Tennessee travel

[Ready4theGulf]

Hello! I am usually only a lurker but here is a suggestion. Come to my end of Tennessee. Biltmore Estates is a must, but then make your way to East Tennessee (Johnson City/ Bristol). I would suggest Jonesborough if you do not want any huslte and bustle. It is the oldest Tennessee town. The older shops there are quaint, no outlets just older shops that have been there for years. The Lollipop Shop is a must. We used to go down just to walk through the town. Jonesborough has great Bed and Breakfast places. Then after a day or two make your way through Elizabethton up to Roan Mountain and then on into Banner Elk, NC and see Grandfather mountain. Jonesborough, TN is only about an hour and half or so from the Roan Mountain/ NC border. From there you could go back towards Asheville, NC or go to Boone, NC and Blowing Rock, NC (home of the Tweetsie railroad).
The only time you shouldn't head this way is during the Bristol races. It gets a little crowded.

 

[Lady D]

good idea there yippie - we've been to townsend, very secluded and peaceful. love to go to cades cove before the sun comes up to see wildlife. we are going to the gatlinburg area in september, haven't been for a long time.. love the mountains hate the town.

Don't understand anyone hating Gatlinburg. Haven't been in many years, not since I was 21 but it had all kinds of little shops and stuff that were nice. Cannot imagine it changing for the bad that much!

 

[Lady D]

Hello! I am usually only a lurker but here is a suggestion. Come to my end of Tennessee. Biltmore Estates is a must, but then make your way to East Tennessee (Johnson City/ Bristol). I would suggest Jonesborough if you do not want any huslte and bustle. It is the oldest Tennessee town. The older shops there are quaint, no outlets just older shops that have been there for years. The Lollipop Shop is a must. We used to go down just to walk through the town. Jonesborough has great Bed and Breakfast places. Then after a day or two make your way through Elizabethton up to Roan Mountain and then on into Banner Elk, NC and see Grandfather mountain. Jonesborough, TN is only about an hour and half or so from the Roan Mountain/ NC border. From there you could go back towards Asheville, NC or go to Boone, NC and Blowing Rock, NC (home of the Tweetsie railroad).
The only time you shouldn't head this way is during the Bristol races. It gets a little crowded.

Ready4theGulf, my brother and his family live in Johnson City. So do his in-laws. Haven't been to that area since back in 1986. The Lollipop Shop sounds great. And I love Biltmore House. I probably have seen Grandfather Mountain. We enjoyed the drive into Cherokee, NC also on several occasions and going in the shops all along there. I remember the Indian Doll I bought in one of those shops. Wondering if those type places are still there. I was born and raised in Knoxville so we went to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Cherokee, NC and other places quite often.

 

[audie]

Don't understand anyone hating Gatlinburg. Haven't been in many years, not since I was 21 but it had all kinds of little shops and stuff that were nice. Cannot imagine it changing for the bad that much!

i think what i dislike more than the town is all the people. i am not a shopper as a general rule, so we mostly hit gatlinburg to eat. i just hate the fact that it seems they are getting away from the mountain type atmosphere and bringing in hokey stuff to bring more visitors. you would be surprised just how much it has changed, even in just a few years. do not care for pigeon forge at all, although i am going to stop there for cowboy boots for the nephew... on a side note, we do like checking out dollywood, it is a nice clean park, with very nice employees.

 

[RiverOtter]

Don't understand anyone hating Gatlinburg. Haven't been in many years, not since I was 21 but it had all kinds of little shops and stuff that were nice. Cannot imagine it changing for the bad that much!

It hasn't changed EXCEPT that there are more little shops all selling the same crap and I do mean crap, there are pancake houses every 10 feet and all and I do mean all of them have more pancake flavors than the others. Worst of all the the traffic. Guy I know left the Nooga and in 2.5 hours was at Severvlle (not too bad but still longer than it should have been). Then from Severville to G'berg was 3.5 hours :shock: . I don't even think that is 10 miles. He got so frusterated he got out of the car walked around to the wife and said "If you like this place so dam much you drive".

All the musuems are just like they were 20 years ago except more crowded, every time you walk into one you drop $40 to $60+ and are usually very disappointed. I swear for the money we dropped in 2 days we could have gone to Disney (that is no exaggeration )

 

[RiverOtter]

Ok Pea, if you are traveling without Little Peas I still say Nashville or The Nooga. The night life in Nashville is awesome as well as the Nooga. The Nooga has awesome B & B's. Some downtown and some in the mountains and some on the river. Between the Nooga and Nashville is Monteagle Mtn. Also loaded with B & B's as some world class restaurants too.

 

[Smiling JOe]

...and if you are adventurous and decide to go to the Nooga, drive a little further and go hang-gliding from Lookout Mtn. I have done many things in my life, and hang-gliding has got to be up there near the top on the list of funn activities.

 

[RiverOtter]

...and if you are adventurous and decide to go to the Nooga, drive a little further and go hang-gliding from Lookout Mtn. I have done many things in my life, and hang-gliding has got to be up there near the top on the list of funn activities.

Can you believe I still haven't tried that

 

[Ready4theGulf]

ladydebubba60, I also live in Johnson City area. I grew up about 10 miles from JC in a small community called Bluff City. I can honestly say I don't think I have ever been to Cherokee that I can remember. As far as Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge goes I stay away unless forced. Gatlinburg is like a strip of shops with the exact same items in every store. The hotel/motels are getting pretty old. However, they do have a nice aquarium. Pigeon Forge is the closest OUTLET shopping we have. It is so crowded that it is not safe to get around. Now Pigeon Forge is so full, shops are starting up in Sevierville. The interstate exit has a Bass Pro shop and another development being built. To me the area is like a GO-CART city with a little putt-putt and shopping in between. I prefer to eat in Pigeon Forge they have a lot more to choose from. But you don't see the old restaurants or mom and pop places like you used to. There is not a Smokey Mtn feel to any of the area. You would have to drive out to Cades Cove and venture through the mountains yourself to feel secluded and in the mountains.

 

[Jdarg]

Can you believe I still haven't tried that

No, I can't. Maybe you should go today and report back to us?