Destination: Greeneville, TN

It’s February and I know you’ve been holding your breath waiting on this post about the second leg of our vacation journey from November, right? 🙂  Ok, you haven’t, but just play along anyway.  If you love fall like I do, you’ll see some beautiful fall photos and if you like to travel or love history, you might see something that will pique your travel bug to visit Greeneville, TN.  So join me for Destination: Greeneville, TN!

Greeneville, TN

If you read my post Destination: Jonesborough, TN, then you know Jonesborough is Tennesee’s oldest town.  Well, Greeneville steps up to be Tennessee’s second oldest town (and later we’ll even visit the third oldest town).  So not surprisingly, almost the first thing I saw when we hit town was this vintage clock.  Like Jonesborough, there’s a plethora of history in this little town.  And also like Jonesborough, it’s a lovely little town as well.

This stop on our trip was all about Chris and his love of history.  We made a beeline to tour the home of Andrew Johnson (17th President … and yeah, I had to Google that!) and actually ended up touring two of his homes which are managed by the National Park Service.  This house was the second and biggest of the two.  They’re both right in town and you can walk from one place to the other.  I guess I was so under impressed with the first one I didn’t take any photos.   But on my behalf, I also pretty much hate history.  I kind of only took these photos because I felt obligated. 😀  Yeah, pitiful blogger.

I’d love to have this desk and chairs though!

This I LOVE!!!  I have a thing for silver.  It was in the dining room on a sideboard.  GORGEOUS!!!

This is the kitchen which was below stairs.  Everything had to be prepared downstairs and carried upstairs to the dining room.  Ugh! Obviously, the lady of the house wasn’t cooking or that would have been changed fairly quickly and I’m sure that dining room had to be really hot in the Southern summers if they used that fireplace which was right beneath the dining room.  Maybe they cooked in the morning and had cold suppers or they had another summer home somewhere else.  I may or may not have been listening.  Yeah.

Anyway, I was really interested in this photo because of those two bowls at the back of the table with the wide lips.  Three of those type bowls were passed down to me from my grandmother/mom and I love them so much I’ve since been on the hunt to add to my collection … at a reasonable price.  Seeing the wooden spoons also reminds me that I love wooden spoons and vintage rolling pins.   Yes, I have a love for all things kitchen.

On our walk back to the truck, we passed this beautiful church courtyard and I couldn’t resist snapping a photo.  I love beautiful churches.

The first Andrew Johnson house was across the street from the most beautiful fall leaves.  I could have just stayed there taking photo after photo, bypassing the tours.  Chris had to finally make me leave.  We just don’t get this in South Mississippi!

Then when we finally got back to the truck, we were parked right in front of a hedgerow covered in these spectacular berries!  I want some of these for my yard.  They’d be wonderful to decorate with inside!  I have no idea what they’re called.  The leaves almost look like my nandina bushes, but my bushes are tiny and they’ve never had berries.

Our visit to Greeneville, TN had concluded and we were driving through town to leave and while we were stopped at a traffic light I looked out my window and I see this little city oasis tucked in between two buildings.  Seems they’ve taken an empty lot and repurposed/upcycled it to create the perfect, little spot for resting, meeting friends or lunch.  How charmingly unique!

You can read about more things to do in Greeneville here.  As I said before, Chris planned this little stop and I’m seeing there were others things there we could have hit as well like Davy Crockett’s birthplace and a mansion tour.  Might have made some good photos.  Maybe another time.

Parrottsville, TN

We left Greeneville and headed for Pigeon Forge and Chris spotted a sign for Parrottsville, Tennessee’s Third Oldest Town.  We’d already seen the oldest and second oldest cities so why not!

Well, Parrottsville is one of those tiny, little towns that if you blink you’ve missed it.  At least that’s what we saw. But it did have a few interesting homes.

Beautiful old home

All of these homes sat on the same street next to each other.  And if you notice, the second floor door on this home goes where?  The roof?   My only thought is, instead of a roof that use to be a second floor porch instead.  Similar to the next photo.  Interesting.

The next stop is Pigeon Forge, TN! And I’d say it is pretty much the opposite of old and historical. 😉  But then you never know …

Till then,