2026 May 21, Day Trip to McMinnville, Rock Island and Monteagle, TN (with Backroads Tours LLC)

 Day Trip to Falcon Rest, McMinnville, Rock Island State Park, and Mountain Goat Restaurant, Monteagle, TN 

6841-6842 Stop at Love's, Hillsboro, TN @9AM

6844-6859 Travel Viola, McMinnville, Rock Island 9:41 A.M.

6860-6923 Rock Island State Park, Rock Island, TN @ 10:15–11:40 A.M.

6924-6937 Falcon Rest Mansion Museum & Murder Mystery McMinnville, TN @12:03-2:06 PM

6938-6945 Travel Viola, McMinnville @3:01-3:20 P.M.

6946-6960 Stop at Mountain Goat Restaurant, Monteagel, TN 4:01–4:30 P.M.

We were up at 3:30 A.M. and left the house at 4:30 A.M.

We stopped at Jack's in Athens for a single gravy, biscuits, and a Diet Coke. 

My biscuit wasn't done, so I went back, and they gave me a cooked one.

But it still gave me gas, and I burped all the way to Tennessee.

Our first stop was the welcome center at Rock Island State Park. The park ranger told us about the park and offered a guided tour. So we got back on the bus and followed the ranger. 

We stopped at the Beach Area, and everyone got out and walked around. 

Our next stop was the short waterfall and the old abandoned cotton mill. 

The ranger turned on his flashing lights and removed the roped-off area so we could park on the grass. 

Everyone got out to take pictures of the waterfalls and the surrounding area. We thanked the park ranger and began our journey to Falcon Rest, about an hour away, for lunch and a murder mystery show.

We arrived at the visitor center and were greeted by our guide and owner.

We were led into the mansion, listened to the guide, and were each given a role in the murder mystery while we enjoyed lunch.

Hubby played George Beech (the town drunk), and I played his wife, Marie Beech.

For lunch, we were served Strawberry Pretzel salad, Baked Chicken, Potatoes, green beans, a roll, and Chocolate cake topped with a cherry and a dab of whipped cream.

After lunch and a show, we were given a guided tour of the mansion. No photos were allowed inside.

We took a group photo on the mansion's front porch.

We shopped at the gift shop, thanked our guide, and headed to our next stop.

History of Rock Island 

Rock Island State Park is a state park in Warren and White Counties, Tennessee, in the Southeastern United States. The park is named after the community of Rock Island, Tennessee, which in turn was named for an island on the Caney Fork, upstream from the confluence of the Collins River and the Great Falls Dam. Rock Island State Park centers on a peninsula formed by the confluence of these two rivers and extends downstream to the headwaters of Center Hill Lake.

We stopped at Mountain Goat Restaurant and gift shop, located in Monteagle, TN, where Hubby and I enjoyed a slice of Chocolate Cheesecake topped with pecans and drizzled with chocolate and caramel, a Diet Coke, and a coconut chocolate bar. 

Took a few photos, then loaded onto the bus and headed to Scottsboro.

We arrived a little before 6 P.M., with a two-hour ride home. 

No stopping until we reached home a little after 8 P.M.

Another wonderful day trip with Backroads Tours LLC

Bus number 3004 on Eagle Christian Tours, Rome, GA, with Barbara Dudley as our driver. 

Angie, our guide. 

2026 April 28-30 Mystery Trip with Travel Lady (Greenville, Kingsport, Bristol, Tusculum, & Gull's Gap, Tennessee)

 April 28-30 Mystery Trip with Travel Lady  

(Greenville,  Kingsport, Bristol, Tusculum, & Gull's Gap, Tennessee) 

Day 1: Tuesday, April 28, travel Day to Mystery location

Hubby and I drove to Lawrenceburg and parked in the church lot.

We were on the bus by 6:45 A.M.(Bus driver Steve) (Bus Starship Dream Line Journey, Excelsior.)(Group leader Krystal)

After everyone was loaded onto the bus & we were on the road, our leader passed out a breakfast tray that included two chicken minis, a fruit cup with strawberries, blueberries,  & grapes, two sweet pretzels, cheddar cheese chunks, and a muffin from Sister Sweets. 

Our first stop was at a pilot in Columbia, TN, to use the restroom.

We stopped for lunch at Wendy's, @ Wendy' s1618 S Roanne ST, Harriman, TN 

Hubby and I both ordered a junior cheeseburger deluxe, large fries, and two Frostys.

