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Tennessee: From Smoky Barbecue to Smoky Mountains
by Paris Permenter and John Bigley
Tennessee. Its blues and bluegrass, smoky barbecue
and Smoky Mountains, all in one package. Within its borders, Tennessee
destinations include both cities and mountain communities, each with its
own special appeal for romantic travelers
MEMPHIS
Theyre singing the blues down on Beale Street but
thats good news for lovers. W.C. Handy, the father of blues, once
said, "The seven wonders of the world I have seen, and many are the
places I have been. Take my advice, folks, and see Beale Street first."
Along with Handy, Beale Street performers B.B. King, Muddy
Waters, and Memphis Minnie McCoy helped make Memphis the heartbeat in
a body of blues which spans the world. Here couples can wander along the
street for live music.
Carriage tours clop down Beale Street to the doors of the
grand Peabody Hotel, a few blocks away. Well known as the home of the
Peabody Ducks, these feathered residents have entertained visitors since
the 1930s with their daily swim in the lobby .
NASHVILLE
The rhythm changes from blues to country in Nashville, known as Music
City USA. Best known for its country music scene, this vibrant city also
offers many other cultural opportunities for group fun. History buffs
can opt for tours of ante-bellum homes such as Belle Meade plantation
and the Hermitage, home of president Andrew Jackson.
The 4,400-seat Grand Ole Opry, home of the worlds
longest running radio show, entertains visitors with evening shows; another
popular evening option is a cruise aboard the General Jackson Showboat,
a $12 million paddlewheeler. Planning a wedding reception? Groups of up
to 1100 can be accommodated on this riverboat.
The Grand Ole Opry, General Jackson Showboat, and
numerous venues are operated the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention
Center. The 2,884-room Gaylord Opryland offers expansive space for
the largest wedding group, shopping, a 10,000-plant conservatory, and
more. Looking for something unique to do with your out of town guests?
The hotel's Springhouse Golf Club is available for tournaments and special
events for up to 450 attendees.
One of the newest attractions in town is the Country Music Hall of
Fame and Museum. The $37 million facility is three times larger than
the former museum and is filled with gold records and artifacts tracing
the history of country music. The museums Ford Theater features
a digital presentation about country music around the world.
Just 20 minutes from downtown Nashville, Williamson County and the historic
community of Franklin offer couples the chance to sample small
town living in an historic setting. The county is also home the Historic
Factory at Franklin, a complex of 11 Depression-era buildings is listed
on the National Register of Historic Places. The renovated, mixed-use
facility includes dining, entertainment, live theater more. The Factory
is home to the Viking Culinary Arts Center, which showcases the culinary
talents of the professional chefs from around the world
CHATTANOOGA
You might be familiar with Chattanooga thanks to the song about the "Chattanooga
Choo-Choo." Although best known for that rail, good air and road
connections make this city easily accessible from any city in the eastern
US. The city is within a days drive of over half the nations
population and also offers air connections through the Chattanooga Metropolitan
Airport.
The city is home to several unique attractions including the Tennessee
Aquarium, which holds the title as the worlds largest freshwater
aquarium. The Hunter Museum of American Art is home to the Souths
largest collection of American Art.
After a day of museum hopping, the two of you can cruise the Tennessee
River in riverboat style aboard the Southern Belle which offers
both sightseeing tours and dinner cruises. Another popular reception venue,
The Chattanooga Star Riverboat, with a side paddlewheel, is available
for private charters and dinner cruises for up to 500, if you have a wedding
party in mind.
KNOXVILLE
Heading east, the beat switches to both country music and bluegrass in
the city of Knoxville. One activity specially for music lovers is the
Cradle of Country Music walking tour. Nineteen stops highlight sites
associated with country celebrities such as Hank Williams, Dolly Parton,
The Everly Brothers, Roy Acuff, and Elvis Presley.
Eighteen miles from Knoxvilles airport stands one of the states
most luxurious romantic getaways: Blackberry Farm. The exclusive
44-room resort permits groups to take over the entire property (or couples
can just enjoy a few pampering days here.) Recreation ranges from cooking
schools to mountain biking to horseback .
SMOKY MOUNTAIN COUNTRY
East of Knoxville, the rolling countryside turns mountainous. In the Great
Smoky Mountains and the communities that act as gateways to this scenic
area, groups find activities that range from music shows to outdoor adventure.
Gatlinburg, located 45 minutes from the Knoxville airport, lies
at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. "Gatlinburg
offers a safe, compact and strollable downtown filled with restaurants,
shops, attractions and comfortable accommodations and is surounded by
the most popular national park in the country," says CVB spokesperson
Steve Wilson. This community of 3500 residents hosts over four million
visitors a year and is a popular wedding destination, second on to Las
Vegas in the number of weddings each year!
Activities in Gatlinburg range from shopping for mountain arts and crafts
(the community is home to the countrys largest group of independent
artisans) to outdoor activities including cross-country skiing, bicycling,
hiking, and horseback riding.
Nearby, the community of Sevierville also offers a variety of group
activities ranging from tours of Forbidden Caverns to helicopter tours
to the Smokies from a birds eye view. The town of Pigeon Forge is
home of Dollywood, a theme park well known for its Smoky Mountain theme.
Watch park artisans do their thing: soap making, blacksmithing, leather
working, wood carving and pottery.
Pigeon Forge is also known for its numerous theaters. Couples can
enjoy everything from magic shows and comedy routines to bluegrass and
Broadway tunes. The community is also home to over 45 attractions including
Dollys Splash Country, a 25-acre waterpark; Flyaway, offering the
two of you the feeling of skydiving in a vertical wind tunnel; and outlet
shopping at six malls.
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