Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023 - 59

PAINSTVILLE TOURISM
KENTUCKY COAL MINING MUSEUM-FACEBOOK
facility. Located on the 1794 campus of
The University of Tennessee, permanent
exhibits include Repatriation of Archaeology
& the Native Peoples, Freshwater Mussels,
the arts and the science of " six million
years of the evolution of hominids. "
mcclungmuseum.utk.edu
16. Tennessee Museum of Aviation.
Kentucky). Combine a visit to the birthplace
of the Kentucky Fried Chicken® " secret
recipe " with a bite to eat in the Colonel's
dining room. The world's most popular
chicken restaurant chain began as a roadside
eatery during the Depression. Tour
his original office, view a model kitchen
from the 1940s, look at ephemera and
memorabilia through the decades and see
a model motel room like the ones visitors
stayed in at the Sanders Court & Café of
old. sanderscafe.com
14. Manhattan Project National Historic
Park. (Oak Ridge, Tennessee). Take a
guided bus tour " behind the fence " in
the Secret City, site of the world's first
nuclear production reactor. Visitors will
see the X-10 Graphite Reactor, New
Hope Visitor Center at Y-12 and the K-25
History Center. All stops focus on the scientific
breakthroughs of the atomic age
and how the " secret " work of thousands
at this location ultimately brought an
end to World War II. nps.gov/thingstodo/
oak-ridge-experience-a-guided-tour-behindthe-fence.htm
15.
McClung Museum of Natural History
and Culture. (Knoxville, Tennessee). View
cultural materials representing 15,000
years of history in the state and geological
and fossil artifacts spanning hundreds
of millions of years at this award-winning
(Sevierville, Tennessee). Come for a visit to
this living museum of aviation history.
The 50,000-square-foot facility has war
birds, helicopters and more vehicles in the
hangar, thousands of items on exhibit and
a professionally designed " Wave Wall "
tracing the development of flight. Make
return visits for the ever-changing artifacts
at an official repository of aviation
history. With a bit of good timing, visitors
might see vintage aircraft in flight at this
airport location. tnairmuseum.com
17. Great Smoky Mountains National
Park. (Blount and Sevier counties, Tennessee). In
addition to exploring the natural history
covering over half a million acres, stop at
two locations for human history: Cades
Cove and Elkmont. At the former, pick
up a tour booklet, drive a loop road and
stop at 18th and 19th century log homes,
barns, churches, a working grist mill and
visitor center. Then, on to Elkmont where
humans have lived since 8,000 BCE. Walk
through newly restored cabins from a former
logging and resort community. nps.
gov/grsm/index.htm
18. Sequoyah Birthplace Museum.
(Vonore, Tennessee). Come to the shores of
Tellico Lake to learn about the singularly
incredible accomplishments of one person-the
creation of a system of reading
and writing. Sequoyah was " not literate
in any language, " yet he invented written
language for his Cherokee peoples. Enjoy
exhibits, walk the trails, have a picnic and
see the memorials at the state's only tribally
owned and operated historical attraction.
tnvacation.com/local/vonore-sequoyahbirthplace-museum
Read
House. (Chattanooga, Tennessee).
Make a reservation at " the longest continuously
operating hotel in the southeast. "
Since opening its doors in 1872,
this establishment has earned its reputation
for
hospitality
and opulence
(renovated in Jazz-era themes). Stay in
elegant tower rooms, modern manor
rooms or the exquisite penthouse and
enjoy upscale dining. Shop, eat and
walk the historic Walnut Street bridge
at the nearby downtown Riverfront.
thereadhousehotel.com
Zarzour's Café. (Chattanooga, Tennessee).
Come see why generations of hungry
patrons (since 1918 to be exact!)
line up for the food at this restaurant.
Since opening its doors, the same family
has owned and operated this establishment.
The fare is burgers, chicken, a
daily entrée and an ever-changing suite
of vegetables-a homemade Southern
deliciousness of meat and three. 1627
Rossville Ave.
19. Rock City. (Lookout Mountain, Georgia).
Come to the destination that has
beckoned travelers along the roadways
for almost 90 years with the iconic See
Rock City barns. A 4,100-foot walking trail
awaits, complete with stunning rock formations,
caves and views from the mountaintop.
Walk a 180-foot-long suspension
bridge; see a 90-foot waterfall and hold
JULY/AUGUST 2023 59
http://www.tnvacation.com/local/vonore-sequoyah-birthplace-museum http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu http://www.sanderscafe.com http://www.tnairmuseum.com http://www.thereadhousehotel.com http://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/oak-ridge-experience-a-guided-tour-behind-the-fence.htm http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm
Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country July/August 2023
