Keeping Our Rhythm

We were hitting our stride for visiting pancake restaurants. This morning, we dropped by Log Cabin Pancake House for our morning flapjack fix. If a restaurant has cabin and house both in its name does it make it extra special? Well this place certainly had some unique topping combinations. Crystal was sticking with her berry heavy choices, but I still wanted to test the waters. A plate of Caribbean Pancakes was certainly out of the ordinary. The pancakes had slices of bananas cooked into the batter, and then topped with more of them. It was also sprinkled with coconut, powdered sugar, and chopped pecans. These were certainly the most unusual variety of hot cakes I sampled.

Selfie Stops

With breakfast done, it was time to head out of town. Today’s schedule had lots of car time, but we left space for stops, as often as wanted. Passing through the park, on our Smoky Mountain Road Trip, we were enjoying the rushing water from the recent rains. It seemed like every curve we rounded offered another good selfie opportunity. After a while, we decided to get back to the main purpose of today’s drive.

Above the Clouds

With the sun threatening to make an occasional appearance, we headed off to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway. This Appalachian roadway leads travelers along a path from Cherokee, North Carolina to Afton, Virginia. The 469 miles of scenic wonders were too much for our schedule, so we chose the section that leads up to Asheville, North Carolina.  Our path led us through multiple tunnels and past amazing overlooks. The 80+ miles of our route took us around 3 hours with stops. We limited our stops this direction, since we had decided to come back the same way.

Duck, Duck, Beef

With hunger setting in, we pulled in to Asheville to scope out a lunch stop. We saw plenty of familiar names of places on our itinerary, since many restaurants are regional chains. Our final destination brought us to Biltmore Avenue, where we tested out the dishes at White Duck Taco Shop. This place offers some interesting flavor combinations and is clearly a local favorite. (You can read about Blue Ridge and Asheville here.)

Scaling Heights

Our return trip saw the sun beginning to escape from the clouds. With the return of the light, we decided it was the perfect chance to scale Clingmans Dome. We had passed the turn-off earlier in the week, but the rain prevented a visit. This time we found that many visitors had the same idea as we had. We joined the line of hikers making their way up to the highest peak in the Smoky Mountains. Soon we were looking out over the beautiful blue mountains. (You can read more about Clingmans here.)

Da’ Bears

Even though the climb was a challenge, we couldn’t imagine anything that would top it. As we made our way down the mountainside, we came to a small pull=off parking lot, that is near a trail head. Earlier in our trip we had spotted a black bear running across the road ahead of us. It was thrilling and really excited Crystal. If you were following our Instastory, you probably saw her video clips during our Smoky Mountain Road Trip. You can see the clips in our Smoky Mtn. highlight reel on our Instagram profile page. (Connect to our Instagram account here.)

Say What?

As we sat there watching the mother and two cubs interacting, we were amazed to see them grazing on the native grasses. While we knew that they were omnivorous, it was a surprise to see how much grass they consumed. Soon a larger crowd appeared, and we witnessed the reason there are so many warning signs posted around the park. While we sat in our car and watched, others were getting out of their vehicles for closer views. It was a surprise that the mother didn’t get upset, as some people approached within less than thirty feet. It wasn’t long before the bears disappeared into the nearby woods.

Testing Our Skills

Back in town, we dropped our car at our lodging, before heading to dinner. We picked a fairly nondescript Italian restaurant along the strip. With the new influx of visitors for conventions, we noticed most of the restaurants were doing good business. After a meal filled with discussing the bears, we were ready to go explore some more of the strip. Just a short walk from our dinner location, we happened upon the Guinness World Records Adventure. This place was a cross between a museum and an arcade. It had tons of informational areas that taught us the background on some amazing feats that have been performed by average people. Mixed in, there are exhibits designed to allow visitors to attempt to set their own world record. While we may not have broken any standing records, we did get a chance to top our personal bests. (You can read more about our World Record attempt here.)

And Now For Something Different

Our last full day in Gatlinburg dawned with an air of anticipation. While we had enjoyed so many great activities during our Smoky Mountain Road Trip, our time was drawing to an end. The schedule for our day included spending the majority of it in the national park. A hearty breakfast was needed to fuel our activity. Crockett’s 1875 Breakfast Camp was highly rated by many of our readers who have visited this area. While the plan was to vary from our pancake tour, we ended up having Crockett’s version of a flapjack. (Check out the meal we had at Crockett’s.)

Falling For You

Now that our hungers had been satisfied, it was time to get ready for a day of adventure. We stopped by a local deli to pick up the makings of a good lunch, which we packed in our cooler. On this pass into the park, we tried to soak in all of the nature. We found a small waterfall behind the Sugarland Visitor’s Center, but knew we could do much better. Our path for the day had us heading toward Cades Cove, which is one of the most popular sections of the park. We didn’t have time to do much hiking prior to this day, so when we arrived at the trailhead for Laurel Falls, we made sure to stop. The hike is along a paved path, so we saw all ages enjoying this view.

