|
TOP 5 WAYS TO EXPLORE SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE
Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
Cindy Milligan 423-424-4267
TOP 5 WAYS TO EXPLORE SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (March 24, 2008) -- With spectacular rolling mountains to traverse, rivers and streams to explore, arts and music culture to engage you, and delicious food to indulge in, you’ll need more than one way to discover all Southeast Tennessee has to offer.
Just south of the Great Smoky Mountains, Southeast Tennessee sits poised and ready for the taking when it comes to serving up its fair share of mountain beauty and outdoor glory. A large portion of this area includes the Cumberland Mountains and the Cherokee National Forest—two places mountain lovers and adventure seekers consider gems still untapped by most tourists.
Southeast Tennessee visitors following the Outdoor Recreation guide will discover sections of the Cumberland Mountains long enjoyed by rock-climbing and hang-gliding enthusiasts. But travelers don’t have to be a die-hard adventure seeker to soak in this part of the world. Hikers and birders come in droves to explore this back country, too.
The greater Cumberland region stretches over 400 miles from West Virginia to Alabama and represents one of the western-most extensions of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Formed from the remnants of an ancient sea, the area is made of a low mountain chain (3,000-4,000 feet elevation) that is surrounded by a high plateau (~1,500 feet elevation). The Plateau is heavily eroded and contains an abundance of deep river canyons. Some of these river canyons, or "gulfs", are nearly one thousand feet deep and contain a vast array of habitats that support an abundance of life forms.
Studies have shown that the Cumberland Plateau is richer in woody plant diversity than the Smoky Mountains and the plateau is home to the largest sandstone arch and highest waterfall in the eastern United States. And, in terms of caves, no region of the country even comes close.
On the eastern side of Southeast Tennessee, outdoor enthusiasts have the option of taking on world-class rapids through some of the south’s most magnificent mountain region. The Ocoee River, home to the 1996 Olympic Canoe and Kayak Slalom Competition, offers professionals and first-time rafters the opportunity to float the river right through the Cherokee National Forest. This exhilarating course includes Class III and Class IV rapids, such as Broken Nose, Double Trouble and Table Saw, and because this river is damn controlled, visitors can tackle the river from early spring to late summer.
For the outdoor adventurer of a ‘greener’ kind, visitors to Southeast Tennessee can follow an Out to the Farm guide and discover a plethora of ways to explore this area’s agriculture. Scenic country back roads lead visitors off the beaten path to discover quaint B&Bs; eco-boat cruises; working farms with dow-home-cooking; corn-mazes; sustainable organic farms with tours and classes; magnificent perennial farms; bountiful orchards for produce picking; and one-of-a-kind festivals that best characterize Southeast Tennessee.
Some of these events include the National Cornbread Festival, which draws busloads from all over the United States; the Ramp Tramp Festival, a festival celebrating wild leeks; Ketner’s Mill, a fall festival offering stone-ground cornmeal and grits for sale, sorghum demonstrations, crafts, canoe rentals and mule-drawn wagon rides. And visitors won’t want to miss out on two gems on this trail—the Mayfield Dairy farm, a family-owned business started in 1923 that features a guided walking tour of the dairy plant and down-home ice cream parlor; and the Old Dutch Maid Bakery, Tennessee’s oldest family bakery established in the 1880s.
One popular guide throughout Southeast Tennessee is the Glory Land Road trail. It’s been said, “to understand a people’s religion is to understand a people’s culture.” This guide takes visitors on a journey through a myriad of religious heritage sites, discovering the heritage and legacy of this unique area known as the South. Religion is often the underlying force driving cultures and no trail offers a better way for a true traveler to discover the heart and soul of Tennessee.
And if art and music is what the Southeast Tennessee traveler is thirsting for, well, it’s all here for the taking. There’s a reason artists and musicians love Tennessee; the culture and heritage is maintained everyday through the talents of all those that live and work in the great state of Tennessee. When travelers explore the Art and Music Trails of Southeast Tennessee, they’ll witness traditional heritage skills of quilting, blacksmithing, and stringed-instrument making ….all living comfortably side-by-side with the fine arts and crafts of glass and hand-thrown pottery, sculpture and printmaking. Visitors can purchase one-of-a-kind art at festivals throughout or turn an ear to the sounds of blues and Appalachian bluegrass at concerts, festivals and county fairs scattered throughout this region.
Coming June 2008: Southeast Tennessee Civil War Trail Guide
###
Southeast Tennessee Tourism Association works to promote tourism in ten counties in Southeast Tennessee. For more information, go online to www.southeasttennessee.com or call 423-424-4267.
|
