Blue Ridge Country March/April 2021 - 54

PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIN HOWARD

and there are several well-appointed
tiny house cottages for your overnight
accommodations. There are fishing supplies
onsite along with a bar & grill for drinks and
food. YR (indianrivermarina.net)

The Nemo Bridge on Emory River is a great place to relax.

SEE
;  Night Sky at Nemo Bridge - Obed

Wild and Scenic River. (Morgan County,

TN). Expand the 500 stars visible from the

backyard to 5,000 AND our Milky Way
galaxy at this historic 180-foot camelback
through truss pedestrian bridge. With a
designation from the International Dark Sky
Association, this location is found at one of
the last free-flowing wild rivers in the eastern
United States. YR (darksky.org/our-work/
conservation/idsp/parks/obed)
;  Fort Southwest Point. (Kingston,
TN). Step back in time with a tour of the
state's only pioneer-era fort (circa 1797)
that has been reconstructed at its original
location. The museum at the visitor's
center displays responsibly excavated
artifacts from this historic site; and period
recreation events occur during the Living
History Days celebration in the summer. YR
(outdoorknoxville.com/places/parks/regional/
southwest-point-park)
;  Green McAdoo Cultural Center.
(Clinton, TN). Celebrate the courage of 12
young black students who, in August of
1956, bravely entered the all-white Clinton
High School. This event was the first of its
kind to desegregate public high schools
in the South. This location, at the historic
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elementary school for African American
children, is recognized as a destination on
the U.S. Civil Rights Trails. YR (tnmuseum.
org/green-mcadoo-cultural-center)
;  Rich Mountain Road - Cades Cove
GSMNP. (Blount County, TN). Leave the
crowds behind with a drive on this oneway " unimproved mountain road " in the
Smokies. Four miles into Cades Cove watch
for the sign. For seven miles, this gravel
'road less traveled' offers mountain views
and many chances to see wildlife and native
flora along the way. Sp-F (smokiesguide.com/
rich-mountain-road)

;  Sweetwater Antique District.
(Sweetwater, TN). Go on a treasure hunt
amongst the historic downtown in search
of collectibles, décor, jewelry, original art,
garden gifts and rare antiques. Located
in renovated buildings, a walk through
this area is like stepping back in time
with all the conveniences of modern
life. YR (tnvacation.com/local/sweetwatersweetwater-antique-district)
;  Grainger County Tomatoes.
(Grainger County, TN). Take advantage of the
opportunity to taste the best tomatoes to
come out of the ground - the secret's in the
soil! Famous throughout the region, these
delicious treats can be found at roadside
produce stands and local grocery stores
while in season. Buy enough to take home
and share with friends and family. Sp-Su
;  Manhattan Project National

Historical Park - Oak Ridge. (Anderson and

Roane counties, TN). Learn about the " Secret
City, " its role in the creation of the atomic
bomb and how the women and men of
science forever changed the world. The bus
tour includes stops at the X-10 Graphite
Reactor, K-25 History Center, Y-12 New
Hope History Center, New Bethel Church
at Oak Ridge National Lab and admission
to the American Museum of Science and
Energy. Sp-F (nps.gov/mapr/oakridge.htm)

;  East Tennessee History Museum.
(Knoxville, TN). Hear first-person historic
accounts of life in the area while viewing
award-winning exhibits at this downtown
location. The permanent collection contains
over 13,000 artifacts, and rotating exhibits
focus on different aspects of East Tennessee
cultures through time. YR (easttnhistory.org/
museum-east-tennessee-history)

;  American Museum of Science &
Energy. (Oak Ridge, TN). Bring the entire
family to this Smithsonian Affiliate facility
in the heart of the Secret City. Learn about
the Manhattan Project, nanotechnology,
the world's fastest supercomputer, water,
solar and wind power developments,
environmental remediation solutions, and
let the children enjoy hands-on activities in
The Exploration Zone (also fun for adults!).
YR (amse.org)

;  Indian River Marina. (Jacksboro, TN).
Spend time on some of the smoothest
waters of Norris Lake in one of the many
styles of watercraft available for rent at
this marina. The grounds are landscaped

;  Knoxville Museum of Art. (Knoxville,
TN). Celebrate the art and artists of the
region with a visit to this free admission
museum near the heart of downtown.
It houses one of the largest steel and
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Blue Ridge Country March/April 2021

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