AboutJerry Yares Expertise Travel, sightseeing, dining, and sleeping here in East TN and the Great Smoky Mountains. Not a golfer, camper, boater, or fisherman.
Experience Lived here since 1998; many years of travel here before that.
Organizations belong to Local photo, nature, garden, and bird clubs
Expert: Jerry Yares Date: 4/26/2002 Subject: Visiting Tennessee
Question Can you give me a description of Tennessee as I hope to visit soon and do you know anything about travelling from the UK? Thank you.
Answer Lita:
Thanks for your interest in TN. I need to know a bit more from you.
TN is a big state--400 miles wide and 100 miles tall and about 42,000 square miles, just a bit smaller than England. Really, TN consists of three distinct regions. I live in E TN in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and the home of bluegrass music. Central TN, where the capital, Nashville, the country music center, is located, is rolling hill country. West TN and Memphis, Elvis' stomping grounds, tends to be flat, agricultural area with great barbecue and blues music.
So, can you tell me about how old you are, are you bringing a significant other and/or kids, what you are interested in doing/seeing in TN, the specific time you are planning to come (we have incredible spring wildflowers and spectacular fall tree-leaf colors), and anything else that can offer me better focus.
We just returned from two weeks in Holland. The current air travel environment should present you no problems. Just a passport, no visas needed. You have regular air service from Gatwick, Manchester, and Heathrow to close-by airports such as Atlanta, Detroit, and Cincinnati with easy connections to Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis.
Public transportation in the US is abysmal at best, so you should rent a car to get around. You can arrange inexpensive car rentals via web sites such as Travelocity or Orbitz. Although your UK drivers license should be acceptable, I would recommend that you obtain an International Drivers License from your local automobile association office. Gasoline here is cheap, about 1 UK pound per gallon. Be aware, however, that here in The States, we drive on the wrong side of the road. But you will catch on quickly. And US rental cars all have automatic transmissions.
Hotels and motels and B&Bs abound. When we travel in the US, we like to stay at Extended Stay America properties (check their web site). These are well-located self-catering suite properties that are extremely clean, safe, and affordable.
Money is no problem. The easiest way to get it is from ATM cash machines at local banks and other locations. The two main ATM networks in the US are PLUS (VISA) and CIRRUS (Mastercard/Maestro). Most bank ATMs are connected to both. Look on the back of your ATM card for the PLUS or CIRRUS logo or check with your local bank. The conversion rate with be very favorable--the same rate that big corporations get plus a one-percent conversion fee. A bargain. When you get off the plane, draw $US 500 at the airport ATM, then go to the newsstand and buy a newspaper to exchange a large bill for small change.
One other hint--when crossing the street in a city, be sure to look to the left--because that's where the cars will be coming from.
