Tennessee

Tennessee was supposed to be posted before Texas but I goofed!  My mistake – I’m sorry!  I prepared it first and then forgot that I did not actually post it!

Vintage Map Postcard of Tennessee

Tennessee is the state east of Arkansas where I live.  Our daughter lives in Chattanooga, one of the larger cities at the southeastern corner of Tennessee.  When we visit her, we drive through Memphis and almost all the way to Nashville before we turn south over the mountain to Chattanooga.

Driving through Memphis we drive by St. Jude’s Hospital for Children.  This is a wonderful place for children with devastating illnesses, especially cancer.  They provide free treatment and continue to seek cures for cancer, especially the cancers that attack children. 

Graceland, home of Elvis Presley in Memphis

Memphis is also where Elvis Presley made his home called Graceland.  Rock ‘n’ Roll and Jazz have both been part of the music scene in Memphis for more than 50 years.  Beale Street is the place for those who love night life, clubs and music. 

Nashville, the capital city, is the center for Country Music and a fun city to visit.  The Grand Ole Opry and The Country Music Hall of Fame are just two of the many sites to enjoy.  Southwest of Nashville in Johnson, Tennessee you can find Castle Gwenn, the location each May for the Tennessee Renaissance Festival.   The castle was featured in Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” music video.

The Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee

Like most other states, Tennessee has a few large cities, some smaller ones and a multitude of little towns or villages.  Most of the land is forested or farm land.  The deciduous forests provide spectacular colors when the leaves begin to turn in the cooler weather of fall.  The Smokey Mountains of eastern Tennessee are often partially hidden by low clouds or fog that gives the mountains their name.  The streams running through the mountains provide interesting sounds and make for delightful hiking through the beautiful woods.  Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are popular destinations with many unique shops, hotels, restaurants and family oriented attractions such as Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s amusement park.

Andrew Jackson's home, The Hermitage, near Nashville

Knoxville is just west of the Smokey Mountains.   One of my favorite authors, Jefferson Bass, writes mysteries regarding The Body Farm, a forensic teaching area of the University of Tennessee.  The Mississippi River,  Jack Daniels whiskey, Tennessee walking horses, over 9,000 caves,  Rock City, Lookout Mountain, the Appalachian Trail, the Cherokee National  Forest, and  Oocee River white water canoeing are just a few of the many places to explore in Tennessee.  Visit their website at http://www.tnvacation.com/ to find the exciting places that speak to you.