Natchez Trace Parkway

Stretching from the Mississippi River in Natchez, Mississippi through the Shoals area in Alabama and across the Tennessee Valley to Nashville, the Old Trace was first used by American Indians.  In the early 1800's it became the main route to the Ohio Valley for traders and pioneers. In 1801 President Thomas Jefferson designated the Trace as an official post road to be used for mail delivery between Nashville and Natchez.  Inns and stands were established along the route by early travelers to provide lodging, food, and drink for other travelers.

Today The Trace is a 444 mile National Scenic Byway, administered by the National Park Service.  It provides a non-commercial (no big trucks allowed!) unhurried drive through historic and scenic landscapes.  Speed limit on most of The Trace is 50 mph.

We left The Shoals on November 16, 2015 and picked up The Trace off US Hwy 72 in Alabama.  We drove 227 miles south to an exit north of Jackson, MS...our campsite was near Ross R. Barnett Reservoir in Brandon, MS.

Along The Trace we stopped to investigate some of the wayside exhibits and historic markers. Indian Mounds, campgrounds, and a Cypress Swamp (photo right) were just a few examples of the variety to be found.

After a couple days in camp waiting for severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, flash flooding, and tornadoes to pass to the East, we followed The Trace a few more miles to I-20, where we headed West.

Coon Dog Memorial Cemetery

Before leaving the Red Bay, AL area we drove to Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard. This cemetery in rural Colbert County is reserved specifically for the burial of coon dogs.  Established in 1937, the cemetery is now the final resting place for over 300 coon dogs.

Three requirements must be met in order to be considered for burial here:
1) the dog owner must claim that his pet is an authentic coon dog
2) a witness must declare the deceased to be a coon dog
3) a member of the local coonhunters organization must confirm the fact.

It is thought to be the only graveyard of its kind in the country.

The Shoals Area of Alabama

From Nashville we drove south...we had scheduled appointments for some motor home inspections, maintenance and repairs in and around Red Bay, AL.  Campsites near Red Bay were filled, so McFarland Park near Florence, AL became home base.  McFarland Park was right on the Tennessee River not far from Wilson Dam; we could sit outside and watch tugboat guided barges coming and going on the river.

We had time to visit The Shoals "Quad Cities" of Florence, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, and Muscle Shoals. Music history was everywhere...the Shoals sound originated here, a blend of soul, gospel, country and rock, that found its way into many popular tunes.  W.C. Handy, "Father of the Blues" was born here; the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and Fame Recording Studio were close by.  We also saw Helen Keller's birthplace and Spring Park Waterfall in Tuscumbia.  In historic downtown Florence we saw Pope's Tavern site...once a country tavern, it became a hospital during the Civil War for both Confederate and Union soldiers...it is now a museum.

Nashville Tennessee

Our next destination was Nashville, TN where we parked a couple days at the KOA near Opryland. Old friends from Minnesota, now in Nashville, took us to dinner one night at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.  It was a huge place, the courtyards and various restaurants filled with plants and flowers. Waterfalls and a "river" with riverboat rides added to the scenery; balconies on interior rooms reached over the space...plus, they were adding decorations for the Christmas holidays.  We enjoyed both the dinner and the scenery.

The next day was a backstage tour of the Grand Old Opry.  We got to see the entertainers entrance, their dressing rooms and private mailboxes, the main opry stage, and Studio B where shows like Hee Haw were performed.

For a Nashville history event we went to tour The Hermitage: Home of the People's President Andrew Jackson. "Old Hickory" is probably most remembered for engineering a win over British troops in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.  His farm, home, gardens, and slave cabins are being preserved; audio tours provide information about his family and his life.

Great Smoky Mountains

After leaving Pennsylvania, we headed south on I-81across the Potomac River and the Mason Dixon Line, then through the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains.  Our destination was Sevierville, Tennessee in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. 

Great Smoky Mountain National Park, established in 1934, has become one of the country's most visited parks.  It was very crowded the day we drove through, but the scenery and vivid colors of the hardwood forests was worth the effort.

We learned that Sevierville is hometown to country music star Dolly Parton...a bronze statue on the courthouse lawn, Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, and Dollywood theme park are located there.

 The towns of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg provide lodging, entertainment and shopping for everyone...from local arts and crafts to brand name outlets, zip-lines to zoos, and lots of live music and comedy shows, plus restaurants and cafes of every kind! 
Sevierville is also home to Bush Brothers and Company Visitor Center, where you can learn all the required steps to preparing that American standby: Bush's Baked Beans.

Fall 2015 Travels

We left Minnesota mid-October, 2015 and headed east to Pennsylvania.  It was a late fall season, so we saw lots of fall color on the trees as we drove through Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio and the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania.  We stayed about 10 days at Pine Hill RV Park, not far from Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton area.  From here we could visit family and do some sightseeing.



 Lehigh Valley Zoo near Schnecksville, PA was a very kid-friendly place to roam around for part of one day. The drive there took us on winding roads surrounded by colorful leaves and small farms.
 
Another day was spent at the Easton Farmers Market, said to be the oldest continuous running open-air market in the country.  A visit to Dietrich's Meat and Country Store (just down the road from the RV park) in Krumsville, PA took us back to the meat markets we remembered from the past...lots of fresh and smoked meats plus Pennsylvania Dutch specialties like Shoo Fly Pie and fresh baked breads. Near there was a local winery with some very good Concord Grape Wine.  By the end of October we had to move on, as the campground was preparing to close for the season.