A complete tour guide to the Volunteer State from the highlands of the Smoky Mountains to the banks of the Mississippi River. Tennessee is a state of endless diversity. It boasts breath-taking scenery, the homes of three presidents, and the birthplace of legendary frontiersman Davy Crockett. It is the birthplace of the blues and the home of the King of rock ‘n’ roll. It offers a wealth of opportunities for hiking, canoeing, fishing, and wildlife viewing in state and national parks, recreation areas, and forests. From mountain highroads to delta lands, this comprehensive guide invites you to the best of Tennessee’s bed and breakfasts, museums, historic sites, restaurants, antique shops, and such attractions as: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park The National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough The South’s favorite outlet shopping in Pigeon Forge Coker Creek, the site of Tennessee’s gold rush World-class whitewater rafting on the Obed and Ocoee Rivers The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area The Chattanooga Choo Choo and the Tennessee State Aquarium Civil War battlefields like Stones River and Shiloh The Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg The Natchez Trace Parkway Musical venues from the Grand Ole Opry to Beale Street The largest Middle Woodland Indian Mound in the southeast A half-mile-long reproduction of the Mississippi River Traveling Tennessee does more than get you where you want to go. It also educates you about the state’s heritage, excites you about its vacation possibilities, and entertains you with accounts of the authors’ own experiences.

What do miniature golf, the Cherokee alphabet, country music, the atomic bomb, and the long-lost State of Franklin have in common? They were all born in East Tennessee, of course. Author Carolyn Sakowski drove over three thousand miles to update routes and directions for this second edition of Touring the East Tennessee Backroads. Though she didn't much care for filling her gas tank, she loved reacquainting herself with the region's rich history and unforgettable personalities. Readers of this popular guide will meet frontier legends Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, and Sam Houston. They'll encounter a pair of future presidents-the hotheaded, gun-toting Andrew Jackson and the fugitive Andrew Johnson-at decidedly unpresidential moments in their lives. They'll witness where John Sevier assembled with the Overmountain Men during the American Revolution and where William Thomas's Cherokee legion fought in the Civil War. They'll see Rock City, visit sites on the Trail of Tears, and travel to the courthouse where Clarence Darrow battled William Jennings Bryan in the Scopes Monkey Trial. They'll enjoy the best East Tennessee has to offer, from its mountain passes and TVA dams to its historic homes, churches, and gravesites. The thirteen tours are amply illustrated with black-and-white photographs for the benefit of vacationers and armchair travelers alike. Book jacket.

Looking beyond the Highway is an examination of road history and roadside attractions specific to the South. Focused in part on numerous aspects of thematerial culture landscape of the Dixie Highway, the essays consider the politics of roadbuilding, roadside entertainment, the buildings and businesses one might encounter along the road, and regional adaptations to the needs and desires of northern tourists. Following the Dixie Highway from southern Illinois to Florida with sidetrips down other southern roads, the essays cover a wide variety of subjects, many of which will resonate with anyone who has ever lived in or vacationed in the South: Harrison Mayes's “Get Right With God” signs; the park-and-pray craze of outdoor drive-in church services; the rise and demise of brick highways; the fierce political battle over the route of the Dixie Highway; beach music and the evolution of motel architecture in Myrtle Beach; Florida's early tourist towers; and the commercial development of Tennessee caves as tourist attractions. Covering a landscape that includes Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Indiana, Virginia, Arkansas, Ohio, Kentucky, Alabama, and Illinois, the anthology shows that there was and still is a distinctive southern culture and how roads have influenced that culture. As lively as they are diverse, thearticles provide a solid background for understanding roadside ephemera that have disappeared or are quickly disappearing. Ranging from the serious to the light-hearted and including descriptions of American road and roadside icons to kitsch, the book will appeal to anyone with an interest in road history and roadside architecture.

North Carolina is a traveler’s dream, from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks’ historic lighthouses, wild horses, and charming fishing villages; from battlegrounds of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars to the “heart of motorsports”; from rolling wine country and golf courses to stately plantations and rustic settlements. Whether you travel North Carolina for its historic treasures or natural beauty, this handy guide will help you find the Old North State’s most spectacular sites and secret treasures. The book charts weekend adventures and day trips along back roads and scenic routes, into the state’s many mist-shrouded mountains--the Black, the Blue Ridge, and the Great Smokies--and down to its ever-changing shores. Sumptuously illustrated, with maps and all manner of interesting detail, Backroads of North Carolina is a page-by-page pleasure, as well as a passport to the more off-beat delights of the Tar Heel State.

Move to the beat and savor the unique creative energy of Music City. From hot chicken to warm Southern hospitality, experience it all with Moon Nashville. Explore the city: Navigate by neighborhood or by activity with color-coded maps See the sights: Watch country music's top acts at the Grand Ole Opry, tour the storied halls of the Tennessee State Capitol, and pay homage to legends at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Stroll the Vanderbilt and Fisk campuses, shop for vintage records and handcrafted jewelry, and go honky-tonking late into the night Get a taste of the city: Cast your vote for the best authentic hot chicken, dine at a classic meat-and-three, or delight in food truck feasts featuring Egyptian treats, farm-fresh peaches, and fiery moonshine Bars and nightlife: Tap your foot to some live music at the Bluebird Café or pull up a barstool for a flight of classic Tennessee whiskeys. Get inspired by up-and-coming singers in The Basement before finding your own voice at Lonnie's Western Room karaoke, or try a free line dance lesson at Wildhorse Saloon Local advice from Nashvillian Margaret Littman on her beloved home city Flexible, strategic itineraries including a two-day tour, a foodie weekend, and Nashville on a budget, plus day trips to Land Between the Lakes, Mammoth Cave, the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg, and more Tips for travelers including where to stay, how to safely bike in the city, plus advice for LGBTQ+ visitors, international travelers, and families with children Maps and tools like background information on the history and culture of Nashville, easy-to-read maps, full-color photos, and neighborhood guides from Midtown to Music Valley Experience the best of Music City with Moon Nashville. Hitting the road? Try Moon Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip or Moon Nashville to New Orleans Road Trip. About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you. For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.

The birthplace of the blues, the cradle of country music, and the home of the Smokies: get to know the Volunteer State with Moon Tennessee. Inside you'll find: Strategic, flexible itineraries, from a long weekend in Nashville to a Great Smokies road trip, designed for history buffs, families, outdoor adventurers, music lovers, and more, including day trips from Memphis and Nashville The best local flavors: Dig in to fiery hot chicken and authentic Southern barbecue or sip on samples at the Jack Daniels Distillery Can't-miss music: Catch a performance on the Grand Ole Opry stage or follow in the footsteps of the King at Graceland. Two-step with the locals at a beloved honkytonk, listen to the strums of bluegrass, or tour studios where legends like Johnny Cash recorded their hits Outdoor adventures: Go whitewater rafting in Cherokee National Forest, hike to rushing waterfalls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, or spot wild bison in the Land Between the Lakes Expert advice from local Nashvillian Margaret Littman on when to go, where to eat, and where to stay, from rugged campgrounds to historic inns Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Accurate, up-to-date information on the landscape, wildlife, and history of Tennessee Trusted recommendations for LGBTQ+ travelers, international visitors, seniors, and travelers with disabilities With Moon Tennessee's practical tips and local know-how, you can experience the best of the state. Hitting the road? Check out Moon Nashville to New Orleans Road Trip.