Horsing Around

Once we arrived at our destination, our first stop was the Cades Cove Riding Stables. Crystal and I had an opportunity to go riding in the Rocky Mountains, so we were looking forward to this experience. The previous experience had us in a string of horses passing through the hills. This time our group was limited to just the two of us and our tour guide. What an amazing opportunity to get to spend some one-on-one time learning about life in this part of the country.

Big Wheel Keep On Turning

After our ride, we ate our lunch in the picnic area nearby. Just being in nature was extremely enjoyable and relaxing. Once we finished our meal, we started the auto route that follows the one-way road around Cades Cove. Along the way, there are some pull-offs and stopping points to explore. An old homestead with working grist mill was certainly one of the highlights. (Read more about Cades Cove here.)

A Day in the Life

With our day waning, we wanted to squeeze out every minute of our time on this Smoky Mountain Road Trip. Back in town, we decided to enjoy more of the the day without rain. A stop at  Ripley’s Davy Crockett Mini-Golf was another chance to challenge our skills. While Crystal was in the lead so far, I was holding out hope of catching her. At this attraction you can spin a wheel to determine what odd manner you will need to putt from. As we played along, we saw lots of familiar cartoon characters.

Dining Nawlin’s Style

We felt like we had tested most of the mountain cuisines, so this final Gatlinburg dinner needed to be something out of the normal. Tucked away in a shopping alcove near our lodging, we found New Orleans Sandwich Company. Earlier in the summer, we had traveled to NOLA, so a chance to gobble down some gumbo sounded appealing. Boy, were we surprised at how good the food was at this place. By the end of our meal, we felt like we had just dined in the French Quarter.

Elevated Play

With the sun getting close to setting, we had time for one more round of miniature golf. Hillbilly Golf  was recommended by a close friend, so we were sure that we would enjoy it. We started our round by riding an incline train up a mountainside. Once up top, you play the course working your way down the hill. It reminded us a lot of being in the Ozark Mountains, which is one of our favorite regions to visit. This round I won, so in the end I decided to call it even. Since we don’t keep scorecards, it’s mostly just a gut feeling of who played each course the best. In the end, we just enjoy spending time together.

Our Final Flapjacks

In the morning, we packed our car to head west. We said our goodbyes to Gatlinburg, and made one last pancake breakfast stop, before leaving the area. This time, we went all out with our hot cakes of goodness. Smoky’s Pancake Cabin has a menu filled with some interesting flavor combinations, like the Blueberry-Lemon version that I had. Now that we were all pumped up with sugar, it was time to head to Knoxville.

Gateway to the Appalachians

It’s only about an hour from Gatlinburg to Knoxville, so we were pulling in just as the day was getting going. Knoxville sits just west of the Appalachians and we watched the mountains shrinking in our rear view mirror. This is the 3rd largest city in Tennessee, but it is easy to navigate. Since we were only in town for 24 hours, we focused our visit in the Market Square district. From this location, we could easily walk to all of the sites we would be touring. We found this World’s Fair city to be filled with some unique historical attractions, delectable dining options, and interesting outdoor art. (Check out our Knoxville adventure here.)

Making Memories

With our Smoky Mountain Road Trip winding down, we were relishing in our memories of pancakes, mountains, and bears. In just about a week, we had so many unbelievable moments to remember. Trips like this can be exhilarating, but require a good level of planning. We hope that by showing you the places we visited, and including plenty of photos, it might make your planning a little easier. Check out some of articles and let us know what you think. Do you see something we could add to our coverage to make it more helpful? Toss us a note in the comments section below and we will see what we can do. In the meantime, travel safely!

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We want to thank the businesses of Knoxville for their hospitality. Rest assured all the opinions are our own. 

Starting at the Beginning

We planned our visit to be a mix of history and current culture. This would give us a real feel for the city of Knoxville. With only 24 hours to explore, we needed to make the most of every minute. Our first destination, after arriving in town, was a stop at James White’s Fort. This is the birthplace of Knoxville, so where better to get a history lesson on the earliest days. During our visit, we were able to engage with staff, who are happy to give visitors an in-depth storyline of the early days of this region. (You can read more about the Fort here.)

Our Introduction to Knoxville Eats

Before making our journey to Knoxville, we made connections with some of the foodie groups in the city. After just a few days of communication, we knew that this Appalachian city had a plethora of delicious dining establishments. The true challenge would be selecting a sampling that fit into the spaces we would be visiting. Since our lodging was in downtown Knoxville, it made sense to focus on the Market Square area. We were only a few hours into our 24 hour visit, when we popped in Tupelo Honey for a scrumptious lunch. This was a good way to introduce ourselves to southern style hospitality. (You can read more about Tupelo here.)

Keeping Our Eyes Open To History

Back out in the daylight, we took a few minutes to look around the immediate area. Market Square started in the mid-1800’s and has been a gathering place for many generations. It began as an actual market area, where merchants would sell their goods to the rich and poor alike. It has been described as “the most democratic place on earth”, since people from all walks of life would mingle for an opportunity to buy from local vendors. Like many urban areas, it saw a period of decline. Those days are now in its past, as Market Square is once again a bustling center for retail and dining venues.

