Fun Travels Across the United States
TENNESSEE
NEWS (Cities & Towns follow after the News)
Elvis Presley Fans will be “All Shook Up” over the “Elvis in Music City” Package Offer at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel (For details check below under Nashville)
Check out all the great events in Chattanooga, below
Check out what Knoxville has to offer below
CHATTANOOGA
Kick Off Summer in Chattanooga with Festivals, Food & New Adventures
Summer in Chattanooga means events, festivals, music, attractions, extreme outdoor adventures, baseball, delectable delights, shopping and so much more. There is something to do throughout each day and every weekend.
Chattanooga is a safe and walkable city. Park your car and navigate the Riverfront, Southside and NorthShore Districts aboard the free electric shuttle that connects the downtown hotels, attractions, restaurants and shopping venues, all within a very close proximity of each other. But downtown is just the springboard for everything else you will do in the city. Go to Chattanooga's web site to find new features making it more interactive; choose to "like" the attraction, restaurant, hotel, etc. Under each category on the summer site, you can add your own suggestions, travel tips or comments.
For more Summer fun, check out www.summer.chattanoogafun.com.
WHAT’S NEW
Only six miles from downtown and high atop Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls opened the ZIPstream Aerial Adventure, an obstacle course built in trees with ladders, nets, bridges, tunnels and zip lines. Outdoor Chattanooga Center opened in Coolidge Park and offers guided kayak trips and more. The nationally acclaimed Civil War Trails Program has come to Chattanooga, with interpretive signs and maps – making it even easier to visit the area’s historic sites. The Chattanooga River Market will be starting a weekly market on Saturdays from June-Sept. on the Aquarium Plaza, featuring entertainment and local artisans. And the Tennessee Aquarium has started a new Backstage Pass program that gives you VIP access with up-close encounters only accessible by keepers.
DOWNTOWN DELIGHTS
There’s always something going on downtown and everything is within walking distance or accessible via the free electric shuttle. You’ll find dining, attractions, parks, festivals, live music and shopping. Park your car and visit the Tennessee Aquarium and their IMAX 3D Theater; take a lunch, dinner or sightseeing cruise aboard the Southern Belle Riverboat or Civil War or eco cruises on other boating options; stroll through the Bluff View Arts District and Hunter Museum of American Art, through the gardens at the Chattanooga Choo Choo, along the 13-mile paved Riverwalk, or over the Walnut Street Bridge; have a picnic, play in the water fountain or ride an antique carousel in Coolidge Park; take the kids to the Chattanooga Zoo and to one of the country’s top children’s museums, the Creative Discovery Museum; or check out the AT&T field for a Lookouts baseball game. You won’t want to miss the open-air Chattanooga Market each Sunday from May-Dec. where you’ll find locally grown and made goods, great food, artisans selling their works and plenty of live entertainment.
MUSIC AND FESTIVALS
Chattanooga’s vibrant downtown music scene is mixed with an energetic crowd of locals and visitors. This year’s 9-day Riverbend Festival artists include Sheryl Crow, Alison Krauss, Darius Rucker, George Clinton and P-Funk, Billy Currington, Drivin' n Cryin', Third Day and many more. Nightfall weekly Friday night music series in Miller Plaza runs from May-Sept. Riverfront Nights music series runs from July-Sept. on the Riverfront and August brings the Southern Brewer’s Festival. You can also enjoy live music at Rhythm & Brews, Chattanooga Billiards Club and The Station House. For a full list of events festivals and live music, visit www.chattanoogafun.com/events.
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN AND AROUND TOWN FUN
Only a few miles from downtown, explore scenic Lookout Mountain where you’ll see seven states at Rock City Gardens; plunge deep underground to the majestic Ruby Falls; ride up and down the mountain on the nation’s steepest passenger railway, the Incline Railway or check out the nation’s largest and oldest military park, Chattanooga-Chickamauga National Military Park. Within 15 minutes from downtown, you can be riding aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad or dropping 14 stories on the OH-Zone! freefall ride at Lake Winnepesaukah amusement park.
