Bristol Bound
3 1/2 hours from Chattanooga
On Sept. 10, the University of Tennessee Vols will take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol, which is being billed as the biggest college football game of all time.
The night before the big game, festivities kick off with a concert at 6:30 p.m. featuring Kenny Chesney, the Band Perry and Old Dominion.
Where to stay
If you haven't reserved a hotel room yet, you probably won't be able to find one near the stadium at this point. You may still be able to find a vacation rental property through racelodging.com, a local travel agency focused on Bristol Motor Speedway visitors, or on vacation rental sites such as Airbnb.com.
Where to eat
Get a break from ho-hum national chain restaurants with alternatives such as Basq, a gastropub with French flair and a slightly upscale yet casual feel. Located in downtown Bristol, its menu features out-of-the-ordinary eats such as savory crepes. Local chain Pal's Sudden Service, with locations throughout northeast Tennessee, is a good spot to pick up breakfast or burgers and fries on the go. For good Mexican food with a nice outdoor dining area, head to El Patio in Bristol, Virginia, or find what some say is among the best Italian in East Tennessee at the family-run Bello Vita in Johnson City. For seafood in a bar atmosphere, try Biggie's Clam Bar in Kingsport.
What to do
The trails at Bristol's Sugar Hollow Park are a great place to get rid of all your pent-up energy from the drive. The park is close to the city's main shopping area and also boasts a disc golf course, picnic area and nice campground - something to keep in mind if you haven't yet found a place to stay.
State Street, located on the state line between Tennessee and Virginia in the middle of Bristol's charming downtown, is a good spot to find restaurants, bars, boutiques and antiques. On this street you'll also find the iconic Bristol sign and the Birthplace of Country Music Hall of Fame, a museum with interactive exhibits where you can catch a live radio broadcast and record your own songs in its karaoke booth. Be sure to check to see what's open before heading to State Street, as many places shut down early, and most are closed on Sundays.
Follow in the Founding Fathers' footsteps
7 hours from Chattanooga; 4 hours from Bristol
Not a football fan? On the same day as the Battle at Bristol, the 10th annual Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello, the former home of Thomas Jefferson, will be held in Charlottesville, Virginia. The educational festival is focused on gardening, local food, sustainability and the preservation of heritage plants. It features workshops, tours, tastings, demos and kids' activities.
What to do
Monticello is worth a visit no matter when you find yourself in Charlottesville - perhaps after the epic game, if you've got time to kill and nerves to calm. Save time to check out the gift shop. I'm a huge fan of gift shops at museums and historical attractions, and Monticello's is among the best I've seen. You'll need at least three hours to take each of the tours: the house, the garden and the slavery tours. If you're interested in the more in-depth, behind-the-scenes tour, be aware that you won't be the only one, and get there early before it sells out.
Another tour worth taking in the area is of the campus of the University of Virginia, also designed by Jefferson. If you visit here after Monticello, you'll definitely notice similarities. Stop by the UVA visitors' center to sign up for a free guided tour (or just join one you come across on the grounds) to get the interesting historical tidbits guides can provide. Check out the dorm rooms, including the one occupied by Edgar Allen Poe.
Where to eat and sleep
For a quick bite near UVA, build your own burger at Boylan Heights, a popular spot on "The Corner" across from campus with a great beer selection. Or, grab a towering burger made from grass-fed beef with hand-cut fries from Citizen Burger Bar. Smaller portions prevail at C & O Restaurant, a rustic French place that offers finer fare (at a steeper price) and is famous for its steak chinoise. You may want to make reservations.
Late-night diners can get subs from old-time favorite Littlejohn's, which has been in the same location on the Corner for 40 years, open 24/7.
Foodies should make the drive to Clifton Inn, a Relais & Chateaux property that serves as both a fine dining restaurant and bed-and-breakfast. (The main house originally belonged to Thomas Jefferson's daughter.) Whether you go for the chef's tasting menu or choose something a la carte, you won't be disappointed.
Keswick Hall's Tuscan-style villa, built as a private home in 1912 on 600 acres, is now a country club and resort with just 48 rooms, making you feel as if you're a guest at a wealthy friend's impeccably landscaped country estate. Many rooms feature large balconies with seating areas overlooking the Pete Dye-designed golf course. The resort also has multiple tennis courts, an 80-foot infinity pool and even its own hot air balloon launch. Its formal restaurant has amazing food and views, to boot.
The 1804 Inn at Barboursville Vineyards once served as the offices of former Virginia Gov. James Barbour, whose home next door designed by Thomas Jefferson burned, but the ruins still stand. Have dinner at Palladio, the fine dining restaurant on-site, or enjoy a wine tasting. Several other vineyards dot the nearby landscape, including Horton Vineyards, Keswick Vineyards, Pippin Hill Farm, Jefferson Vineyards, and, an option from the Republican presidential nominee, Trump Vineyards.