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Tennessee:

Published: Tuesday, July 24, 2007

A state set in the southeastern fringes of North America, Tennessee is largely credited for having inspired the evolution of various musical styles. Geographically, it is bordered by eight other American states while economically, it is a highly-industrialized area although it leads all other states when it comes to the production of such agricultural products as tobacco.

Yet, that is not all that makes Tennessee such a unique American state. All across the land are mountains, lakes, rivers, and coastal areas, not to mention historic sites that recognize the vital role that Tennessee played in several major American wars. RV-boarded travelers having particular preferences for a diverse range of attractions will definitely find a spot in Tennessee where their interests can easily be addressed.

Touring the Regions of Tennessee

The land fondly called the "Volunteer State" is geographically divided into three distinct regions which it prefers to call as its Grand Divisions. These include the East Region, the Middle Region, and the West Region.

The East Region

The region offers what is possibly the largest assembly of outdoor attractions that one can get to imagine, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the biggest wilderness area on the eastern end of the celebrated Mississippi River. Eastern Tennessee is largely urbanized, but many RVers will find that it still has several resort towns in its midst such as Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, places that they will definitely want to explore.

The Tennessee Aquarium, the biggest freshwater aquarium worldwide and the Chattanooga Choo Choo are just two of the more popular regional attractions that RVers should get to see once they plan a visit to Eastern Tennessee. These two attractions happen to be both based in Chattanooga City and RVers should not find any great difficulty visiting them since the city has one RV campground under its fold where they can initially park in their vehicles and see the attractions. Best Holiday Trav-L Park, set less than a mile away off I-75, is quite close to both the Tennessee Aquarium and the Chattanooga Choo Choo apart from other popular tourist destinations like the Lake Winnepesaukah Family Amusement Park which should make RV visitation in these parts totally exciting.

The Middle Region

The highlight of the region is the official state capital, Nashville, renowned for its immense contribution to the development of American country music. RV-boarded travelers visiting Nashville will find the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum a genuine spectacle with exhibits on music legends like Ray Charles, Dolly Parton, and the king, Elvis Presley. Particularly engaging is a tour of RCA Studio B, the historic recording area where Elvis and many others started their legendary musical careers.

Yet, Central Tennessee is not all about music. There are many other attractions here that should interest RV-boarded tourists, including the Tennessee Walking Horse Trail where they can go horseback riding and explore the regional landscape, and the General Jackson Showboat with its regular leisure trips across the waters of Cumberland River.

Touring these many regional attractions should be a breeze for many RV-boarded visitors since there are numerous RV parks in these parts that they can head off to at the end of the day. Nashville alone has about five RV campgrounds under its fold. One of these, the Two Rivers Campground is situated near such places as the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Tennessee State Museum, and the Adventure Science Museum, among others. RVers, however, may prefer visiting the Chattanooga Aquarium, the Tennessee Walking Horse Association in Shelbyville, and the Lynchburg-based Jack Daniel Distillery since these can be reached after a two-hour drive from Nashville. Additionally, Two Rivers Campground is only two miles away from Opry Mills, the newest shopping center this side of Nashville.

The West Region

Tennessee music, history, and natural wonders combine to form this region set on the western corner of the "Volunteer State". Music is best represented by Graceland, where the elegant mansion of music icon Elvis Presley is situated. History, meanwhile, is seen in such regional landmarks as the National Civil Rights Museum, the Civil War battlegrounds of Shiloh, and the Casey Jones residence. Touring these attractions ought to bring much pleasure to even the most delicate of RVers.

Nevertheless, for RVers who prefer to explore natural attractions, they will find Western Tennessee not actually wanting. In fact, its eastern and western points are surrounded by two great rivers namely Tennessee and Mississippi, where water-based activities are ostensibly being engaged in. In between, there is nearby Kentucky Lake and Reelfoot Lake to explore, with the latter famous for its year-long fishing ventures aside from many other outdoor pursuits that one can engage in like hunting since the lake is housed under the Reelfoot Lake State Park.

Meanwhile, Kentucky Lake is a human creation and is considered the second biggest artificial lake worldwide with a shoreline that stretches for over 2,300 miles. RVers exploring Western Tennessee will find the boating and fishing opportunities being offered by the lake to be quite pleasurable.

