WOW! Spend a week in Tennessee (Murfreesboro, Cookeville: rental, home, buy)

[Turkey Creek Tom]

Spent a week in Tennessee and here's what I did.
All from McMinnville in Warren County.
Monday:--Drove 45 minutes up Baker Mt. Road past Hawks Bluff and to hike, bike ride, horse back ride, play golf and eat at the Inn at Fall Creek Falls, probably the most beautiful rustic state park in the world.
Tuesday:--Drove 1 hour to Nashville for the Tuesday night Grand Ole Opry. On the way stopped at Murfreesboro and had a great meal. After the Opry took in some of the night life in Nashville, back home by 1 AM sleepy!
Wednesday:--Rested up -- Mid week church services are held by all congreations. Not much goes on on Wednesday nights in Tennessee but go to church.
Thursday:--Drove 55 minutes to Cumberland County Playhouse at Crossville to see a great broadway play.
Friday:--Could not decide whether to go to the big bluegrass show at Rocky River 25 min drive or stay in town for the swing dance program and the classic car show and custom cycle drive in that is free in McMinnville. I knew for sure I was going to eat cat fish in McMinnville or Rock Island, everyone does that on Friday nights. So after the cat fish I went downtown and saw a great performance (free) from a 50's band and some of the best classic cars you could ever want to see. Maybe blue grass at Rocky River next time.
Saturday:--Drove 30 min to Center Hill Lake to water ski and see the beauty of the lake and mountains, visited the big Appalachian Craft Center.
Sunday:--Drove 15 min to Rock Island, swan, watched kayaking and then went fishing came back had a cook out and played softball. This was Sunday afternoon after church.
WOW! will you be tired, but it's not from driving, it's from so much to do and to see.

[OneKEighty]

Originally Posted by Turkey Creek Tom

Spent a week in Tennessee and here's what I did.
All from McMinnville in Warren County.
Monday:--Drove 45 minutes up Baker Mt. Road past Hawks Bluff and to hike, bike ride, horse back ride, play golf and eat at the Inn at Fall Creek Falls, probably the most beautiful rustic state park in the world.
Tuesday:--Drove 1 hour to Nashville for the Tuesday night Grand Ole Opry. On the way stopped at Murfreesboro and had a great meal. After the Opry took in some of the night life in Nashville, back home by 1 AM sleepy!
Wednesday:--Rested up -- Mid week church services are held by all congreations. Not much goes on on Wednesday nights in Tennessee but go to church.
Thursday:--Drove 55 minutes to Cumberland County Playhouse at Crossville to see a great broadway play.
Friday:--Could not decide whether to go to the big bluegrass show at Rocky River 25 min drive or stay in town for the swing dance program and the classic car show and custom cycle drive in that is free in McMinnville. I knew for sure I was going to eat cat fish in McMinnville or Rock Island, everyone does that on Friday nights. So after the cat fish I went downtown and saw a great performance (free) from a 50's band and some of the best classic cars you could ever want to see. Maybe blue grass at Rocky River next time.
Saturday:--Drove 30 min to Center Hill Lake to water ski and see the beauty of the lake and mountains, visited the big Appalachian Craft Center.
Sunday:--Drove 15 min to Rock Island, swan, watched kayaking and then went fishing came back had a cook out and played softball. This was Sunday afternoon after church.
WOW! will you be tired, but it's not from driving, it's from so much to do and to see.

Congratulations sir, you have just expressed why I have never had the desire to live anywhere else. To quote the great southern philosopher Charlie Daniels, "Ain't it great to be alive, and living in Tennessee"!
By the way, Fall creek Falls IS surely one of the most scenic places in the state, but the food there can't compare to that found at Cumberland Mountain State Park near Crossville. Don't believe me? Just stop in for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. Some of the best food I've ever had anywhere (and believe me, I've had a pretty fair amount of food!). I won't steer you wrong when it comes to eatin!!!

[SPLIT]

T.C.T. Glad you had good agenda, places I really have not cruized.
Saturday water ski not quite sure of.?? We had 50 degrees and rain, you must have used two wet suits.!!

[brcomm0]

Moderator cut: advertising You are right what a great place to live and stay. Middle of the the entire area and able to go Falls Creek Falls 8 miles away and Cookeville 35 miles and Chattonoga 52 miles. I just came back also and it was a bit cool, but really nice.

[Kingsnkali]

I spent close to two weeks in March in Tennessee. I'm a Californian.

Day 1 Couldn't find anyplace where I could get an out of state fishing license. Finally, was told the only place that had one was at the little Walmart in Carthage. Spent 50 some dollars for a 10 day out of state fishing license. Went fishing at Cordell Hull. Caught lots of white bass, largemouth, sunfish, crappies from shore. Day 2 Went fishing below the dam on Cordell Hull. Caught lots of chunky white bass and shad from shore. Day 3 Went fishing at Dale Hollow. Caught nothing. Day 4 Went fishing at Dale Hollow. Caught nothing. Day 5 Went fishing at Dale Hollow. Caught nothing. Day 6 Went fishing at Dale Hollow. Caught nothing. Day 7 Went fishing at Dale Hollow. Caught 3 nice smallmouth bass. Bang. Bang. bang. Day 8 Went fishing at Dale Hollow. Caught nothing. Day 9 Went fishing at Dale Hollow. Caught nothing. Day 10 Went fishing at Dale Hollow. Caught nothing. Too windy one day. Too calm the next. And never fish The Hollow without an electric trolling motor to HOLD you on the microscopic spots you do find. Very frustrating when the wind moves you 10 feet and you end up in 70 feet of water... A little rental jon boat with a gas motor just doesn't cut it. Bring the electric for boat control. It's critical.

Through this whole time I lived on Sonic Burger, catfish, catfish, catfish, catfish, hush puppies, hush puppies, hush puppies, hush puppies, pizza (at a marina), pizza (at a gas station), bbq pork and white bread, bbq pork chops and white bread, rib eye steak, Sonic Burger (love that new banana milkshake they have!). The food selection in restaurants was not good. Some yahoo built like a linebacker named Bobby Ray wanted to kick my butt the one time I found a place where I could actually buy a beer and eat my meal! He was even mad that I ordered a Michelob. Went on and on about that with the waitress.

I went into another place that had a flashing sign: "hockey night in (something town)" located somewhere near Cookeville or Lebanon. Thought it was a sports bar and I could sit down, drink a cool beer and eat. Enjoy some Predator hockey on the tube. No beer. Nada. Everyone was just sitting around eating chili. I thought it was some kind of church meeting because they all looked up from their tables when I walked in.

Countryside was beautiful. People overall very nice. I love Dale Hollow Lake! Very challenging. Deep, clear and you have to pay your dues (locals were pretty tight-lipped on fishing tips). This lake will NOT get the best of me. Someone swiped all my high-priced golden shiner minnows at the marina (I'm still mad about that). I do have a problem with the food selection in the small town restaurants though. It was just about the same menu everywhere I went. And everything shuts down real early. These folks go to bed early and get up early.

I had a nice trip. I liked Nashville. Vandy campus was pretty and good picture taking with trees in bloom. Great eateries, beers next to the big arena (Predators home). I'll be back to Tennessee.