During September/October of this year my wife and I payed a visit to family in Tennessee in the USA. And what a beautiful, scenic state this is, aptly named the Green State - in my view a region that must count as one of the world’s most attractive tourist destinations.

But before trying to describe this heaven on earth, I must relate something interesting flowing out of our stay in London en route to the USA. Two days before our departure, there was an article in our local newspaper, Volksblad, by one of their journalists living in London. He described his favourite pub, the  Piano Bar in South Kensington, just opposite the underground station of High Street Kensington. The owner of this pub is an accomplished pianist, who in the evenings plays on his grand piano placed in one corner. Sometimes his wife joins him, singing romantic melodies.
 

Since we stayed over in London for a few days with the idea of spending this time just strolling along whilst enjoying some lesser known attractions, we one evening visited the Piano Bar. There I wrote a short letter to this journalist, asking the staff to forward it to him on his next visit. A week or two after our arrival back in South Africa, there was a follow-up article by the journalist, describing the excitement of the owner and staff when they gave him my note, pointing out the table where we sat. The journalist was so surprised and delighted, that he wrote about my letter, mentioning our names and stating his intention of framing this letter as a reminder of one of his most memorable experiences overseas. And I now can candidly recommend visitors to this quaint little ‘internationally known’ pub! But, back to Tennessee. We landed in Atlanta, drove by car up the beautiful Sequatchian Valley via Chattanooga to Crossville, and there-after to Maryville, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Gattlinburgh in the Great Smoky Mountains. This is a route that allows you to experience most of Tennessee’s treasures.

On the eastern side of this route stretches the Appalachian mountains. Although not as high and as rugged as the Rockies, it forms an impressive chain. On the left lies the Cumberland Plato, with the Tennessee River as the main artery of the Upper Cumberland System with its numerous rivers and  beautiful, fertile valleys. The whole region, referred to as the ‘Land of Winding Waters and Musical Mountains’, is covered by pristine forests, most of which escaped the axes of the lumbermen in previous centuries, serene valleys and blue lakes, picturesque historic towns and majestic mountains.

One of America’s great natural attractions are to be found here: spectacular caves with ancient mysteries and legends, like the Forbidden Caves, near Sevierville, which boasts the largest wall of rare cave onyx known to exist, the Tuckaleechee Caverns near Pigeon Forge, with its stalagmites and underground stream, and the largest, the Cumberland Caverns, a U.S National Landmark, where an original underground pageant of light and sound is shown.

Should you be interested in playing golf, this region boasts some of the best award-winning champion courses to be found, quite a number of them designed by Jack Nicklaus. The Cumberland region, and especially Crossville, with its five beautiful courses, is known as the Golf  Capitol of the southeast. The scenic settings - some incorporating rolling hills, mountain streams and rock formations into their layouts - provide for a spectacular golf vacation.

The inhabitants are friendly, caring and down-to-earth, enjoying fun-filled festivals, like the Harvest Festival that we experienced. Everywhere in the towns, in the streets or alongside the roads, displays of orange pumpkins, maize-cobs and other products catches the eye. This is where the world championships for the largest pumpkin takes place. Everywhere celebrations are held, with concerts by the best country, bluegrass and gospel artists. After the Harvest Festival follows Halloween, with its pumpkin scares, nightlong celebrations, and children knocking on doors. Unfortunately we had to depart before this took place.
 

This is also the home of the so-called Hillbillies, with their typical pronunciation. Some of the restaurants even reflect this in their menu’s. The Bean Pot in Crossville welcomes guests as follows: ‘Y’all is now in the Cumberland Mountains of Tenasee whar mountain folks like us are aimin’ to please you with good country cookin’. Here you will find interesting dishes such as ‘Two Aigs, krispy Bacon or Sawsage’ for ‘breakfus’, you can order ‘sanwiches’, ‘chezeburgers’ or ‘hot dawgs’, and ‘wash hit down’ with ‘choklet cow juce’! In this short article I’ve only tried to give an overall impression of the region, just to entice you into considering it when planning your next trip overseas. A next installment will focus on specific attractions, towns and also what the Great Smoky Mountains has to offer. - Manie Wolvaardt