Harriman, Jackson, and Waverly are the regional cities that RV riders should remember when visiting Western Tennessee not only for their various tourist attractions but also because these cities each have one RV campground offering. A fourth regional city, though, should be given serious consideration for very obvious reasons. Memphis, where Graceland makes her home, offers several interesting features that can be easily accessed via the Elvis Presley Blvd RV Park. For example, three museum, namely the Stax Museum, the Civil Rights Museum, and the Pink Palace Museum are all within walking distances. Meanwhile, the famous casino centers of Tunica, Mississippi can be reached after a short 30-minute drive.

However, what will most likely attract RVers to check in at this particular RV park is its proximity to two prominent regional attractions namely Graceland and Mud Island River Park. The first needs no real introduction for everyone knows that Graceland is the palatial estate of the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. Of circa 1957, the estate is now a historical museum where RV-boarded travelers, under guided tours, can get to see his collection of automobiles, two personal jet airplanes, and various other mementos.

Mud Island River Park, meanwhile, is an island family park settled near the Mississippi River where various water-based activities are available including boating, canoeing, pedal boating, and fishing. Its central feature, however, is the Mississippi River Museum where a model of the famous river is housed. Measuring 3/4 of a mile long, the model presents the course taken by the river as it traverses Cairo, Illinois down to Mexico Gulf.

The Cities of the "Volunteer State"

The two major cities of Tennessee are Nashville and Memphis, and it is but natural that most RV-boarded travelers make them their priority when planning a visit to the "Volunteer State". However, Tennessee has many other cities that are not only RV-friendly but quite rich in natural attractions as well. Attractions that would readily catch the attention of any visiting tourist if only they are given the opportunity to be explored.
Jackson

Named after General Andrew Jackson, this city settled between giants Memphis and Nashville is rich in historic culture. Starting as a railroad town in mid-1800's, Jackson became the logical supply depot when the US was plunged into its own civil war.

Two city attractions that RVers will find highly engrossing are the Casey Jones Village and the Cypress Grove Nature Park. The former houses the Casey Jones Home and Railroad Museum and is a tribute to John Luther "Casey" Jones, the railroad engineer who gave the city its railroad tag. Guided tours of the museum grounds should help RVers appreciate the various items displayed therein.

Cypress Grove Nature Park, meanwhile, is a 165-acre wide forest park set in the western corner of Jackson. RVers will find the park a real outdoor paradise for several reasons. For starters, it boasts of several hiking trails, a fishing lake, and a wildlife sanctuary where frogs, turtles, fishes, and over 175 different birds make their home. Additionally, its central attraction is the Aerie Trail Raptor Center where seriously injured birds of prey find permanent shelter and where RV-boarded travelers can get to see them in pure but secured splendor.

Getting to see these two major Jackson attractions ought to be easy since along its western side about 12 miles away lies Joy-O RV Park where 40 camp sites are available for occupancy. The RV park can also be accessed via Memphis since it is situated around 60 miles away from the famed city.

Knoxville

It was the original state capital with the 1792 mansion of Governor William Blount serving as solid evidence. Other historic landmarks found here are the Confederate Memorial Hall where the Civil War siege of Knoxville is annually commemorated and the 1786 fort of General James White. A more contemporary feature is the University of Tennessee, which although established in 1794, still makes for a good modern-day tour.

Other than historic sites, what serves as principal attractions of Knoxville these days are the Knoxville Zoological Gardens and the Zuma Fun Center. The former is a nature-based animal shelter where RVers can get to see around 900 different animals including rare species like penguin rock, gorilla valley, and chimp ridge. The latter, meanwhile, is a leisure park that RV-boarded families will surely enjoy since there are go-karts, batting cages, and video arcades for children and miniature golf courses and bumper boat rides for adults.

Volunteer Park Family Campground offers what is perhaps the most convenient access to many of the popular Knoxville tourist attractions, including the University of Tennessee, the Knoxville Zoo, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Situated at the northern end of Interstates 75 and 40, the RV campground is also a mere 15 miles from Oak Ridge, site of the atomic bomb invention.

Cherokee National Forest

A vast forest area that covers two major Tennessee cities, the Cherokee National Forest stands in the central region of the Appalachian Mountain Range encompassing approximately 640,000 acres, by far the single biggest tract of publicly-owned Tennessee land. The area is pure scenic beauty, enticing over a million visits annually with its offerings of towering mountains and serene lakes and engulfed in diverse vegetation including over 20,000 different species of flora.

