14 Photos You'll Only Understand If You Hail From Tennessee
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Chris Dodge
Author
Tennessee is such a unique state in so many ways. From the mountains to the culture, there’s truly no place like the Volunteer State. I have traveled to many different states in my adventures, but there is nothing quite like home and I wholeheartedly love our state! Here are 14 Tennessee photos that depict what it’s like to be a local and what we cherish, so sit tight and read on… I promise this will be a fun exercise in TN state pride!
1. You call ‘em violins but we call ''em’ fiddles.
You know it's about to be a party when someone whips out one of these bad boys and the bow starts flying. Add a finger-pickin' banjo, an upright bass, and thumping drums and you’ve got yourself a toe-tapping good time ahead of you. Fun fact: a violin and a fiddle are actually the same instrument, but they call it a different name based on the style it's played.
2. Dolly Parton is the Queen of Tennessee.
People outside of the state might not get it, but everyone here loves Dolly. Not only does she embody the classic rags to riches story we love in America, but she never forgot where she came from. Her contribution to the Smoky Mountain area and the value she has poured back into the community is second to none. Let's just say if you don’t appreciate Dolly then you ain't from around here.
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3. Nashville gets all the attention when it comes to music, but Memphis has played an equally as important role in the music industry.
It's a known fact that Nashville is the capital of country music, but Memphis is known as the “The Home of the Blues.” A deep musical heritage can be traced back through the city’s history and a big part of that is B.B. King.
4. Memphis is also home to another king, Elvis!
One of the most recognizable faces of rock 'n' roll, with his catchy songs and dynamic hip thrusting, Elvis won over a generation to a genre that was revolutionary at the time. He may not have been born in Tennessee, but he choose it as his -- which is even better in my opinion.
5. Moonshining in the mountains of East Tennessee was a big deal during the prohibition era.
Tennessee's deep forests full of hard-to-find places offered a good cover for illegal activity. Seemingly not related at all is the unsuspecting can of Mountain Dew. But we Tennesseans know better. To the world Mountain Dew is a popular soda that is often paired with Doritos and late-night gaming sessions, but the origin? Well, it all started as a chaser to whisky and moonshine right here in Tennessee. so it takes on a whole new meaning here. Have you ever seen the throwback design on the cans? Take a good look and the whole thing makes a lot more sense!
6. The sacred tradition of the glorious "meat and three."
Southern cooking offers some serious comfort food and you can find it everywhere in the Volunteer State. A sweet meat paired with three sides is a winning combination that will forever be in our hearts, but mostly in our bellies! Looking for a great place to partake in this ageless tradition? Check out Swett’s in Nashville.
7. Our chicken is hot, like *really* hot!
Nashville Hot Chicken was first popularized by Prince’s Hot Chicken in Nashville and started a massive trend that went through the entire state. Take some fried chicken and mix it with some spicy hot peppers and you're left with a mouth on fire and thousands of satisfied customers. We may have humid summers here in TN, but it's not just the weather that will make you sweat!
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8. Everyone knows that BBQ from Tennessee is better.
In the South, BBQ is serious business. One of the best places to experience the true culture surrounding smoked meats is Memphis, Tennessee. Each restaurant is striving to be the best in BBQ and you can make a good case for most establishments being the best. It is hotly debated and everyone has a favorite, but when you take a bite of some juicy smoked goods, everyone is a winner.
9. The Smoky Mountains, AKA our country's most popular national park.
So many people make a yearly pilgrimage to this wonderful park. As great as it is to have thousands of people enjoying these mountains, they will always be *our* mountains. We are happy to share, but at the end of the day they belong to Tennessee -- and North Carolina, of course, so we can’t take all of the credit...
10. Our country has some fantastic places for a tropical vacation, but as we say in Tennessee, “You can keep 'em."
Because in Tennessee, we have mountains to climb and waterfalls to chase. Who needs a day at the beach when you can hike into the woods, find a glorious waterfall, and take a dip in a cool mountain pool? Check out some wondrous waterfalls in East Tennessee such as Margeretta Falls or Blue Hole Falls -- seriously they are so good.
11. Nope, this isn't Greece... this is Nashville, baby!
Check out the Pantheon whenever you go to Nashville. It might not be inherently Tennessean in nature but we embrace it anyways. It might seem strange to have a replica of a famous Greek building in the heart of the South, but that's what makes it so special!
12. We bleed orange in Tennessee.
College football is a big deal in the South and we are no different. On the good days and bad days, we support The Vols and will always cheer them on. I have heard it once said, “Our sunsets in Tennessee are always a beautiful hue of orange colors because God is a Vols fan…”
13. Moon Pies and RC Cola are Tennessee originals and we are proud of it.
Every year there is a little town called Bell Buckle that hosts the Moon Pie and RC Cola Festival. Sure, it's a little ridiculous -- but everything fun is a little ridiculous from time to time.
14. Look at this lovable little cub!
It was captured with a zoom lens (of course) because we locals know better than to go near a black bear. He might seem like a lovable and cuddly creature, but momma is hiding nearby, and when momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. In all seriousness, though, please be mindful when exploring in nature -- we have lots of bears in the Smokies.
Wasn’t that fun? These Tennessee photos show us just a little bit of our personality and gives a glimpse into our wonderful state. I love our state and am proud to be a part of it and if you are too, wear your pride proudly with these sweet homemade gifts.
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