Tennessee inspires romance. Begin with the scenic beauty and honeymoon hot spot of the Great Smoky Mountains region. Experience the culture, music, culinary and nightlife of Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis. For outdoor lovers, take in the paradise that is Chattanooga in the Southeast and Tri-cities in the Northeast. Tennessee is the perfect locale for rekindling love. Whether couples are experiencing young love or a love that has sizzled over the years, they’ll find Tennessee is playing a romantic song this February.
EAST
Where to stay: Escape the wintery cold and cozy up with your sweetheart in one of the many chalets throughout East Tennessee. Check out lodges like the Alpine Mountain Chalets in Pigeon Forge or Fireside Chalets, home to one to seven bedroom establishments. Mountain Laurel Chalets have an extensive variety of 140 mountainside chalets in and around Gatlinburg as well.
Where to eat: Get cozy at the Park Grill in Gatlinburg with its log cabin inspired accents and delicious dining options like the pineapple marinated chicken served with grilled pineapple and for dessert the Jack Daniel’s crème bruleé. Let your love simmer over your choice of cutlets at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse or have a romantic French dinner at The Orangery, in Knoxville, praised by Southern Living for “its upscale menu and romantic ambiance.” St. John’s Restaurant in Chattanooga or the Bald Headed Bistro in Cleveland will curb your culinary craving while in Southeast Tennessee.
What to do: Want an unforgettable wedding experience or to renew your vows? Get married or recommit in one of the quaint wedding chapels nestled in the Smoky Mountains. Sail along the Tennessee River as you exchange vows on the beautiful Southern Belle river boat in Chattanooga. Loudon, Tenn. is home to Castleton Farms, the opulent Greek Revival Antebellum Manor situated on 108 acres of beautiful meadows. Pack a lunch and have a romantic picnic at Lookout Mountain just minutes from downtown Chattanooga. Make your body, mind and love stronger with a timeless outdoor adventure in Knoxville. Outdoor Knoxville encourages you to grab a bike, lace up your hiking boots or rent a kayak. Rock climb, zip line and rent an ATV for an afternoon outside. If you like to enjoy nature at a slower pace, River Ridge Farm in Clinton, Tenn. is offering horse-drawn carriage rides during their Sweetheart Day Feb. 9. Take the opportunity to experience train travel in the 1930s and 40s on a Southern Railway coach with dinner provided during the Valentine’s Day Dinner Train Feb. 13 - 16.
MIDDLE
Where to stay: Juxtaposed with music past and present, Middle Tennessee entices romantic rendezvouses old and new. Stay at the historic Hermitage Hotel or the Hutton Hotel minutes from Nashville’s downtown or Aloft, a modern loft-inspired designed hotel in Franklin. The Gaylord Opryland Resort is offering one to two night stays which include daily breakfast for two, romantic welcome of champagne and strawberries and 20% off select spa services at Relache – The Spa at Gaylord Opryland. For a change of pace, stay at the cozy Amish Homestead B&B in Ethridge. Get away to the serene outdoors in Summertown at the Buffalo River Farm and Studio Bed and Breakfast, located a couple miles from the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Where to eat: Dine with your sweetheart at the quaint Germantown Café for great home cooking in Germantown a few minutes from the heart of Nashville or Saffire in historic Franklin. There’s also the romantic atmosphere of Nana Rosa Italian Food in Hendersonville.
What to do: Take a carriage ride around downtown with your special someone to see and hear the sights and sounds of Music City. Join the Nashville Symphony at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center for a night of music by Motown legend Smokey Robinson at 8 p.m. Feb. 14 -15. Tickets range from $89 - $149. Make the night extra special and take a seat at the Schermerhorn’s Chef’s Table from 6 – 7:50 p.m. Feb. 14 for a white-glove private dining experience with a five-course meal. Tickets are $180 per person. Attend the “Be My Valentine” Celebration Feb. 14 at Milky Way Farm in Pulaski with sweet treats and a marketplace.
WEST
Where to stay: Known for having the soul of Tennessee, West Tennessee is home to great music, yummy barbecue and some spellbinding romantic destinations. Stay at the Peabody Hotel and enjoy the legendary Peabody Duck March in the beating heart of Memphis or the intimate and luxurious Madison Hotel.
Where to eat: Dine in opulence at Restaurant Iris and the French Chez Philippe in the Peabody Hotel. Both restaurants were named as Opentable.com’s 2013 Most Romantic Restaurants. Other restaurants not to be missed are the delicious chef-inspired meals at swanky Miss Ollie’s Piano Bar in Jackson, the fiery Spindini in Memphis and the luxurious styling of Paulette’s Restaurant as part of the River Inn of Harbor Town.
What to do: Beale Street in downtown Memphis is a great destination to find some of the best barbecue and places to kick up your heels. Sail along the Mississippi River under the stars on the Memphis Queen Riverboat ride. Public and private cruises are available. Escape to the beautiful hills of West Tennessee for a winery tour and wine tastings at the picturesque Century Farm Winery in Jackson and the Tuscan-style Crown Winery in Humboldt. Feel the suspense in “And Then There Were None,” a whodunit murder mystery performed at 6:30 p.m. at the Latta Theater in Selmer. Dinner will be provided with the Feb. 15 performance.
To get great deals on everything from hotels to attractions, check out Tennessee Travel Tuesday T-3 promotions at www.tnvacation.com/t3.
For fun and out-of-the-box Valentine’s Day ideas, head on over to TNVacation’s Pinterest page and find the “Tennessee in Love” board.
For more romantic getaway ideas, visit us at tnvacation.com, facebook.com/tnvacation, tnvacation.com/triptales/, instagram.com/tnvacation, twitter.com/tnvacation/ or pinterest.com/tnvacation/