Tennessee
Nashville and Pigeon Forge
This was a family vacation, the five of us visiting TN and the Carolinas for the first time. For me, not as much time wandering around taking pictures as I like, but being together as a group has it's own fun. With the oldest heading off to college this fall, I wonder if this just might be the last time for the five of us. That first magical family moment that I hope we all remember fondly, was when we were enjoying Jeni's ice cream in the rather warm Nashville evening, and seeing fireflies for the first time. There aren't any fireflies on the west coast, so the first sighting caused a gasp, and an exclamation...firefly!
My impression of Nashville is it is a city in transition. We stayed in East Nashville, at an Air B and B property, and one could tell that old properties are being snatched up and remodeled at a rapid rate. Travel for the 5 of us, is much more pleasant with having access to homes or apartments versus hotels, and Air B and B has made life a LOT easier with regards to travel lodging. (You're welcome Air B n B). I did not notice a central downtown, but rather neighborhoods to visit, depending on your mood for the day. The traffic, however, was fierce. I wonder if having a river wind through the city complicates the road system? We enjoyed our first true Southern barbeque here..Peg Leg Porker. And if food is love, Monell's served family style, was more food than a body could eat at one sitting. For touristy stuff, we HAD to visit the Grand 'Ol Opry. A trip to Belle Meade Plantation was actually enjoyed by three teenagers, so obviously worth the effort.
Pigeon Forge- the most traveled area in the US! first impression was sort of a shocked 'what is this place?' Miles of pancake houses, pee wee golf, go-cart racing, and kitsch. I get it though...it is a kids' paradise. There's no way to be bored, IF you got the cash. Dollywood is RIGHT THERE, too. Honestly, I didn't have high hopes for this amusement park, but it was not bad. Not bad at all. America themed, not surprisingly. Roller coasters are solid. We stayed in a cabin up in the mountain area which has a spectacular view of the Smokey mountains. We througoughly enjoyed a firefly and lightening show one evening, courtesy of Mother Nature. And Gatlinburg, supposedly a high demand destination point, I found to be a slightly more upscale and concentrated place to walk around, with more 'adult' activities. (Moonshine tasting anyone?)
MY IMPRESSIONs: I liked Tennessee. GREEN due to the rain, the roads are 100 times better than California roads, and the Smokey Mountain National Park is superb. The weather this June was sometimes great and sometimes suffocatingly hot. Not many mosquitoes. Clean, people are friendly with that charming southern accent.
