It doesn't get any cooler than bells Tavern it was directed by William Bell in 1830 it was a…read morestagecoach stop with the lines about people from the mammoth caves when they were first promoted

Great Falls Dam, completed in 1916 by the Tennessee Electric Power Company for the purpose of power…read moregeneration, was bought by TVA in 1939. Great Falls is one of seven dams acquired by TVA from private companies, and it's the only TVA dam located outside the Tennessee River watershed. Great Falls Dam is a hydroelectric facility. It has two generating units with a net dependable capacity of 36 megawatts. The dam is also notable for its design, utilizing a mostly underground conduit to carry water from the reservoir via a tributary to the Power House three quarters of a mile downstream from the dam the intakes are 14' in diameter and feed the two generators located in the circa 1955 brick powerhouse.

You are passing through old mining towns. Back when railroad was king, people in these parts were…read morebustling and working hard in the coal mines. Nowadays, most people overlook this small museum when passing through. It's rather unpretentious. But if you are a history nerd like me you'll see that there is so much to this small section house and slam on your breaks so you can take a look. I was so lucky to pass through on a day when the museum was open. Inside you'll find this is an archivist's dream. There are annals and books and records by the dozen. If you have any curiosity at all about coal, railroading, local geography or county history or looking up an old family member than you have come to the right place. Community leaders, family members, retired workers, people who have settled here for years donated historical things to this museum. And what the museum has done is replicated what an old home in the area might look like. And it has replicated the feeling you get in a small town when all fathers, brothers, sons, husbands and uncles are working in mines for a living. The illnesses and hospital records. The old maps trekking railroad connections. The pride in you work. Gosh, stepping in you realize this 'replica' of a mountain home and the 'replica' of a miner's life is not really a faraway idea. After all, you are walking all around it. In fact, it's so close that the son or granddaughter of all the people showcased on the walls are actually standing in front of you giving you a tour. And you realize you have stepped inside living history and the heart of the local community. And that railroading was not that long ago actually. Progress and innovation aside, coal mining is damn hard work, for sure. Visit to the museum = free. Getting to know the community sharing oral history =free. The cost for thanking a coal miner = free. The whole experience = priceless.

Very cool place awesome hike. Dipping in the water on a hot day was amazing. All kinds of beautiful…read morenature and sounds. Brought a publix sub from florida to enjoy out here

Rock Island State Park has a strange layout but is jam-packed with interesting sites. If you stop…read morein the Visitor Center, they have maps and written directions on how to hit the highlights easily. You can view different falls, cascades, flow stones, and more from short distance strolls to overlooks, or delve deeper into the gorge for a closer view. Swimming is not permitted except in certain areas, so take notice, people have drowned here. Be careful when hiking and exploring the floor of the gorge as the dam can release water with limited warning. That being said, the Twin Falls and Great Falls are lovely, and the diverse landscape keeps the walk extremely interesting! Me and the dog did the Upstream and Downstream trails on the Twin Falls side, and the Gorge Trail on the Great Falls side, and while Dianne, they are steep and slippery, so wear proper shoes!

This is a cool piece of art and great for photo ops…read more We came here to get on our cruise and came across this gem Ghost Ballet, is a public art installation and modern sculpture at the east bank of the Cumberland River between Nissan Stadium and the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in Nashville, Tennessee. It was designed by Alice Aycock

When I virtually walked Nashville, Tennessee through the live streams that would connect me to…read moreMusic City U.S.A., before our vacation there, I would see this very unique landmark at the easternmost fringes of Broadway. It is unique in that it looks like towering fragments of twisted red roller coaster tracks towering above a historic strip of honkey tonk. Throughout my pre-Nashville virtual walks through live streams, I would see "Ghost Ballet" when walking virtually East on Broadway and at the start of a virtual walk along the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. Eighteen years after this Alice Aycock work of art was completed in 2007, we got to see it when we vacationed in Nashville from June 23 to June 29, 2025. In similar fashion to the live streams that I virtually walked, my eyes took it in when they looked east on Broadway. In actuality, "Ghost Ballet" is on the East bank of the Cumberland River horizontal to Broadway. Broadway concludes at the Riverfront Park which fronts the Cumberland River in Downtown Nashville. This is where I spent several minutes looking across the Cumberland River at a vista where "Ghost Ballet" visually dances between Nissan Stadium and the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. When I write "visually dances," I describe some of the meaning of the artwork that looks like twisted roller coaster tracks. According to Wikipedia, Alice Aycock,who created it was attentive to the way it changes shapes the way the person moves around it from the numerous viewing points in Downtown. This movement reminded her of dance movements, hence the name of "Ghost Ballet." When I looked across the Cumberland River at "Ghost Ballet,"was I looking at the remnants of a riverside theme park?" In actuality the red twisted metal is actually railroad-like red twisted twisted that pay tribute to the railroad heritage along the Cumberland River. The Cumberland River with "Ghost Ballet" as the centerpiece made for some camera candy. The vintage point from Riverfront Park is a prime Nashville photo spot. I also took in a higher elevation view of the"Ghost Ballet " from the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. Standing at 100 feet tall and 100 feet wide, from viewing it on the higher elevation of the bridge, it appeared that I was looking straight at it instead of below. Come to think of it, this might of made for a Four Star roller coaster. In conclusion, I rate "Ghost Ballet" Four Stars for being a very visually appealing work of public art and a landmark.

