It always feels like home, coming back to Tennessee.
I have been here several times, and I have never failed to find something new each time I visit.
Genealogically speaking, Travel Buddy and I both have many family members who lived and died in Tennessee, in a number of counties.
So the more research we do, the more counties we visit.
This year we visited Franklin for the first time. A beautifully restored town that provided plenty to look at, but the many plantation homes we passed on the roadway into town had us oohing and ahhing, as well.
We also enjoyed doing extensive research at the libraries and courthouses of Wilson, Overton, and Blount counties. Each had important information to reveal on one family or another, and we loved driving through the Tennessee countryside.
After the research, we spent some time relaxing in the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg areas. Though tourists have overrun the towns for the most part, you can still find quiet places to visit and restaurants where only the locals eat.
Our favorite area? Definitely Cades Cove. If you’ve never been, take the time to drive back in there and see what life was like a hundred or more years ago. We live in an area where the deer basically rule the town after dark…but we still squealed with delight every time we spotted a deer, elk, or turkey enjoying their calm and quiet fields.
Tennessee has so much to offer…in research, in history, and in beauty. We enjoyed every minute…and sincerely hope our return is soon.