Tennessee: From Smoky Barbecue to Smoky Mountains
by Paris Permenter and John Bigley

Tennessee. It’s 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

They’re singing the blues down on Beale Street but that’s 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 world’s 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 museum’s 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 day’s drive of over half the nation’s 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 world’s largest freshwater aquarium. The Hunter Museum of American Art is home to the South’s 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 Knoxville’s airport stands one of the state’s 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 country’s 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 bird’s 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 Dolly’s 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.