Where Else In Tennessee.... (Memphis, Clarksville: homes, military, plantations)

[Luckystrike1]

Greetings.

I am planning a road-trip in Tennessee in September. While Memphis and Nashville are certainly the focal points, I would also like to somewhere else a little less traveled.

'Where/What else' in Tennessee should we make it a point to see? It can be anything - a town, anything of historical significance, anything.

Thanks!

[An Einnseanair]

If you were only visiting Memphis and Nashville, what driving route would you take? That will help people know find any side trips. If you're coming from Arkansas then people would have different recommendations than if you're coming from South Carolina.

Does it have to be near/between those two cities, or are you willing to take a significant side-trip?

Just springing to mind in eastern TN:

• Shiloh National Military Park
• Natchez Trace Parkway
• Jack Daniel's Distillery

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Luckystrike1

Greetings.

I am planning a road-trip in Tennessee in September. While Memphis and Nashville are certainly the focal points, I would also like to somewhere else a little less traveled.

'Where/What else' in Tennessee should we make it a point to see? It can be anything - a town, anything of historical significance, anything.

Thanks!

If you're into waterfalls, there are over 100 of them within 40 minutes of Cookeville which is an hour east of Nashville. Most are on private property, but some are in state parks such as these:

https://tnstateparks.com/blog/10-wat...ookeville-2016

[Luckystrike1]

Originally Posted by An Einnseanair

If you were only visiting Memphis and Nashville, what driving route would you take? That will help people know find any side trips. If you're coming from Arkansas then people would have different recommendations than if you're coming from South Carolina.

Does it have to be near/between those two cities, or are you willing to take a significant side-trip?

Just springing to mind in eastern TN:

• Shiloh National Military Park
• Natchez Trace Parkway
• Jack Daniel's Distillery

Good point. That would help a lot.

We'll be coming from Oregon, likely via I-80 to Nashville, maybe travel around a little east and south of the state, wind up in Memphis last, then go from there to Mississippi. Not heading home via I-80/84 again.

Thanks. And thanks for the suggestions above.

[Luckystrike1]

Originally Posted by JMT

If you're into waterfalls, there are over 100 of them within 40 minutes of Cookeville which is an hour east of Nashville. Most are on private property, but some are in state parks such as these:

https://tnstateparks.com/blog/10-wat...ookeville-2016

Yes! I am! Thanks!

[Normashirley]

The Carnton/Carter homes, of the Civil War era are not too far off your travel path, if they’re open when you arrive.

They are steeped in Civil War History and you can almost feel it as you take the tour(s).

https://boft.org/

Stones River Battlefield (Civil War) tour and museum are in Murfreesboro and could easily be integrated into the Carnton tour in Franklin but you’d need two days to appreciate both.

https://npplan.com/parks-by-state/te...tlefield-tour/

I retired to Middle Tennessee 18 years ago, from the north. I have the greatest respect for all of the people and events of this era . As an outsider, I highly recommend these educational, albeit emotional tours.

[Luckystrike1]

Originally Posted by Normashirley

The Carnton/Carter homes, of the Civil War era are not too far off your travel path, if they’re open when you arrive.

They are steeped in Civil War History and you can almost feel it as you take the tour(s).

https://boft.org/

Stones River Battlefield (Civil War) tour and museum are in Murfreesboro and could easily be integrated into the Carnton tour in Franklin but you’d need two days to appreciate both.

https://npplan.com/parks-by-state/te...tlefield-tour/

I retired to Middle Tennessee 18 years ago, from the north. I have the greatest respect for all of the people and events of this era . As an outsider, I highly recommend these educational, albeit emotional tours.

I'll bookmark this one, too. I know we'll be in Franklin (I'm even considering the Pilgrimage Festival there).

Thanks!

[GWoodle]

Originally Posted by Luckystrike1

Greetings.

I am planning a road-trip in Tennessee in September. While Memphis and Nashville are certainly the focal points, I would also like to somewhere else a little less traveled.

'Where/What else' in Tennessee should we make it a point to see? It can be anything - a town, anything of historical significance, anything.

Thanks!

Start your TN visit at Dyersburg, go see Reelfoot Lake, on to Paris TN. Next day on to Dover, see Ft Donelson, on to Clarksville. Next day to Nashville, see Parthenon in Centennial Park. Avoid downtown Broadway. With time maybe go to Murfreesboro, Franklin. On to Shiloh & eventually to Memphis. With I-40 bridge shut down you only want to do this once & maybe avoid rush hour traffic jams. You can get west on I-55 leads to I-40 in Arkansas. Idea is to make a circle from Dyersburg to Nashville to Memphis.

Coming from Oregon maybe do I-80 east then I-70 west to continue the circle.

[Luckystrike1]

Originally Posted by GWoodle

Start your TN visit at Dyersburg, go see Reelfoot Lake, on to Paris TN. Next day on to Dover, see Ft Donelson, on to Clarksville. Next day to Nashville, see Parthenon in Centennial Park. Avoid downtown Broadway. With time maybe go to Murfreesboro, Franklin. On to Shiloh & eventually to Memphis. With I-40 bridge shut down you only want to do this once & maybe avoid rush hour traffic jams. You can get west on I-55 leads to I-40 in Arkansas. Idea is to make a circle from Dyersburg to Nashville to Memphis.

Coming from Oregon maybe do I-80 east then I-70 west to continue the circle.

Very helpful. Yes, a circle was what I hoped for. Thanks!

[Coney]

Seconding the Carton/Carter plantations/homes in Franklin if you are going to be there.

During your travels, you can visit/stay at one of the lodges in one of the TN state parks. The parks are beautiful. Falls Creek Falls might be too far east, but if you can squeeze it in, it's definitely worth a visit. Montgomery State Park is fairly close to Nashville.