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Shelbyville, Tennessee ~ Friday, November 21, 2008
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Visiting local attractions
Posted Monday, February 18, 2008, at 11:11 AM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
Of late, my husband and I have started visiting area attractions. Last year we toured Jack Daniels, my mom loved it. A few months ago we went to Fayetteville to check out Sir's Fabrics, which I thought was really cool.
There's still a number of places we still want to check out. Some of the places we want to visit, we're waiting until we get some out of town visitors (like Graceland). A big part of the reason why we want to visit some many local attractions is that when we lived in Philadelphia, we decided to visit a lot of touristy spots. Our favorite was Eastern State Penitentiary, if you ever go to Philly - you need to go.
Anyway, this past weekend we went back to Lynchburg this weekend to check out the little town square area. We walked around and found the Moore County Jail Museum - which of course we needed to visit. The one thing I couldn't believe was that it was in operation until 1990! I took a ton of pictures - I love pictures of decaying structures.
All this rambling brings me to my question - are there any other area attractions that you would recommend? We're planning on visiting Chatanooga and it's aquarium soon, and we're waiting for my mother in law to visit to go to the Grand Old Opry. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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I can't wait to get back down to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. I haven't been there in ages anyway, and they have just opened a new facility to enclose the Saturn 5 static display. (The Saturn 5 is the rocket that has always been laying on its side, separated into its component stages. The rocket standing up, which you can see from a distance, is the Saturn 1B.) The Saturn 5 was in danger of weather damage over the years, and so the decision was made to enclose it and turn that into additional museum space.
http://www.spacecamp.com/museum/
The museum is an hour and a half drive from Shelbyville, maybe less for some drivers. Take 231 south to Fayetteville and keep going south to Huntsville.
Also, now that I think about it, don't miss Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park in Manchester. It's a Native American ceremonial enclosure; you can take a 1 1/2 mile walk around the perimeter, and there's a museum explaining the significance of it. And if you haven't been to Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro or the Sam Davis Home in Smyrna, you need to see those too.
We were thinking about going to Huntsville for a day trip. There's the space center and the Catholic religious channel is headquartered there and gives tours (having once worked at ESPN, I love tv station tours). Also, the only place I've ever been to in AL is Scottsboro, for the Unclaimed Baggage Store, so seeing something else there would be good.
We've been to Stones River Battlefield, but not to the other places you mentioned. I'll have to add them to our list. I never think of going to Manchester - I forget it's not that far.
The Sam Davis Home tour is nice, especially since they built the new museum and visitors' center a few years ago (which does a nice job of balancing out some of the Confederate patriotism with a reminder of the realities of slavery).
I need to turn this into a feature for the newspaper: "My favorite day trip," and get people to submit places like this they'd recommend.
The George Dickel Distillery is cool to visit even if you have been to the Jack Daniels tour. A little bit further away is Cumberland Caverns which is little more than an hour away towards McMinnville. It's a massive cave system with tours and a gift shop and is very cool to explore and see. Going a few miles past that is Rock Island State park which is a nice little park with a beautiful waterfall and you can also go down and walk on the rocks of the bed of river on the other side of the dam. It' s just a neat little place and its not as crowded as other state parks and many people don't know about it.
Here are the links to learn more about them . . .
www.dickel.com
www.cumberlandcaverns.com
www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/Rock...
We thought about going to the Dickel distillery, we drove by once.
The caverns seem perfect for the summer - a nice way to be outside and not die from the heat!
I will be checking out Rock Island, too. I keep hoping to find a lake or some place where we can bring our dogs to swim - when we lived in Maine, we would bring Hartley to swim all the time and he loved it.
If your going to Chattanooga you might as well visit Lake Winnepesaukah It is an amusement park but they also have free concerts. We saw Buddy Jewel there and it was a great outdoors concert.
http://www.lakewinnie.com/LWwebA/main.ht...
Also The Chattanooga Choo Choo is different
http://www.choochoo.com/
I try to put stuff about Lake Winnie's summer concerts in the Thursday weekend activities column in the newspaper, when they send it to me (and they were good about that this year).
They usually post who will be at the concerts on their website but right now they are still showing 2007 but I am sure they will update it before they open in April.
I love sharing Rock Island with people . . its just a very relaxing and off the beaten path kind of place and the waterfall is beautiful. I think it is better than the ones at Fall Creek Falls but make sure and let me know when you go because you have to take some backroads to get to the falls and its not marked well. Plus, there are plenty of places for your dog to play in the water(well, if the drought dont ruin it though).
And yes, Cumberland Caverns is great for the summer because it definitely takes away the heat and has some beautiful show caves.
I did not know that the Chattanooga Choo Choo was real! I will definately be visiting!
The summer concerts sound fun, too - well, if it isn't too hot out. (I'm still not used to the summers here).
jaxspike, so dogs are allowed there? I couldn't really find it on their website - only that you could bring them camping.