EXTREME ADVENTURES
Teens and anyone young at heart will find that Chattanooga’s wild rivers and ample natural resources make us a top destination for extreme adventures. Whitewater raft or kayak the Ocoee River; boulder or rock climb on the mountainous terrain; dodge paint during an intense game of paint ball or test your limits on a tandem hang gliding flight over 2,000 feet in the air off of Lookout Mountain. For adventures a little less extreme, enjoy a walk or bike ride on the downtown Riverwalk, a game of golf or rock climbing at one of our indoor facilities or Walnut Wall in Coolidge Park. No matter your passion, you’ll want to get out and play.
DELICIOUS DINING
You can’t come to Chattanooga without visiting some of the local hot spots – where the food is the attraction. Savor the local flavor in restaurants downtown that use seasonal fresh produce, breads, pastries and more produced in the Chattanooga area. There are numerous fine-dining restaurants that offer the Farm to Table practices including Table 2, Alleia, Public House. But don’t forget the tried-and-true favorites like Tennessee’s first Green-Certified restaurant, 212 Market; Blue Plate; Back Inn Café; St. John’s where Nathan Lindley has been nominated for a James Beard Award; and Hennen’s to name a few. Don’t miss out on some locally brewed beer made at Big River Grille and Brewing Works or the Terminal Brewhouse.
PLANNING YOUR VISIT
Planning your vacation to Chattanooga has never been easier. With over 10,000 hotel rooms, it’s easy to find a room at your favorite hotel brand, at a bed & breakfast, or even on a boat or in a traincar. Book a hotel room or flight through the Travelocity engine, explore maps, browse itineraries and find money-saving coupons from attractions, restaurants and more online. Many of the accommodations also provide packages that include tickets to attractions and events. www.chattanoogafun.com/plan-your-visit/
Tennessee Aquarium
The Tennessee Aquarium inspires wonder and appreciation for the natural world. Admission is $24.95 per adult and $14.95 per child, ages 3-12. Each ticket purchased helps support Aquarium conservation programs. The IMAX® 3D Theater is next door to the Aquarium. Ticket prices are $8.50 per adult and $6.00 per child. Aquarium/IMAX combo tickets are $29.95 for adults and $19.95 for children. Excursions aboard the new River Gorge Explorer depart daily into “Tennessee’s Grand Canyon.” Cruise tickets are $29.00 per adult and $21.50 per child (3-12). Advance tickets may be purchased online at www.tnaqua.org or by phone at 1-800-262-0695. The Aquarium, located on the banks of the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, is a non-profit organization. Open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Aquarium and IMAX are accessible to people with disabilities.
Cherokee History Is New Focus in Southeast Tennessee
Local tourism professionals are working alongside scholars, citizens and history buffs in a movement that is uncovering new stories and raising awareness of Southeast Tennessee’s extremely significant Cherokee history, a part of America’s most important Native American past.
Representatives from Southeast Tennessee Tourism Association and the Convention & Visitors Bureau of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce are unveiling new driving trail brochures highlighting the rich Cherokee history and encouraging visitation to the area. The Bradley County brochure is titled “Your Passport to Explore Cherokee Heritage.” The SETTA brochure is “Southeast Tennessee Cherokee Native American Guide.”
A remarkable convergence of events prompted this focused attention and cooperative effort, including the opening of the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park; this year’s 30th anniversary of Red Clay State Park; the 25th anniversary of the Joint Council Reunion with the lighting of the eternal flame, and the PBS series “We Shall Remain,” which focused one entire episode on the Trail of Tears and the Cherokee experience in and around Southeast Tennessee. Portions of the film were shot at Red Clay, the last eastern capital of the Cherokee Nation.
Tourism Director Cindy Milligan is working alongside Melissa Woody at the Cleveland CVB and Dr. Carroll Van West, the director of the Center for Historic Preservation, to ensure that this history is properly interpreted and given its rightful place in Southeast Tennessee’s history and the history of the Cherokee people. “Many of these sites are being interpreted for the first time,” stated Melissa Woody, vice president for Convention & Visitors Bureau at the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce. “Just standing in these places where our native people lived and worked, and then faced their most difficult life experience, is truly moving. These sites are sacred.”
