Category: Geography

Music City U.S.A.

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Last week I wrote about Paducah Kentucky, Grand Rivers Kentucky (the actual port-of-call), Kentucky Lake (part of the lower Tennessee River), Kentucky Dam (which creates the artificial lake), Land Between The Lakes, Barkley Canal (which connects the two lakes / rivers), and Lake Barkley (part of the lower Cumberland River).

Continuing upstream for 158 miles on the Cumberland river on my upcoming American Cruise Lines paddlewheeler ship cruise – it’s the final port-of-call – Nashville AKA “Music City U.S.A.” AKA “NashVegas” !

I’ve been to Nashville once before in my life, and that was back in August 1992 for a few hours. (I wrote about that in a recent #TravelThursday). It took me 34 years to get back there.

Actually – for the record – I should mention an incident that occurred on Saturday November 18TH 2017. I took I-65 northward from Montgomery Alabama to south of Louisville Kentucky (Brooks) on that day. In Nashville I was in the wrong lane, and I was forced to exit off of I-65. I ended up driving right through downtown Nashville in what appeared to be an entertainment district with lots of restaurants, bars, and rowdy college kids. (It was a college football day.) I eventually found I-65 further up the road, and I continued my trek northward.

We’ll actually be docked on the downtown riverfront for the final two nights of the cruise. On our full day (after the first night) in Nashville I’ll be on a shore excursion exploring the historic Ryman Auditorium. It was built from 1885 to 1892, and it opened in 1892. It was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, and from 1963 to 1974 it was officially known as the Grand Ole Opry House. I’m looking forward to touring “The Mother Church Of Country Music”. (It was built as a tabernacle by Riverboat Captain Tom Ryman. Its original name – the “Union Gospel Tabernacle”.)

Finally – here’s some Breaking News for you on this publish date of Thursday October 08TH 2026. Yesterday evening I returned home from Nashville (where I was since we arrived on Monday afternoon). My inaugural American Cruise Lines paddlewheeler ship cruise is now in the books. I’m looking forward to sharing as much as I can remember about my 9-day / 8-night experience. I took lots of notes in real-time. I’ll probably be reenacting this cruise in writing through the end of the year, so get ready for that. I’ll get started from the very beginning – next – #TravelThursday. Let’s keep traveling together.

Tags Barkley Canal, Catfish, Cruise, Cumberland River, Grand Rivers, Kentucky, Kentucky Dam, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Nashville, Ohio River, Paducah, Savannah, Tennessee, Tennessee River

Animals Blogging Geography History Military Nature Photography Travel

Village Between The Lakes

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Last week I wrote about the other Savannah – the one on the Tennessee River known as the “Catfish Capital Of The World”.

Continuing downstream on the river on my upcoming American Cruise Lines paddlewheeler ship cruise – it’s Grand Rivers Kentucky down in the southwestern corner of the state. It’s about 167 miles downstream from Savannah, and the journey is scheduled to take about 17½ hours, for an average speed of about 9½ MPH. There is no elevation drop between Savannah and Grand Rivers, as the entire journey is actually on Kentucky Lake – created by Kentucky Dam at Grand Rivers. At 160,309 acres it is the largest artificial lake by surface area in the U.S. east of the Mississippi River.

I’ll be part of a 3-hour-plus shore excursion that afternoon in Land Between The Lakes – the federally-protected national recreation area between Kentucky Lake (Tennessee River) and Lake Barkley (Cumberland River). Our first stop will be the Woodlands Nature Station. Our next stop will be the Elk & Bison Prairie.

Paducah Kentucky (“Quilt City U.S.A.”) is another option on this day while docked in Grand Rivers. It’s about a 30-minute luxury coach ride into downtown, and then you’re on your own to do your own thing there for up to 3 hours before the coach returns back to the ship.

That night back on the cruise ship we will officially transfer over from the Tennessee River downstream to the Cumberland River upstream. (Both rivers flow into the Ohio River.) The 1.75-mile Barkley Canal essentially acts as a short-cut between the two rivers near their closest approach to allow vessels to bypass the Ohio River some 22½ (Tennessee) to 30½ (Cumberland) miles downstream. The Barkley Canal was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) from the late-1950s through the mid-1960s. It was completed and filled in 1966. The water depth runs from 11 to 15 feet depending on rainfall.

Once on Lake Barkley our 22-hour journey upstream on the Cumberland River begins. The river narrows into a traditional river and winds its way southeastward towards downtown Nashville, and that’s where I’ll be – next – #TravelThursday. Let’s keep traveling together.

Tags Barkley Canal, Catfish, Cruise, Cumberland River, Grand Rivers, Kentucky, Kentucky Dam, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Nashville, Ohio River, Paducah, Savannah, Tennessee, Tennessee River

Blogging Food Geography History Military Nature Photography Travel

Catfish Capital Of The World

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date September 24, 2026
4 Comments on Catfish Capital Of The World

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Last week I wrote about Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia Alabama – collectively known as “The Shoals” locally.

