Tennessee 2023

Published: Sep 25, 2023

For years, a favorite vacation spot of our family has been Tennessee. Yesterday I returned from a nice trip with some of my family to the Volunteer State, and thought I’d share a bit about it here.

Home Base: Tracy City

I discovered Tracy City back in 2020 through a cabin I rented through AirBnb for another weekend getaway. I enjoyed it so much the first time that we decided to reserve another cabin on the property for this trip.

Tracy City is a quiet little mountain town that was founded after a few local boys discovered coal while digging around after a groundhog. It has an interesting history and once even elected a dead man as its mayor.

Of the seven venues offered at The Falls at Sewanee Creek, we stayed in the Log Cabin. The rental cabin sits on a sprawling and abundant landscape of about forty five acres, complete with its own nature trails, overlook, creek, and its focal point—a private waterfall.

If you want a scenic and unique stay in south-central Tennessee, look no further. The hosts, Grant and Becky, will make sure you have everything you need (including a private tour of the grounds and welding lessons).

A view from the back porch of our cabin.
A view from the back porch of our cabin.
Some cool vehicles on the property with serious Jurassic Park vibes.
Some cool vehicles on the property with serious Jurassic Park vibes.

Day 1: Chattanooga

Thursday we ventured out to Chattanooga to explore Rock City, a Tennessee tourist classic.

One of Rock City's many water features.
One of Rock City’s many water features.
See 7 states at once from Lookout Mountain.
See 7 states at once from Lookout Mountain.
A blue-tailed skink I found sunbathing on the trail.
A blue-tailed skink I found sunbathing on the trail.

Day 2: Lynchburg

Friday we drove over to Lynchburg with reservations for a tour and tasting at the Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Distillery. We also popped into the local Lynchburg Winery for a tasting.

An old truck that used to deliver Jack Daniel's Whiskey.
An old truck that used to deliver Jack Daniel’s Whiskey.
The J.D. distillery has its own fire brigade.
The J.D. distillery has its own fire brigade.

Day 3: Nashville

Saturday featured a trip up to Nashville, where we checked out Antique Archaeology, home of the American Pickers from the History Channel show. Their shop is located in the old Marathon Motor Works car factory, which has a pretty neat museum inside as well.

After that, we headed to Grimey’s Record Shop before finding a bite to eat.

Antique Archaeology, home of the American Pickers.
Antique Archaeology, home of the American Pickers.
A neat museum inside the old Marathon Motor Works building shows the history of auto manufacturing.
A neat museum inside the old Marathon Motor Works building shows the history of auto manufacturing.

Local Eats

My favorites from the trip, alphabetically:

A Tip for Fellow Travelers

The next time you travel, consider exploring the smaller towns and spaces in between the usual tourist areas and beaten paths. These are where I always find the most fun, meaningful, and memorable stuff in my travels.




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