The brochures offer more than a crash course of Cherokee history. One guide takes visitors from early Cherokee years to in-depth removal routes of some 15,000 Cherokees. The other outlines the precise location of the Cherokee Agency where passports were required to enter into Cherokee territory. This same area later became the largest emigrating depot with federal troops holding Cherokee and other tribes for departure on the Trail of Tears. Some of the highlights include Ross’s Landing in downtown Chattanooga, The Brainerd Mission Cemetery, The James Brown Cherokee Plantation, and Red Clay State Park, the last capital of the Cherokee Nation in the east. The Red Clay Council Grounds also became the center of the Cherokee Nation’s diplomatic efforts to avoid removal
SETTA created their driving trail brochure with the help of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Dr. Duane King, research specialist and noted scholar of the American Indian, and a committee of regional representatives. According to Woody, the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU is currently conducting a heritage plan for Bradley County especially focused on Charleston. Under the direction of Dr. West, the team will present the plan in August. West has said that Bradley County is an understudied area and this study should help organize sites and stories. The CVB and Charleston-Calhoun-Hiwassee Historical Society will use that plan to gain support for future project development and interpretation.
Woody recalls that many of the residents were reluctant to pass down such a tragic story through the generations. The recent national efforts to tell the Cherokee story have helped residents realize this is an important story to tell, especially during this national movement toward awareness of Native American history and culture.
Both guides are currently available at area Welcome Centers throughout Tennessee in addition to various tourism sites, museums, history centers and chamber offices. Brochures may also be found by visiting www.southeasttennessee.com; www/docs/26/native-american-trail or www.visitclevelandtn.com/downloads/passport.
Mysterious Creatures & Breathtaking Art Coming to Chattanooga
Tennessee Aquarium and Hunter Museum Present Jellies: Living Art
A new wave of excitement is coming to downtown Chattanooga as the Tennessee Aquarium and Hunter Museum of American Art team up to bring “Jellies: Living Art” to Chattanooga. This special exhibit showcases jellyfish, some of the most mysterious creatures on Earth, alongside breathtaking glass sculptures inspired by nature and embodies the spirit of the award-winning, highly rated gallery at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Visitors to the Aquarium’s Ocean Journey building will find themselves immersed in a glimmering world of animals and art. Six species of jellyfish will capture the imagination as they pulse in specially designed exhibits beside striking studio glass. The exhibit is designed to illustrate how the jellyfish and the art share common characteristics of color, pattern, movement and rhythm.
In one portion of the gallery, jellyfish displays will be paired with mirrors which will produce a visual feast for the eyes surrounding guests with an endless swarm of moon jellies. In other areas, slowly pulsing sea nettles will dance a watery ballet. Blubber jellies will strike a chord with those who imagine what it’s like to venture to another world - the ocean realm.
These delicate and mysterious creatures of the deep have intrigued people and fueled artistic expression for centuries. Guests will marvel at the way artists, like world-renowned Dale Chihuly, infuse glass with striking colors and patterns while creating works that appear to flow with a graceful motion and rhythm. Works from Chihuly’s “Macchia” series will be on display at the Aquarium along with other stunning works from artists Stephen Powell, Cork Marcheschi and Thomas Spake.
This collaborative effort promises to draw visitors to downtown Chattanooga who will be encouraged to relax and enjoy all that the pedestrian-friendly “Scenic-City” has to offer. The Tennessee Aquarium and Hunter Museum are located on the Chattanooga riverfront and linked by a short walking corridor which leads guests through an outdoor sculpture garden and across a unique glass bridge.
Visitors wishing to complete their Jellies: Living Art experience may choose to purchase discount combination tickets for the Tennessee Aquarium, Hunter Museum and IMAX 3D Theater. “Under the Sea 3D” features stunning images of several jellyfish species as well as playful sea lions, fierce-looking great white sharks and graceful leafy sea dragons.
