On the Road in Tennessee  

Posted - June 15, 2020

Our first stop in Memphis was the famed Stax Recording Studio and birthplace of soul music. Now a museum, a self-guided tour highlights the groundbreaking careers of Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Isaac Hayes, and others. With ambiance music throughout, and episodes of “Soul Train” on various screens, it all culminates to the Express Yourself Dance Floor under a mirrored ball and strobe lights!
  
We then moved on down the road to the illustrious Sun Studios that launched the careers of B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and Elvis, and is considered the birthplace of rock ’n’ roll.  The 45-minute, small-group tour is an intriguing tell-all. We then ventured to the pedestrian-zoned Beale Street for live music echoing from various venues and delicious samplings of BBQ. Along the route, we visited the Rock-n-Soul Museum. A partner with the Smithsonian Institute, this museum chronicles the history and sound of Memphis.
  
The next day we set our sights on Graceland Mansion. This bucket-list-for-many has grown exponentially to include its own hotel, the Guest House at Graceland; a display of Elvis’s private jet and collection of cars; his gem-stoned jumpsuits; and a discovery of exhibits, restaurants, and entertainment complex. 
  
Our morning spent singing with the King of Rock’n’Roll then turned reverent, intoning the gospel of Martin Luther King. We pilgrimaged to the Lorraine Motel where he was fatally shot; now a quiet and moving memorial of his final hours. The National Civil Rights Museum, built around this former motel and adjacent buildings, is a complex tracing the movement from the 17^th century to present.
  
At last we arrive in Nashville, capital of country music. The Ryman Auditorium, a historic tabernacle of music, is certainly worth the self-guided tour and complimentary on-stage photo! East of town is the Grand Ole Opry. Take in a show or backstage tour.
  
Southeast of Nashville is Chattanooga, home to the world’s largest freshwater aquarium. If you’ve never visited Chattanooga, allow a full four days to immerse yourself in the attractions, history, culture, art, food, and geography of this town.
  
The highlight of my trip was visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a scenic three-hour drive northeast of Chattanooga. Dollywood Appalachian-themed Park has expanded. New hotels, cabins, stores, eateries, and attractions dot the landscape.
  
Stop by AAA Northampton County for your free TourBooks, vacation guides and maps, and to learn more about what’s to see in Tennessee.