Visiting Tennessee - the Volunteer State is full of Grace

So the weather in the summer isn't the best - unless you like pressure-cooker oven temperatures. And you can't find a good salad bar to save your life. And the pace might be a little slower than we Yankees are used to. But Tennessee is still the place of choice if you're looking for good, old-fashioned hometown hospitality.

Nashville, the site of the sprawling Opryland Hotel http://www.opryhotel.com/hotel.html, has lost some of its tourist draw with the closing of the Opryland amusement park. But there's still plenty to keep you busy while you're there. If you stay in one of the monstrosity's 2,883-rooms, Rachel's Kitchen offers a reasonably priced family-atmosphere meal. The Old Hickory Steakhouse is perfect for a dinner for two.

And once you get away from Opryland (yes, it is possible!) try the General Jackson steamboat brunch http://www.opryhotel.com/genjack.html. The so-so food is forgotten once you see the stage show. It's suitable for the whole family, and a heck of a good time. Don't forget the Grand Ole' Opry http://www.grandoleopry.com, which even lukewarm country music fans will enjoy. We went expecting to stay for an hour for "the experience," but ended up riveted in our seats for the whole show! I wouldn't say we're country music lovers, now, but I do occasional tune in to the Saturday night live broadcasts.

Knoxville is another hopping spot for singles, couples and families. Home to University of Tennessee's http://www.utk.edu Fighting Vols (for Volunteers, I found out!), everything within a hundred miles of the city seems draped in orange and white, Vol colors. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Select near the World's Faire grounds, a hop, skip and a jump from the river. The hotel has an indoor swimming pool, a respectable workout room, and a restaurant.

But if you want to really eat, head to Calhoun's http://www.smokyweb.com/knox/rest on the river for dinner. What a restaurant! A little pricey, but you won't find better barbecue anywhere in the United States. My personal favorite was the white chili. I'm not a chili fan, but this stuff was delicious! A beautiful blend of white beans and chicken, with just the right amount of kick to it. I'm still dreaming about it! It's a great restaurant for kids, too, with a full children's menu and an activity book.

Get there before or after the rush, though, so you can get a table with a view. We were pleasantly surprised when the patrons at the tables around us started conversations with us. It was like one big happy family! That barbecue sauce must have some secret "friendly" ingredient in it.

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