Urban Art

On our walk to Market Square, we passed a small “pocket” park. Situated just across the street, we decided to take a few minutes to check it out. It is named the Charles Krutch Park, after a regional painter known for his pictures of the Smoky Mountains. As we strolled the paved paths of the park, we found a nice collection of outdoor art pieces. The park is also home to some serene water features, which are serviced by plenty of benches. If we had more than 24 hours in downtown Knoxville, we would have loved to soak up some more of the relaxed vibes in this area.

24 Hours to Eat Sweet Treats

Okay, time to be honest. Travel gives us a reason to sample lots of eats that we would usually skip during our “good days” at home. Sure, we know there will be plenty of excessive calories, but we try to combat them by focusing our visits on areas that allow us to do lots of walking. During our 24 hours in downtown Knoxville, we calculated that we walked about seven miles in all. In our minds, this was plenty of activity to justify a sweet treat or two. A warm September day is perfect for a cool cone at Cruze Farm dairy. This local ice cream shop offers up some delectable soft serve options, that we couldn’t get enough of during our stay. (You can read more about Cruze here.)

Heading Back to School

Our next historic stop took us to the campus of the University of Tennessee. For this visit, we did jump in our car, since we also wanted to do a quick driving tour of the region. Once on campus, we felt like kids again, since everyone was preparing for a pep rally to cheer on the local football team. Our focus forced us to come back to the reason for our visit, and we headed into the McClung Museum of Natural History. This FREE attraction is the perfect way to learn more about the people who have inhabited the region that is now known as Knoxville. It even has some cool exhibits on the local dinosaurs that once roamed the land. This all ages attraction is a good way to engage the kids with a fun way of learning. (You can read more about McClung here.)

Time on the World’s Stage

No visit to Knoxville would be complete without a view of the Sunsphere. In 1982, Knoxville was home to the World’s Fair. More than 11 million people visited the fair, which made it one of the more popular world fairs ever held in the United States. As with other one time occurrences, many of the structures were demolished or repurposed after the event. One that has stood the test of time is the Sunsphere. This 266 foot tall tower offers visitors some impressive views of the Knoxville landscape.

Another portion of the fair site is found just a stones throw from the Sunsphere. The World’s Fair Fountain sits at one end of the green space that now encompasses World’s Fair Park. The wide open space is used for events and live performances. Nearby you will find the modern structure that holds the Knoxville Museum of Art. With only 24 hours available in downtown Knoxville, we had to forego a visit on this trip. It’s obvious that there are many other attractions that will need to be explored on a subsequent visit.

Dinner with a Purpose

We returned to Market Square for dinner at Stock & Barrel. This downtown Knoxville eatery was one that was most recommended by our contacts in town. With a “farm to table” philosophy, we had high expectations for this place. Having to wait for seating helped us confirm that it was truly a local favorite. They took our phone number to send us a text when our table was ready. This gave us a little time to explore some of the shops in the square. Too soon, our exploration time was curtailed, by a notice that it was time to dine. The restaurant was buzzing, as diners dove into the amazing meals that flowed from the kitchen. When our plates arrived, it was our turn to savor the fresh eats and flavorful tastes. This place lived up to the hype that our connections had laid out for us. (Check out more about Stock & Barrel here.)

Cramming More Sweets Into Our 24 Hours

After our dinner, we needed to spend some time walking off our meal. Market Square was the perfect place to do some meandering and people watching. The evening seems to be filled with tons of activity, as travelers and locals alike fill the space. It was nice finding out that most of the retail shops stay open late to accomodate the evening crowds. We explored the boutique shops with our eyes peeled for something to remember our visit. Low and behold, what would we happen upon, but another sweet shop. We knew it would be rude not to explore it, so we did our best to check out all of their displays. To make sure we covered everything, we even sampled a few of their most popular creations. Lets just say it was a great way to cap off our day. Now it was time to head back to our hotel for some well deserved rest.

Expanding Our Education

After breakfast at the hotel, we checked out and put our luggage in our car. The staff was nice enough to allow us to leave our vehicle, while we continued our explorations. A short walk landed us at the East Tennessee History Museum. Our earlier stops had given us a good background on the city, and this stop would expand our knowledge to include the region. Inside we found plenty of exhibits about the entire eastern end of the state. We knew our time was limited, so we didn’t get to investigate the museum in nearly the amount of detail as it deserves. It would be easy to spend a minimum of half a day here, and still only have a minimal grasp on all of the displays. Looks like we will need another go at this museum when we return. (You can see lots more about this Museum here.)

One Final Twist

Our 24 hours in downtown Knoxville was almost up, but we still had time for one more foodie experience. The Tomato Head caught our attention with their unusual name. When we researched it a little further, the menu called out to us for a visit. Being pizza lovers, we are almost always up for a slice. When we saw some of their unique combinations, we knew it was a “must try”. The most difficult part of this visit was determining which of their creations we wanted to sample. After all, even on our best days we can only eat so much. (Check out what we chose at Tomato Head here.)

