Hikers and backpackers will appreciate the magnificent forests and breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountains backcountry. Campsites, hiking trails, and backpacking shelters are open year round. The park has 10 developed campgrounds (3 are open year-round) and there are many private campgrounds outside the park. Overnight hiking parties will need a backcountry use permit. Backcountry shelters and rationed campsites require reservations through the Backcountry Reservation Office at 865-436-1297.

One of the largest protected land areas east of the Rocky Mountains, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over 500,000 acres of forest. It has beautiful streams and numerous waterfalls, virgin forests of red spruce, and hundreds of miles of developed hiking trails. It is also home to more than 50 species of mammals, including black bears, white-tailed deer, foxes and bobcats. The Great Smoky Mountains rise from 800 feet to 6,643 feet, with Mount LeConte being the highest peak.

A popular spot is the Old Mill, a national historic site that’s more than 150 years old. It is one of the country’s most photographed mills. You can take a free tour of the Old Mill and see how corn meal is made. There’s an on-site restaurant and a craft village with over 30 stores. You’ll see works by local artisans and you can also buy mill-ground flours and grits at the General Store. They also sell country hams, an assortment of cheeses, and homemade baked goods.

The park offers something for everyone and is one of the most visited parks in the U.S. Every year, over 9 million visitors enjoy hiking, picnicking, fishing, horseback riding, bike riding, canoeing, whitewater rafting, river tubing, skiing and snowboarding. Accommodations range from rustic campsites and cozy cottages to private chalets and exclusive resorts.

View some related video clips below.
We uses YouTube API Services. https://www.worldtraveldb.com/youtubes-terms-of-service/

[tubepress mode=’tag’, tagValue=’Smokymountains Tennessee travel’]

Amateur country singers and musicians soon flocked to Nashville hoping for a chance to perform on the Grand Ole Opry and to gain fame and riches. The big commercial record producers in New York and Los Angeles at first ignored the hillbilly record market, so small record producers in Nashville began recording the country music stars. Today, country music is well accepted by the international music industry and nearly every major record producer now has an office and recording studio in Nashville. “Music City” has earned its name.

Country or “hillbilly” music was born in the 1920s soon after radio and records made it possible for local “folk” musicians to hear what their contemporaries were creating in other parts of the US. Country music was originally based on Scotch-Irish melodies and ballads that were popular at “barn dances” in many rural states. It soon became popular with millions of farmers and urban factory workers across the country.
Music City

Music Valley is accessible from downtown Nashville via a Cumberland River water taxi that lands at the Opryland dock. An old-fashioned show boat provides excursions, musical shows and dinner dance cruises from the same dock. Within walking distance of Opryland are a wax museum of country stars, a car museum, a toy museum and several clubs offering live country music entertainment.

In 1925, a small radio station in Nashville, Tennessee began broadcasting a radio program featuring live performances by country musicians. The hour-long Saturday night show followed a classical music show called the Grand Opera so it was quickly nicknamed “The Grand Ole Opry”. It was eventually relayed to radio stations across the country and was heard by millions of country music fans.

View some related video clips below.
We uses YouTube API Services. https://www.worldtraveldb.com/youtubes-terms-of-service/

[tubepress mode=’tag’, tagValue=’Nashville Tennessee travel’]

Today, Beale Street is still wonderfully exciting. About three blocks of the old district are packed with blues clubs, restaurants and small bars. On any given night and especially on Saturday nights, you can hear dozens of top quality blues performers. You can also hear rock and roll, jazz or a bit of country, but mostly you will hear authentic delta blues.

Perhaps this strategic location has helped form the unique cultural heritage of Memphis. A genteel atmosphere of southern aristocracy has blended with the intensely spiritual soul of its Afro-American community. This is the birthplace of the Blues and the birthplace of Rock and Roll. It was also the home of the king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley.

The really big shopping centers are all located in the suburbs just off the beltway around the city formed by I-40 and I-240. There are a few smaller malls on Elvis Presley Blvd. near Graceland. For serious bargain hunters, The Belz Factory Outlet Mall is located in Lakeland about 40 minutes east of downtown Memphis.

EasyToBook.com has a good variety of hotels in Memphis.

View some related video clips below.
We uses YouTube API Services. https://www.worldtraveldb.com/youtubes-terms-of-service/

[tubepress mode=’tag’, tagValue=’Memphis Tennessee travel’]

The oldest licensed distillery in the USA is still located on the edge of Lynchburg. It is the only place in the world where Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey is produced. This charcoal-mellowed corn whiskey is still made according to a recipe created by Jack Daniel in 1866. You can tour the distillery every day except holidays from 8Am to 4Pm.

Lynchburg was the home of one very famous resident who created the town’s most prominent product over 130 years ago. He now lies buried in the cemetery at the edge of the village. His name was Jack Daniel.

From Nashville, it is a pleasant hour-and-a-half drive through picturesque farmlands to Lynchburg. The one-hour distillery tour introduces you to some wonderful aromas as you learn how Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey is produced.

Lynchburg is located in Moore County, Tennessee which is officially a “dry county”. That means, no alcoholic beverages may be sold within Moore County. Ironically, there are 48 warehouses with over 200 million liters of Jack Daniel’s Sour Mash Whiskey stored in barrels on the hill outside of Lynchburg. The distillery is permitted to sell special collector bottles of whiskey only to tourists from outside the county.

View some related video clips below.
We uses YouTube API Services. https://www.worldtraveldb.com/youtubes-terms-of-service/

[tubepress mode=’tag’, tagValue=’Lynchburg Tennessee travel’]