Driving from Durham, NC to Tennessee

Old Apr 4th, 2014, 11:29 PM
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Driving from Durham, NC to Tennessee

At the end of April I am spending 6 days driving with my daughter from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina to Nashville, Tennessee. I would like some ideas of cute towns with fun downtown areas with boutiques/restaurants in western North Carolina and Tennessee on the way from Durham to Nashville. Also, once we are in Nashville, what other cities are worthwhile to visit in Tennessee? We mostly like shopping and cute restaurants, but no huge malls (as we are from Los Angeles) Thanks and just want to have an itinerary for the 6 days including from Durham,NC to Nashville.
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Old Apr 5th, 2014, 02:39 AM
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The drvie itself is not terribly long. Before you leave NC have you been to Seagrove, just south of Asheboro, for a day of pottery shopping? There are easily 100 potteries in the area of all types. And don't neglect going to Jugtown and Ben Long's pottery. It is absolutely a wonderful day to spend.
Have you been to Old Salem, just down the road from Durham--the Museum of Southern Decorative Arts is outstanding as well as the restored village. And some really super nice shopping.
Moving on, still in NC, a stop in Asheville and maybe a stay at the Grove Park Inn--and shopping the downtown area. There is an Appalachian Folk Guild shop with some outstanding craft items.
Heading on, you could take a swing through the GSMNP by going a bit south to Cherokee or Bryson City, and then driving up through the Park to hit I40 again. YOu could even drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway for a distance to get a taste of that lovely road.
I have driven the road from Knoxville to Nashville a number of times, and it is an interesting road along a high ridge. There are some cute towns along the way that have some antiquing--I think Crossville might be one.
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Old Apr 5th, 2014, 05:01 AM
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That Folk Guild shop Gretchen mentions is lovely, and when you get to Asheville area, it's just past one of the accesses onto the Blue Ridge Parkway area.

If it were me, I probably wouldn't stop anywhere until the mountains, but a matter of taste. Old Salem underwhelmed me, but again, a matter of taste and many people really enjoy it.

Again, "if it were me," an option is to go up to the Boone/Blowing Rock area for a day or so. It's lovely scenery and you'll enjoy seeing Grandfather Mtn. and the Blowing Rock, as well as the Moses Cone center and the town (s). Then you can head toward Asheville via the Blue Ridge Pkway - which will take you actually quite a long time because it winds and has low speed limit -- or go slightly east back to Rte 321 to Lenoir and then 64 back to I 40 to Asheville. Quicker but still fairly pleasant. There's a long discussion about the Parkway in another thread here.

Anyway, lots to do in Asheville, worth 2-3 days itself. Strongly recommend visiting Biltmore (no "the"), but worth getting admission tix online ahead of time. If you enter after a certain hour in the late afternoon, your ticket is good through the next day. Will feel expensive, but it - including tours - are memorably worth it, I promise.

Knoxville is a nice, small city; and (as I've posted elsewhere here), Oak Ridge is a fascinating side trip - worth a 1/2 day at least. Check out the museum to get the history of the place, then drive around to see the built-in-an-eyeblink part of town and take note of all the numbered/off-limits buildings where there's a huge amount of government/military/thinktank activity surrounding nuclear science.

Nice to have 6 days traveling with a college-age daughter - enjoy!
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Old Apr 5th, 2014, 05:06 AM
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Didn't explain that Oak Ridge was where the Manhattan project took place, in almost total secret until the a-bombs were dropped. Knoxville is a big basketball town, has a shopping area, but Asheville is a better bet for that -- both in Biltmore Square (upscale, artsy) and down town (funkier old shops and galleries).
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Old Apr 5th, 2014, 06:07 AM
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I am surprised to read someone was underwhelmed by Old Salem, but as noted it is a matter of taste. Let me add my vote to Gretchen's suggestion of a stop there. Please take a look at the website. http://www.oldsalem.org. Old Salem is in good part a refurbishment of the orginal buildings rather than a reconstruction, which makes it unique. And late April/early May is a splendid time to visit the gardens.

Enjoy your trip through our beautiful state!
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Old Apr 5th, 2014, 06:28 AM
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And go Blue Devils.
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Old Apr 5th, 2014, 06:28 AM
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cmcfong (and Gretchen) - was probably the weather (internal and external) the day I visited Old Salem. And perhaps comparisons to other restored old areas that may or may not be comparable.
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Old Apr 5th, 2014, 08:04 AM
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Glad CMCfong said something, and it is a matter of taste, but the museum is a wonderful history of fine southern furniture. It is NOT Williamsburg, but a trip to the Winkler Bakery for Moravian sugar cake and their wonderful wheat bread makes a good stop.
And at Christmas, for any looking for something at that time, their brass choirs playing Christmas music, and the Moravian Love Feast is wonderful.
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Old Apr 6th, 2014, 10:19 PM
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Thank you so much for the wonderful suggestion!!!
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Old Apr 7th, 2014, 04:47 AM
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Black Mountain, right off I-40 about 20 miles before you get to Asheville. Cute, casual little mountain town.
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Old Apr 7th, 2014, 06:49 AM
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Great restaurant in Black Mountain. http://verandacafeandgifts.com
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Old Apr 7th, 2014, 08:51 AM
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Knoxville is a big basketball town

I grew up there and have never heard this! We're a big Pat Summitt town, really (hence the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame), and though Bruce Pearl left us with some NCAA sanctions, he did raise the profile of the UT men's team. But it's no Lexington or Bloomington or Durham/Chapel Hill. (In fact, when I moved to Chapel Hill [go Heels] from Knoxville, I had quite a bit of sports culture shock!) The Market Square area downtown is probably what HKP is referring to - great place to stop.

If you do stop in Oak Ridge, find Big Ed's Pizza. My favorite in the world. Total hole in the wall.

As far as other cities in Tennessee - if you're looking to stay small, downtown Franklin (about 20 miles south of Nashville) is fun for a half or full day. The Jack Daniels distillery is in Lynchburg, and you could eat at Miss Mary Bobo's as well - I assume your daughter is underage if you're doing college visits, but it's a dry county so they don't give you samples anyway! Nashville itself has quite a lot to do, depending on your interests. Asheville is a must.
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Old Apr 7th, 2014, 09:10 AM
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Pat Summitt certainly qualifies it for basketball!! What a great woman.
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Old Apr 7th, 2014, 03:17 PM
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"Big Basketball" -- was kind of a pun for insiders -- isn't there a giant basketball at the Hall of Fame?
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Old Apr 7th, 2014, 04:46 PM
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Well, that really is "in"!! LOL
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Old Apr 7th, 2014, 05:50 PM
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You may be right - it's been awhile since I was down that way! Or I suppose the Sunsphere could resemble a basketball...
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