Cade’s Cove. Also the knife museum in Sieverville (sp).
Thanks for the Cades Cove tip! looks interesting and close to Gatlinburg.
DOLLY WOOD FOR MUSIC UNLESS YOU HAVE KIDS PRICE SAME REGARDLESS, PIGEON FORGE AREA HAS LOTS OF ENTERTAINMENT. THERE IS A APPLICIAN MUSEUM NEAR CADES COVE THAT IS REAL NICE, WHOLE OLD FASHION VILLAGE SET UP, REASONABLE.
Thanks to all for your comments they all are appreciated and I took much of the advice. Comments:
MEMPHIS:
MUSIC — Sun Records and Stax Museum were enjoyable. Sun was a must see for me. Spent about an Hour and half there with the tour being 45 minutes. Stax was pretty cool. Graceland was another must and the museums there were far bigger than expected. (three hours). Beale Street – Compare to Bourbon St. North. Once was enough. Overrated, music we saw was OK.
FOOD – Best ribs were at “The Bar-B-Q-Shop” on Madison in the Cooper Young district. Best Appetizers “The Beauty Shop” (on Cooper in same area). We only had appetizers and I highly recommend the place. Side Note: We sat at the bar and a couple sat next to us while waiting to be seated. He looked familiar and placed him after about a minute: Van Jones. He and I got into a friendly chat and I thanked him for his favorable words regarding Trump and Prison reform. (No I was not going to get into a heavy chat with him, he was with his wife (I assume she was) and it would not have been appropriate.
Hotel – Talbot Heirs (a B&B actually) Highly recommended. It is across the street from the Peabody (yes we saw the Ducks!).
Memphis – Over all it was enjoyable and I see no need to go back
Not enough time!! After visiting Shiloh (did the tour, it was moving for me) we made it Nashville by late afternoon. We did see the Parthenon, it was no big deal. And yes, the Athena statue was pretty ugly
MUSEUMS – Johnny Cash (small, interesting, well done), Country Music Hall of Fame – Focused on the “Rednecks and Armadillos” display as Texas/Lubbock sound is a favorite. Comment: Too much focus on Willie Nelson (yes he deserves attention, but he was more than 60% of the display).
HOTEL – Hermitage – Over-priced. Restaurant – Capitol Grill – Disappointing
Over all Comment – Need to go back and spend three days there
On way to Gatlinburg we took the Jack Daniels tour and contrary to reports they do have tastings and you can buy bottles of Jack there. Very enjoyable!
Over-all – This place was not our style. Too touristy, too crowded, too glitzy, very family oriented. Looks like it would be a lot of fun if you had kids under 10.
Cade’s Cove – Loved it! Thanks. Very interesting.
Asheville – Took a day trip. Had some rain but not much. Visited the Vanderbilt estate and grounds (they had a Chohuilly special exhibit). Walled around downtown. Very nice town.
Restaurants – The Trout Hose was very good and would go back. Other places were forgettable.
Knoxville – Our Chattanooga flight was cancelled and we were rerouted through Knoxville (the timing was better and it was closer).
Ate at the “Lonesome Dove” --- Loved it!
We both agreed we would go back to Knoxville, just to eat there. Pretty pricy but well worth it. Best restaurant I have been to in a long time.
Also visitied a museum in downtown Knoxville that had a special display on Alvin York. Very good!
General Comment: The people every place we went to were so nice and polite, which is one thing I always love about visiting the south.