Tennessee! Not solely is that this state residence to The Nice Smoky Mountains, their famed whiskey, the birthplace of nation music, blues, & rock n’ roll, however it’s additionally residence to the vast majority of Anne’s household! With aunts, uncles, and cousins on one facet of the state and our siblings and nieces on the opposite, this referred to as for a cross-state street journey! Tennessee has 16 self-guided driving routes connecting 95 counties, plus Tennessee Music Pathways, tracing the state’s music historical past and legends. With loads of inspiration for our route, we zigzagged from Knoxville to Memphis and found so many great off-the-beaten-path locations.
On our 10-day Tennessee street journey, we had been struck by the quantity of historic little cities discovering their mojo. From the previous mining boomtown of Monterey to the faculty city of Cookeville, locals all talked in regards to the current inflow of inventive individuals and hip companies turning their sleepy cities round. Tennessee appears to breed and appeal to inventive individuals and their cities are proud to rejoice them. We stumbled upon so many festivals, artwork workshops, free live shows, and group occasions that endeared us to those locations much more.
See our favourite issues to do throughout the state and begin planning your individual Tennessee street journey!
KNOXVILLE
With 11 relations within the Knoxville space, I’ve been coming right here for household reunions since I used to be a child. The place the French Broad & Holston type the Tennessee River, Knoxville is surrounded by water and nature, so it all the time performed host to our holidays, crammed with swimming, mountaineering, and boating adventures. Although it wasn’t till lately that we began to play in downtown Knoxville. The “Scruffy Metropolis” was just a little tough across the edges within the 90s and early 2000s, however this city has had a renaissance lately. They’ve cleaned up the economic areas and nurtured 4,500 acres of inexperienced and open area. Cultivating expertise and creating cultural venues, the town is now considered one of USA At the moment’s Prime 5 Arts Districts within the nation! City meets nature, Knoxville has loads to like.
Staying Downtown at The Oliver Lodge
To completely expertise the brand new and improved downtown Knox, we stayed on the boutique Oliver Lodge proper on Market Sq.. This Southern Dwelling Assortment lodge holds its constructing’s historical past pricey, from its days as a 19th-century bakery, drugstore, dance corridor, and finally turning into a lodge when Knoxville hosted The World’s Honest. Retaining authentic architectural parts and adorning with historic touches, The Oliver is a gem! With two top-notch eating places and one of many coolest speakeasies (hiding beneath the pseudonym Peter Kern Library) within the constructing, this lodge is a vacation spot in and of itself.
Market Sq.
To discover the neighborhood, we took out The Oliver’s complimentary bikes. We cycled by way of Market Sq., lined with lovely buildings, cafes, outlets, and centered round a backyard, fountain, and open area to play—be it a sport of tag or dwell music. Youngsters had been splashing within the fountain, buskers had been jamming, and diners had been loving life on the out of doors patios. I might see why my aunt and uncle simply purchased an condominium right here.
Outdated Metropolis
Heading over to Outdated Metropolis, what was recognized for warehouses, tough bars, and women of the night time, is now the hippest a part of city. We had been all about their artisan outlets, ethnic eating places, distilleries, and artwork galleries in historic buildings. (For a cool memento, don’t miss Rala and Bethie Lou’s Fabulous Present Retailer). After a drink at PostModern Distilling (one of many 25 distilleries on the Tennessee Whiskey Path), we went to Kaizen, a incredible Japanese fusion restaurant (randomly my college-age cousin occurred to be there on a date night time, so you recognize it’s cool!). We had been going to go residence after a full day, however Brother Wolf was throwing a “Jolene” themed occasion to maintain the great instances rolling from the town’s current Dolly Fest, and we couldn’t resist!
