By Dr. D. Jackson Maxwell
My kids have now become teenagers. They have many interests that, not surprisingly, no longer intersect with their parents. Finding things to do together is not impossible, but it does require a bit of thought and planning. What we have come up with are weekend vacation destinations within a 3- to 4-hour range. This allows for a Friday leave with a return before Monday. You would be surprised to find what we have discovered!
My son, Trevor, and I took a trip north to the Union City/Martin part of our state. We went to visit the Discovery Park of America, Reelfoot Lake, and to generally check out the area. Apparently you do not do Reelfoot in July. We were advised by a ranger that the biting deer flies were too fierce for hiking, and the observed scum on the top of the water could and did support discarded shoes which aced out all near shore water activities. However, the eagles were majestic. The Discovery Park of America is incredible! It offers a view of the history of North America and is presented in a succinct manner. Overnight, we stayed in Martin by the University of Tennessee branch located there. A beautiful campus worth a look-about. I have to plug Sammie’s sandwich shop there, which is without a doubt my favorite sub shop ever. It was awesome! While in the neighborhood, checkout the Davy Crockett Cabin and Museum. Plus, on the way home we grabbed some Bar-BQ at Bozo’s, which has been serving up some superb eats in Mason, TN, for almost 100 years!
A no brainer is a 109-mile trip to Tupelo, the birthplace of Elvis Presley. My 13-year old daughter, Jillian, and I took this trip in the spring of last year. The Elvis Tupelo experience was both corny and fun. The corny was the video recreations at the Elvis birthplace center while the fun was touring the actual home site. We next hit Tupelo Hardware where Elvis got his first guitar. It was also fun walking the sleepy small town main street, taking in the sights. Harvey’s, an eatery straight out of the ‘70s, was a good dinner destination with award winning appetizers. The Tupelo Buffalo Park is conflicted—part zoo, part drive through animal park. A wealthy local businessman started the buffalo preserve as a hobby and it grew to include all kinds of animals including zebras, tigers, giraffes, and birds. I recommend setting aside a few hours to enjoy this attraction.
Our latest trip was to Jackson, Tennessee. It is a close by destination that warrants a couple of nights stay. Casey Jones Village provides insight into the railroad engineer known for his daring speed but also his sacrifice to save passengers and crew when things went terribly wrong. The museum tells the story of his life and railroad history from this time period. A bonus is the Old Country Buffet, which offers delicious home style cooking. The Tennessee Safari Park provides visitors a drive through animal park located on the Conley’s family farm that dates back to the 1850’s. A zoo is available to tour as well. Additionally, the Tennessee River Fresh Water Pearl Museum is nearby in Camden. The tour and museum provide a link to learn how an innovative pioneer created an unexpected industry that harvests freshwater pearls. The attached Birdsong resort offers a chance to stay on property and enjoy water activities in the surrounding rustic setting.
If you need a break from the kids, I would highly recommend a weekend in Clarksdale, MS. After 20+ years of marriage, my wife and I decided to take a trip south, sans the children, with a couple at a similar point in their life. While I cannot condone this, I will never forget my friend doing 100 mph down the backroads of Mississippi past Moon Lake, through the farm lands, and eventually landing in the blistering heat of a summer night in Clarksdale. We ate at Abe’s on arrival and truly enjoyed this long running Bar-B-Q joint found at the infamous crossroads where legendary bluesman Robert Johnson supposedly sold his soul to the devil. We spent our nights at Ground Zero listening to the blues and dancing the night away! Although we did not visit, we heard that the Shack Up Inn located on a historic plantation was another unique way to spend time in Clarksdale. Before leaving, make sure to pay a visit to the Delta Blues Museum for a few hours to learn a bit more about the history of a uniquely American style of music.
So, when you get a free weekend, get the family off the couch, get out the door, and discover what’s just around the corner! You will be surprised at what you learn and the lifelong memories created.
Dr. D. Jackson Maxwell is an educator, freelance writer and lifelong biggest ball of twine chaser. Please forward questions or comments to: djacksonmaxwell@gmail.com
