Guest Author - Marilyn Crain

There are times when you just need to “get away from it all” and spend some quiet time by yourself or with that one special person. If the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday has you all stressed out, then maybe it’s time to consider a long weekend exploring the beauty of Tennessee. And what could be more relaxing than a lovely bed and breakfast inn?

First you must choose which region you want to visit. What a wide range of choices you have. From the banks of the Mississippi River all the way to the Great Smokey Mountains, Tennessee offers beautiful and diverse landscapes.

Just outside of Nashville in Cornersville, you’ll find the Lairdland Farm Bed & Breakfast. If you love rural historic settings, then a cabin on this Tennessee Walking Horse farm might be ideal for you. You can enjoy all the modern amenities in these vintage nineteenth century accommodations.

The Blue Porch in Readyville offers much more than comfortable room in a new craftsman style home. This bed and breakfast offers cooking lessons, wine tasting classes and a special massage package to wash away the stress.

Located just about as close to the Great Smoky Mountains as you can get, the Calico Inn offers warm country charm and breathtaking views. Once you step onto the expansive front porch, you may find it difficult to leave. However, should you feel the need for a peek at the local tourist spots, Gatlinburg and Dollywood are just a hop and a skip down the road.

If a more urban setting suites your taste, consider the Bluff View Inn which is part of Chattanooga’s Bluff View Art District. This historic district is known for its dedication to the culinary arts. Whether it’s bread, pasta, coffee or chocolate treats you’re seeking, you’ll find it here.

How about a B&B in Paris? Paris, Tennessee, of course. At the Veranda Bed and Breakfast in Paris, you can wake up early and have coffee or tea at 6:00 a.m. and the savor a full breakfast by candlelight at 8:30 a.m. Sounds a bit like something you might enjoy in the other Paris, doesn’t it?

If you’re an Elvis fan visiting Graceland, think about staying at the Sassafras Inn Bed and Breakfast in Hernando, Mississippi. Well, I cheated a bit on this “Tennessee” B&B, but it’s only 12 miles from Graceland and it is a beautiful place. It offers something you don’t see everyday in a B&B--an indoor pool, tropical gardens, waterfalls and a hot tub. You can’t get more relaxing than that.

These lovely places are just a taste of the many bed and breakfast inns scattered across Tennessee.

As always, before you choose an accommodation that you haven’t visited before, do your research. Find out about rates, availability, refund policies and all the fine print. One additional consideration during holiday periods is that some inns require minimum stays. A few actually offer only seven-day stays from just before Thanksgiving through Christmas.

So, make you list of questions, review a lot of websites and pay close attention to visitor reviews and “best inn” awards. Then enjoy your non-traditional, but stress-free, Thanksgiving get away.