The diverse and entertaining state of Tennessee is one you don’t want to miss seeing at some point in your life. For the last 7 days I have been traveling this state during this pandemic of 2020, it’s now December, and I can honestly say that my experience here has shown me that you can truly travel safe and to many places during this time. I’ll give you a detailed itinerary and reasons you should visit Tennessee, even take the same road trip I did from Knoxville, to Cookeville and finishing in Nashville.
Knoxville
Awaken Coffee
125 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville TN 37902
Staring off the day right with a warm cup of locally sourced cup of joe. This quaint little coffee shop has the comfortable holiday feels all over. Their menu is also cutely themed with delightfully named choices like The Hulk, Honey Bear etc. I personally went for the Chumpkin, a pumpkin spiced themed drink, and it was the best thing ever. Highly recommend this beautiful place for your morning start. Is also on the #PeppermintTrail, a trail that highlights the most recommend spots in the city.
5 Stars for my “Travel Safe” rating, as seats are spaced out and they have clean/dirty pens for one time use when signing your receipt if you use and card. So you won’t be swiping your finger across the same area on the pad like everyone else. Everyone was wearing masks except when consuming.
Navitat Canopy Adventure
2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville TN 37920
(855) 628-4828
https://www.navitatknoxville.com/
For my adrenaline fill of the day, I looked no further than Knoxville’s #1 Outdoor Activity rated on Trip Advisor, Navitat Canopy Adventures. Here you’ll climb to the top of trees, and experience an obstacle course like no other. For $45 and up they give you a training course to learn how the equipment works. There are beginner to difficult trails. I really enjoy the freedom here, its travel safe because you are by yourself as the course is designed to lock you into the safety cable which you’re attached to at all time until you finish the trail, this allows you to have total freedom alone on the course or you can have a guide as well. Use of face mask is encouraged but not mandatory due to the fact you’re usually 20+ feet of more from the nearest person up there. The course also lights up at night. Be sure to visit the birds nest and enjoy the views!
4 Stars Travel Safe Rating (Even though you were gloves that are sanitized, there are still common surfaces touched by everyone and faces/mouth are very close to the wires everyone uses and touches. Most people use the gloves to move their helmet, grab phone, then touch the gear and wires)
Ijams Nature Center (Next to Navitat)
2915 Island Home Ave Knoxville TN 37920
Right next door to Navitat Canopy Tours you’ll find the nature center where the highlight is the River Walk Trail. It’s currently a one way in and out, so once you reach the end you’ll have to turn around. But this trail has a wooden path that extends out over the water, and provides for a beautiful view of the area. It’ll be the most interesting trails you’ve walked all year.
4 Stars Travel Safe Rating (rated at 4 because there were a lot of people walking the path back and forth at the same time mostly not wearing masks since it’s outdoors)
Market Square (Night)
In the heart of downtown Knoxville you’ll find the Market Square. At night this place is currently lit up with lights on the trees and all around to give you a full holiday experience. It’s great for that instagram picture. Lots of places to eat and shop in the square.
4 Stars Travel Safe Rating (Noticed half the people on the street wearing masks, other half not.)
Gay St.
Next Street to the Market Square is Gay St. Here you’ll see the famous holiday tree, old Tennessee Theater, and loads of shops for ice cream, coffee, food and more. It’s worth a small walk here to see the sights. Check out the Cruze Farm Ice Cream, it’s a 1950’s feel and is all red along with the employee’s uniform. It’s a trip back in time.
Cruze Farm Ice Cream
445 S. Gay St. #3, Knoxville, TN 37902
World’s Fair Park
963 World’s Fair Park Dr, Knoxville TN 37916
Originally made for the 1982 World’s Fair, today the park is home to the Sun sphere Tennessee Amphitheater, the two remaining structures from the exposition. This is a nice walk in the downtown area to clear your head and enjoy a large lawn for yoga, pictures or fun.
5 Stars Travel Safe Rating
Knoxville Museum of Art
1050 World’s Fair Park Dr Knoxville TN 37916
The Knoxville Museum of Art Celebrates the art and artists of East Tennessee. I really enjoyed my visit to this attraction as there were many diverse exhibits and was very photogenic for picture taking. The museum is very travel safe as they limited the total number of people inside the museum at a single time to 30, and there are disinfectant products for personal use all around.