Are the backroads to get there okay for a small car? That was a problem for us in Maine, we would want to go places but our car was too small for some of the unpaved backroads. Before we go I'll leave you a comment.
Yeah, it is just gravel roads that lead to the waterfalls and my car never had a problem. It just that you have to go the back way to get to the waterfalls while everything else is kind of all together. The park is kind of maintained more by the residents of Rock Island(the community) than the state itself(except for the hydroelectric plant). As long as you arent drinking or getting naked(the typical stuff you shouldnt be doing out in public anyway), then its pretty laid back since it is not as crowded.
Here are some better pictures of Rock Island:
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/36266...
Plus, the people around that area are super nice. :-)
I keep remembering things to add. The overlook at Stone Door, overlooking Savage Gulf near Beersheba Springs up in Grundy County is just breathtaking. There's about a quarter of a mile of paved trail out to a nice little overlook, then maybe a mile and a half of unpaved (but still quite easy) trail to get to the cliff. I first saw it when I was at junior high church camp in Beersheba Springs, and as many times as I've seen it since, I still love it.
Somewhere very close is Cannonsburg (I believe I'm spelling that right) in Murfreesboro. It's an old town that people have put together that you can tour and see how people used to live. People actually donate things for this like old tractors, pictures, old tools, and we've even seen some weddings take place there(in the little chapel). Sometimes they have singings and serve free icecream. Also there is a greenway where you can walk or ride your bicycle. Pretty cool!
jaxspike - it looks lovely!! I can't wait to go!
christiangirl - I've been to Cannonsburg, it reminded me of Old Sturbridge Village (http://www.osv.org/) that we used to visit every year on school field trips. I actually only went to Cannonsburg because they had a fiber festival.
Jicarney - I looked up the Savage Gulf, I found a website (http://www.backpackcamp.com/SavageGulf.html) and it looks really cool!
I'm not much of an outdoorsy person (oh the irony that we bought a farm house), but it seems like I'm going to have to become one to check out all these fun places.
I love to take my children on day vactions! Our 2008 destinations will include. The Hermatage, home of President Andrew Jackson. The Carter House in Franklin, and the Tennesse State Museum.
I never think of the Hermatige! I had too look up the Carter House, apparently it's haunted? That sounds fun! And the TN State Museum is also a fun suggestion. I just looked at their website and saw that they have a Renoir exhibit until June - which means we will have to go.
There's always the Cumberland Science Museum I know it sounds like a kids thing but I really enjoyed it
http://www.adventuresci.com/
The Nashville Zoo is another good place to visit but take your walking shoes
http://www.nashvillezoo.org/
I did not know that the Chattanooga Choo Choo was real! I will definately be visiting!
-- Posted by cfrich on Mon, Feb 18, 2008, at 1:02 PM
SERIOUSLY???
and you should go visit Craven's house, Point Park and the old standby Rock City, the Brock's Candy Factory, Hunter's Museum, The Discovery Museum (even if you don't have kids, it's sooo much fun :P), the Riverbend Festival,the summer time concert series at Miller Park, The African-American Museum,the Incline, The Raccoon Mountain Caverns....oh the list could go on and on. I love love LOVE Chattanooga, lived there my whole life and it's so rich with things to do. I would skip Ruby falls, just go turn on your faucet, grab a ruby colored lightbulb and VOILA! Ruby Falls lol...
and If you are just talking about things in Tennessee I would completely 100% skip Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. Just a tourist trap and if you have seen one mountain, you have seen them all. It is so overrated. The only thing good about it was the Outlet mall but the taxes are OUTRAGEOUS. You pay state tax and then something explained to me as a "Tourist" tax. Waste of time and money. One frap at Starbucks cost me almost 7.00 there and only 4 in the Boro. The only good thing was the Star Cars and The Hard Rock Cafe.
What about hiking trails? Does anyone know of any within a couple hours drive?
All of these suggestions are great and many of them I haven't seen in my 6 years here. I need to get busy checking out some of these places!
I think there are some hiking trails a Greeter Falls...? It is in Beersheba, not to far from Methodist assemly. Beautiful views, but take those hiking shoes!
also check out the Frisk center, I took my childern to an Egyptian exhibit there last summer, we all loved it!
There is an art gallery in the basement of the Parthenon too!
I think there are some hiking trails a Greeter Falls...? It is in Beersheba, not to far from Methodist assemly. Beautiful views, but take those hiking shoes!
Disturbia, you were talking about things in and around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. You might want to check out Cades Cove, Wears Valley, Townsend, and Cosby, as well as all of the great hikes in the Smokies. All of them will only cost you the gasoline or diesel to get there.
I love Pigeon Forge... MINUS the traffic congestion! :(
Contact retired Shelbyville Fire Chief Garland King and tour his museum to get a glimpse of the Shelbyville of years past.
Cades Cove is awesome . . . you cant help but be in awe of the view.