We stopped at Onyx Cave on a total whim during our road trip and so glad we did. This was the…read moreperfect little adventure break, especially with kids. I have a 3 and 5 year old and they both LOVED it. It's short, sweet, and just enough "wow" without being overwhelming. The cave itself is really cool, with some tighter crevices that made it feel a little adventurous (my kids thought that was the best part), but nothing too difficult or strenuous. If you're worried about that--don't be. It's super manageable and moves at a good pace. Price-wise, it felt totally worth it for a family stop. They've also got a little gift shop at the end which my kids obviously needed to check out lol. If you're passing through, just stop. It's a fun, easy memory to make and doesn't take up your whole day. Would 100% do it again.

Super cute and quick cavern tour off the highway home to Cincinnati…read moreBelieve it to be family run and owned very knowledgeable about the caves and cave systems and how they came to be found child friendly, but some spots can get very claustrophobic

A lot of historical value.... but very small token of such a huge memorial to our historical…read morepast.... A must if you are in the area Tony and I visited this site in April 2014, and I had to bring my daughter Noel back here today, June 8th, Sunday to see a part of our PAST as Americans...I love history and I love sharing history and I am so very pleased that my daughter enjoys the history like I do...This is something we share deeply, a true bond..Our love for travel and history...I know that ONCE I am no longer on this earth, she will continue to travel and enjoy...and hopefully every time she sees something AMAZING with her eyes, she thinks of ME... Some history of the site: Monterey is a town in Putnam County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,850 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Cookeville, Tennessee Micropolitan Statistical Area. Around the beginning of the twentieth century, Monterey was a resort town that boasted seven hotels and drew summer people who came to enjoy the cool temperatures and mountain scenery. With the invention of the automobile, Monterey became less of a resort town. The hotels closed and the town's economy became dependent on railroad maintenance, coal mining, and logging. Standing Stone Monument The Standing Stone was a 13-foot (4.0 m)-tall rock that once stood upright on a sandstone ledge in the area. It was the legendary boundary between Cherokee and Shawnee territory and marked the Cherokee Tallonteeskee Trail. The 8-foot (2.4 m) remnant of this stone is preserved in Monterey, where a Standing Stone Celebration of Native American Heritage is held each October. If you are in the area, check it out !!!

Well worth the trip! The majestic stone stands in beautiful Monterey TN. This is a definite bucket…read morelist item. It was well worth the drive. Do not miss it!

Saturday, April 12, 2014, Tony and I was driving to Bowling Green, Ky from Nashville, Tn on route…read more31W North. We found this historical Home on the side of the road. There was a historical marker and it is open 10am..We were a little early so I walked around and took some wonderful photos. Built in the 1800's..Gorgeous home!!! History: In 1847, Andrew Jackson Caldwell laid out the foundation for his new family home. With a desire for distinction, his home would not be a simple structure with four walls like so many others, but an eight sided edifice unique to the region. Completed in 1859, it would soon become a landmark in the south-central Kentucky area. Built for his growing family and as a headquarters for the plantation, it was occupied by the Caldwell family even after Andrew's death in 1866. His widow, Harriet, lived in the Octagon Hall until selling the house in 1918 to Doctor Miles Williams, an osteopath from Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Williams moved from Nashville and made the Octagon Hall his residence until his death in 1954. At that time, the Octagon Hall was made rental property by his heirs. The Octagon Hall remained rental property until The Octagon Hall Foundation was formed and obtained the building in 2001. Dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the only eight-sided house in Kentucky, The Octagon Hall Foundation is furthering the efforts to save the past for the future

Visited the Octagon Hall Museum in Franklin, KY. Built in 1849, it has seen its share of tragedy…read moreduring the Civil War. Beth, the caretaker, was a highlight of the visit. There seems to be an enormous amount of paranormal activity. Her stories were very interesting. While I didn't experience anything, I was quite uneasy on the second floor and didn't stay there very long. I desnded the stairs to the basement, took a quick look and retreated. There's a kitchen on the grounds and two cemeteries, one of which was for the slaves. I highly recommend a tour of the Octagon ($10.00) and taking the time to chat with Brth. Glad we stopped to see it. 95

This was an awesome site to see you while we were in downtown Corbin Kentucky. My wife and I were…read morewalking around exploring, see the different sites in scenes. This was a giant Lazarus train monument tribute. I thought it was awesome to see climbing into the train seeing the landmark it was awesome to check out.

This is amazing! This brand new park is beautiful and includes a stage, wide open space, a shelter,…read morerestrooms, a play ground, and a splash zone. Not yet heavily used other than for special events but I think that is because people don't really know about it yet! Nothing else like it for some distance. We came down for the big 2017 Solar Eclipse and loved utilizing this park the day before the event.