Cramming Tons Into 24 Hours into Downtown Knoxville

Whew! It’s hard to believe we were able to get so much accomplished in such a limited amount of time. We would highly suggest you plan more than 24 hours in downtown Knoxville. Of course, if that’s all you can afford, you can see that you will have plenty to occupy your time. As we drove out of the city, we could rest assured that we had packed tons of fun in our short stay. While it wasn’t the length of time we would have wanted, at least it gave us a taste of this wonderful city. It certainly piqued our interest for a return visit that would allow us to do a deeper dive into the sights, sounds, and tastes of Knoxville, Tennessee. So, tell us about one of your quick excursions!

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Gathering Place

Our arrival at The Tomato Head came about 28 years after its start-up in 1990. In those days, Market Square hadn’t yet transformed into its present day attraction status. Formerly named Flying Tomato, it focused on serving up lunchtime bites to downtown workers. It was chance that brought the owner to this spot. The landlord leaving a pizza oven on the premises became a major reason why Knoxville soon had a gourmet pizzeria. Over time, the unusual flavor combinations being served up created a stir throughout the city. These days, The Tomato Head is a core eatery in what has become a destination for residents and travelers alike.

Focusing On The Food

With a better understanding of the history of The Tomato Head, now it was time to see what 28 years of practice has created. Our visit was planned for lunchtime, as that is the only period that you can order by the slice. That meant that we could sample a variety of their specialty flavor combinations. Choosing 3 out of the 14 available was harder than it sounds, since many sound intriguing. First up we picked the Benton’s Bacon, Ham & Hot Italian Sausage. This savory combination of flavors packs plenty of punch. The carmelized onions added a sweet overtone to this meaty treat.

Getting Sauced

Over the past few years, more pizzerias are mixing up their sauce choices to compliment new combinations of toppings. By focusing on the food, the winner is the customer. A garlicky white sauce adds a boost of flavor to the Blue Cheese & Walnut pie, at The Tomato Head. This slice brought a tangy crunch that had lighter flavors, but was still just as delicious.

Flavor Perfection

Our final choice was the Chicken, Roasted Portobello, and Pesto. Once again, it starts with a base of white sauce, but from there it takes a quick right turn. Smoky chicken is accented by the salty Kalamata olives and sweet caramelized red onion. Toss in the tang of goat cheese and nutty taste of pesto sauce to create a mad rush of flavors. This had to be one of the most interesting pizza combinations we have ever experienced. It is one we would happily repeat over and over.

Plans for Success

The Tomato Head has spent the last couple decades perfecting a business plan that puts customer satisfaction at the forefront. We added ourselves to this ever-growing list. Back out in the midday sunshine, we stopped for a quick selfie in front of this Knoxville classic. It was clear to us that the local foodies were in good hands, when they visited Market Square. With our appetites quenched, it was time for us to head a short distance to explore the East Tennessee History Museum. (You can read about that visit here.) Travel blogging can have its own challenges at times, but getting to sample a meal like this can go a long way to making it worth it. What’s the most unique pizza topping combination you have ever tasted?

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What makes up East Tennessee?

Unlike a city museum, the East Tennessee History Center is brimming with artifacts from all around the region. Generally considered to be about a third of the state, the area contains 33 counties. It is considered part of the Appalachia Zone, which includes the Great Smoky Mountains. We knew that Native Indians once populated the land, and here we would learn more about them. During the TVA project, much was learned about these original occupants. (We’ll discuss this later in the article.) The earliest explorers from Spain searched the lands looking for treasures. Their cruelties to the indigenous people formed feelings of caution and resentment among the Native Indians.

Need for Protection

Various tribes had cultivated these lands for many centuries, but it was the Cherokee that dominated the landscape when the first European explorers arrived. They had established a series of towns throughout the region. During the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War, the British erected Fort Loudoun as a defensive outpost. The battle between France and England, would determine who would have a hold over the rich interior lands of East Tennessee and beyond.  An alliance with the Cherokee helped insure a victory for England and the American colonies.

East Tennessee’s Earliest Residents

After the war, one faction of the Cherokee split from the group, as they were angered by the way the tribe was appeasing the new settlers. Word had spread through the colonies of the abundance of wildlife in the East Tennessee region. Many settlers arrived looking for the promise of abundant furs. A series of treaties with the natives slowly chipped away at their lands, until the Cherokee were eventually removed in 1838. Many of these Native Indians would perish on the Trail of Tears, as they made the forced journey to what would become Oklahoma territory. (Read about a stop along the Trail of Tears here.)

Into The Wilderness

After the Revolutionary War, attention turned to further exploration of the lands that lay west. East Tennessee held a lot of promise for early settlers. James White was one of the first to see the value of the lands that make up Knoxville. With the promise of a land grant, from his participation in the war, he laid claim to a vast section of territory. Working with William Blount, they plotted and created the city that would eventually be the state’s first capital. (You can read more about James White here.)

Notable Names in East Tennessee

During our visit to the East Tennessee History Museum, we had the honor to see Davy Crockett’s first rifle. The term “longhunters” was not familiar to us, but was fairly self-explanatory. People like Crockett would head out for extensive periods into the wilderness. Long journeys and extreme hardships were rewarded with large amounts of pelts that were traded with the Native Indians for supplies. It was their colorful stories that enticed the settlers to seek out residence in East Tennessee.