I agree jaxspike :) :) :)
There you go again Darrick, agreeing with another blogger...bad boy:)
I know... I need to come up with "clever ways" to say what I think next time, LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
My favorite, being an admitted fall freak, is Sewanee and the University of the South campus, during the fall. I've been there a few times and enjoyed small college football for a refreshing change.
Is there nothing in Shelbyville with great historical relevance? I seriously want to know!!! I am sure there are places around here that could become national historical monuments ;)
Has anyone mentioned the Lane Car Museum in Nashville? It's probably more of a man thing, but I do think I'd like to see the cars there.
Check out our library (or the paper) for information on our history.
(We're kind of modest. ;) )
Garland King and Jerry Cook and Gene Williams of the Fly can help.
But,you'll get lots of good input from our "living library"- the people around here with oral histories,collections and such that they don't begin to think of as "historically relevant" because it's theirs and isn't centuries old -yet.
It's hard to remember that if we don't treasure our parents' and grandparents' past (and our own past and present) there won't be landmarks,artifacts or lore for the future.
Sharing what we have with newcomers like you might remind us of the significance of our places and our stories.
If we haven't made history yet,we can.
All it takes is hope,a little time and effort and the will of a community of good people.
We've got that-and new people are coming here to build that future every day.
You're helping just by making us look at ourselves and the attractions nearby with fresh eyes.
We'll try to return the favor by giving you plenty of good suggestions for things to see and do right near your own back yard.
You just be sure and point out any good stuff that you find that we overlooked,o.k.?
Fall Creek Falls has great hiking trails. Last time I went was when I was about 16 and I sat in the back of my friends van, so I could not tell you how to get there, or where it is located.
The following has absolutely nothing to do with the topic.
Speaking of Penn. State Pennatentary...do you watch Ghost Hunters on Sci-Fi, or Paranomal State on A&E?
I know Ghost Hunters investigated there a couple of times and have evidence of "activity!" Not sure Paranormal State (which is located and ran by Penn. State College students) investigated there. I think they are more for house hold investigations.
My husband and I love those shows!
My husband and I went to Chattanooga on our honeymoon and visited the aquarium and also See Rock City. It was in late September and Rock City had an amazing breeze that was blowing through the path and the view was gorgeous. The aquarium was so fascinating. I've never seen anything like it before. I definitely recommend these two areas. I've never been to Ruby Falls but I hear it is something worth checking out. I have seen pictures and it was beautiful so maybe we will get to check it out sometime soon. Have fun!!
I have been visiting Shelbyville, Lewisburg and the surrounding area annually for over 40 years and can't believe that no one mentioned historic Wartrace with it's famous Walking Horse Hotel; visiting delightful Bell Buckle and it's charming shops; eating at the Bell Buckle Cafe on a Friday night, listening to some great blue-grass music; touring The Walking Horse Museum in Lynchburg; making it a point to attend a few of the many events held on the historic Celebration Grounds; touring a few of your local horse training facilities to view some of the many past and future World Grand Champions of an industry that has helped supplement your economy for over 70 years; not to mention visiting a few of the historic sights found in your neighboring Marshall and Rutherford counties - such as those found in Lewisburg and the Historic District of Murfreesboro.
From a tourists' perspective, Shelbyville and surrounding area has much more to offer than meets the eye. Enjoy it! We certainly do!
Mary, I did see one of those shows where they went to Eastern State Penn, it was fun seeing the place in a more sinister light - not that it really needed that to look creepy. They actually turn the place into a haunted house at Halloween time and we went one year - that was scary, and fun, of course.
After just glancing....
Cumberland Caverns offers short and long tours, very cool place.
Tims Ford is great place to go and relax, the cabins are nice.
Sam Davis Home is a good day trip with Stones River Battlefield.
The big cemetary in town is old and interesting to walk through when the sewage smell is down.
I love Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, be sure to catch and IMAX movie! They have a HUGE botanical garden that is very close by.
In Belvidere, just south of Winchester is Falls Mill. It is a working mill that has a short and beautiful walking trail. We used to go there as kids and play in the falls when it was really hot. A friend even got married there! If anyone would like better directions, just ask here. www.fallsmill.com
Also, thank you everyone for such good suggestions, my husband and I now have a huge list of places we want to check out!
Rutledge Falls (water fall) out toward Normandy Lake, Cortners Mill Bed and Breakfast, Pattys Restaurant in Paducah Ky. great over the Holidays (reservations required). Then go back to Fayetteville around the square from Sirs. The old jail there is a restaurant and your seated in a jail cell.
If you decide to go to Pigeon Forge be sure and go to the Dixieland Stampede. I love that place..
http://www.dixiestampede.com/pigeonforge...
The Comedy Barn is amazing as well :) Pure, clean entertainment!
Don't forget George Dickel tour down in Normandy. Haven't been there in a while I was wondering if the still give a tour with the production being limited.