Downstream the Tennessee River from The Shoals by about 66 miles is Savannah Tennessee – “Catfish Capital Of The World”. It’s the next port-of-call on my upcoming American Cruise Lines paddlewheeler ship cruise. It’s about 55 to 60 feet lower in elevation than Florence Harbor, so less than a foot every mile on average. But nearly the entire drop actually occurs at the lock at Pickwick Dam – 17 miles before (upstream from) Savannah. That will be an early-morning 45-minute drop in the “elevator”, as we are scheduled to arrive in Savannah by 7:30 AM – about 40 minutes after sunrise.

I’m booked on a couple of shore excursions that day in Savannah. In the morning I’ll be touring the historic Shiloh National Military Park about 10 miles southwest of Savannah. It was the site of the American Civil War Battle Of Shiloh (AKA Battle Of Pittsburg Landing) on April 06TH and 07TH of 1862. It was established as a National Military Park 32½ years later on December 27TH 1894. President Grover Cleveland signed it into law. It was transferred from the Department Of War to the National Park Service effective August 10TH 1933 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

So you’re wondering about the catfish. The stretch of Tennessee River adjacent to Savannah is known for its abundance of various types of catfish of all sizes – including some really big ones in the 60 to 80 pound or more range. Catfishing anglers come to Savannah each Fall (September and October) to participate in various tournaments. The locals welcome the visitors, as the city celebrates with pageants, parades, and fish fry gatherings along the river.

As for Savannah itself – it was settled 200 years ago during the 1820s. It was originally named Rudd’s Ferry – named after – well – James Rudd (an early settler) – and his ferry across the Tennessee. His wife was Elizabeth, and she was originally from Savannah Georgia. In 1830 – Rudd’s Ferry was renamed to Savannah Tennessee so that Elizabeth could still live in a town named Savannah. Nowadays over 7,000 residents call Savannah home, and over 28,000 residents live in surrounding Hardin County (including Savannah).

Next #TravelThursday – I’ll write about Grand Rivers Kentucky – where two rivers almost but not quite converge. Let’s keep traveling together.

Tags Alabama, Catfish, Cruise, Florence, Muscle Shoals, Savannah, Sheffield, Shiloh, Shoals, Tennessee, Tennessee River, Tuscumbia

Blogging Driving Geography History Music Nature Photography Travel Weather

The Renaissance City

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Last week I wrote about Huntsville and Decatur Alabama. On my upcoming American Cruise Lines paddlewheeler ship we will cruise from Decatur westward less than 40 miles to our next port-of-call. It’ll be a slow and meticulous 40 miles over the course of 6 hours as we drop nearly 140 feet in elevation. We’ll essentially be dropping from the Upper Tennessee River to the Lower Tennessee River via a couple of dams and locks that will lower the ship gradually like an elevator. Before the dams were constructed from the late-1910s to the mid-1930s that stretch of river was shallow and rocky with steep sudden drops creating rapids and waterfalls.

That 6-hour trek downstream will occur late at night, so unless I’m out on my balcony watching us enter the locks, lower, and exit the locks – I’ll probably be sleeping right through it.

As the dawn of a new day arrives I’ll be waking up in Alabama’s Renaissance City – Florence. It’s actually 1 of 4 cities that form what locals affectionately call “The Shoals”. Florence (about 45,000 residents), Muscle Shoals (about 18,000), Sheffield (about 9,000), and Tuscumbia (about 9,000) make up the region that collectively include well over 150,000 residents including adjacent smaller towns and communities.

Fun Facts: Historic routes U.S. 43 and U.S. 72 meet in the region, and they form a concurrency through The Shoals. U.S. 43 runs 410 miles from Columbia Tennessee southward to Mobile. U.S. 72 runs 318 miles from Memphis eastward to Chattanooga. There are long-term plans to upgrade U.S. 43 along the entire western Alabama corridor from Florence to Mobile to Interstate standards. Decades from now it could perhaps be I-63 (not currently in-use).

That day will be busy for me in Florence. (The ship will be docked at Florence Harbor Marina adjacent to McFarland Park.) I’ll be part of a guided tour of multiple historic Shoals music studios in the morning. That afternoon I’ll be visiting Ivy Green – a historic house museum in Tuscumbia. It’s the birthplace and childhood home of Helen Keller.

I’m looking forward to my two days of cruising the Tennessee River in northern Alabama (203 miles across the state). Hopefully the Fall weather is nice, so that I can fully enjoy Huntsville, Decatur, and The Shoals.

And that’s a hint as to when this cruise will actually occur. Some of you close to me already know when I’ll be on this cruise, so if you know then you know to keep it between us. Everyone else will find out all about this cruise when I actually begin writing about it after I return home.

Next #TravelThursday – I’ll write about Savannah Tennessee. Let’s keep traveling together.