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, @ Wendy’ s1618 S Roanne ST, Harriman, TN
Hubby and I both ordered a junior cheeseburger deluxe, large fries, and two Frostys.
We arrived at the Burlay Bunny Antiques Home Decor and More. Here we meet 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 their 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.
We were given some free time after the bus was unloaded and our luggage taken to our rooms.
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 we were greeted by the Friends of Crockett before watching 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, which was behind the hotel.
We were given a brief history of the mansion and allowed to tour it.
We then boarded the bus for our next mystery location: the Kingsport Carousel.
Which 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. We were greeted by the very informative curator.
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 opportunity 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 once again loaded onto the bus 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.
The only thing left standing was the chimney. 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 Kingsport12:11PM
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 Briston, 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 Stopp @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.
Buffett 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 @9:18 AM, Bull Gap, TN. They were serving fresh lemonade for 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 the Myers Farm. Here we all went to the greenhouses with veggies and flowers. I purchased a sweet potato vine, some herbs, basil, thyme, and a Mosquito plant.
We were served lunch of ham, turkey, chips, tomatoes, lettuce, iced tea, and a 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. Sleep 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 PM.
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 AM
6245=6251 Myers Farm Bulls Gap, TN @11 with lunch
