Tennessee is within a day's drive of 65 percent of our nation's population. There, you'll find natural beauty, great music and vibrant communities ladled with a dose of Southern hospitality. Here are five places your family won't want to miss.

1 Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg.

This 800- square-mile wonderland offers a treasure trove of outdoor opportunity for family members of all ages. Heavily forested, it's well known for its plant and animal diversity, including a population of 1,500 black bears. Enjoy picnicking, hiking the nearly 800 miles of trails, horseback riding and fishing. Kids can earn a Junior Ranger badge and join one of the ranger-led programs designed for young people.

Contact: 865-436-1200; www.nps.gov/grsm

2 Graceland, Memphis.

Share a bit of music history with your kids by including Elvis Presley's home in your itinerary. You won't want to miss the trophy building where the King of Rock 'n' Roll stowed his massive collection of awards, records and flashy mementos. Consider donning a headset for an audio tour that includes commentary from Elvis himself as well as his wife, Priscilla.

Conclude the visit with a stop by the Meditation Garden where Elvis and other family members rest in peace.

Contact: 901-332-3322 or 1-800-238-2000; www.elvis.com

3Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga.

Make time for a stop at the world's largest freshwater aquarium. Scope out the 10-foot-long sharks, giant spider crabs, river otters and alligators. Within the aquarium's newest addition, Ocean Journey, you and your clan will learn about stealthy stingrays and colorful reef fish as the creatures glide through coral formations. You'll also experience a shark and ray touch pool and hundreds of free-flying butterflies. Ask about overnight programs that allow those 6 and older to "Sleep in the Deep."

Contact: 1-800-262-0695; www.tennesseeaquarium.com

4 Nashville.

Spend time in Music City USA, and young and old will swing to country music and discover its rich origins. Start at the Grand Ole Opry, where an 85th birthday celebration is under way. Learn about industry legends such as Loretta Lynn as well as more recent names the kids might recognize, including Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum further reveals how folk and gospel music and front-porch jamming evolved into the sounds we know today. You'll also see rhinestone costumes and tear-stained lyric sheets in this world's largest music museum.

Contact: Grand Ole Opry, 1-800-733-6779, www.opry.com; Country Music Hall of Fame, 615-416-2001; www.countrymusichalloffame.org

5 John Muir Trail, Cherokee National Forest at Reliance, Tenn.

Named for the famed naturalist and founder of the Sierra Club, the John Muir Trail stretches for 20.7 miles along the north side of the Hiwassee State Scenic River. Here, nature-loving families can explore a crowd-free portion of the state that's said to look much the same as it did in Muir's day. Take the trail in springtime to view wildflowers. Fishing, picnicking and rafting are also accessible via the trail.

Contact: www.fs.fed.us/r8/cherokee/

Port Aransas, Texas Offers a Reasonably-Priced Beach Vacation during These Economic Times

Beachgate CondoSuites, the Ideal Location for Families

Many families in Texas (and beyond) enjoy vacationing in Port Aransas, as the island on the southeast part of the state offers a truly economical trip for families of any size. Historically, Port Aransas (called “Port A”) has been one of the state’s top beach destinations. Not as far south as South Padre, Port Aransas is approximately 4 hours from Austin so the distance is drive-able for most (which is appealing for many families).

The island offers quite a few options for family accommodations but an ideal location to park your family for a visit is at Beachgate CondoSuites. Located on the public access beach, the walk from front door to beach spot is just about 100 yards (close enough for a quick bathroom trip while on the beach).

You’ll find a lot of benefits to Beachgate for a family vacation. You can drive up, park your car, and not get back in until it’s time to leave (a huge plus for us families with young kids!). Beachgate condos have fully stocked kitchens and plenty of space to entertain.

I highly recommend Beachgate III, the most recently-renovated building on property. You have several options, depending on the size you need. You can reserve just one condo, which is 2 bedroom/2 bath, and can sleep up to 8 people (2 king beds, 2 futons and an air mattress). Also, you can reserve two condos on the same floor, which are adjoining, and you have 4 bedrooms/4 baths. This option is ideal for multiple families traveling together or a family reunion. There are 4 floors in Beachgate III (2 condos per floor).

The condos are very spacious, clean and the property tries to accommodate guest’s needs as much as possible. I recommend bringing all your food and drinks and feeding your family in your condo. That way, you have plenty of food, snacks and drinks to take down to the beach with you, as well.

When your troops get tired of the beach, you also have the option of swimming in the two Beachgate pools, which are great for young kids because they are fairly small and shallow. There are also hot tubs next to each pool. My kids enjoyed hanging out on the beach all day and finishing up the evening in the pool.

Highlights of Beachgate CondoSuites:

1. Easy access to the beach (no boardwalk or dangerous streets to cross with kids)
2. Large renovated condos with full kitchen, dining area, living area and 2 bedrooms with king bed in each. Each bedroom and living room has a flat-screen cable TV.
3. The property offers an array of different sizes and styles of accommodations, from large condos to small suites.
4. For those of us that work while on vacation, there’s high-speed wireless Internet in each condo.

A few important points to consider:

1. The exterior is less appealing than the interior (I’d always rather have a nicer interior than exterior, if I had to choose). But do not be scared off by the photos on the website. Beachgate III is nicely renovated.
2. Make sure and ask for items not found in the condo that you need, such as shampoo/soap, cleaning supplies, etc.
3. In each of the Beachgate III condos, there’s one large bathroom and one smaller (for the kids).

Beachgate CondoSuites & Resort

2000 On the Beach Dr., Port Aransas, TX 78373

Phone: 361 749 5900

 www.beachgate.com