The Hunter Museum of American Art inspires and excites imaginations through the visual arts. The Hunter Museum is located at 10 Bluff View in Chattanooga and is open every day except Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s. The Hunter Museum is open until 5 p.m. and on Thursdays until 8 p.m.
For more information call the Hunter at (423) 267-0968, or visit the Web site at www.huntermuseum.org.
KNOXVILLE
Knoxvilleís Newest Hotels
Four new hotels are worth a closer look in north and west Knoxville. MainStay Suites, located in north Knoxville at 144 Merchant Dr. right off of Interstate 75, has 86 guest rooms that feature fully equipped kitchens in all rooms, weekly housekeeping services, free continental breakfast and coffee, free premium cable television, free high-speed wireless Internet access, plus an exercise room, among other amenities.
Hampton Inn & Suites, also in north Knoxville off of Interstate 75, is located at 5411 Pratt Rd. The hotel features 102 guest rooms, including 32 suites. Amenities include a smoke-free environment, complimentary On the House hot breakfast, indoor pool, business and fitness center, complimentary high-speed Internet access and complimentary USA Today newspaper Monday through Friday, among other items.
Holiday Inn Express West is a brand-new hotel in west Knoxville, located at 816 N. Campbell Station Rd., right off of Interstates 40 and 75. With 79 guest rooms, this hotel features free high speed Internet access, microwave and refrigerator, free local calls, an indoor heated swimming pool and a business center and fitness facility.
West Knoxville's new Country Inn & Suites is located at 9137 Cross Park Drive. The hotelís spacious rooms feature non-smoking rooms and amenities such as granite-appointed bathrooms, 37î flat-panel LCD/HD televisions, an indoor pool, free hot breakfast, guest laundry facility, business center and fitness center, among other things.
For more information on these hotels or to book a reservation, visit www.Knoxville.org.
Enjoy food and fun at The Hill
Good food and fun is what Knoxville does best. The Hill, Knoxville's newest restaurant in the border region of the Fort Sanders neighborhood, is committed to doing both.
The restaurant's entire upper level is devoted to the bar scene. The downstairs dining area, which also has its own bar as well as a corner for video gaming, offers a delicious menu filled with plenty of sandwiches, burgers and deep-fried goodies, but there ís also a handful of lip-smacking entrees, such as fajita quesadillas, grilled sirloin steak and chicken Alfredo. The Hill has a great selection of appetizers such as nachos, potato skins, chicken fingers, cheese sticks and Southwest egg rolls that really help start out a great meal.
The Hill is located at 1105 Forest Avenue and the staff can be reached by phone at (865) 540-1011.
NASHVILLE
Elvis Presley Fans will be “All Shook Up” over the “Elvis in Music City” Package Offer at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel
The exclusive package commemorates the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s” 75th Birthday
Avid Elvis fans the world over will be “All Shook Up.” So much so that some diehards will break out their old “Blue Suede Shoes.” Other aficionados will ponder the purchase of a “Hound Dog” to howl at a “Blue Moon.” And who would blame them if they booked a room at “Heartbreak Hotel?”
The shake, rattle and roll crowd will want to hit all the high notes to commemorate what would have been the 75 birthday of the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” on January 8, 2010. And what better place to celebrate than at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, Music City, USA, where Elvis recorded some of his greatest hits?
Loews is offering an enticing “Elvis in Music City” package featuring perks and privileges fit for a king: luxurious accommodations at the hotel; a personally guided tour through world-famous Historic RCA Studio B and private recording session in the same studio where Elvis recorded the chart-topping “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and “How Great Thou Art,” to name just a few.
“‘It’s Now or Never’ for Elvis fans to celebrate The Kings 75th birthday,” said Tom Negri, Loews Vanderbilt General Manager. “We want to offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience for guests who see this birthday as a celebration of a true music maverick.”
In detail the $3,975 “Elvis in Music City” package includes:
Two nights at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in accommodations fit for a ‘King’
A private recording session at Studio B of one of Elvis’ songs with roundtrip limousine transport to and from the hotel and studio
An iPod preloaded with the top 50 Elvis songs
Set of 10 keepsake DVD’s of various Elvis movies: Love Me Tender, Jailhouse Rock, King Creole, Blue Hawaii and Viva Las Vegas to name a few.
