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From: Shellymoon
Date: 07-08-2007, 12:26 AM (1 of 21)
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Hi everyone.... Our fam has decided we need to drive up to Tennesse (did I even spell that right LOL) for a little family trip. I haven't been since I was a little kid--and of course, I wasn't doing any of the trip planning. So, if any of you have ever been to--or currently live in--TN can you give us a clue? We do plan to go to Graceland (duh) because hubby is a huge Elvis fan. DD is a great singer who loves jazz and blues. Is there anywhere in Memphis that we could take her to a show that doesn't have the 21yo age limit? (she's only 14). What are some good places to hang out, stay and eat in that area? We'd also like to find a cabin type of place to stay in the mountains for at least a few days. Someplace where cell phone and Internet don't work! We like to go play around in the country...i.e.--fishing, light hiking, taking nature photos, stuff like that. Any suggestions? We're not looking for anything fancy, just very basic. Final question....None of us care much for country and western music. Is it worth it for us to go to Nashville at all? Only thing we'd probably consider is going to a show just so DD could see some live music. I can read the travel guides, but I trust ya'll more! Thanks in advance! Shelly Moon
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User: Shellymoon
Member since: 05-27-2001 Total posts: 240 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 07-08-2007, 08:44 AM (2 of 21)
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Theresa (temom) is just back from holidays and spent at least some time there. Sorry, link unavailable. I'm sure she'll see this soon (if she's not too pooped). Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: Bama
Date: 07-08-2007, 10:54 AM (3 of 21)
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We love to go to Chattanooga. We can drive there and back in one day, so it's usually a day trip for us. There's lots of things to do there. Ruby Falls, Tennessee Aquarium, Rock City, Chattanooga choo choo, etc. http://www.chattanoogafun.com/ My sister loves Gatlinburg. Here's lots of info: http://www.gatlinburg.com/ They usually stay in Pigeon Forge. She says it's less expensive to stay there. http://www.mypigeonforge.com/ We have some friends who's favorite place in Tennessee is Cade's Cove. http://www.cadescove.net/ They love to go hiking. Watch out for black bears there.  I've never been to Memphis. Just thought I'd tell you about a few other places in Tennessee. Have a great trip. 
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User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116 
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From: temom
Date: 07-09-2007, 10:25 PM (4 of 21)
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I've never stayed in Tennessee, as I haven't found a place that could promise me that the cabin was a non-smoking cabin. However, if you want to spend some time in the North Carolina or even Northwest Georgia mountains, I can give some suggestions. I didn't go to Gatlinburg this last trip, as the last time we were there, 10 or 13 years ago, it was very touristy. About a week or 2 ago we drove through Pigeon Forge, (on our way to Forbidden Caverns) and PF was very, very touristy! If you love to shop, and don't mind tons of people, those are 2 good places to go. If you like to go hang out in the woods, you might try elsewhere. Theresa
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User: temom
Member since: 01-19-2007 Total posts: 410 
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From: Addicted2Sewing
Date: 07-10-2007, 09:37 AM (5 of 21)
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I live not very far from Memphis and I rarely go there. I have been to Beale Street, Zoo, Pink Palace Museum, and Graceland. To be honest Memphis is not a very safe place to go and is not family oriented. I have not been to Beale Street in a very long time, but when I did go they used to set up and play outside on the street. As far as the clubs, I'm not sure your daughter will be able to get in. I know there are several bad neighborhoods around Beale Street, which contain gangs. I have lived around Memphis over half my life and I have done the attractions once and don't plan on doing them again. If you do decide to go I wouldn't stay in Memphis. Close by cities are Germantown, Collierville, Cordova, Bartlett, and Mississippi is not very far, maybe a 45 minute drive. Southaven Mississippi is a pretty good size town and have nice places to stay, shops, lots of eating places. Olive Branch Mississippi is another nice place and SAFE lol. We recently took a trip to Hot Springs Arkansas which is about 3 1/2 miles from Memphis. They have tons of shops downtown, Duck Tour rides, You can visit the old Bath Houses. They have cabins and also hiking trails and such in small mountains. The best place there is Magic Springs. It is an amusement park as well as a water park. Admission is high but they do serve free drinks and free sunblock. Another thing is the diamond minds where you can dig for diamonds. They also have a BathHouse show and a Magic show. We stayed at the Howard Johnson Inn and got discount tickets to Magic Springs, and one of the most awesome places which is the Mid-America Science Museum, plus $20.00 dollars a day for breakfast in the hotel. There are also several putt putt golf places and go carts for the 14 year old to do. If you are wanting to stay in Tennessee, I highly recommend you going to Gatlinburg, Chattanoogo, or Nashville. I have been to Gatlinburg, and Nashville and both have lots of entertainment, shops, and several things for a 14 year old to do. Nashville is about 4 hours from Memphis and I believe Gatlinburg is 5 to 6. I hope this information helped. Whatever you decide to do, I hope you guys have a great and safe time 
