Three styles of living in one state (2017)

Tennessee is an amazing state! We went from music country, to amish country, to civil war country turned "environmentally friendly" country. Nothing about this state is ordinary. There were moments when we stepped back into an era where you can almost hear Elvis Presley coming out of the sound studio (well we heard a recording of it); where people live with no technology and living among the earth -- growing organic foods and building a community together-- to a town that has transformed itself into an Eco-friendly city that caters to making itself stand out from the rest of the state.

I was lucky to bring somebody special with me to witness this side of America -- to keep all stereotype opinions at bay and to have an open mind. He is a world traveler, but I wanted him to experience a side of America that not everybody travels to or thinks about traveling to. The state nestles on the border of the Appalachian Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. Where the Irish and Scots blended two cultures together when they came from the Old Country and established what we know them today as "hillbillies". But today the term hillbilly has taken a different approach and I feel that the state of Tennessee has captured that essence. As I mentioned before, the state blends country music(predominately), amish, hipster/hippy and open land where people can grow their farms and not be bothered by the big city people.

Nashville! Town of music, talents and home grown hillbillies! This town was just inundated with music, especially at night when all the locals and tourists came out.

The town of Nashville is a stark contrast between night and day in all sense of the metaphor. The main strip of Nashville is full of music of all scenes -- but mostly country. It's amazing to be in the city that made Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and many more singers that had made them into American music icons. The two pictures below were from the very studio that some of these singers made their hits from! Elvis Presley did a lot of his own music writings i.e. a sheet of music that he wrote.

Amish Country (above) was between Nashville and Chattanooga! What a site to see! I never thought that I would get to witness an actual Amish community. Especially a buggy waiting at the gas station for it's owner to buy cigarettes.

The Amish don't encourage technology upon their presence. I had to take a quick picture of this before the owner came out! We drove by their community which was amazing to see. To see that every building was the same, everybody dressed the same -- and nobody stood out from the other person. Plus, we saw a little school house for the entire community.

Chattanooga is a forward thinking community. It reminds me some of the cities in the Northwest that are becoming like this one.

This museum below was interesting. Built right on the ledge but somehow it sustains it's weight. Hopefully a landslide won't happen!

The tour of the Seven States(as stated above). It was glorious to see how far the eye can see. This was part of our self tour that we did that included taking a tram through civil war history which was down a very steep hill. Then we went through a Wonderland of Gnomes (I made this up because I forgot what the actual name was called for this majestic place) and Mother Goose Fairy tales -- that was interesting. This was inspired by a wife back in the 1930s because she wanted kids to feel like they were walking thru a magical place.

The above pictures were taken on a tour thru this cave that was discovered during the 1920s. There were a lot of epic stalagmites and stalactites, and then at the end of the passage was a beautiful lit waterfall!

These passage ways were part of the Winter Wonderland of Gnomes! I love the passage that says "Fat Man Squeeze"!!

Sometimes taking a moment amongst the busiest of times in our lives, and noticing the beauty around us, we should be reminded that we are just humans living with Mother Nature.

Tennessee River -- no matter what time or day it is the river is always flowing with rowers and/or boaters and the bridge is a perfect place for an evening stroll.

This bridge is strictly for pedestrians, bikers and on-lookers. The bridge connects the northern and southern end of Chattanooga over the Tennessee River.

This vacation was full of different elements of things to do and see. I love visiting cities that can be forward thinking but still can have the old history connected to the town and the people. I passed thru this state when I was younger, and I always told myself that I wanted to go back and explore it more in depth. I am so glad that I did!