The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Staff Reports
Posted: Tuesday, July 25, 2017 11:56 AM
7 Tennessee Adventures to Take Before Heading Back to School
Indoor Fun
Beat the heat and take advantage of Tax Free Weekend, taking place 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 28 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 30 in Tennessee. That means state and local taxes won’t be collected on clothing, school and art supplies that cost $100 or less per item and computers costing $1,500 or less. The event is open to everyone, locals and out-of-state residents alike.
Songbirds Guitar Museum houses more than 300 rare, vintage guitars both behind glass and in The Vault. Acoustic, electric, jazz, bass, mandolin and banjo guitars are all on display, providing a stunning visual of music history from the 1930s to 1970s. Tack onto your visit access to The Vault to see 60 timeless, vintage guitars that have been a driving force to today’s culture.
The world-renowned wax attraction Madame Tussauds, which has been producing life-size, life-like wax figures for 250 years, has put roots down at Opry Mills in Nashville, the city’s No. 1 shopping destination. Known for its interactive wax experience where guests can take photos with their favorite celebrities, Madame Tussauds Nashville plays hosts to guests’ favorite musicians including Justin Timberlake, Minnie Pearl, Bruno Mars and Johnny Cash among many others.
Outdoor Gems
Explore America’s largest underground lake at The Lost Sea in Sweetwater. Start off with a guided tour of the caverns and learn the fascinating history of the area. Make your way to the bottom of the cave where you’ll board a glass-bottom boat to set sail on the Lost Sea. After the tour, explore the general store, Cavern Kitchen Cafe, gem mine and glassblower.
Journey to South Cumberland State Park in Monteagle that stretches across four counties: Sequatchie, Grundy, Franklin and Marion. The Savage Gulf and Stone Door areas offer 55 miles of hiking. Take your family on this Tennessee adventure to experience waterfalls, historic locations like Stage Coach Road and the beautiful vistas. Stone Door gets its name from a crack in a cliff that looks like a door left open.
Guests to Shelby Farms Park in Memphis can enjoy a larger variety of trees, shrubs and vegetation courtesy of a new expansion. New trails, wetlands, the 80-acre Hyde Lake, decks, boat rentals and pavilion for music and events have also been added. With more than 4,500 acres of green space, you can spend your day mountain biking, horseback riding, kayaking, sailing, cycling, visit with the buffalos, and lots more.
Family Camping Trip
Make kids’ dreams come true with a stay in a Luxury Tree House at Camp LeConte in Gatlinburg. The open air bedroom offers breathtaking views of Mount LeConte and fresh Great Smoky Mountain air. With a queen bed furnished with sheets, blanket and pillow and sleeping loft for two kids with blankets, pillows and sheets, a full private bathroom, covered patio, phone charger outlets and towels, wash cloths, soap, shampoo and lotion provided, it’s the family summer campout taken to a new level.
The Airstream Glamper at Stillwaters Farm in Henderson is, as they say, “for the rustic hippie in us all.” Have a glamping experience in the Airstream which houses a full-sized bed, queen-sized bed and a twin bed at the collapsible dinette booth. It has high-efficiency heat and air conditioning, new laminate floors and access to the outdoor bathhouse. The bathhouse has a composting toilet, clawfoot tub, LED lighting and tankless water heater. Do laundry at the cottage easily as Stillwaters Farm has basic laundry soap made on-site. Linens, dishes, soap, cookware and appliances are also provided.