Knoxville Locals Tour
The following morning, we met my aunt and uncle to get the locals tour. We began on the 18th-century First Presbyterian Church Cemetery, the place all of the state’s founders are buried. Nashville could be the capital now, however Knoxville ruled all the Southwestern Territory and acquired Tennessee to statehood. To deepen our information of the area, we went to the East Tennessee Historic Society & Museum and realized about the whole lot from the town’s Civil Warfare abolitionists’ efforts, the roots of Appalachian music, the top-secret World Warfare II lab that developed the A-bomb, and their favourite hometown lady, Dolly Parton. Simply throughout the road is the Tennessee Theatre. “Oh, you must see inside,” my aunt Chris exclaimed. “It’s unimaginable!” The Nineteen Twenties Vaudeville Theater lately acquired a 30 million greenback renovation to revive its Moorish Revival structure and it’s as glamorous as ever, internet hosting the symphony, Broadway reveals, big-act live shows, and 170 days of occasions every year. Whether or not you come for a present or the Saturday behind-the-scenes tour, the Tennessee Theatre is a should. And my aunt and uncle’s remaining Knoxville advice? Get on the river.
Tennessee River
Knoxville’s location on the convergence of the French Broad and Holston River isn’t a coincidence, it’s a scenic and strategic spot on the headwaters of the mighty Tennessee River. The town honors these waters with 4 river parks and dozens of entry factors. For an ideal nature-meets-urban journey, we put in our kayak at Ijams Nature Heart (additionally a should), and paddled from forest to skyscrapers. Passing herons, houseboats, and breweries, we tied up our kayak on the banks of the Print Store Beer Co. We purchased a number of craft “crowlers” and after we reached the Homosexual Road bridge, with the solar setting and the town reflecting again at us, we raised a toast to Knox.
MORGAN COUNTY
Frozen Head State Park
Leaving Knoxville, most individuals go to The Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park, and infrequently miss Tennessee’s 56 state parks and different superb mountain ranges. We set out for Frozen Head State Park, which has 14 peaks over 3,000 toes, 24,000 acres of wilderness, and just about no vacationers. We hiked the Panther Department Path and in a mile stretch, we reached two beautiful waterfalls, together with Emory Hole Falls framed in a rippled limestone gorge. Again on the ranger station, we realized there are 50 miles of trails and 48 nature packages every month—the whole lot from forest yoga, fire-tower climbs, mushroom identification, to glowworm night time hikes. Who knew this state park in distant jap TN had a lot occurring!?
Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary
@honeytrek A most safety jail holding Tennessee’s most ruthless criminals, together with the person convicted of assassinating Martin Luther King Jr, is the place no one needed to search out themselves…till now. This century-old jail has reopened as museum, moonshine distillery, and restaurant behind bars. Take a swig of the Finish of the Line Moonshine and prepare for a tour given by a former jail guard…it’s an expertise you aren’t gonna consider! #visittennessee #accomplice @tennesseevacation ♬ authentic sound – Serene Nook
One other enjoyable truth about Frozen Head? Their river water is captured for Frozen Head Vodka, made on the close by Brushy Mountain Distillery and former petitionary! No joke, a 100-year-old jail, that held a few of Tennessee’s most infamous criminals (together with James Earl Ray, sentenced for the assassination of MLK) is now a museum, live performance venue, restaurant-behind-bars, and moonshine distillery. Effectively, that sounded intriguing sufficient, so we paid the Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary a go to. We made the video (above) to do that weird and oddly transferring place justice.
MONTEREY
It was Tuesday, the proper day to go to Monterey, TN. Every week of the summer season, this little city tucked within the Cumberland Mountains hosts among the finest bluegrass jam classes yow will discover within the Appalachians, “Pickin on the Market.” We pulled as much as the farmers-market-meets-concert venue, cued up with amps, mic stands, and camping-chair seating. Musicians come from far and vast for this convergence of fiddlers, banjo gamers, guitarists, upright bass gamers, and Appalachian bluegrass singers. Like Tater, who has gained a number of banjo competitions, and Jill who’s performed violin at Carnegie Corridor, and the occasion founder Terry, who can play 5 completely different devices with out skipping a beat. With out sheet music or a set record, it was unimaginable to listen to these dozen musicians, starting from ages 18 to 80, riff, harmonize, and get away in clogging dance strikes.
