TENNESSEE’s APPALACHIAN QUILT TRAIL

The Appalachian region of the United States is rich in tradition. Known worldwide for crafts and music, the people of Appalachia are fiercely independent. Isolated mountain settlements preserve the spirit of place and ensure that cultural authenticity is passed from generation to generation. It is a perfect destination for the “slow traveler” — or for anyone who purposely sets out to discover community heritage.

Some of you may remember the movie Songcatcher (2000). It takes place in the first decade of the last century, and tells the story of  Lily Perleric, a brilliant musicologist, a Ph.D. who was denied a promotion at the university where she was teaching. Bitter and disillusioned, she decides on the spur of the moment, to visit her sister in Appalachia. To her amazement, she soon discovers a treasure trove of old Scots-Irish songs that have been handed down from generation to generation, preserved orally in the seclusion of the North Carolina mountains. As Lily treks into isolated mountain regions, she becomes obsessed by the rugged purity of the music, and the courage and endurance of the people.

Those of you interested in folk art today are a bit luckier than Lily. If you are interested in quilting, you will still need to travel to out of the way places, but the State of Tennessee has put together a guide called Appalachian Quilt Trail that will send you on your way.

Bringing agriculture, art, tourism, and local culture together, the Appalachian Quilt Trail leads across Tennessee with over 320 stops and way points. It celebrates Appalachia’s historic century farms, local businesses, farmer’s markets, corn mazes, bed and breakfasts, and art galleries. Just as importantly, the trail supports local agriculture and business by incorporating stops where you can purchase fresh produce or handmade arts and crafts.

I recently followed the trail through Roane, Monroe, and Loudon Counties and — even though I traveled on a dreary November day — I enjoyed local cheese at Sweetwater Valley Farm and wine tasting at the Tennessee Valley Winery. Purchases from the two tasted even better in my motel room later in the evening.

Aside from the natural beauty of the region and the boost to local business, the Appalachian Quilt Trail introduces travelers to the art of quilting and to the way in which favorite quilt patterns are handed down from generation to generation.

Whether you are on the trail for a few hours or a few days, you can set your own pace exploring the scenic byways of Appalachia while learning more about the area and its arts and culture.

The Appalachian Quilt Trail Visitor’s Guide can be downloaded in PDF form at http://www.vacationaqt.com/visitor-guide/

Posted by Lisa Reynolds Wolfe.

Photograph by David L. Wolfe.