DESTINATIONS TENNESSEE | THE US
ABOVE: Leiper’s Fork is home to an eclectic mix of art galleries, antique shops and candle-scented boutiques PICTURES:
VisitFranklin.com/Amy Allmand
bear ambling leisurely ahead on the road in front of us. Moments later, we spot another climbing up the side of a forested hill. It’s a reminder of the wild nature of the vast Great Smoky Mountains National Park – the most visited in the US, with about 12 million annual visitors.
A WARM WELCOME The mountains straddle Tennessee’s eastern border with North Carolina – but central Tennessee also has plenty of excitement. A 40-minute drive south of Nashville is the village of Leiper’s Fork. This quaint, leafy spot feels like something of a local secret. Art galleries, antique shops and candle-scented boutiques line its serene streets, with verandas set in front of white-shuttered houses in true southern style. Leiper’s Fork isn’t just known for its pretty architecture;
live-music haunt the Fox & Locke is a local hotspot for its Thursday evening open-mic nights. We visit for a true experience of contemporary Americana music, watching country bands and crimped-hair singer-songwriters strum guitars to a packed-out crowd. US flags and music memorabilia decorate the walls while barbecue pulled-pork sandwiches, sizeable burgers and giant cobblers (fruit crumbles) fill the tables. Big-name record labels frequently come here to scout out new talent, we’re told, with Grammy-winning artists occasionally making a surprise appearance. Carrie Underwood owns a 395-acre home in the village and Chris Stapleton, known for global hit Tennessee Whiskey, is another illustrious local resident.
travelweekly.co.uk
There’s something special about this state, where charm and authenticity emanate from just about everywhere
Morgane Stapleton, Chris’s wife and a fellow singer-songwriter, owns jewellery shop the Tennessee Turquoise Company in the village. This quaint log cabin reminds me of Dolly’s niece and her moonshine distillery, with the same unpretentious, down-to-earth feel that typifies country music. That’s all part of the magic of Tennessee. Music connections are everywhere, and clients won’t have to go far to feel like they’re part of it. “As a visitor, you can really get close to the music scene,” says our driver, Luke Parrish, also a musician. “Artists support each other – and that’s one of the things I love about it. There’s a real sense of camaraderie and welcomeness between everyone.” After only a week in Tennessee, I can certainly see what he means. There’s something special about this southerly state, where charm and authenticity emanate from just about everywhere – and I’ve got a feeling I’ve only just scratched the surface.
TW BOOK IT
Gold Medal offers a seven-night trip that combines four nights’ room-only at Holston House Nashville with three nights’ bed and breakfast at Hampton Inn Pigeon Forge from £1,739 per person. The price is based on two sharing and includes car hire and flights from Heathrow, departing September 22.
goldmedal.co.uk
Premier Holidays offers a nine-day trip that takes in Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga and the Great Smoky Mountains. Prices start at £2,399 per person, based on two sharing, including car hire, accommodation and flights from Heathrow, departing October 7.
premierholidays.co.uk
3 JULY 2025 37
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