Passionate locals are revitalizing this sleepy city. Strolling the primary avenue of this former coal mine city, there isn’t a lot at first look…however eat on the farm-to-table Ben Anna’s Cafe, tour the Monterey Depot Museum with Dale or Rafferty (what storytellers!), and keep on the brand-new Spacious Skies Belle Ridge glamp-ground, and also you’ll see this city is on the rise.
Issues to Do in Monterey, TN
They are saying Monterey is “the place the hilltops kiss the sky,” and we felt that after we hiked proper from our campsite to Bridal Veil Falls and went to the Bee Rock Lookout to absorb the sweeping views of the Cumberland Plateau. Come to Monterey to hike the limestone gorges, pay homage to their 4,000-year-old Mound Builders at Standing Rock Park, and catch Pickin’ on the Market each Tuesday, as Terry says, “from spring till our fingers get chilly.”
COOKEVILLE
Persevering with alongside the Promised Land Scenic Byway and the route of the state’s earliest settlers, we reached Cookeville. This city is residence to Tennessee Tech and the enjoyable faculty vibe instantly got here by way of—particularly within the Historic Westside District! We become the municipal parking zone, framed with an archway of two dozen bicycles welded collectively by a neighborhood artist. Strolling Broad Road, cute boutiques actually beckoned us—from #Holly’s window signal saying “Good day Beautiful, come on in!” to Glass Tangerine’s plant store greeter, Elsa the lovable Labrador. And after we noticed Purple Silo, an precise grain silo become a brewery, we needed to go in for a flight of their award-winning beer.
Greatest Eats in Cookeville
So many eating places got here advisable in Cookeville…Putnam Room, Seven Senses, Mauricio’s Italian Restaurant…it was robust to choose! We went with Father Tom’s for its cozy vibe and nice veg choices (who knew ricotta could possibly be vegan? Yum!). The pub will get its title as a result of the proprietor was a beloved professor at Tennessee Tech for therefore a few years, that everybody simply referred to as him Father Tom. For dessert, we went to Ralph’s Donuts, a Cookeville establishment ensuring glazed fried dough is out there into the wee hours…good man! Ice cream lovers, don’t miss the enduring Cream Metropolis!
Burgess Falls State Park
Simply south of Cookeville is the incredible Burgess Falls State Park. Once we noticed a photograph of this 136-foot waterfall that comes to some extent and cascades in three instructions, it reminded us of the quilt of Nationwide Geographic’s Not often Seen! It’s a very distinctive waterfall, made even cooler by the truth that you’ll be able to kayak proper to its base. We put in at Cane Hole for a four-mile river journey, in a quiet canyon with leaping fish, darting King Fisher, and submerged forests. The roar of the falls drew louder and the limestone cliffs grew larger, and there she was…prettier than any picture might do justice. To its profit, Burgess isn’t a rager, which suggests you’ll be able to truly see the gorgeous rock formations behind the white curtain and get shut sufficient to play in its present like a water park. We’d extremely advocate this paddling journey, so for those who don’t have your individual watercraft, head out with Kayak Adventures of Tennessee. This eco-conscious clothes shop additionally incorporates river cleanups into their journeys, gotta love that! Not a paddler? The state park additionally has a path to the falls overlook.
SMITHVILLE & CENTER LAKE
Buddy the Camper adopted the river in the direction of Smithville and Heart Lake, the place we had a reservation at a killer A-frame cabin overlooking the water. After a day of adventures, we couldn’t have been happier simply chilling on our forested patio with its firepit, scorching tub, and BBQ and having a celebration for 2. The cabin was adorned fantastically and our bed room, with panoramic home windows and spa-like toilet, was divine. (If this trip rental is booked up, the proprietor additionally has treehouse close by!).
