Gatlinburg – Gateway to the Great Smokies

Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

In the opening image above, that village nestled in the valley at the end of those descending tram wires is Gatlinburg. The aerial photo was captured from the open front window of the Sky Lift, a tram that travels from Gatlinburg up the mountain to an amusement park and ski resort known as “Ober Gatlinburg.” The small town of some 4,000 residents feels much bigger than it is due to the large amount of tourist traffic.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Reflecting

 

An interesting coincidence, this week’s Photo Challenge corresponds directly with my weekly theme and daily posts on my other social media pages. This week, Nancy Thanki’s challenge is to “share a photo that captures something reflected back to you in a way that made you look at your surroundings differently.” You can read her entire challenge post at https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/reflecting/.

George Dickel – Hard to find in Normandy

Normandy, Tennessee.

If you mention Tennessee and Whiskey, it will probably be inferred that you mean Jack Daniel’s. However, there are other distilleries, one only a few miles from Lynchburg’s iconic brand. Lynchburg and the Jack Daniel Distillery aren’t exactly big city, but another distillery who spells their product name “Whisky”, can be found only a few miles away.

Jack Daniel – Born to Make Whiskey

Lynchburg, Tennessee.

Our family reunion for 2016 found a home again in Lynchburg, Tennessee. The small hamlet of less than 6500 residents is home to the premier distillery that has made a home there for 150 years. In 2013, I shared a gallery of images and a travel feature here focusing on our first visit in 2007.

But I Digress – Time to Spare Go by Air

Lynchburg, Tennessee.

It’s been two decades since I started flight training. What possessed a 47-year-old to become an aviator? Who knows… maybe it was my mid-life crisis, maybe it was looking for some adventure. In any case, this story is about our first trip to Lynchburg, and about travelling in a private aircraft.

Ruby Falls – Natural Underground Wonder

Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Travelling through Tennessee, it’s not hard to find signs promoting Ruby Falls. Of the sights we elected to visit on our day trip to Lookout Mountain, probably my favorite visit was Ruby Falls, but Rock City was a close second. Though both are the typical tourist attractions, crowded and a bit on the expensive side, it’s no wonder why they are popular.

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Lookout Mountain provides a commanding view of the city of Chattanooga. As you might imagine, that vantage point made it a prime location for a military installation. In November, 1863, the mountain was the site of the “Battle Above the Clouds” between Grant’s Union Army and Bragg’s Confederates.

Incline Railway – If You’re So Inclined

Chattanooga, Tennessee.

One of our favorite things to do at the Steiner Family Reunion is explore the area. It’s become practice to schedule our reunions for three days. This allows plenty of time for family visits and time to explore. Holding the reunion at family member’s locations around the country gives us all a chance to check out new and interesting places.

Nashville – Touring the City

Nashville, Tennessee.

The home of country music is a city of over 600,000 population, so touring can be a challenge. Parking in the downtown area is relatively expensive. When we arrived in Nashville, we selected a hotel that is just across the street from Nissan Stadium, (on the other side of the arena from where the above photo was taken.)

Ryman Auditorium – First Home of the Grand Ole Opry

 

Nashville, Tennessee.

A hardworking businessman, Captain Tom Ryman amassed a fortune in riverboats. Known as the Ryman Line, by 1885, a fleet of 35 riverboats provided the captain with a well-to-do lifestyle.