We arrived at Burlay Bunny Antiques Home Decor and More in Greeneville. Here we met our guide, Vera Ann Myers, and the owner and employee, who were waiting to greet us. A table full of treats, cookies, dip, crackers, fruit punch, and more was waiting for us. Everyone used the restrooms and enjoyed the snacks. When we returned to the bus, everyone was given a surprise gift. 

We returned to the bus and rode to the General Morgan Inn, 111 N Main St, Greeneville, TN, room 213, where we spent two nights.

 

After the bus unloaded and our luggage was taken to our rooms, we had some free time.

Hubby and I walked through downtown, where we saw several churches, the courthouse, historic markers, and much more. 

We returned to the hotel for dinner in the Grand Ballroom at 5:30 P.M.

We were served a salad, rolls, butter, green beans, baked chicken, creamed potatoes, and banana pudding for dessert. 

At 7:30 P.M., we walked to the Capitol Theatre, where the Friends of Crockett greeted us before we watched the Disney movie, David Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier.

After the movie, everyone walked back to the hotel.

Photos 

5828 Breakfast served on the bus at 7:08 A.M.

5829 Wendy's Harriman, TN @12:) 1 P.M.

5830-5841 Greeneville, TN @ 2:20 P.M. 

5842-5843 Burlap Bunny, Greeneville, TN @ 3:16 P.M.

5844-5849 Greeneville, TN 3:35 P.M.

5850-5857 General Morgan Inn @3:38 PM 

5858-5898 Walking around Greeneville, TN @ 4:21 P.M.

5899-5902 Dinner @ 5:33 P.M.

iPad 3627-3661 Greeneville, TN @4:07 PM

Day 2: Wednesday, April 29:

We were served a buffet breakfast in the Grand Ballroom. 

I got bacon, fruit, scrambled eggs, biscuits, jelly, and cranberry juice.

Everyone went to Catalyst Coffee Co. for coffee, a pastry, or a muffin. Hubby and I both ordered a raspberry chocolate scone, which was included with our hotel stay. 

After breakfast, everyone walked to the Dickson-Williams Mansion behind the hotel. 

We received a brief history of the mansion and toured it. 

We then boarded the bus for our next mystery location: the Kingsport Carousel, Kingsport, TN.

It is located inside the Pal's Roundhouse on East Center St and Clinchfield.

The 30 hand-carved and hand-painted animals by volunteers, which include dogs, cats, dragons, tigers, zebras, and horses, can be enjoyed for just one dollar. For children and children at heart. 

Everyone enjoyed riding the carousel at least two times. 

Our next stop was Riverfront Seafood Company, where we enjoyed lunch. 

I ordered a baked potato and fried codfish. Hubby ordered fried shrimp and a 

baked potato. 

After lunch, we rode to the birth home of Tennessee Ernie Ford in Bristol, TN. The curator was very informative. 

Our next stop was Bristol, where one side of the town was in Tennessee and the other in Virginia. 

We did a little shopping at Cranberry Lane, on the Virginia side. Here I bought a mixed package of raspberry and chocolate Scones and a mat. Spent $19.95.

Our next stop was Bristol Motor Speedway. We were led to the Dome seating, where we had a great view of the speedway. Our guide gave us the speedway's history, and everyone had the chance to use the restrooms.

Next, we loaded back onto the bus and headed to the Motor Speedway, where we drove around the track. What fun!

We stopped at the gift shop, where I bought a speedway bag.

We loaded onto the bus again and rode to the state park where David Crockett was born. All the buildings, including David's birth home, were washed away by a flood just a few years ago. 

Only the chimney remained standing. The park intends to rebuild because of the site's importance.

Our last stop was Whistle Stop Restaurant in Tusculum, TN, for dinner. 

Here we were served broccoli soup, a salad, rolls, dip and crackers, baked salmon, a baked potato, tea, and cheesecake.

We returned to the hotel and packed because we are leaving tomorrow.

Photos

5903-5906 Walking on the balcony of the hotel @6:46 AM

5907 Breakfast @ 7:25 AM

iPad 3662-3697  Dikson Williams Mansion 

5908-5994 Kingsport Carousel & Park @ 9:47 A.M. 

iPad 3698-3715 Riverfront Seafood Lunch Kingsport, TN @10:50 AM 

iPad 3816-3721 Riverfront Seafood Kingsport 12:11 P.M.

iPad 3722 Travel @1:01 PM 

iPad 3723-3730 Tennessee Ernie Ford Birthhome @1:15 PM

5958-5981 Tennessee Ernie Ford Birthhome @1:24 PM

5982-6014 Bristol, Tennessee, Virginia 

6015-6110 Bristol Motor Speedway  @3:00 PM

6111-6119 David Crockett birthhome  @5:36 PM

6120-6122 Welcome to Tusculum, TN @5:58 PM

6123-6124 Dinner at Whistle Stop @6:43PM

6125-6130 Tusculum @7:49 PM 

Day 3: Thursday, April 30, Travel Home with surprise stops

Walked to Catalyst Coffee Co for another raspberry and chocolate scone. 

