Road Between Two States - Va. & Tn.

By Kandy Derdent Managing Editor of Seasonal Eatings

Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia is confusing at first until you realize the town is in both states, and yet still operates as a single city. State Street is so named because it is quite literally, the state line between the two states. Markers are embedded in the pavement of this street in the downtown area. This gives pedestrians ample opportunity to snap a photo of being in two places at one time.

One of the places you need to see is the Bristol Motor Speedway, also known as The Last Great Colosseum. At first, it seems small, especially when compared to some of the newer racetracks used by Nascar. However, this is a good thing for spectators. Unlike the larger stadiums, fans can see all the action on the track all the time.

Bristol is not just for racing enthusiasts. History buffs will be interested in the musical heritage associated with this town. Rich in History. Rich in Music.

They are one and the same for Bristol which is the birthplace of country music. Check out birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/museum for hours of operation. My favorite exhibit was about Tennessee Ernie Ford who was born in Bristol. His home is part of the walking tour.

Even though we were only there a short time, I managed to find a couple of hours to stroll the main street and do a bit of souvenir shopping. I found all the typical tourist shops you would expect in a small town. Of particular interest was Southern Churn, an ice cream and candy shop. One of their many specialties is homemade fudge available in numerous flavors - including peach! It was one flavor I had never seen before, much less taste. We tried to ration is so it could be enjoyed for several days. However, it was fudge! Now I don’t know about you, but in our family, rationing and fudge just don’t belong in the same sentence. For more information check out thesouthernchurn.com .

Likewise, the Blackbird Bakery is where we tried to make our selections last. The showcases were bulging with the largest assortment of pastries I have ever seen in one place. As a result we were able to sample a doughnut, brownie and a lemon blueberry cheesecake bar. The location is not on the main business street, but is very close by on a side street. BlackbirdBakeryBristol.com

One of my favorite stops was Cranberry Lane, a gift shop specializing in pleasures and treasures for your home. I found all sorts of lovely items which would make excellant gifts. Alas, our car was just not large enough to take home the many delightful accents I found to enhance my decor.

I found candles, wall art, and even a year-round Christmas section. I finally selected some unique coasters as a reminder of our time spent in this area. See more at cranberrylanehome.com .

While strolling along with no particular agenda in mind, I noticed an art gallery. I don’t know why I was surprised by the display, but I was. The photography on exhibit was extraordinary! Even though I didn’t plan to go inside, instinct drew me in to see and learn more. Soon I was experiencing photography like never before.

At first, it was impossible not to notice the oversized canvasses. Then, once I stepped back and begin to enjoy the encompassing beauty, I begin to notice smaller pieces appropriately positioned for the best viewing.

It didn’t take long to zero in on a particularly spectacular image. Lela Strobell, the Fine Art Consultant working in the gallery explained the circumstances involved in getting the shot. “The story regarding the Oxbow Landing image is not uncommon for Benjamin. He will wait out storms, heat, brace himself against the elements, return year after year after year to capture the image he is after! Specifically with Oxbow Landing, the dark storm clouds almost dominate the background of the image. After a long, cold day, he focused his lens on the geese landing in the water. All of a sudden, the clouds above opened, revealing a magnificent spotlight on the golden Aspens along the shore. It has become a collector favorite!”

In the early years especially, Benjamin’s dedication to his craft was impressive. Perhaps the best example of this was evidenced when he rationed food to save money for buying more film. Was it worth it? You decide. He is now a five-time Smithsonian Exhibitor and winner of several international awards. Check out more of his story at www. BenjaminWalls.com.

My walkabout ended with a visit to the local farmer’s market where I met some of the friendliest people in the area. Alas, just like the giftshop, I had no room in our vehicle for the fresh yumminess they offered.

However, after all the walking and exploring, I was ready for dinner. We ate at Southern Craft BBQ, an excellent restaurant located right beside our hotel. They had a wide variety of hot sandwiches served with homemade onion rings or home fries. They were so good, we returned for breakfast the next morning.

We had a hearty breakfast which is best described as scrumptious! I opted for a breakfast sandwich so I could get the home fries again but everyone else ordered French toast. It was a challenge to eat it all, but we gave it our best shot. Yum!

The historic building was once an Old South/Battery location and has since been completely restored.

Our hotel was named Sessions because it was a former recording studio for the above-mentioned country music. Each room is furnished with the music recording theme and equipped with a record player and an assortment of albums. There is never the need to worry about bothering the neighboring room with your music. The soundproof walls from bygone recording days are still in place. So feel free to sing along if you wish.