If you are having
trouble selecting a gift of for a few family members or business associates,
perhaps it is time to think outside the holiday gift box. As I travel across the state, I enjoy a
number of products and experiences that are exclusively made in Tennessee. So let me offer a few ideas that might help. Keep calm and shop on!
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| Birthplace of Country Music Museum |
Museum and Attraction
Gift Shops Last year while at the
American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge, if found some fun things
for my grandchildren. The Titanic MuseumAttraction in Pigeon Forge has really nice and affordable items for people enthralled in this historic event.
Other museums and attractions offer free admission to their
gift shops including the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and the BristolMotor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga and Ripley’sAquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in
Knoxville, the Museum of Appalachia in Clinton and the Museum Center at 5ivePoints in Cleveland.
Tennessee Food
Products I love Tennessee and
Tennessee food! One of my favorite
places to eat is at the Old Mill Restaurant or the Pottery House Café in Pigeon
Forge. Some of my friends are never
surprised when I gift corn chowder, cornmeal, grits and all manner of other foodstuffs
found nearby at the Old Mill Farmhouse Kitchen.
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| Dutch Maid Bakery in Tracy City |
One year I made a breakfast gift basket for someone comprised
of bacon from Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams in Vonore
and those delicious Aretha Frankenstein pancakes from Chattanooga. Benton’s is the choice of chefs nationwide
and it ships easily. I even added a tin
form to shape the pancake batter on the griddle. Add some local jams and honey or fresh
roasted coffee from your area and it is truly breakfast for champions. The ideas seem limitless. If you
need more ideas, Pick Tennessee Products has an online store.
Gift Certificates I hated giving them until I learned that my
family and friends envy some of the many activities that I enjoy while working
in the tourism industry. Here are some
ideas to consider:
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| Creative Discovery Museum Chattanooga |
Tours. Walking food
tours are often a mix of downtown history and participating restaurants who
want you to sample their cuisine. KnoxFood Tours originates their tours from the Knoxville
Visitor Center and offer a variety of options.
See if your city offers similar tours.
Don’t forget historic home tours in your area or guided hikes in the
mountains.
Finally, do not overlook season tickets to watch a minor
league baseball team, tickets to a zoo, museum, aquarium or theme park. Tennessee has the finest in America!
Historic Lodging The General Morgan Inn in downtown
Greeneville is a romantic choice for someone planning to celebrate an
anniversary or a quick weekend getaway.
My wife and I enjoy it for its history, beauty and charm as well as the
time we save in not having to travel long hours to reach our destination. Enjoy a meal at Brumley’s inside the hotel and sit next to the large
window for a view of the church across the street. (There is a Civil War cannonball lodged above
the light on the front of the building.) We found plenty to enjoy downtown,
especially if you are interested in the life of Andrew Johnson, 17th
President of the United States.
Interior Gifts and Furnishings Kari Openshaw, of HGTV & DIY fame, has her
own fun and inspiring store at Cloth & Chair in Kingston. In addition to fabrics, furniture, and home decor items, she also showcases gift items crafted by local artisans including
jewelry.
Knives I continue to hear people being surprised to discover
Smoky Mountain Knife Works, yet millions pass it every year as they drive into
Sevierville and the Smoky Mountains area. The store has an unbelievable variety
of cutlery, kitchen wares and natural displays. Do not pass up the famous
"Relic Room" with authentic pieces of history and even real fossils
for sale at reasonable prices. They have more than a million visitors to
their store each year.
Fishing If you
know someone who enjoys passing the time while fishing, your might get some
ideas from Little River Outfitters in Townsend. Better yet, purchase lessons from the
outfitter so they can learn to fly fish or fly tying. It will be fun!
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| Holloway’s Country Home |
Authentic Handmade
Crafts Holloway's Country Home in
Cosby showcases and sells original and vintage handmade quilts and is an ideal
source for quilters wanting to make their own creations. Closer into Gatlinburg is the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, the home of 120 working artists and craftsmen
with gifts ranging from handmade brooms, jewelry and pottery to works of glass
and wood as well as original art.
Vintage Items NothingToo Fancy is a retail store that began by working with local artists inspired
by Knoxville's vibrant and varied culture.
Today, there is a good variety of screen printed items including vintage
inspired tee-shirts, salvaged treasures, jewelry, artwork for your wall and one
of a kind items not commonly found elsewhere.
The store is on Union Ave between Market Square and Walnut Street with
plenty of other shopping and dining options nearby.
Work Clothes made
Tennessee Pointer Brand Workwear is
still drawing the attention of the consumer with its numerous kinds of jeans,
overalls of various types, work coats and more made in Bristol, TN. L. C.
King, the manufacturer, is the oldest cut-and-sew factory in the United States
still owned by its founding family.
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| Rocky Top General Store |
X, Y & Z If you have time to do some exploring for
one-of-a-kind items, there are amazing antique districts in down Kingsport,
Elizabethton and Clinton. Keep your eyes open for “mantiques” or antiques for men, plus
opportunities to enjoy a meal or a snack. One of my favorite stops along our Top SecretTrail is the Rocky Top General Store (part retail store, part museum). Owner David Webb has free popcorn for you
while you shop for the unusual and the necessities, including hardware,
furniture, appliances, knives, ceramic dolls and gifts.
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