Quite naturally, these natural attractions produce a wide range of outdoor opportunities designed to meet the needs of nature lovers. With that in mind, RVers can expect no less than 700 miles of hiking paths, seven mighty rivers whose raging waters are excellent for white-water rafting, and a wilderness area rich in exotic animals that make for good wildlife observation.

RV parking need not be a major problem since there are about 30 highly-modern campgrounds set within the Cherokee National Forest and these are ostensibly RV-friendly. Additionally, about 30 separate picnic sites are available here, which should augur well for RVs that are coming in and bringing an entire family.

Dollywood

Situated on the western corner of Pigeon Forge City in Eastern Tennessee, Dollywood is an amusement park named after famous celebrity singer-actress Dolly Parton. It features more than 30 exciting rides set upon a sprawling 125 acres of fun-filled land nestled at the foot of the renowned Great Smoky Mountains.

The theme park also offers live entertainment shows where diverse music types like bluegrass, gospel, country, and music are showcased. Nearby, craftsmen of varying expertise demonstrate their unique skills at wood carving, glass blowing, and doing blacksmith works.

Different festivals are offered here at the start of every new season and RV-boarded families should expect nothing less than an absolutely thrilling time once they set foot at Dollywood. A place to settle in the RV is never a problem since Pigeon Forge plays host to many RV parks situated near the theme park. One of these, Waldens Creek Campground, is set less than a mile away from Dollywood with RVers being given the option of taking the resident trolley that travels down to the theme park.

The Ideal Time To See Tennessee

Winter in the "Volunteer State" is rather mild and short, which should make visits during this period quite delightful. Summer, meanwhile, typically brings in extreme heat and humidity although one can easily head off to the Tennessee mountains with its comparatively cooler temperatures. However, for the most ideal Tennessee tour, RV-boarded travelers should try autumn excursions, specifically during the middle and late weeks of October when cooler temperatures prevail, producing crisp and refreshing breezes all across the land with the added attraction of foliage color changes typical during the fall season.

Shady Oaks Campground

For a Tennessee RV campground that provides RVers access to as many "Volunteer State" attractions as possible, nothing comes close to Shady Oaks Campground based in Pigeon Forge. For starters, it is situated at the tail-end of the famed Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Additionally, historic Gatlinburg City, which hosts such attractions as the Ober Gatlinburg and the Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Community, is only five miles away. Meanwhile, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, the Christus Gardens, and Dolly's Splash Country can all be reached via a short ride aboard the Pigeon Forge trolley.

As for parking, RV owners will find Shady Oaks Campground to be absolutely RV-friendly as it can ably accommodate trailers of various types. Small RVs, pull-behinds, large rigs, and truck campers will all find a spot here.

Amenities-wise, laundry rooms, swimming pools, a playground for children, and other basic accommodations can be availed of here. However, what should make Shady Oaks Campground different from the others is its offerings of such unique attractions as an ice machine for those cool get-together events at nights and a special snack machine exclusively intended for children who have food cravings every now and then.

Green Acres RV Park

RV-boarded travelers who find the usual hiking and fishing features of most RV parks quite too common will find the offerings of Savannah-based Green Acres RV Park a bit different. It boasts of not one, but five golf courses nestled within its immediate vicinity, making this RV campground the ultimate paradise for golf enthusiasts. One golf course, the Clifton-based Bear Trace, was even personally designed by golf legend Arnold Palmer. The other courses namely the Shiloh Golf Course of Adamsville, the Savannah Country Club down at Highway 69, and Pickwick-based Shiloh Falls Golf Course and Pickwick Landing State Park Golf Course, are just as excellent.

A good alternative to golfing is an exciting game at the casino with one based in Tunica, Mississippi. RVers can easily get to the said city since travel time from Green Acres will only take about two hours westward. Meanwhile, if one prefers historical tours, nearby Shiloh Park holds an annual reenactment of the ground-breaking American Civil War.

For family get-together events, RV-boarded tourists may want to visit the flea-market of Crump Tennessee along Highway 64 which is only several minutes away from Green Acres. Finally, during the afternoon, more family bonding can be enjoyed through barbecue cooking at one of two covered park pavilions. Barbecue grills and other similar necessities are not a problem since there is the Drukers General Store to head off to which is located right inside Green Acres RV Park.

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