It’s time for Dollywood part deux, as Dolly Parton is ready to get to work—maybe even 9 to 5—on her second theme park. This time she’s got her sights on the greater Nashville area, and if all goes as planned the tourists and travelers will be filling up the parking lots starting in 2014.

The new place doesn’t sound to be another exact version of the original theme park, as this new establishment is going to only cost $50 million to build. Officials are billing it as some sort of water and snow park, and it’ll be located across from the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. Apparently it’s just the first piece in a number of new entertainment offerings coming to the area as the city looks to get families and other visitors to stick around and spend a little cash. ]]> kjb 2012-01-26T13:06:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/8/5/101917/5831

Elvis is at the B Gates

Did you go to Memphis and not buy a caseload of Elvis memorabilia? A brave decision, and one that probably won't fly so well with the folks back home. Luckily, you have an escape clause—and you won’t even be charged for checking it into the hold.

Instead of the usual boring souvenir shops, see, Memphis airport has an Elvis shop. That’s right, a shop that stocks purely Elvis memorabilia, from magnets and t-shirts to clocks, Christmas ornaments and cookie jars.

The memorabilia is all official Elvis gear, so it’s the same stuff you can find at Graceland. And yes, there’s a mark-up, but it’s not as much as you’d think in all cases – about $1 more for Elvis emery boards and magnets, and about $5 more for anything bigger. We arrived three hours early for our flight and ended up taking home the Elvis clock – made out of pink glass—that we’d admired at Graceland but wondered how we’d fit it in our case. Simple, in the event: we just took it on the plane in addition to our already bulging hand luggage.]]> juliab 2011-08-05T11:43:46-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/5/24/124731/389

If you planned on checking out Bonnaroo this year, which will take place between June 9th and June 12th in Manchester, TN, you better hurry because tickets are going fast!

The annual music and arts fest has an awesome line-up for 2011, including Eminem, Arcade Fire, Widespread Panic, The Black Keys, Neil Young, My Morning Jacket, Lil Wayne, and The Strokes. The bad news is general admission tickets are already sold out. The only tickets left right now are the VIP packages which include two 4-day festival passes, camping fees, VIP parking, special shower and restroom facilities, access to VIP lounge areas, exclusive viewing areas, t-shirts and more for $1,349.50. There is also a payment plan available and an upgrade which includes meals. Tickets can be purchased at Bonnaroo.com. ]]> cmb 2011-05-24T15:10:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/2/15/122426/839

Fresh off their Grammy wins, Eminem and Arcade Fire will make plans to head to a Tennessee farm, but not to celebrate their award with a rustic vacation. The guys, along with the Strokes, My Morning Jacket and Lil Wayne, will headline the 10th annual Bonnaroo Festival.

The music and arts fest runs from June 9 to 12 at a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. It'll feature the only fest appearance of Buffalo Springfield with original members Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay.]]> Jennifer Kester 2011-02-15T14:11:26-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/1/7/134017/6572

Even though there have been plenty of movies about country music, most of them never shot one scene in Nashville. But Country Strong, in theaters today, was not only filmed in Nashville, it also features local musicians who recorded most of the soundtrack on Nashville's famous Music Row.

The movie, which stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester, and Garrett Hedlund, is about an aging country singer (Paltrow) trying to rebound in her career and marriage. But it was McGraw who pushed for the movie to be shot in Nashville, while producers originally planned on filming in Austin. “I think Nashville played an important part. Nashville is a character unto itself," McGraw said. "There’s such a vibe in this city, and I think the soul of the city is country music, and if we didn’t have that sort of intangible thing there that sort of lingers on film … it would have been just one more obstacle.” ]]> cmb 2011-01-07T13:40:17-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/12/7/9436/50515

The weather in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee does get a little chilly for the holidays, but that doesn’t mean that Dollywood is shutting things down for the season. Most of the rides and attractions are open through the end of 2010—somewhat weather permitting—and those that brave the cold are rewarded with millions of Christmas lights and other holiday decorations.

In the middle of all the holiday hoopla sits the Tennessee Tornado. One of the best roller coasters at the park, it simulates what it’s like to make your way through an old mining company. Three loops will disorientate even the most hardcore coaster enthusiast, especially when the park’s holiday lights, displays, and decorations go whizzing past you at speeds of up to 70mph. ]]> kjb 2010-12-07T10:43:55-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/6/29/12733/5209

Wine tastings and brewery tours are for lightweights. Hardcore drinkers will opt for the moonshine trail in Tennessee. The state tourism bureau is trying to make the trail an attraction that allows you to see the route bootleggers used to smuggle moonshine—also called white lightning.

Just outside of Knoxville, the 200-mile White Lightning Trail winds through nine counties and celebrates the state's homemade corn whiskey past. Unfortunately you can't taste the 100-proof home-distilled alcohol on the self-guided driving trail, but you'll encounter historic sites, preserved homes, restaurants and moonshine museums. ]]> Jennifer Kester 2010-06-29T10:52:32-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/