War Reaches East Tennessee

East Tennessee’s unique topography was more conducive to small farms than larger plantations. For this reason, slavery had not been as prevalent in this region. When the proposal of succession was brought forth, East Tennessee’s stance differed from the rest of the state. A referendum was brought forth for succession, and more than 80% of East Tennessee voters were against it. As succession appeared apparent, the Unionist East Tennessee Convention drafted a petition to split from the rest of the state. This was denied, and the governor ordered confederate troops to East Tennessee to insure compliance. Not until late 1863, would Union troops secure Knoxville and Chattanooga from Confederate hold. The Chattanooga Campaign would be some of the bloodiest battles of the war. After the war, East Tennessee residents nursed the ill effects of distrust of the state for many generations.

Sounds of East Tennessee

The music of the Appalachian region is descended from a wide variety of influences. English and Scottish ballads , as well as Irish and Scottish fiddle tunes had a particular heavy affect on the tunes. These can still be heard on the banjo, dulcimer, guitar, and fiddle. Blending in African-American blues, as well as gospel, added another layer to the tunes of East Tennessee. Many of the ballads were written to reflect a moment in time. The east Tennessee History Museum has a nice collection of information about the music of the region. There is even a video loop that plays shorts from various artists that were familiar to us. Such a great experience.

Changing the Landscape

After the Civil War, northern capitalists saw potential in East Tennessee. Heavy investments were made in manufacturing, and soon a boom occurred. Did you know that the first Coca-Cola bottling plant was built in 1899 in Chattanooga? Neither did we. Logging was a growing industry, as the vast forests of the nearby mountain ranges were harvested. The discovery of coal and copper led to a series of mining operations.  One of the largest changes to take place in East Tennessee was the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). This federally created project encompassed flood control, waterway navigation, fertilizer production, and electric generation. Extensive farming had depleted the soil and the best hardwoods had been removed from the forests. In an effort to boost the local economy, the TVA was signed into existence by President Roosevelt. More than 15,000 families were displaced, which created harmful sentiment amongst many residents. Ultimately, the project produced electricity at some of the lowest rates in the nation.

What’s a Hillbilly?

The term “hillbilly” originated sometime before the Civil War, but it’s unclear of the exact start. Broken into two parts, “hill” refers to hill-folk, while “billy” is a Scottish term for comrade. It was often used as a derogatory name for people who lived a simpler life in the Appalachian regions. While many will think of East Tennessee, the term is also used to describe residents of the Ozarks in Northeast Arkansas. In these areas, the people maintained their simpler lifestyles, even as the rest of the country moved forward. The negative connotation of the nickname has been perpetuated in movies and television. Ma and Pa Kettle, as well as The Beverly Hillbillies, are examples of this. Even The Andy Griffith Show portrayed a life that was less technologically advanced. The positive that came from these portrayals is that it showed the people as being deeply founded in their beliefs of good versus evil. The rules they adhered to were governed by the principle of being fair to your fellow man and minding your own business.

A Sip of East Tennessee

The mountain region of East Tennessee was popular for offering privacy from an intruding government. Moonshine is an alcoholic beverage created with stills. What began out of necessity, soon became a way of life for many in the mountainous region. Moonshine refers to a strong alcoholic drink, and in Appalachia many people set up stills to produce “shine” for their own use, as well as to sell. When prohibition was enacted, the process became legendary. Seen as a way to circumvent federal authority, moonshiners faced constant peril from explosions and raids. Working with bootleggers, who were the distribution channels for moonshiners wares, they supplied much of east Tennessee and beyond with liquor. These days, visitors can stop in moonshine businesses, much like a local winery, to sample and purchase a modern version of this ages-old product.

Hidden Agenda

The ridges and valleys of East Tennessee are appealing for a variety of reasons. Picturesque landscapes draw visitors and sightseers. Quiet seclusion offers potential residents privacy, and one area drew the attention of the US Government. During the World War II years, the government was needing to find a place to work in secret. East Tennessee had many sections that had minimal occupancy. In 1942, Oak Ridge was developed to support work being done to develop the atomic bomb. Under the code name of “Manhattan Project”, Canada, Britain, and the US worked in cooperation in this undisclosed site. After the war, the city was turned over to civilian use, and many of the government facilities were destroyed. These days, Oak ridge embraces its “Atomic” past and offers tours of the facilities.

A New View

With a new perspective on East Tennessee, we were now prepared to have a better experience as we explored the region. Our visit to the East Tennessee History Museum helped us recognize names we would see on buildings and street signs, as we traversed the Knoxville and beyond. The museum is filled with so many fascinating stories, that it would be easy to spend at least half a day inside. You will certainly want to reserve at least two hours minimum just to see all of the exhibits. Do any of you have ties to the Appalachian region of East Tennessee?

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Family First

It was easy to find Cruze Farm dairy, since their neon ice cream cone sign hung out from the side of the building. Of course, the gathering of ice cream eaters was certainly a dead giveaway. Once we stepped inside, we were greeted by an immaculately clean looking space. The use of white certainly creates a nice backdrop for the vivid photos that adorn the walls. It caught us off guard to see actual dairy cases, since we had assumed it was strictly an ice cream shop. I guess the name should have clued us in.