Private cooking lesson with one of the hotel’s chefs to learn to make Elvis’s favorites foods including fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, meatloaf, and banana pudding, followed by lunch.
Copy of “The Presley Family Cookbook” by Vester Presley and Nancy Rooks
An exclusive guided tour at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum focusing on Elvis Presley’s life and musical impact. Artifacts related to Presley on display include his 1960 “Solid Gold” Cadillac limousine with 24-karat gold plate highlights and 40 painted coats of a translucent mixture of crushed diamonds and fish scales; 1928 Kimball grand piano finished in 24-karat gold leaf; black and white, two-tone shoes worn during the early years of his career; and more.
A special one-year Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum membership developed for the “Elvis in Music City” package that includes: complimentary admission for household and accompanying guests; invitations to private exhibit openings and other selected events; preferred ticketing for selected Museum events; a personalized membership card; a 10 percent discount at the Museum Store, The Grill and Hatch Show Print; a limited edition Hatch Show Print poster; and recognition in the Museum’s annual report.
Daily breakfast for two
Because Elvis was a fan of barbeque, guests will enjoy dinner at Jacks Bar-B-Que
Either complimentary valet parking or roundtrip transportation to and from the airport
Available through August 16, 2010, the “Elvis in Music City” package is exclusive of tax and gratuity, and subject to availability and change.
For more information or to reserve, call (615) 321-1915 or visit www.loewshotels.com. Follow Loews Hotels on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Loews_Hotels and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/loewsvanderbiltnashville.
Historic RCA Studio B
In the heart of Music Row, Historic RCA Studio B has been at the center of Nashville’s music scene since 1957. Built and leased to RCA Victor in 1957, Studio B stayed in active use until 1977. More than 35,000 songs were recorded, of which over 1,000 became Top Ten hits. In its heyday, Studio B saw the creation of numerous chartbusters, such as Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” Elvis Presley’s “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and Charley Pride’s “Kiss an Angel Good Morning.”
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum began operating Studio B in 1977 and in 1996 restoredthe primary studio area to its original look. Beginning in the fall of 2003, facilitated by the philanthropy of the Mike Curb Family Foundation, Belmont University students began using Studio B as a workshop for completing recording projects, a partnership that also supports the Museum’s educational programs. Educational tours and recording opportunities, staffed by both organizations, are offered through the Museum to arts organizations, students, educational institutions and visitors.
About Loews Vanderbilt Hotel
Nestled in the heart of Nashville’s trendy West End corridor, the 340-room Loews Vanderbilt Hotel is within walking distance of Vanderbilt University, one mile from Music Row and a short 15-minute drive from Nashville International Airport (BNA). The hotel offers the ultimate Music City experience, complete with southern hospitality, indulgent comforts and on-cue services. The property is one of only 73 hotels nationwide to achieve the AAA Four-Diamond designation for 25 consecutive years.
From its lobby jukebox stocked with tunes of VIP guests to its impressive collection of autographed records and musical memorabilia, Loews Vanderbilt Hotel is a “home away from home” that reflects Nashville’s heritage and local music culture. Live music nightly and wake up calls recorded by Nashville entertainers Vince Gill, Amy Grant and Brenda Lee give guests a glimpse of the authentic sights and sounds that make Music City famous.
About Loews Hotels
Headquartered in New York City, Loews Hotels owns and/or operates 18 hotels and resorts in the U.S. and Canada. Located in major city centers and resort destinations from coast to coast, the Loews portfolio features one-of-a-kind properties that go beyond Four Diamond standards to delight guests with a supremely comfortable, uniquely local and vibrant travel experience. Loews boasts some of the industry’s most innovative and successful travel programs, including Loews Loves Kids for families and Loews Loves Pets for discerning animals on the road. For reservations or more information on Loews Hotels, call 1-800-23-LOEWS or check www.loewshotels.com.