Tennessee River Cruise
Chattanooga – The towering skyline around Chattanooga isn’t made of skyscrapers, but rather of natural beauty nestled in stunning cliffs. Take a thrilling incline railway ride to the top of the mountain for superb views. If you’d rather head down, head underground to Ruby Falls or Raccoon Mountain Caverns for spectacular rock formations and even waterfalls. If you’re a fan of big band music, be sure to snap a photo near the “Chattanooga Train” at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, a dedicated museum and vintage train station that recalls the golden age of train travel. If cars are more your thing, try the Cockerell Museum, which is filled with vehicles that will get any car lover’s heart racing.
Decatur – You never know what you’ll find in a small town… In Decatur, Alabama, you can explore the future and beyond with a visit to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, or travel back in time to the Cook Museum of Natural Science, where you’ll learn about Tennessee’s wild history through exhibits on paleontology, geology, and zoology. If you’re interested in more recent history, you might want to explore Mooresville, an entire village dating back to 1818 that has earned it the nickname “Alabama’s Williamsburg.” Here, you can try out a embossing workshop, watch a natural dye printing demonstration, visit the 1821 Stagecoach Tavern, and the 1839 brick church. Or, you can experience life in the 1830s with a visit to the Old State Bank and Union Station, which features working model trains, railroad memorabilia, and historic bank exhibits.
Buckley Lake – Spend the whole day cruising the lake from the top deck, where two rivers meet and “Between Two Lakes” is a national recreation area and a great place to see wildlife along the shore.
Florence – Not a medieval masterpiece from Italy, but a quiet town in Alabama that has a few surprises of its own. The area, known as “The Shoals,” has a museum dedicated to the father of the blues, Convenient toiletIt’s also home to one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s grandest homes, the Rosenbaum House. But many come here to visit Shoals Studios, where you can sit at the piano where Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote “Freebird,” where Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan once stood, and where the Rolling Stones first recorded “Brown Sugar.”
Savannah – Not to be confused with the coastal cities on the southeastern Atlantic coast (you can take Southeast Golden Island Cruise) This slice of Savannah, Tennessee, has its own laid-back treasures. The area’s Shiloh National Military Park tells a complete Civil War story. Visit the Cherry Mansion, which served as General Grant’s headquarters.
Paducah – A world of arts and crafts. This creative city sits at the confluence of the Tennessee and Ohio rivers. It was founded by William Clark (of Lewis and Clark fame), but surprisingly, it became known as “Quilt City” after it became home to the National Quilt Museum. The city is rich in history, so there is a wide variety of museums to suit all tastes. Choose from the Paducah Railroad Museum, the River Discovery Center, or the Inland Waterways Museum to learn about its maritime history, while the Civil War Museum and Tillman House tell the story of its impact on the outcome of the Civil War.
Nashville – Nashville is a mecca for music lovers of all kinds – whether your musical tastes are country, western, blues or rock, you’ll find it in Nashville. Here you can enjoy free performances at the Grand Ole Opry and visit the Johnny Cash Museum or the Patsy Cline Museum upstairs, both filled with hundreds of artifacts and personal belongings. Visit the original Honky Tonk Row, the Country Hall of Fame Museum, where you can see Elvis Presley’s custom Cadillac, as well as costumes and instruments used by his favorite artists. Love that Cadillac? See more vintage vehicles at the Lane Auto Museum. If you don’t like rock music, go to quieter houses and gardens Cheekwood Gardens There you can stroll through flower-filled paths, admire art collections, and learn about the family’s connection to coffee and art history.