Buffet breakfast at the hotel ballroom. I got gravy biscuits, eggs, sausage, and fruit. 

After breakfast, I walked a couple of blocks in the town before we began our journey home. 

Our first stop was the Maifield lilac farm at 9:18 A.M. in Bull Gap, TN. They served fresh lemonade to everyone. Some walked to the lilac fields and others to the greenhouse. I bought a small lilac plant, some body butter, and local honey. 

Our next stop was Myers Farm in Gulls Gap, TN. We all went to the greenhouses for veggies and flowers. I purchased a sweet potato vine, some herbs, basil, thyme, and a Mosquito plant. 

For lunch, we were served ham, turkey, chips, tomatoes, lettuce, iced tea, and dessert. I got coconut pie.

We loaded onto the bus and began our final journey home. I fell asleep for about 1 1/2 hours and missed our first rest stop. I slept right through it. 

Our final stop was at Loves in Columbia, TN, where I bought two double cheeseburgers and fries at Wendy's, which we ate on the bus.

We arrived in Lawrenceburg around 6 P.M. Everything was unloaded for the people getting off here. 

The next stops were Loretto and Florence. We got off at Lawrenceburg and were home by 6:30 P.M.

Had a great trip. 

Photos 

6131- Breakfast at the hotel @7:33 AM

6132-6142 General Morgan Inn @7:59 AM

6143-6203 Walking up Main Street @8:07 AM

6204-6238 Leaving Greeneville, TN @8:37 AM

6239-6244 Midfield Farms, Bulls Gap, TN @9:18 A.M.

6245=6251 Myers Farm, Bulls Gap, TN @11 with lunch 

2024 Saturday, Sep 7, Train Ride from Chattanooga to Chickamauga, Ga (Day Trip) Backroads Tours (Train Ride)

Train 5000 from Chattanooga, TN, to Chickamauga, Ga

On Saturday, we had to be in Scottsboro by 7:00 A.M., which is about a 2-hour drive. We loaded onto the bus. There were 30 of us, including the driver. We rode to Chattanooga to ride the train to the Civil War battle town of Chickamauga, GA. We visited the Gordon-Lee Mansion and walked among the Jeeps at the festival.

Wilder Brigade Monument 

We stopped at the Wilder Brigade Tower in the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.

There are 136 spiral stairs to the top if you dare.

Lunch was served as if we were in a fine-dining establishment.

It was a beautiful day, traveling and making new friends.

We arrived home around 8 P.M. on Saturday night.

Lunch on the train

bowl of fruit cocktail, potato salad, cole slaw, tomato, lettuce, baked turkey, and Swiss cheese on a croissant. For dessert, we had chocolate cake or red velvet Cake.

Chocolate Cake 

Red Velvet Cake 

The train we rode and the Visitor Center/Depot in Chickamauga 

We stopped at Chick-fil-A in Athens for dinner.

I ordered a kid's chicken nugget meal with waffle fries and Ice cream, and my Hubby ordered a Number 1.

🎈🎈🎈2017 May 27, Hot Air Balloon Festival Decatur, Alabama

You must arrive early to see the balloons ascending into the sky.
I hurriedly dressed and left home, right behind my husband on his way to work.
He was going to Huntsville, and I to Decatur.
I took Highway 72 to Highway 101, turning left on the highway, and went past the paper mill (now being torn down) to hwy 20, which took me to Decatur.

The sun was just coming up, and it was a beautiful sight, so I pulled over on the side of the road to take a couple of pictures. 

Traffic was already lined up as we entered the park, which took quite a while. I did get a park in the parking area on the concrete.

Twitty Bird Balloon

People everywhere are waiting for the balloons to ascend into the sky. 

The balloon is filled with Helium.

Preparing the balloons

Walked over to the park and watched the balloons being filled with Helium
I was walking around the park, taking pictures of the balloons, when the announcers said the balloons wouldn't be going up due to the weather.

I stopped at McDonald's in Rogersville for a bagel with bacon, cheese, and egg, but since McDonald's no longer serves bagels, I ordered a McMuffin with bacon, egg, and cheese instead.

No balloons going up!!! No bagel!!! Should have stayed in bed!!!

🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