Totally Tennessee

The Tennessee Aquarium is one of the greatest attractions to Tennessee. It is in Chattanooga, Tennessee which makes it convenient to travel to from anywhere within the state of Tennessee. It is also an easy drive from anywhere in North West Georgia. It is also equipped with an IMax 3D Theater.

The Tennessee Aquarium is for children and adults alike as we all can take in the beauty and knowledge that they have to offer there. They offer group discounts, hotel packages, and many other incentives. Their hours of operations for the Tennessee Aquarium and the IMax 3D Theater are 10 AM EST and they accept the last guest at 6 PM EST. They actually close at 8 PM and the ticket office opens at 9:30 PM. They are opened every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas day

When I first moved to Tennessee, I wondered if people knew of all the teams that are in the state of Tennessee. Below, I have listed 9 teams and their affiliations. I have also linked them to their home pages, so enjoy all the information on them.

Chattanooga Lookouts Professional Baseball -  Double A Affiliation to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Elizabethton Twins - Rookie Affiliation to the Minnesota Twins

Greeneville Astros - Rookie Affiliation to the Houston Astros

Johnson City Cardinals - Rookie Affiliation to the St Louis Cardinals

Kingsport Mets - Rookie Affiliation to the New York Mets

Nashville Sounds Baseball Club - Triple A Affiliation to the Milwaukee Brewers

Tennessee Smokies Baseball - Double A Affiliation to the Chicago Cubs

The Memphis Redbirds - Triple A Affiliation to the St Louis Cardinals

West Tenn Diamond Jaxx - Double A Affiliation to the Chicago Cubs

The one thing about Tennessee that a lot of people do not realize is that it is a great place to plan a vacation around. Whether it is a cabin in the Smoky mountains, visiting Dollywood, touring the Grande Ole Opry, or eating on Beale Street in Memphis, these are but a few of the attractions that might tempt you to make Tennessee your vacation destination.

Another of the great things about Tennessee is that there is professional sports teams throughout the state. Whether it is minor league baseball with the Chattanooga Lookouts or the Tennessee Smokies, or football with the Tennessee Titans, or even basketball with the Memphis Grizzlys, there is sports for all types of fans.

Today Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen proclaimed January Radon Action Month. As the second leading cause of lung caner in the United States, this proclamation is aimed at increasing the public’s awareness of radon gas. There is a simple test to check radon gas levels. The test kit can be purchased at most home improvement stores or by contacting the American Lung Association or the Tennessee Radon Hotline at 800-232-1139. There are also a limited number of free test kits for those who qualify. Click HERE to get your free radon test kit coupon!

Radon gas is a natural by product that occurs when uranium is broke down. As uranium is present in most soils and rocks all around us. Radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless so testing for it is the only way to detect its presence. It is the prolonged exposure to this radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. Radon gas gets into our homes and offices through cracks in the floor or walls as well as any other openings. Radon can be prevented from entering homes if it is detected. Cost to the homeowner is moderate and comparable to other home repairs.

Click HERE to visit the State of Tennessee’s Office of Environmental Assistance website.

If you have never skied on the mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, then you do not know what you are missing. One of the best ski resorts here is the Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort and Amusement Park. With 8 different trails, they cater to the beginners as well as the experience. And if ski is not your thing, Ober Gatlinburg also offers snowboarding and snow tubing.

So that the entire family can enjoy the trip, the ski, snowboarding, and snow tubing is not the only fun to be had at Ober Gatlinburg.  Their amazement park also holds fun for the entire family. With a bungee run, scenic chairlift, indoor ice skating, and Smoky Mountain wildlife encounter to just name a few, the activities are plentiful for all to enjoy.

If you are planning on visiting Tennessee, then you have to make sure that this is one area that you plan to take in.

Located at 119 South Main Street in downtown Memphis, the Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art is a fascinating place. The founders, Jack and Marilyn Belz, have traveled the world extensively. In their travels they have come to appreciate the depth and breadth of the world’s diverse cultures and their contributions to society at large. It is their appreciation of this that has prompted them to create this wonderful museum. They have filled the museum with some of the best examples of not only Asian and Judaic art, but lovely Russian and Italian pieces as well. The artwork from the Qing Dynasty, the last Chinese dynasty is well represented with carvings in precious metals, ivory, and jade as well as beautiful ceramics and paintings. This unique museum has some of the most beautiful pieces of art to be found anywhere.

Admission

• Adults- $6 Seniors-$5 Students-$4
• Student and Adult group rates available, please contact the museum for details.