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User: Addicted2Sewing
Member since: 02-01-2007 Total posts: 133 
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From: Pudge99
Date: 07-10-2007, 11:14 AM (6 of 21)
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If you go to Tennessee you have to go to Rock City. We stopped there once and the kids loved it. As for a cabin in the woods you might want to look into the KOA campgrouds (http://www.koa.com/where/tn/). Although most of them do offer internet and the like they also offer fishing and hiking and some very beautiful views. Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: Bama
Date: 07-10-2007, 04:15 PM (7 of 21)
My kids loved Rock City too. If you go to Chattanooga, don't miss Ruby Falls. http://www.rubyfalls.com/ It's beautiful, and it doesn't rain underground.  (except maybe getting a little sprinkled when you enter the cavern with the waterfall) In the summer you get cooled off while touring the caves, and in the winter you get warmed up. It's always just under 60 F. My kids have loved it every time we've visited there. My parents took my son and my niece here: http://www.raccoonmountain.com/ They were 13 and 14 at the time and they loved it. There's camping cabins to rent there and lots of things to do. |
User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116
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From: Bama
Date: 07-10-2007, 04:21 PM (8 of 21)
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Hey Shelly! Look what I found! Free Friday concerts in Chattanooga this summer. http://downtownchattanooga.org/media/pages/nightfall/nightfall_events.php Can you tell I really like Chattanooga? |
User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116
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From: Shellymoon
Date: 07-18-2007, 12:24 AM (9 of 21)
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Thanks for all your help....And for your honesty Addictedtosewing....I'd heard some of those things about Memphis and that was truthfully why we weren't planning to stay there too long. We have some friends who just moved to Southaven Miss. so we're planning to try and catch dinner with them. Really all we want to do in Memphis is go to Graceland. I have done the Arkansas vacation 2x. Loved the places mentioned. Would highly recommend them to anyone--kids or not! We will probably stay in or around Gatlinburg just for the sheer convenience of it. And Bama...you are really tempting me to with this whole Chattanooga thing. DD is keen on the idea too, even though all she knows about it she learned from singing Chattanooga Choo Choo in the school talent show this year!!! Shelly Moon
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User: Shellymoon
Member since: 05-27-2001 Total posts: 240 |
From: temom
Date: 07-18-2007, 09:04 AM (10 of 21)
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When will you be going on your vacation? You will have to let us know all about it. If you find any great places to visit or stay, be sure to let us know!
Theresa
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User: temom
Member since: 01-19-2007 Total posts: 410
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From: Bama
Date: 07-18-2007, 01:48 PM (11 of 21)
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Shelly, did you know that you can spend the night in an old train car at the Chattanooga choo choo? We never have, but I know several people that have stayed there and they loved it. I hope you have a fun vacation. |
User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116
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From: MartySews2
Date: 07-19-2007, 09:34 AM (12 of 21)
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Shelly, I live in Memphis. There are places on Beale Street that offer afternoon entertainment as well as night stuff. That might be more appropriate for your daughter. There are lots of police that patrol the Beale Street area so I think it would be safe to go there. My DD who just turned 19 has been going there on her own since she was 16 for the Beale Street Music Festival (every May). The Pink Palace is wonderful and there is also a hands-on Children's Museum. Both are within a mile of where I live. Graceland and the surrounding attractions are fun to visit. There is also a wonderful zoo with a Panda exhibit not to mention the outdoors Butterfly exhibit. Yes, Memphis has a lot of crime but it is generally in certain areas as with any big city. Pickwick State Park has some nice rustic cabins. It's about 100 miles from Memphis and offers fishing and boating. If you are not into "rustic" (I love my a/c) they have a nice Inn. Pickwick is on the TN river. There is also several state parks throughout the area that offers nice places to stay. In Nashville, the TN State Museum is a great place to visit not to mention the recording studios. They do have other venues of music besides country and western. You can visit the TN capital and the old Ft Nash. There is the Parthenon and some lovely state parks in the Nashville area. Also, Nashville has some great fabric stores. Guess I could go on and on about the different sites in Tennessee and this is not even my native state. I just married 36+ years ago a Memphis man and have been in Memphis since 1972. It kinda grows on you after a while.Marty
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User: MartySews2
Member since: 05-03-2007 Total posts: 293 
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From: Bama
Date: 08-03-2007, 09:53 AM (13 of 21)
Guess where hubby and I are going for the weekend?  He told me last night. That is IF we can get things taken care of for his mother for the weekend. I hope it will work out. We haven't been anywhere without the kids in over 10 years. 