Fresh From the Farm Goodness at Cruze Farm Dairy

We weren’t sure what to expect at Cruze, but the steady traffic suggested it should be good. While we have seen more flavor options at other stores, none had the unique combination style. Of course, first we had to decide on the final product. Besides cones, the menu is filled with shakes, floats, and churns, which are a mixture of farm fresh ice cream and cookies or candies. Everything sounded delicious, but we stuck with our original plan to get cones. Regular or cow size? Now, I don’t want it to be a direct reflection, but let’s go cow size. We let a lot of people pass us in line, as we continued to narrow down our final choice.

Twisted Options

What flavor(s) would we pick? Yes, flavors, since Cruze is set up with soft serve machines that sit in tandem. Customers can choose one flavor or a swirl of what’s brewing in the pair of dispensers. They have a few standard flavors that are combined with rotating ones to create a wide range of options. A person who visits on multiple occasions will find new combination choices to try. Once we finally selected our flavors there was one more choice. Did we want our farm fresh ice cream to be dipped? Although the options of chocolate, peanut butter, cherry or toasted coconut toppings were attractive, we decided to hold firm with just the ice cream.  After all, with all of this time invested in decision making, we definitely wanted to savor the flavor.

Hooked on Cruze Dairy Farm

After our first experience with the farm fresh goodness that came served in a cone, we were ready for another. Of course, since we had recently eaten dinner, our bellies told us that would be a bad decision. Oh well, we walked away knowing that we would be in this area again on the next day. Sure as shooting, we happened to find a little time in our schedule to make another stop after our lunch break. Once again, the creamy goodness was waiting for us. This time we looked less like novices, as we were able to step up and order at will. Now we just need to find a reason to return to Knoxville for more Cruze Dairy Farm ice cream.

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McClung Museum’s History

We had scheduled to meet with Zack and Catherine, who are museum staff members. The plan was for a brief overview, to help us get our bearings, before we set out on our own. They walked us through the galleries, pointing out some of the uniquely Tennessee historical artifacts. While the McClung Museum covers a wide range of historical periods, most of the displays attempt to connect the events with this region.

Start at the Beginning

The layout of McClung Museum is designed to fit in the available space. The galleries don’t run in chronological sequence, but visitors will eventually see the complete timeline of history for Eastern Tennessee. For this article, we will attempt to stay somewhat to the course, and show the galleries from earliest to present. I’m going to let you in on a little secret, Crystal is not as big of a history fan as I am. While I can immerse myself in most all of the displays, she prefers to spend her time with the human interest side of history. The McClung Museum exhibit on geology & fossils wasn’t quite her cup of tea. This educational museum covers a wide range of the subject, with artifacts and informational displays. It was an added bonus to learn more about the duck-billed dinosaur, like the one we had met at the entrance to the building.

Moving Forward in Time

We continued to explore the galleries at McClung Museum, and explored the Human Origins exhibit. The space is designed to display a comprehensive overview of humans. Sometimes we forget that we are just one of the millions of species that inhabit the Earth. This exhibit is designed to put the human species in context, by showing the similarities and differences with other mammals. Be sure to check out the ceiling installation, which involves a replica of a painted cave wall from France.

Giving a Voice to Ancient Egypt

Moving ahead in time, McClung Museum next focuses on life and art in ancient Egypt. For a university space, we were quite impressed with the amount of artifacts they have from this period. Egyptian history has fascinated us, and we always look for an opportunity to see more pieces from the time of the Pharaohs. The culture of the people who inhabited the Nile River Valley is intriguing to many, which is apparent in the number of special exhibits that routinely travel from city to city. (Read about an Egyptian underwater exhibit we visited.) This Knoxville educational museum displays a variety of statues, carved reliefs, and objects that were used in daily life.

McClung Museum – East Tennessee’s Educational Museum

This museum was our second historical stop in Knoxville. Earlier we had visited James White’s Fort, which supplied us with some background on the founding of the city. (You can read about the fort here.) This educational museum is named for Frank McClung, who was a descendant of James White. In 1933, the Tennessee Valley Authority had devised a plan to supply power to the region. In anticipation of the various sites that would be affected by the plan, excavations were conducted at 62 sites across the state. Eventually, the three-story museum was constructed to offer a permanent home for the artifacts.

Closer to Home

The Archaeology & Native Peoples exhibit focuses on the people who have inhabited the region. The displays are broken into five periods of history. Each period is filled with artifacts and information about the culture during the distinct times. The earliest periods (Paleoindian and Archaic) includes tools used to hunt and butcher creatures like the mastodon, which once roamed the area. During the Woodland period the native people began engaging in gardening, which allowed the development of communities.

Dramatic Presentation

In the fourth period (Mississippian), the communities continued to develop culturally. A variety of Native Indian tribes lived in the region, with some constructing elaborate villages that included effective defensive systems. The Historic period is the fifth and most recent time period in this exhibit. By this time, the only permanent Indian tribe in the area were the Cherokees. Besides the various artifacts, there is another feature to this gallery that we found fascinating. On the walls, there are five full-size murals by Greg Harlin. These works, from the nationally acclaimed artist, present moments in time from the Native Indians who populated the region. The exhibit ends with information about the Trail of Tears, which included the removal of the majority of Cherokee in 1838.

