Thinking about heading to TN for 1 week in August. Any 'must sees' or places to avoid? Suggestions?

Question

It will be me, my husband and our 1 year old daughter. We're in NJ and either heading north to Maine or heading south to TN. We've never been to either state so your advice is welcome! Outdoor lovers at heart....

Answer 1

Maine is beautiful. If you go........you simply have to go to BoothBay Harbor. My daughters will be there at the end of July.....wave to them if you go. You can actually see the Moose. Oh man sky........what a sight that is!!! Seeing the Moose wading in the water. The scenery is........well......undescribable. So why am I selling you on Maine?? Well you said it was one of your choices so I have to talk about both options I suppose.

Tennessee? Well we are a long state. And if you start east and drive west you will definitely see differing landscapes and differing outlooks on life all the way along. I would start east and visit the smokey mountains. People joke and say........"You call these mountains???" Well our mountains are sooooo much older than the Rockies that they don't have the same effect......but they are mountains that you and your family would love to hike. Drive up to NewFound Gap and walk part of the Appalachian trail. Or hike up to the "chimney tops" (another mountain scene) The mountains look like chimneys.....thus why they are called the Smokies. We have gorgeous Laural Falls or you could go the "Sinks" out past Cades Cove ( a gorgeous scenic drive!!!!) and play in the creek and mountain stream. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are a bit too commercial for me.......but my kids enjoy the fun things there. And afterall......with a one year old you'll need to find some fun entertainment......you'll certainly find it there.

Head west to Knoxville. My hometown. I lived there since I was 3.........wow. That was a lot of years ago. It's a lovely college town.....lovely place to go visit, but I'd rather you keep going West to Nashville. Why? Well.......you will need some sweet southern hospitality and I think you have a few friends here. Downtown is simply amazing. The restaurants, the shops, the old building......the new. Sitting on the water front watching the riverboat pass by. Waving to the people on board. Staring over at the Titan's stadium........anticipating the crowds for the August preseason games! The merry go round on the water front. Historic Fort Nashborough......the old churches.......the history!!

The music alone. There are so many places to go just to hear the most amazing music ever. It doesn't matter if you love country or bluegrass or rock or alternative or jazz.......you find a bit of everything in Nashville.

The parks.......awww the parks. Beautiful Radnor Lake where you can get lost in the feeling that you are miles away from civilazation when downtown is just miles away. The deer, the geese, the turtles, the wildnerness.............its full of gorgeous hiking trails that make you feel like you are deep in the mountains. A wonderful spot!

The Children's Discovery Museum......your daughter would love this!!! Even little ones love the exhibits they have. They make it fun for all ages. Very interactive. And for us older folks...........The Frist Center . The museum currently has an exhibit of Egyptian artifacts that are just amazing.

Come ride the trains and or the river boat.......come visit the historical plantations..... come visit Monitor's new home lol. Nashville has it all. Including friends that adore you. :)

Answer 2

Gatlinburg is a nice place to visit in TN

Answer 3

Smokey Mountains are as beautiful as they can be more hiking trails then you will ever be able to walk or bike and Gatlinburg is as much of a tourist trap as there is

Answer 4

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/
http://www.smokymountainbb.com/
http://ttz.thetravelzine.com/TTarchive/038146.html

Have a great time!