5 Stars Travel Safe Rating
James White Fort
205 E Hill Ave #2514 Knoxville, TN 37915
Be sure to visit this resorted property with a log cabin and original items from the 1780’s. It’s a step back in time as you walk through the attraction. It’s not the most popular attraction in Knoxville but is truly a fun time and you’ll mostly have the place to yourself. The gentleman who greets you at the entrance is very knowledgeable and charismatic, be sure to chat it up a bit before walking through this time portal.
5 Stars Travel Safe Rating (because it was entirely empty and you’re not allowed to touch or sit on anything this is a great safe place to travel to)
Hotel The Tennessean
531 Henley St, Knoxville, TN 37902
For an elegant time look no further than the Tennessean. Located perfectly in the downtown area this gem of a place leaves you wonderful views, as well a fantastic Travel Safe atmosphere where many precautions were being taken. Including limiting the number of people in the gym at a single time and endless about of antiseptic wipes.
5 Stars Travel Safe Rating
Cookeville
Train Depot
116 W Broad St, Cookeville TN 38501
Half way between Knoxville and Nashville is the little hidden gem of Cookeville. My favorite stop is the museum in a circa-1909 railroad depot featuring vintage trains. This place is very photogenic and you can roam around the place at your leisure. No need to pay anything to view the trains outside that make some great instagram pictures.
5 Stars Travel Safe Rating
Cream City Ice Cream
119 W Broad St, Cookeville TN 38501
Cream City Ice Cream and Coffee House is an institution in Cookeville. Its neon sign was erected in 1950 and was once the largest neon sign between Nashville and Knoxville. This locally owned shop is across the street from the Train Depot in downtown and has over 30 flavors to choose from. And has continually been seeing ice cream for 50+ years.
Nashville
The Parthenon
Located in Centennial Park, this is a full size replica of the original in Athens Greece. Today it functions as an art museum. Nashville’s nickname is the Athens of the South and this was the centerpiece of the 1897 Centennial Exposition. Be sure to visit during sunrise or sunset for best picture opportunities.
5 Stars Travel Safe Rating
I Believe in Nashville Mural
1402 Clinton St. Nashville, TN 37203
There are a few famous instagram spots in Nashville and this is one of them, shared over 1 million times on instagram alone. This is one of a series of murals started in 2012 by Adrien Saporiti, a Nashville native.
5 Stars Travel Safe Rating
Hermitage Hotel Bathroom
The coolest, hippest and most beautiful bathroom in America located inside this gorgeous hotel. The interior sports an Art Décor complete with green and black glass tiled walls circa the 1930’s, a terrazzo floor, a show-shine station and working telephone that connects to the front desk. The bathroom has been used in some music videos and has a long history to enjoy.
5 Stars Travel Safe Rating
Country Music Hall of Fame
One of the worlds largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music.
3 Stars Travel Safe Rating (no limit on people inside as well one lane traffic where people don’t seem care about the 6 ft rule)
What lifts you Mural
302 11th Ave S, Nashville TN 37203
Another famous mural in Nashville to photograph.
5 Stars Travel Safe Rating
Food Suggestions:
Party Fowl
719 8th Ave S Nashville, TN 37203
White Limozeen
101 20th Ave N, Nashville TN 37203
D’ Andrews Bakery
555 Church St, Nashville TN 37219
Hotel- 506 Lofts
506 Church St, Nashville, TN 37219
It's a mix of an airbnb and hotel. You get the entire place to yourself, is very travel safe and has some amazing views and decor. I really enjoyed my stay here and the great down town location. Get away from the crowds, self check in with a pad, no front desk, and have a great at 506 lofts.
5 Stars Travel Safe Rating
Conclusion
The biggest question, it it safe to travel to Tennessee right now in 2020, the answer is... It's as safe as can be during this time. I've been to 15 states during this 2020 , and Tennessee definitely is my #1 state that is taking the most precautions, I feel most comfortable traveling in and can physically see the measurements and ordinances mostly been taken into consideration and effect. Good Job Tennessee! If you have to travel anywhere during this time, this is my pick!
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