I was supposed to go to Eastern TN and Nashville back in mid March which got derailed as the country basically shut down then. Was going to go in May and didn't go for the same reason I didn't go in March. Now, I am planning to go the week before Thanksgiving.
It is about an 8 hour drive from my house to Bristol which is where the trip basically starts - Bristol, Knoxville, Nashville, Jackson, Memphis, and then to the mother in law's in Clarksdale, MS for a few days and then drive back home to Eastern PA. There are a bunch of outdoor sites that I can see - historic markers, murals, etc.
There will be lots of driving, but like the Merediths, I need to get out of town too. The itinerary will be condensed from my original plans, but I will still get to see a lot. Nashville will get shortchanged the most, but I will get back there to see the museums at a later date.
My fingers are crossed that nothing crazy happens in the next 2.5 weeks that prevents me from getting out this time.