Ever been to Tennessee?

[mommaU4]

How long do you want to stay? How many people? Do you want to look out your window and see wildlife or be close to the beaten path? There are condos, cabins, hotels, suites, etc....

March should still be cold (warmer than Mich!)... we're busy here for spring breaks from the beginning of March until the end of April.

If you plan to go to Cherokee or Biltmore (btw, Biltmore is more of an adult day trip) plan a full day for either of those. Oh and the road over the mtn to Cherokee is likely to be closed due to snow in March.

PM me for more specific info!

We will probably stay at least a week. There are 6 of us and we are going to try to get a timeshare through my aunt who is a member of RCI and can give guest certificates. So we'll be looking for a condo style I guess. I'd like to be more in the mix of things. I see wildlife in my back yard so I can do without that for a week.

We are now thinking maybe we should bump the trip to mid-June. The kids will be out of school, it seems more things will be open with more to do. When I mentioned that to my aunt though she said we did not want to go to TN in June. She said it's too hot. Is that true? Already, in June? How hot is "hot"?

 

[themepark]

June usually isn't too bad. Temps will be in the 80's. Sometimes it is rainy during the first of June. July and August are the hot, humid months here with temps in the 90's and near 100% humidity. If you do decide to visit in the summer and you like water parks, go to Dolly's Splash Country (located next to Dollywood). It's a blast!

 

[barkley]

did any of you who now live there move from other parts of the country? dh and i want to move and this is one of his choices (loves the beauty, the seasons, the LOWER HOUSING COSTS ). i'de like to hear how it compares to your home state.

what areas are smaller (and not prone to growth explosion), offer homes with acreage, good schools (and perhaps college opportunities near by), good medical services nearby, perhaps performing arts (in the community theatre sense), and is friendly/great to raise kids?

 

[Buckalew11]

did any of you who now live there move from other parts of the country? dh and i want to move and this is one of his choices (loves the beauty, the seasons, the LOWER HOUSING COSTS ). i'de like to hear how it compares to your home state.

what areas are smaller (and not prone to growth explosion), offer homes with acreage, good schools (and perhaps college opportunities near by), good medical services nearby, perhaps performing arts (in the community theatre sense), and is friendly/great to raise kids?

I think Maryville falls into the catagory that your DH is thinking about. We moved here from NJ 30 years ago. I can't compare the 2 states, really. We moved to Townsend and it had the mountains in your back yard and we lived on an island with the ocean next door in NJ. Both we small towns that attracted tourists. I loved NJ but I wouldn't be very quick to move from where I live now!

 

[Buckalew11]

You do have to be prepared to listen to this all day and everywhere you go, not that there is anything wrong with that.

You are sooo right!! Come to East TN and you will more than likely hear Rocky Top at least once, maybe more. Esp. if you visit in the Fall! (During football season!) And, of course, you may see cloggers clogging or someone buck dancing to the tune!

I think Dan must have heard Rocky Top a lot during his visit. I think it is the second thing he thinks of when he hears the word "Tennessee". (The first being "me" , of course!! )

 

[bicker]

I have no clue what there is to do or see in TN? Any advice?

The Knoxville area is home to Great Smokey Mountains National Park, so if it were me, I'd spend some time exploring this wonderful place. It is an International Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site. Besides the wonderful nature and hiking trails, there is Cades Cove, in which is preserved several historical sites, along with the natural preservation all around them.

 

[Pin Wizard]

We went to Chattanooga a number of years ago and LOVED it! It was actually a place we considered moving to. Have fun!!

 

[tinatark]

For real estate prices - try zip codes 37862, 37876, 37868... filter out acreage, mobile homes, rentals... you will still find a lot of cabins for sale - but when you see 4-5 of the same type of home in the same subdivision, you'll know it is a cabin! There is a new development coming in, the Preserve at English Mountain. www.englishmountainpreserve.com. Homesites are very private.

We moved here from Florida - Jacksonville. It's a great place to raise a family!

 

[tigger2005]

We live near Pigeon Forge and go there often. Of course we Love Disney World and went there in December but it is just too far away to visit often, so we go to Pigeon Forge quiet a bit. We go there so often in fact that I have started a Discussion Forum similar to this one but just for Dollywood, and the Pigeon Forge area. Let me know what you think of it. I am just getting started and do not have much on there yet but am hoping to grow if I can get more people to visit the site. If you have any questions about the Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Smoky Mountain area just feel free to ask.

Dollywood Discussion Forum

http://www.dollywoodinfo.com/forums/index.php

P.S. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Jockaroo]

You've gotten great advice so far. I'll add that in Pigeon Forge try to eat at the Old Mill Restaurant at least once. Great food and they do breakfast as well. I've heard a place called Apple Barn is good too--I can't wait to try this one on the advice of many Disers.

If you go with kids and want to do something "educational" head over the Greeneville -- about 45 min from Morristown -- and visit the Andrew Johnson stuff (his home, taylor shop, burial site, etc.) I wouldn't say it is as much fun as Dollywood, but it is another option. Also, if you go in the spring look for the state flower the iris. These are so beautiful in East TN.

 

[dmslush]

You've gotten great advice so far. I'll add that in Pigeon Forge try to eat at the Old Mill Restaurant at least once. Great food and they do breakfast as well. I've heard a place called Apple Barn is good too--I can't wait to try this one on the advice of many Disers.

If you go with kids and want to do something "educational" head over the Greeneville -- about 45 min from Morristown -- and visit the Andrew Johnson stuff (his home, taylor shop, burial site, etc.) I wouldn't say it is as much fun as Dollywood, but it is another option. Also, if you go in the spring look for the state flower the iris. These are so beautiful in East TN.

Yes, the Old Mill is a must, breakfast or supper! Apple Barn, OMG to die for, so good!!!

 

[Kitty 34]

Got lost on a back road in northeast Tennessee when we thought it would be fun to get off the highway and see where a back road would take us!! We could almost hear the Deliverance music!!!

It was pretty country, though.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Hey, if you were there in the fall... I hope you ate at The Apple Barn!

Hey, the Apple Barn rocks all year round!

 

[minkydog]

Got lost on a back road in northeast Tennessee when we thought it would be fun to get off the highway and see where a back road would take us!! We could almost hear the Deliverance music!!!

This happened to us back in January--missed our turn and ended up in old Appalachia on a "scenic highway." It was scenic all right--but not a place you'd wanna break down.

 

[Mari annie]

But would love to someday!

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

My boyfriend lives in Chatanooga and it's sooooo nice there