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User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116
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From: temom
Date: 08-03-2007, 10:32 AM (14 of 21)
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Bama, that is great! You will really enjoy getting away. Hubby & I will probably go away in the fall for our anniversary. Right now I'm babysitting for a friend who went out of town with her hubby just for the night. She kept thanking me over and over... Theresa
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User: temom
Member since: 01-19-2007 Total posts: 410
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From: momquilts
Date: 08-03-2007, 12:22 PM (15 of 21)
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My husband and I had a Disney vacation planned for the week after our son comes home from his honeymoon, just the two of us. Yeah, that lasted long with a daughter who is Disney-crazy. She is paying her own way though, and friends with a daughter the same age will be there for part of the time so they plan to do Pleasure Island at night. Oh well, I guess there will be plenty of time for the two of us to get away in years to come. Momquilts |
User: momquilts
Member since: 02-02-2000 Total posts: 46 
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From: Bama
Date: 08-04-2007, 12:00 AM (16 of 21)
I really need this break.  We're leaving tomorrow. My daughter got a little upset when I told her that me and her dad were going. I asked if she wanted to go. She said, "well, not really."  See you all Monday.
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User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116
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From: MartySews2
Date: 08-04-2007, 12:03 AM (17 of 21)
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Have a good time Bama. Now, are you coming to Memphis or going elsewhere? Inquiring minds want to know. Marty 
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User: MartySews2
Member since: 05-03-2007 Total posts: 293
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From: Bama
Date: 08-04-2007, 01:27 AM (18 of 21)
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Going to Chattanooga.
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User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116
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From: PaulineG
Date: 08-04-2007, 03:03 AM (19 of 21)
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Have fun remembering what it's like to be responsibility free - even if it's only for a day or two. You can be a person again instead of a mum or one of the other roles we find ourselves cast in. It definitely sounded like you needed the break.
Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 08-04-2007, 09:48 AM (20 of 21)
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Have fun remembering what it's like to be responsibility free. When my youngest was 14 or so I talked my husband into a weekend away. We got her older sister -- 7 years older -- to come stay with her and off we went to Vermont. We were going to drive until we found a nice romantic bed and breakfast and just play it by ear, responsibility free Yeah Right. We were in Vermont, all right, but stayed within sight of New York State almost all the way. Ended up in a Holiday Inn and he was on the phone almost the whole time with one or the other of the girls. OK, the little one was a bit of a problem child at the time but this was ridiculous. We ended up going home the next morning. So much for romance and adventure until the youngest went off to college -- and then she was only a 20 minute drive away. Hope it goes better for you Bama Dorothy (me) |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: MartySews2
Date: 08-04-2007, 08:58 PM (21 of 21)
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DH and I haven't had an alone getaway since our DD was born 19 years ago. However, each summer since the age of 6, we would send her to camp 150 miles away. We had our alone time then in the comfort of our home. That was our vacation. Now, this summer she has her first job at the same camp. It's been a nice summer for just the 2 of us. Next weekend camp ends and she'll be back for a few days before going to college - 100 miles away. Before her birth, we were married almost 18 years so we're solid as a couple and never felt a need to get away. However, after the rude houseguests that Bama had to endure, she certainly deserves a getaway. Enjoy yourself and have a good time. Marty 
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User: MartySews2
Member since: 05-03-2007 Total posts: 293
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