WWW.americanpresstravelnews.com – June 20 – West, VA. Bob and Barb “Stopping to Smell the Roses” and “On the Road Again.” This time at the Carriage Inn, Historically significant bed & breakfast. We felt the history here in the footsteps of Pres. George Washington’s brother home-a truly historic place to visit. The building is on the Federal Register of Historic Places visited by Southern Generals, Lee, Jackson, Stuart, Ashby and Northern Generals Sheridan and Grant. The rooms are large and comfortable as they were two Centuries ago. Today, with TV and Internet access, modern electricity and toiletry, so expected and important to us and every visitor as well. Note: they have excellent high speed internet. We enjoyed visiting Harpers Ferry and the Antietam Battlefields. Our visit was too short and we will come back with our bikes, so we can enjoy the countryside. Barb did try her luck at the Charles Town Casino (although we ran out from the smoke smell). The nearby Potomac River is full of small mouth bass. I fly fished a portion of it. 48-catch and release bass.
The Innkeepers Donn and Marie Davis (304) 728-8003 or (800) 867-9830.They were a delight! We enjoyed their wonderful breakfast in their historic dining room. Check out their website: www.carriageinn.com
American Press travel News–July 9th, Bob & Barb “On The Road Again”-Once in the city of Morristown, we had visited with Anne G. Ross, Director of Tourism at the Area Chamber of Commerce Office. Anne sent us on a very informative itinerary that covered just a bit of the great things Morristown is all about.
We checked out part of the Lake way Area that included a visit to Cherokee Lake. The fishy lake has over 700-miles of shoreline. The ubiquitous largemouth and smallmouth bass are king here. We visited with shoreline angler’s cat fishing, and looking for brim and crappie. Everyone was having a great time, as the water was clean and clear and the temperatures were warm, but mitigated by a nice shore side breeze. We visited with Sam & Delores Phillips owners of Morristown Marine. Sam discussed the seven bass tournaments he runs each year on Lake Norris, Cherokee, South Holston, Watts Bar and Douglas Lake. He has 910 members of his invitational only events. They draw 220-230 boats for each event. Winners take home big bucks per event, ongoing for over 11-years. https://www.morristownmarine.com
Always interested in history, we headed over to the General Longstreet Museum. The historic home was used by General James Longstreet as his Civil War Confederate headquarters in the winter of 1863-64. The site includes a replica of an 1860’s tailor shop where Director Kelly Ford makes period military uniforms. We met up with “Dewey” a very serious Civil War buff, and he regaled us with a blow-by-blow of various Civil War skirmishes, dressed in a Confederate military outfit, he laid out everything he knew about General Longstreet’s life and times. Dewey is a very serious historian and really knows the full history of “everything” Civil war https://facebook.com/generallongstreetmuseum
We spent some time at the Rose Center of the Arts with Executive Director Beccy Hamm. The arts center is housed in an 1890’s Victorian school house. The center is the cultural arts hub of the Lake way Area. Gallery exhibits, performance spaces, meeting places and a sales gallery. We also met up with representatives from the Morristown Theatre Guild and Theatrical Company where we learned of the many shows slated for the coming months. Go: https//:www.rosecenter.org
Panther Creek State Park was quite spectacular, Jason Chadwell, Park Manager showed us the incredible sites including an overlook of Lake Cherokee. We also met Craig Price who discussed the newest and most challenging 18-hole Disc golf course. No clubs, just special Frisbee discs thrown into basket-catch hoops.
Hillbilly’s Cabin Restaurant was a fine breakfast spot. We enjoyed Spanish Omelets’ and real coffee! Then we were off to the Meeting Place Country Store & Antiques, and did some shopping for fun oldies but goodies!
Yes, Davey Crockett grew up here and since that time so long ago, so did generations of other families and pioneers in business, industry, medicine, the arts and sports! For more info go: facebook:Visit Morristown or facebook: retire Hamblen County, TN.
Next week take a peek at The Whitestone Inn on Watts Bar Lake!