Downtown Smithville
After watching a beautiful dawn view from mattress, we headed into the middle of Smithville. Strolling round Walnut Road, we popped into so many cute outlets, just like the Refined Boutique, Cheryl’s Beau Bees, and The Male Room Brotique, however the wild half is…all of them opened previously two years! Like many people through the pandemic, these individuals realized life is simply too quick to not do what you like…and so they selected little Smithville as the proper place to do it. Like Karen and Rick who turned an previous mechanic store into The Arts Storage, a spot the place they will create and educate artwork. “There’s a maker in all of us,” Karen instructed me, “so we’ve created reasonably priced courses and kits for anybody to get entangled.” All of the shopkeepers couldn’t have been friendlier or extra enthusiastic about their small companies—as a result of they had been all fulfilling a dream.
Fiddlers Jamboree
Smithville, whereas a small city of 5,000 individuals, goes all out within the title of the humanities and an excellent time. For the previous 52 years, they’ve hosted the Fiddlers Jamboree with 35 music and dance occasions and streets filled with hand-made crafts, and meals cubicles galore. The occasion attracts ~100,000 individuals…and apparently, extra of them are staying for good.
The Appalachian Craft Heart
This Tennessee Tech campus is devoted to the standard Appalachian arts of blacksmithing, ceramics, weaving, glassblowing, woodworking, and its digital interpretations. Mid-century wood buildings tucked within the forest, with craft rooms and bunkhouses, this place felt just a little like a summer season camp…and we needed to enroll! After a stroll by way of their collection of artwork galleries and wonderful boutique, we peeked into the glassblowing studio. As luck would have it, Professor Brock and Artist in Residence Tabitha had been at work. Watching Tabitha dip into the molten glass, blow it into an orb, form it towards the steaming wooden, and create artwork in a matter of minutes was mesmerizing. If you wish to attempt your hand at any of those timeless crafts, the Appalachian Craft Heart hosts weekend workshops for all ability ranges.
DICKSON
Street-tripping Tennessee, we noticed festivals at each flip! Knoxville’s Dolly (Parton) Fest, Smithville’s Fiddlers’ Jamboree, and now the Dickson Road Pageant! This historic city, 45 minutes west of Nashville, throws it down every year with 100 cubicles, 25 meals stalls, and 15 bands throughout 4 levels, plus fireworks! And what made it much more enjoyable? We acquired to be a part of the pageant! Studying Rock Bookstore heard we had been coming to city and requested us to do an creator signing of Final Journeys for Two and Comfortably Wild. We met so many good individuals at our sales space, strolling the streets, and dancing the night time away on this nice little city.
What to Do in Dickson, TN
Even for those who can’t catch the June avenue pageant, Dickson has acquired lots occurring. You possibly can go to the state historic website of Clement Railroad Lodge Museum, take a paint and sip class at Wild Blue Yonder, get actually good tacos & margs at Desert Rose Cantina, be taught to make cleaning soap at Buff Metropolis, and catch dwell music at 119 Craft Brewery. Simply outdoors of city, Candy Charlotte is a sweet lovers and Instagramer’s paradise with their old-time shows. For just a little journey, kayak the Spillway at Montgomery Bell State Park. The park additionally has cute cabins if you wish to keep in nature however nonetheless close to city.
Bonus City: Franklin
Simply 36 miles southeast of Dickson is among the most charming and sustainable cities within the USA…Franklin, Tennessee! Based in 1799, this pristine place has completed the uncommon combo of Nationwide Historic Register of Locations and LEED-certification…citywide! We had been so impressed by our go to we wrote this in-depth information.
