Tennessee

[EZ$ 2,103]

Wife and I looking at a Tennessee trip early summer (likely May). Plans were to fly into Memphis for a couple days, drive to Nashville for a couple days, drive to Knoxville/Smokies for a couple days and fly back from there....but our babysitter situation probably won’t work, so just looking at a long weekend at one of these places. 

Any recs for which city/area would be best for 3-4 days?   I think my choice would be Memphis for Beale St and the casinos, but my wife is leaning towards Nashville.  Also a casino in the Smokies (and lived in Knoxville for a summer about 20 years ago), so that would probably be my second choice.  

We don’t care about Elvis, blues music or 50s-60s country, but we do like 80s and early-90s country, BBQ and beer experiences and obviously gambling. 

[4th&Five 41,519]

Skip Memphis. 

[Underdog 28,584]

Nashville

Knoxville

 

[Onboard 2.0 9,083]

4 hours ago, EZ$ said:

Wife and I looking at a Tennessee trip early summer (likely May). Plans were to fly into Memphis for a couple days, drive to Nashville for a couple days, drive to Knoxville/Smokies for a couple days and fly back from there....but our babysitter situation probably won’t work, so just looking at a long weekend at one of these places. 

Any recs for which city/area would be best for 3-4 days?   I think my choice would be Memphis for Beale St and the casinos, but my wife is leaning towards Nashville.  Also a casino in the Smokies (and lived in Knoxville for a summer about 20 years ago), so that would probably be my second choice.  

We don’t care about Elvis, blues music or 50s-60s country, but we do like 80s and early-90s country, BBQ and beer experiences and obviously gambling. 

My favorite thing about Knoxville in the 80's was Lord Lindseys Inn.  Great bar, an old Catholic rectory and church converted to a killer club. Many a brain cell was wasted there after a UT football game. 

[BamaSucks 12]

If it's Country music and BBQ then Nashville. Memphis is an eating and drinking town and there is some really good local music. I personally despise Beale Street

[Brew 3,049]

Broadway and the surrounding area in Nashville is better than Beale at this point. If you want music and beer, Nashville or Memphis. If you want laid back and hang out, then get a cabin in the Smokies.

[BamaSucks 12]

Charleston is so much better than Nashville and can't be that much more expensive or time consuming to get to. May won't be too hot. John Lewis is there and producing glorious product. Beaches are awesome, food scene off the hook. I really should stop recommending Charleston as a destination....too many people already know about it.

[Druggist 303]

Just went to Sevierville for a wedding over the weekend.  My cousin took us to a shithole in Knoxville called Chandler’s Deli. They had some of the best fried chicken i’ve ever had.  Easily beat anything in Austin.  Really good sides too (greens, Mac & cheese, cabbage, etc.)  

[McCroskey 1,504]

Tunica (Memphis) casinos really aren't what you think...most people you see shouldn't be there at all and it's nothing like the casino feel you get in most resort types of places.

Nashville is great but 3-4 days is too much IMO at that time of year unless you just love live music.

What's your budget?  Check out Blackberry Farms, would be good for a night or two.  Spend a night in downtown Knoxville for a decent time now and then a night or two up in the Smokies. 

Chattanooga seriously underrated as well...check out the Edwin Hotel downtown...some great dining options in town and lots of great places to visit within a short drive like Rock City.

[WBT 20,561]

Knoxville has the sunsphere

[Baboontyme 2,809]

Spent half of my childhood driving N/S on 75 from Detroit to Florida. I grew up with "See Ruby Falls" and "See Rock City" permanently implanted in my brain (and with a Dad too impatient to ever stop). I decided I needed to cross that off the list with the family last summer. While overly touristy, Rock City Gardens and Ruby Falls were both pretty damn cool and I'm glad we did it. That's Chatanooga fwiw, near the TN/GA border. 

There's a Nashville thread on here. 

[ShaggyBevo RIP 3,868]

Wants to go to Beale St but doesn't like Blues. 

[phdhorn 6,224]

Do Nashville and Knoxville, they're only 2 1/2 hours apart.

[CoTex 1,160]

I spend 3 days each March in Memphis coaching kids soccer.  If you decide Memphis is a "must-do," I would go to the civil rights museum, and then go to Central BBQ for a snack, and then go to Beale to watch the flippers.

All that should take less than 8 hours and, at that point, you'll want to get the f___ out of Memphis and go anywhere else.  Anywhere.

If you want to spend more than 8 hours in Memphis, you must know something I don't, because I think it pretty much sucks.

 

[ShaggyBevo RIP 3,868]

If the OP is looking for a beer scene, live music, and food/BBQ(pork) why isn't he looking at Asheville?

I don't gamble but have never heard anything good about Harrah's Cherokee in Western NC.

Edited February 12, 2019 by ShaggyBevo RIP

[wood 11,225]

On 2/12/2019 at 8:55 AM, OatmealRaisinCookie said:

JOHNSON CITY home of the Tennessee Tech State Titans!

Eh ... I think you're combining Tennessee Tech in Cookeville (Golden Eagles) and East Tennessee State in Johnson City. I lived in Cookeville for a while growing up. My dad attended Tech after retiring from the Navy.

[wood 11,225]

On 2/12/2019 at 9:05 AM, CoTex said:

I spend 3 days each March in Memphis coaching kids soccer.  If you decide Memphis is a "must-do," I would go to the civil rights museum, and then go to Central BBQ for a snack, and then go to Beale to watch the flippers.

All that should take less than 8 hours and, at that point, you'll want to get the f___ out of Memphis and go anywhere else.  Anywhere.

If you want to spend more than 8 hours in Memphis, you must know something I don't, because I think it pretty much sucks.

 

Well, there's some awesome racing across the Mississippi in West Memphis, Arkansas at Riverside Speedway. But yeah, in general Memphis sucks.

[Underdog 28,584]

Nothing sucks like the Big Orange...

 

Oh wait, wrong thread.  

[Surly Bevo 24,908]

Dollywood still open?

[wood 11,225]

4 hours ago, Surly Bevo said:

Dollywood still open?

Yerp...hillbilly out front shoulda told ya.

[MaybeACoordinator 8,349]

Chattanooga blows Knoxville away. I could see living in Chatt ome day -- Knoxville, not so much. Chattanooga has the prettiest natural setting of any city east of the Rockies and a surprising amount of culture, tons of history and old buildings, incredible mountains and wild rivers at your doorstep, and it's halfway between Nashville and Atlanta if you need a big city for something or other. Very underrated small city.

[ShaggyBevo RIP 3,868]

^^^

WIfe's family is from the Chattanooga area. I'll take Asheville for beauty of setting. That said Chattaooga is where Asheville was 20-25 years ago for national recognition but Chattanooga seems to have better leadership/vision than Asheville.  Asheville is 1980s Austin for NIMBY.

Edited February 18, 2019 by ShaggyBevo RIP

[Both Tacos 1,806]

If you go to Nashville, you have to go here.

 

[Hornbeliever 712]

Southern Grit in Knoxville had fantastic fried chicken.  Delicious lunch.