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Local Secrets, Big Finds - Tennessee

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National Storytelling Festival
Jonesborough

800.952.8392, ext 8208
Celebrate the power of storytelling during the first weekend in October. Step into one of the "big, circus-like tents" in Tennessee's oldest town to be "thoroughly enlightened by all the wonderful storytellers." If you're not into the tent scene, "there is always plenty of room outside on the hillside to listen to the stories." "Many of the featured storytellers stop by the stomping grounds to spin a few tales," so you can listen to a few storytellers even if you're just walking the grounds, which many believe to also be the best way to "take advantage of the free entertainment." Read more.

S. Y. Wilson Country Store
Arlington

901.867.2226
Step back in time at this "historic landmark" with "record books from 100 years ago when customers would buy everything from fine clothing to caskets." The same family has managed the store since it opened in 1893, when "customers would pay the bill at the end of each month." Today, the store "carries items that are hard to find." Regular customers are "called by their first names" and employees will assist you by "carrying purchases to the car." If you're looking for "a refreshing way to spend the afternoon," go to the "large porch with rocking chairs where one can sit and play checkers or watch the trains go by." Read more.

Twin Falls
Rock Island

931.686.2471
Twin Falls
During the dog days of summer, "there is nothing better on a hot August afternoon than to sit on the rocks and feel the misty spray of the waterfalls on your face." Set on scenic Rock Island, the twin waterfalls are a rare creation, made "by underground streams that leak water from the lake nearby." The uniqueness lies in that "most waterfalls are in line with the river, but this one comes out of the ground above the river." For this reason, "you can climb down on the rocks and sit almost under the falls," something that is "really a sight to behold." There are also several hiking and kayaking trails in the area. Read more.

Sunset Rock
Lookout Mountain

706.866.9241
Not for the "very young, old, pregnant, or ill," this hike "down to a very large, flat rock" reveals "nature in all its glory." From there, you get a "180-degree view of the Tennessee River" all the way "over into Georgia and Alabama." This lookout perch was important during the Civil War battle of Chattanooga, and many consider the area a memorial to fallen soldiers. The sandstone cliffs also attract rock climbers in search of thrills. Please note that parking in the area can be extremely limited, and visitors should consult the bulletin board in the parking lot for park regulations.

Coolidge Park
Chattanooga

423.425.6311
No matter what your age, if you like the outdoors, you'll enjoy this oasis of seven acres of recreation and relaxation. Part of the Tennessee Riverpark, Coolidge Park is "fun in the day and relaxing and romantic at night." While there, you can enjoy a water playground, historic carousel, and a "Southern belle boat to ride." On nice days, "musicians are usually playing in the park," and if you're rhythmically challenged, there are "dance steps drawn into the sidewalk to teach you how." "Great restaurants and gift shops" also surround the park. All in all, "it's just a great place to go." Read more.

Chestnut Hill Charity Horse Show
Dandridge

865.509.9637
Every year during the last weekend in June, this horse show gives you a "real taste of the Smoky Mountains and Eastern Tennessee." As a measure of the event's "special esteem to the community," there is only one horse show a year at this location. During the two-night event, visitors get to see everything from "Tennessee walking horses to saddle-bred horses." When you get hungry, "they serve home-cooked beans, cornbread, and fried pies." All of the pies are good, but fans rave, "rhubarb is the best!"

The Sequoyah Great Island Festival
Vonore

423.884.6246
The Sequoyah Great Island Festival
This event takes place in conjunction with The Old Forte Days and Fort Loudoun. It always occurs the weekend after Labor Day each year. Located in the scenic town of Vonore, "it's a real fun event in a beautiful setting." The festival location is "on beautiful Tellico Lake with views of the Smoky Mountains and Cherokee Mountain," a panorama that is described as "awesome." As far as the entertainment is concerned, "there are displays of Indian dancing, Indian crafts, and face painting for the kids." You'll also find people "dressed as they were 200 years ago" who will also "speak as they did back then." Read more.

Earnestine & Hazel's
Memphis

901.523.9754
Formerly a brothel, this bar is "the place to be when the jukebox gets pumping, the hamburgers are frying, and the piano man is singing upstairs." Regulars know that post-midnight on Fridays and Saturdays is "when everyone starts arriving for the fun." This is because it's "the place where you meet your friends for one last memory of the evening." While there, "be sure to walk upstairs and sing along." If you're a newcomer, "as long as you know the lyrics to Billy Joel's songs? you will be welcome." After "you fill your belly" with the best burger around, be sure to "take a spin on the small dance floor."

Gardner's Market
Cleveland

423.478.3906
Nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, this "cozy deli and grocery," offers "a little piece of Europe in a very Southern town." Open for breakfast and lunch, the deli offers the "best sandwiches and salads you'll ever eat." In the store section, they "stock many European grocery items not found in local supermarkets," including an amazing selection of teas, coffees, flavored oils, sauces, and chocolates. As for the clientele, "you'll find everyone from lawyers to college students" in an atmosphere characterized by "old stained-glass, Celtic wall hangings, and coffee beans under glass tables."

Las Paletas Gourmet Popsicles
Nashville

615.386.2101
If you're looking for "a great alternative to mainstream ice cream shops," this Mexican-inspired popsicle shop offers a real treat. Flavors range from fruity to downright daring, with everything from honeydew and watermelon to hibiscus and prickly pear (without the prickles, of course). The shop's unique flavors, such as chocolate wasabi, "never cease to surprise." Using only fresh fruit, "the menu constantly changes" according to what ingredients are in season. The service is friendly, and "best of all? each time you go back, you can try something new."