Exploring Northeast Tennessee: Racing, planetarium, fossil dig, storytelling ...

Spending a relaxing evening in Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town, enjoying tales from the storyteller in residence at the International Storytelling Center and walking through the picturesque downtown to stop in some of the shops and galleries.

Hiking through the Cumberland Gap enjoying the scenic views of the mountainside and exploring the Gap Cave where Civil War soldiers carved their names on the ceiling.

These are just a few of the adventures found in Tennessee. Visitors traveling through Northeast Tennessee will discover the state in a new way as they explore the back roads, historic main streets, unique restaurants, scenic spots, outdoor adventure and much more.

A recent six-day visit traveling from Knoxville through Northeast Tennessee included visits in Bristol, Johnson City, Kingsport, Jonesborough, Morristown, Cumberland Gap, Greeneville, Erwin and Knoxville. Some of the highlights from visiting each town include the following:

BRISTOL

Bristol is known for racing and a stop at the track is a fun way to start your visit to the town. During the holidays, Speedway in Lights is featured so be sure to check that out during December.

In the downtown area, pick up one of the self-guided historic walking tour brochures. Stops include the NASCAR mural, Paramount Center for the Arts, Bristol sign, confederate soldiers monument and the Burger Bar, the last place Hank Williams Sr. spoke to his driver before dying while on the road.

Troutdale Bistro is a great spot to dine while in town. Sandwich selections include the wonderful hot Italian sausage panini and homemade chips. A great chocolate cake is among the dessert selections.

If you are visiting in the fall, be sure to plan your trip during the annual Rhythm and Rook Reunion, which will be held Sept. 16-18 in 2011. Bristol’s musical heritage is celebrated with award winning artists at four outdoor stages and 16 indoor venues.

For more information, go to www.bristolchamber.org or www.bristolrhythm.com.

JOHNSON CITY

One of the most unique places you will find during your visit to Northeast Tennessee is the Gray Fossil Site and Natural History Museum in Johnson City. A state road project in 2000 uncovered fossils that led to the site being established as an archeological dig. It covers five acres and is 100 feet deep. Five rhinoceros are among the fossils that have already been discovered on the site. The museum has fossil displays and an overview of the dig site.

While in Johnson City, make the wonderful Carnegie Hotel your headquarters. The historic hotel was built in 1891 as the crown jewel of East Tennessee and it continues to offer travels elegance and comfort. The hotel is located at 1216 West State of Franklin in the downtown area. For more information, go to www.carnegiehotel.com or call 1-866-757-8277.

In the hotel, be sure to have a meal at the delightful Wellington’s Restaurant. Start off with spinach salad with dried cranberries, candied pecans, red onions and blackberry vinaigrette. For an entrée, try the pan seared crab cake and chili glazed shrimp over grits with sweet pickled green tomatoes. For a delightful end to the meal, be sure to try the pumpkin mousse trifle.

For more information on Johnson City, go to www.visitjohnsoncitytn.com.

KINGSPORT

Near Johnson City is Kingsport, where you will find Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium, a 3,000-acre nature preserve with a planetarium. Live animal habitats, hiking, bicycling and nature programs are among the offerings.

Along the trail at Bays Mountain, visitors will find benches. It’s common to spot someone enjoying the outdoors while reading a book or taking time for reflection. The park also includes an amphitheater where plays and music are presented.

In the 102-seat planetarium, “Connections,” a show designed by the staff, is presented. Also at the park, stop by and see the wolves and you may even get to hear them howl.

In Kingsport, we had lunch at Riverfront Seafood Company which has outdoor and indoor dining. If the weather permits, sit on the back deck overlooking the river. The appetizers include wonderful fried green tomatoes. The grilled tuna sandwich with ginger teriyaki sauce is great.
For more information, go to www.visitkingsport.com.

JONESBOROUGH

Jonesborough has a charming downtown with a bed and breakfast and shops with the International Storytelling Center as the focal point of downtown. The center is the only facility devoted exclusively to storytelling. Live storytelling performances are featured throughout the year.
During our visit, Regina “Reggie” Carpenter of Ithica, N.Y., was featured. She shared some wonderfully entertaining stories of her childhood.
Founder Jimmy Neil Smith spoke on storyteller when he introduced Reggie.

“Sometimes people think storytelling is just for children,” Smith told our group. “It’s for all of us. No matter how old we are…Any facet of life can be enhanced by the telling of a good story.”