HENDERSON & STILLWATERS FARM
When researching our glamping e book, we fell in love with the easy charms of farmstays and we now make them part of our journeys each time we are able to! When on the lookout for one in Tennessee, Stillwaters Farm and Vineyard in Henderson completely jumped out at us. With its basic purple barn, framed beneath a 200-year-old oak tree, pastures with completely happy horses and miniature donkeys, rows of Chardonel vines, and a secluded farmhouse cottage for visitors, it’s a very idyllic place. Humorous sufficient, the proprietors Valeria and Wealthy, aren’t farmers or winemakers by commerce; he’s a fiber optics advisor who simply actually likes driving tractors and she or he’s a college instructor who needed to be taught a brand new lifestyle and share the expertise with visitors.
@honeytrek Hiding on the bucculoic Stillwaters Farm in western Tennessee, there’s a pirate vineyard. And after we say pirate, a descendent of Blackbeard is attempting her hand at winemaking—bootleg and island-style. Utilizing tropical fruits, flowers, and herbs and growing older them in whiskey barrels, Capn’ Val is throwing out the principles and making surprisingly good wine within the shadows of her backyard shed. As of summer season 2023, 40 Cannons Vineyard’s silo-tasting room is open to attempt wines like Bleedin’ Hearts, Wild Rose, and The Revenge…for those who dare! @tennesseevacation #accomplice #madeintn #stillwatersfarm #vineyard ♬ The Wellerman (Sea Shanty) – Instrumental – Tik Tak Tok
We knew Stillwaters Farm’s newest endeavor was Forty Cannons, however little did we all know that the inspiration behind this pirate-themed vineyard is Valeria’s ancestor…the notorious Blackbeard. Channeling that renegade spirit and island fashion, Capn’ Val is utilizing tropical fruits, flowers, and herbs and growing older them in rum barrels. In her grain silo-turned-merry tasting room, we acquired to attempt inventive infusions with cheeky names like Queen Anne’s Revenge and Scurvy Canine. We had `by no means tried wine infused with rose petals, basil, or key lime, and couldn’t consider how good they had been! That night time, sitting on our cottage patio, watching the fireflies glow and listening to the crickets’ refrain, our love for farmstays grew much more.
What to Do Round Henderson, TN
The small however colourful city of Henderson is simply quarter-hour away from Stillwaters with some beautiful previous buildings, just like the Chester County Courthouse, the hip UrbanHouse espresso bar & bistro, Sue Shelton White Park, and a monument to their hometown music legend, Eddy Arnold! For extra adventures within the space, Chickasaw State Park has a phenomenal lake good for swimming and trails, together with a formidable boardwalk that allows you to stroll straight throughout the water.
MEMPHIS
The final cease on our Tennessee Street Journey…our beloved Memphis! With my sister, bro-in-law, and nieces residing right here for the previous for 10 years, we’ve visited upwards of 20 instances and have grown to know and love Grind Metropolis. Greater than Graceland, Beale Road, and BBQ, we’ve acquired all types of ideas for an genuine journey to the house of the blues, soul, and rock n’ roll. Learn this devoted journey information to exploring Memphis like a neighborhood!
Why Do Folks Love Tennessee So A lot?
After 10 days and 500 miles, touring the backroads from Knoxville to Memphis, we linked two nice American cities and found so many incredible little cities, lovely wilderness, and genuinely beautiful individuals alongside the way in which. Little moments of serendipity appeared to occur on the day by day, like recognizing that 5 & Dime hidden within the ivy, that impromptu glassblowing session, the farm canine that turned our new greatest good friend, or late-night clogging with the Monterey Pickers. We’ve been to all 50 states and might say Tennessee has a robust sense of place and one price being pleased with. TN has world-famous sights, however take your time to ramble alongside the backroads and also you’ll discover the best-kept secrets and techniques.
Many due to Tennessee Tourism for inviting us to their state and supporting our storytelling! To indicate our gratitude to the beautiful individuals and locations on this state and proceed our Serene Nook Cares initiative, we’ve donated to the next nonprofits: Tennessee Scenic Rivers Assocation for safeguarding the waterways, Tennessee Trails for championing out of doors entry and inclusion, and Data Quest for constructing sturdy communities!
Have any questions on this Tennessee street journey itinerary? Drop them within the feedback!