It is called Mountain Farm Museum. This collection of well restored cabins gives insight to what life might have been like here long before this was a national park.
There were many signs warning visitors of bears in the area. We did not see anything. But there is still plenty of wildlife to see. Sunrise and as dusk are the best times to see the animals out and about. We saw this elk hanging out in a field mid-day.
The Eastern side of the park. The park really needs at least 2 days to fully see all it has to offer.
From Arkansas to North Carolina. It’s a great trip to start on the west and travel east via car. We loved our trip to Tennessee, where we learned about the geography, the history, the people and the beauty in this state in the center of the country. We definitely recommend exploring Tennessee. We will be back!