War Comes to Knoxville

On November 29, 1863, the Battle for Fort Sanders was fought in Knoxville. Seeking to prevent the loss of railroad access to the Deep South, the Confederate Army attacked Union forces in an effort to retake the city. McClung Museum has a small but unique collection of artifacts from the historic action. Confederate troops proceeded with a poorly planned assault that resulted in a lopsided victory by Union troops. Artifacts in this exhibit include a drum found in the Confederate camp and Frank McClung’s pardon signed by President Andrew Johnson.

Unexpected Industry

An added benefit of visiting educational museums is finding topics we had not been aware of prior to our visit. Little did we know that the Tennessee River has been a supply of freshwater mussels for ages. Excavations show that Indians were harvesting the aquatic creatures for food as far back as the Mississippian Period. The shells were used for scrapers and hoes, while the freshwater pearls were used for eyes on their animal shaped pipes. By the beginning of the 1900’s, Knoxville had joined the pearl-button industry with their bountiful supply of mussel shells. An interesting side note is that the freshwater pearl was named the state gem of Tennessee in 1979. Once again, we found that we were leaving with knowledge we gathered during a visit to a new destination. How many of you enjoy visiting educational museums like McClung Museum in Knoxville?

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Farm to Table at Stock & Barrel

The principle behind the farm to table approach is fairly simple. Restaurants will source ingredients from local or regional growers to help ensure freshness and minimize the use of preservatives. While some will tout this feature, their end products wind up with more shelf-stable ingredients than fresh. Stock & Barrel tries to limit this by creating a network of suppliers from all around the Knoxville region. For instance, the beef for their burgers is raised on a local farm that has been in existence since the 1800’s. A local bakery provides all of the breads they use, and most of the mixers for their drinks are created in-house.

Freshness Brings Them In

Most of you who follow our blog know that we will usually try to dine just off the peak hours. It allows us to minimize our wait time, but still get a good feel for the service when it is busy. At Stock & Barrel, it appears that they don’t have much of an off-peak session. We arrived at what we expected to be an early dinner, and the place was packed. A nice feature was them taking our phone number with the promise of a text when our table would be ready. This allowed us a few minutes to explore more of the Market Square. When our text arrived, we made a beeline for the restaurant and were seated immediately. Nearby, we made note of the delicious looking plates that our neighbors were enjoying. Soon enough, our orders were placed and we sat back to people watch. The buzz of the crowd certainly added to the anticipation of our meals.

Bringing the Farm to Our Table

Even with the abundant crowds, we found the wait for our food to be normal. The founders of Stock & Barrel realized the importance of picking a niche and sticking with it. By developing a menu around a specific cuisine, in this case burgers, it allows them to hone their recipes to near perfection. As our server placed our meals in front of us, the aroma of the fresh cooked beef was tantalizing. Crystal is one who likes to go old school, so her choice was the ‘Merican Burger. The fresh beef patty is topped with American cheese, and all of the accompaniments you would expect to find at an outdoor cookout. Her side of fries had a delicious crispness.

That’s a Lot of Shrooms

I knew Crystal would never go for the ‘Shroomin Burger, since she is not a big fan of mushrooms. Fortunately, I like them enough for both of us. This version is actually topped with three varieties, so when I saw it on the menu it was a done deal. Throw in some Swiss cheese and creamy horseradish, and I was a happy camper. The use of locally sourced fresh beef truly adds a layer to the taste of the burgers at Stock & Barrel. Since they offer a choice, I decided to pick the onion rings, so we could sample both side options. These golden rings have a good proportion of batter to onion and make a good addition to a sandwich that doesn’t include onions.

Bringing the Farm to Market Square

We savored our meals and even had an opportunity to speak with some of the staff. Everyone seemed thrilled for the chance to tell us about their favorites at Stock & Barrel. It was obvious that they all take pride in delivering the best tastes to their customers and it showed in all aspects of our visit. With our meals complete and others waiting for a table, we said our farewells and returned to Market Square. Having enjoyed an early dinner, we now had full bellies and plenty of time to explore the shops. When you make your vacation plans for Knoxville, you will definitely want to add a visit to Market Square to your schedule. It’s sure to be a memory in the making. So which of the two burgers that we ordered would you prefer?

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We would like to thank Visit Knoxville and James White Fort for their hospitality. Rest assured all opinions are our own.

Exploring Knoxville’s Roots

After serving in the Revolutionary War, James White had earned a land grant of 1000 acres. In 1783, White led a scouting expedition into what is now known as the Tennessee Valley region. He returned to the area that is now Knoxville, and eventually built a two-story log cabin in 1786. Having made friends with the local Cherokee Indians, he traded goods with the tribe. The lands around his home were cleared for the growing of crops, which included vegetables and tobacco.

Within a couple of years, he had built a collection of structures and felt the need to fence them in for protection from wild animals. The courtyard served as a stable for the domesticated animals. In 1791, James White partitioned off a portion of his land to form the town of Knoxville. He named the new city after Henry Knox, who was Secretary of War under George Washington. With the help of his son-in-law, Charles McClung, they laid out the plot of the new city. These half-acre lots were sold for $8.00 each under a lottery system. This was designed to ensure people from all demographics would have an equal chance of ownership. Tennessee would become the 16th state of the Union in 1796, and Knoxville the capital.