Hours of Operation

• Tuesday - Friday 10:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday 12 noon until 5:00 p.m.
• The museum is closed Mondays and major holidays.
  (Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday & July Fourth)

Click HERE to visit the official website.

Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park is an 876 acre park in Manchester, Tennessee. The central feature of this state park is the approximately 2,000 year old native American ceremonial site known as the Old Stone Fort. This sacred site is not really a fort but was termed such by early settlers in the area. The 50 acre hilltop enclosure is 1.25 miles in circumference. It is believed to have been the most significant ceremonial site for at least 500 years.

The park itself offers numerous recreational activities, including hiking, fishing, and golf. The beautiful, championship level, 9 hole golf course  is bordered by the Duck River that runs through the park. It was originally part of the Manchester Country Club when it was originally built in 1973 before being purchased by the park. This Par 72 course is a favorite of visitors for its beauty and ease of walking. The park also offers 51 modern campsites and one large primitive campsite; the primitive campsite is only available to scheduled groups. For a great time enjoying nature and history, Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park is a top notch option and the visitor’s center has all the FREE information you could want so be sure to check it out.

Click HERE to visit the official website.

Combining nature, food, and frivolity as only an artist can do, Farmhouse Gallery and Gardens is a unique experience. Located in Johnson City, Tennessee this hidden gem is just waiting for you and your family or gathering. Farmhouse Gallery and Gardens is a prime location for hosting private events like weddings and corporate events like seminars and retreats.

They offer full service catering; their sauces are so good and so original that they even sell them so you can take home some of that yummy down home goodness! Of course no function would be complete without entertainment and the choices for entertainment range from comedy to drama to music of every description! There are two different venues available, the large pavilion is situated on a beautiful pond and has a rustic, old world charm. With a capacity of 200 people this is an excellent choice for your larger event. If you are looking for something smaller and more intimate, the Springhouse Pavilion has a 60 person capacity. Situated in a beautiful flower garden with a refreshing trout stream, the Springhouse Pavilion provides a more natural setting. While visiting you have to be sure to check out the John Lynch Gallery. This fantastic artist expresses some of the best of east Tennessee in his artwork. From his wildlife collection to his sports collection to his black and white series, there is something for every taste.

Click HERE to view the official website.

This could actually be something out of the movie National Treasure for all the twists and turns and general air of mystery that surround the Bat Creek Stone. Never heard of the Bat Creek Stone? I’m not really that surprised as it is generally only a topic of interest to conspiracy theorists, anthropologists, archaeologists, historians, and those into religious history.

The Bat Creek Stone was actually discovered under a skull in a burial mound about forty miles south of Knoxville. It was professionally excavated by a team from the Smithsonian’s Mound Survey project in 1889. The inscriptions were first attributed to the early Cherokee people; though no translation was provided. This was the prevailing theory until a team studying the artifact in the 1960’s declared the writing to be a form of paleo-Hebrew. This declaration was confirmed by the respected paleo-Hebrew expert Robert Stieglitz who actually provided the translation, “Only for Judea” or “Only for Judeans.” In 2002 a group of Celtic researchers proposed that the markings were ancient Welsh Coelbren, translated as “Madoc the ruler he is.”  The Welsh theory would place the age of the inscription somewhere in the mid 18th to early 19th century. There is also a theory that the inscription is copied from a masonic text and is an elaborate 19th century forgery. The stone has actually been carbon 14 dated to between 32 A.D. - 769 A.D. The carbon dating and the location where the stone was found are among the only concrete facts surrounding it.

The mystery of the Bat Creek Stone continues to this day. It is currently displayed at the Frank H. McClung Museum in Knoxville, Tennessee.

In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed into law S.J.R. No. 82 that gave birth to one of the most revered awards that can be bestowed upon an American soldier, the National Medal of Honor; sometimes called the Congressional Medal of Honor. This honor is given to men and women in the US Armed Forces who display valor against an enemy force. The award is given by the Congress and bestowed by the President.

In an effort to highlight the valor of these brave men (and one woman), Jon H. Hill began his work to create the National Medal of Honor Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee. With the cooperation of local veterans groups and a 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, Hill began work to secure a home for the museum. The museum found a temporary home in a downtown Chattanooga building. Bickering and disagreements surrounded the museum shortly thereafter which has hampered the efforts to secure a permanent home. Currently the National Medal of Honor Museum of Military History Foundation continues to raise funds for a permanent museum. In the meantime, the exhibit is on display at Northgate Mall in Chattanooga.

Click HERE to visit the official website of the National Medal of Honor Museum.