"Tennessee Back Roads and Byways" Tennessee by Stephen-KarenConn

Tennessee Travel Guide: 3,516 reviews and 6,944 photos

Cade's Cove in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains

Southeast Tennssee Border with Georgia

Tennessee is my favorite state in America, and not just because I have lived much of my life there. I have visited all 50 states and have actually had legal residence in 10 of them. I was not born in Tennessee, but I did spend most of my childhood there, and I will always call it Tennessee "home."

Tennessee was the 17th state admitted to the Union, and in pioneer times it was America's western frontier. Today you will find great cities, secluded rural areas and some of the greatest people on earth in Tennessee. It has often been referred to as three states in one, and the three stars on the Tennessee state flag symbolize that division. East Tennessee, my home and my favorite part of the state, is a land of high green mountains laced with sparkling blue rivers. Middle Tennessee has a wonderful geographical mix of plateaus and valleys which is amazingly beautiful. West Tennessee is more reminiscent of the deep south, with flat fertile farmland, yet still not without its charm.

Entering East Tennessee from North Carolina

Tennessee is a long state. Those who live in northeastern Tennessee are actually closer to Canada than they are to Memphis in the southwestern corner of the state. From the Great Smoky Mountains to the Mississippi River, Tennessee stretches a quarter of the way across our great nation. Because of this is holds the distinction of bordering eight other states, more than any state in the Union. To the north there is Kentucky and Virginia; North Carolina is on the east; Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi are to the south; Arkansas and Missouri join Tennesee on west.

Pros and Cons

In a nutshell:The Best of America

Intro Updated Sep 27, 2005
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Reviews (14)

Cannon at Parker's Crossroads Battlefield - Tennessee

Parker's Crossroads Battlefield Things to Do (6)

Parker's Crossroads, a quiet rural community in West Tennessee, became a bloody battlefield on New Year's Eve, 1862.... more travel advice

Tennessee State Flage beneath United States Flag - Tennessee

Tennessee State Flag Favorites (2)

Text coming... more travel advice

Largest Indoor Flea Market in Tennessee Shopping (2)

If you ever find yourself traveling along Interstate 75 on a weekend, about half way between Knoxville and Chattanooga,... more travel advice

Rhea Co. Courthouse & Scopes "Monkey... Things to Do (6)

The Rhea County Courthouse was the site of the famous Scopes Monkey Trial in 1925. It was America's biggest news event... more travel advice

Off The Beaten Path (3)
See All Nancy Ward Gravesite

Restaurants (1)
Hungry Folks Flock Here from Far and...

Comments (6)

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cachaseiro May 30, 2006 at 2:51 AM

excellent and very informative page. i´m hiking paarts of the appalachian trail this fall and your pages are great inspiration before visiting the southern part of the US.
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JennyAnn Feb 17, 2006 at 9:32 AM

Very interesting pag on Tennessee. The Lost Sea sounds great. Thanks for the information. .. Jenny
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deecat Feb 6, 2005 at 1:49 PM

Great additions of River and Park.. Lost sea sounds amazing. YUM on the restaurant tip. So a dare devil as a boy around Baby Falls? I admire strong women..glad you included Nancy Ward. Love the Gen. Store. Super pages, Stephen.
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tpal Nov 22, 2004 at 2:52 PM

Hi Stephen and Karen, Ok, which one of you was the river wader? We all seem to be busy. Must be something we like...or are we driven??? ...Tom
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tpangelinan Nov 21, 2004 at 7:09 AM

Great page! The Lost Sea sounds like a fun trip, very good coverage on Tennessee. I loved it down there a beautiful state, loved the mountains, wish I saw the waterfalls while I was there. Thanks :o)
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Bwana_Brown Nov 20, 2004 at 7:40 PM

A wonderful page on Tennessee! Wow, that restaurant sounds like a real bargain, nothing like home-cooking! The Bald River & Baby Falls area looks great, and it sounds like you did crazy things like me many years ago!