In the southwest portion of Tennessee, about 2 ½ hours from Nashville and 2 hours and 15 minutes from Memphis, lies Hardin County which is home to celebrities, catfish and lots of history.
Explore these travel hotspots and discover more as Hardin County is located on two of the 16 Discover Tennessee Trails and Byways: Tennessee River Trail, Walking Tall. It's also mapped along the Tennessee Civil War Trails.
All day on the water
Courtesy of Rachel Baker — @HardinCountyTN
The warm waters of the Tennessee River beckon fishers and boaters to spend an afternoon on the water. Wait for a huge catfish to take the bait. Approx. 46 miles of the River runs through Hardin County and offers wonderful fishing conditions like grass beds, feeder creeks and shallow stump flats. Then there's always the option of spending the day lazing about on a pontoon, a Tennessee brew in hand, soaking up the sun rays. Pickwick Landing State Park is home not only to fishing but golf, beaches, hiking and accommodations at the state park's inn which gives guests access to the indoor and outdoor pools. With 119 rooms, a restaurant, tennis courts and breathtaking views of Pickwick Lake, it's a great place to get away to nature.
Learn something new
Savannah is home to the Tennessee River Museum, which brings the history of Hardin County to life through interactive exhibits that touch on topics from paleontology to when settlers moved west, using the River to do so. Learn of the Trail of Tears where the Native Americans crossed Savannah's main street and along the Tennessee River. Historic documents, timelines, artifacts from the Mississippian Era and more.
Continue on to Shiloh and walk the hallowed grounds of Shiloh National Military Park where the Battle of Shiloh, one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, took place. Officially, the battle produced 23,746 killed, wounded or missing soldiers. Stop in the Shiloh Battlefield Visitor Center to see the award-winning film "Shiloh: Fiery Trial" which plays every hour 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center also has artifact exhibits on display that give an in-depth look into the battlefield. The park sits on 5,000 acres with monuments and the graves of 4,000 soldiers. The park also contains a Mississippian Era village at the Shiloh Indian Mounds National Historic Landmark.
Chow down
Courtesy of Hagy's Catfish Hotel
While in Shiloh, you have to stop at Hagy's Catfish Hotel located near the entrance of the Shiloh National Military Park. The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Start your meal off with the potato skins filled with bacon, scallions and melted cheddar cheese and then eat the award-winning All You Can Eat Catfish that's southern fried and hearty. Try your catfish with a bit of Cajun spice as the catfish is broiled in butter and smothered in bayou seasonings.
Mark this on your calendar
You'll want to be in town for Darryl Worley's Tennessee River Run which includes a golf tournament, 5K run, songwriters in the round event and a concert featuring Darryl Worley himself with friends Lorrie Morgan, Tracy Lawrence and Wade Hayes Oct. 3 in downtown Savannah. Worley, a Hardin County native, is a recording artist and country music singer best known for his songs "Awful Beautiful Life," "When You Need My Love" and "Have You Forgotten". The festival's proceeds go toward the Darryl Worley Foundation.