MORRISTOWN

Near Jonesborough is the Rose Center in Morristown, Tenn., the home of the Mountain Makins Festival each October. Arts and crafts, music, demonstrations and readings from authors are all featured. Year, round, you can visit the Rose Center to check out the educational, historic preservation and arts and culture exhibits and performances.

In Morristown, visitors will also find the Longstreet Home, a historic home which was occupied during the winter of 1863-64 by Gen. James Longstreet. It is being restored to serve as a museum and centerpiece of the Civil War tour in East Tennessee.

Our visit to Morristown included a stop at the Bethesda Church, where 80 Confederate soldiers are buried. The church served as a hospital for both Union and Confederate soldiers.

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner in Morristown at the Little Dutch Restaurant, which has been serving the area since 1939. The restaurant has an extensive menu that offers Italian, steak and seafood, as well as sandwiches and salads.

For more information, go to www.morristownchamber.com.

CUMBERLAND GAP

Travel the Cumberland Gap National Historic Parkway to discover the beauty of the Northeast Tennessee. Scenic mountains, lush forests and sparking streams are all found in this area. Visitors can also follow Daniel Boone’s path as they hike through the Cumberland Gap National Park and Pine Mountain Trail. A lantern tour of the Gap Cavern is an adventure for those who really like to explore. At the end of your journey through the cave, you will find names on the ceiling of the cave of Civil War soliders.

For more information on Cumberland Gap, go to www.nps.gov/cuga.

A short distance from Cumberland Cap is the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum on the campus of the Lincoln Memorial University. One of the nation’s top Lincoln collections is located in the museum. It includes fine arts, visual arts, a research library, campaign materials and many other items. The most significant item is a cane belonging to Lincoln. It was found in Lincoln’s box at Ford’s Theater after he was shot there.

For a fun lunch spot on campus, try WOW for wings and other fast food.

For more information on the museum, go to www.Imunet.edu/museum.

GREENEVILLE

Greeneville is the home of Andrew Johnson, the nation’s 17th president. The downtown area includes the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, museums, walking tours, antique shopping and historic home tours.

The Nathanael Greene Museum has 10 exhibits, including Civil War memorabilia, the early agriculture years and the veterans honor display. The museum is named for the Revolutionary War hero for whom the town and county are named. Admission is free but donations are taken to further the work of the museum.

The General Morgan Inn, located at 111 North Main Street in the heart of the downtown historic district, is a great place to stay during your visit to Greeneville. The inn has served the community since 1884 and offers a boutique atmosphere that makes for a perfect getaway.

Fine dining at the hotel is found at Brumley’s. A great entrée is pecan crusted trout. Filet of trout is dusted in pecan breading, pan-fried and glazed with a citrus butter sauce, served with grilled asparagus wrapped in bacon and browned potatoes in Boursin cheese sauce. For dessert, try the crème brulee with blackberries, Rich French custard is folded with vanilla beans, finished with Turbinado sugar and burnt to perfection and topped with blackberries for a refreshing berry flavor.

At the General Morgan Inn, we had a special treat in a performance of Civil War dances by the 1860s Living History and Dance Society. The group has performed dance demonstrations and sponsored Civil War balls throughout Greeneville. The home school families give a wonderful performance with period costumes made by the students.

For more information, go to www.generalmorganinn.com or call 1-800-223-2679.

For more information on Greeneville, go to www.mainstreetgreeneville.com and www.visitGreenveilleTN.com.

ERWIN AND UNICOI COUNTY

The Valley Beautiful, known for its scenic views, is found in Unicoi County. This scenic paradise is nestled in the mountains and includes canopied roads and unspoiled views.

In downtown Erwin, look for Choo Choo Café, which has sandwiches and homemade desserts, alongside antiques and local displays.
For more information, go to www.unicoicounty.org.

KNOXVILLE

Our stop in Knoxville included a tour of the Frank H. McClung Museum on the University of Tennessee campus and dinner cruise on the Star of Knoxville. The museum, which is a Smithsonian affiliate, features a new permanent display, “The Battle of Fort Sanders,” which details the Civil War battle that took place in Knoxville and placed the city under Union control.

The Star of Knoxville is an authentic stern wheel riverboat that takes guests on a scenic cruise with views of beautiful homes, The Body Farm and the countryside. Lunch and dinner cruises are offered.

Our visit to the Knoxville area also included an overnight stay at the Comfort Inn in nearby Oak Ridge. The rooms are spacious and comfortable and a free breakfast is included.

For more information on visiting Tennessee, go to www.tnvacation.com and www.tntrailsandbyways.com.