Touring James White’s Fort

When James White constructed the original two-story cabin, it was not without luxuries of the day. The chimney was made with dressed stone, and all of the windows contained glaze glass. These were rare to find in a frontier setting. With seven children, plus the two adults, they needed the room the cabin afforded them. White’s open door policy with the local natives meant that on any given night there might be another 20 to 30 people staying within the walls. It was quickly apparent that expansion was necessary.

A couple of years after completion of the original structure, construction began on additional buildings. The first was a kitchen to serve the family and frequent visitors. More cabins were constructed, but these were simpler, single-story structures. By the time the construction of the fence was completed, there would have been up to 100 people on site on a given night, as well as a menagerie of animals in the courtyard. While touring the buildings, we tried to imagine the sight of this crowd. We are sure that every possible inch of floor would have been needed to host such a large number of people. Of course, in those days families were quite a bit larger, so 100 people may have only been 10 or fewer families.

A Day in the Life

Passing through the buildings you can almost feel the age of the wood. Except for doors, windows, and the roofs, most are original from the 1700’s. When you think of the changing seasons and significant severe weather, it made us realize the care that went into the construction. Inside of each building, staff has assembled a variety of artifacts that would have been common to the frontier days in which the White family occupied the compound. Our minds could imagine the family members rising before sunrise to begin the day’s chores, before a hearty breakfast. The day would have been filled with work activities to sustain the family through the year. After a smaller evening meal, bedtime would have been around sundown.

James White Returns to War

After Tennessee was assigned status as a state, James White was elected as a brigadier general for the surrounding district. He also served as state senator for a short period. Having been a successful land speculator, White had amassed large tracts of land. While he was a shrewd businessman, he was also a kind philanthropist. He donated the land that would be used to construct Knoxville’s public buildings. He also helped establish Blount College, which would eventually become the University of Tennessee. In 1800, White moved out of the city to his country estate to the east. During the Creek War, which coincided with the War of 1812, James White was called back into service for his country.

Ready to Explore James White’s City

With our visit to James White’s Fort completed, we were ready to strike out into downtown Knoxville. We were armed with a knowledge of its origin, that exploring Knoxville’s roots had provided. The names we had heard during this visit would replay in other stops we had on our schedule. We find it fun to be able to connect the names of streets, building, and businesses with the history we have learned. It just helps us better understand how everything correlates. So how many of you like to start your visit to a new destination with a history lesson?

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Our First Taste of Knoxville

Our visit to Knoxville was short, but we filled it with lots of sites. Having read a lot about the Market Square, we were eager to check it out. We arrived at mid-morning, and made a stop at a local attraction. With this visit completed, we were ready for lunch and a taste of the Tupelo Honey Cafe menu. Even though the place was busy, we still got seated immediately. The crowd was a mixture of business people and leisure guests, chatting over plates of southern cuisine.

Our First Bite of Tupelo Honey Cafe

After greeting us with some waters, our server went over the lunch menu with us. We placed our orders and he returned in a couple of minutes with a plate of Tupelo Honey Cafe’s southern style biscuits. These fluffy masterpieces were accompanied by some of their homemade jam, which complemented the biscuits perfectly. While we could have just dined on these airy delights alone, we knew our main dishes would be coming soon.

Trio of Tastes

Most of us have been to a restaurant that offers a two part mixer lunch option. Usually it is half a sandwich, paired with a small salad or soup. At Tupelo Honey Cafe, they take this a step farther and add an additional side item with your order. This allows customers to have a nice selection of flavors on one plate. Crystal chose the Spicy Avocado & Egg sandwich, Spinach Salad, and French Fries. The sandwich is a tangy and spicy combination of flavors that put a fun spin on an egg salad sandwich. Her salad had the addition of crunchy pecans, fresh blackberries, and tangy goat cheese.

Flavors Galore

My lunch choice was just as spectacular in the flavors department. This trio included their Slow-Roasted Pork Grilled Sandwich. It was so tender and the meat accented the melted cheese. Definitely an idea I wanted to try to replicate at home. A Wedge Salad added the greenery to my plate, but kept the flavor coming with their buttermilk dressing and plentiful bacon pieces. Tupelo Honey Cafe hit it out of the park with their Creamy Tomato Soup. Topped with some fresh basil, this savory addition didn’t last long. This was the most inventive combination of grilled cheese and tomato soup I have ever sampled, and I have tested many.

A Taste of Southern Style

As we dined, we continued to comment on the fantastic flavors we were sampling. By the end of our meals, our hungers were completely vanquished. After a little more conversation with our server, we thanked him for his attentiveness and bid our goodbyes. We stepped back out into the warm Knoxville fall day for more exploring. It only took a few minutes to walk around Market Square, and see the other restaurants we had on our itinerary. We couldn’t wait to test some more of the southern style cuisine. Have you ever dined at Tupelo Honey Cafe? We’d love to hear your experience in the comment section below. Bon Appetit!

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