Travel Guide Authors Visit Camden


Kids Love Publications' authors George and Michele Zavatsky toured a variety of Tennessee's attractions July 11-21 gathering information for their 2004 book: "Kids Love Tennessee." Over the last several years, the Ohio-based couple has researched and published several travel books including editions for Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and the Virginias, now on the best seller lists.

The State of Tennessee Department of Tourist Development assisted Michele with a few of her destination decisions, but most of the attractions were chosen from her own research, according to Michele. She said, "I look for places to go and things to do that will interest adults and children alike, and keep the family together."

George Zavatsky and Michele (Darrall) Zavatsky were raised in the Midwest and have lived in several different cities throughout the region. They are very thankful to be called "the family that goes on vacation for a living." They have spent thousands of hours in research (while the kids were sleeping!), travel, and writing to produce books that they would be "proud to use."

The attraction list they visited this journey included: Exchange Place 1850s Farm, Elizabethton; Netherland Inn Stagecoach Stop, Elizabethton; Sycamore Shoals Historic Park - Carter Mansion Tour, Watauga Damn Tour; Hands-On/Regional Museum, Johnson City; Rocky Mount Museum/Frontier House and Overmtn. Museum, Johnson City; The Wataugans Outdoor Drama; Davy Corckett Birthplace SHA, Limestone; President Andrew Johnson NHS, Greenville; Nathaneal Green County Museum, Greenville; Crockett Tavern Museum, Morristown; Fort Southwest Point, Kingston; Fall Creek Falls; Stones River National Battlefield, Murfreesboro; Cannonsburgh Village, Murfreesboro; Children's Discovery House, Murfreesboro; Sam Davis Home, Smyrna; Trinity Music City, Hendersonville; US Army Corps of Engineers' Tour, Hendersonville; Mansker's Station Frontier Life Center Tour, Goodlettesville; Fiddler's Grove Historic Village, Lebanon; Lebanon Museum and History Center; Cracker Barrel Headquarters Tour, Lebanon; Belle Meade Mansion, Nashville; Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Nashville; Adventure Science Center; Grand Ole Opry; Ernest Tubbs Midnight Jamboree and Texas Troubadour Theatre; Hatch Show Print - Letter Press Printing of Opry Posters; The Heritage - President Andrew Jackson Home; Magic Valley Car Museum; Nashville Toy Museum; Ryman Auditorium Tour; Nashville Carriage Tour of Historic District; Tennessee State Museum; Wildhorse Saloon; Travellers Rest Plantation - Prehistoric Village; The Carter House; Spring Hill - Saturn Factory Tour; Granny's TV Network, Ethridge; Uncle Charlie's Old Amish Farm, Ethridge; Shiloh National Military Park, Shiloh; Pickwick Dam and River Museum; Bird Dog Plantation, Grand Junction; Tennessee Pewter Company, Grand Junction: Children Museum of Memphis; Chaucalissa Archeological Museum; Gibson Guitar Factory; Fire Museum of Memphis; Graceland; Pink Palace Museum; Memphis Queen; Memphis Rock n' Soul Museum; Mississippi River Museum; National Civil Rights Museum; National Ornamental Metal Museum; Slave Haven Underground RR Museum; Sun Studio; Casey Jones Village; Pinson Mounds; Birdsong Resort, Marina and Campground; Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm, Tour, Mini-Theatre, Museum, and Jewelry Showroom; "As The River Flows" Exhibit and Riverwalk; Custom House, Clarksville; and the Riverboat Tour, Clarksville.

In Camden, George, Michele, Jenny and Daniel checked into their accommodations at Birdsong Resort and changed into swim wear for a "birds-eye" view of the scenic Tennessee River's beautiful Kentucky Lake. Birdsong/Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm Marketing Director, Kristi Halsey and her husband Skip, took the Zavaskys out on an afternoon pontoon boat river ride. Historical places along the banks of the river - including the Civil War boats in the Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park area - were discussed, and they thoroughly enjoyed a time of "tubing" in the Birdsong Creek. (Photo: George and Michele Zavatsky, authors of the Kids Love Publications, toured Tennessee with their children, Jenny and Daniel, July 11 - 22 for their 2004 publication of "Kids Love Tennessee." Birdsong Resort, Marina and Campground and The Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm were amongst the attractions that will be featured.)

They all enjoyed an evening meal at the Catfish Place in Camden. Michele commented that it was her first time to sample the local flavor of Tennessee River catfish, and she was warmed by the local hospitality. Tuesday morning, the Zavaskys assembled in the Mini-Theatre and Museum for breakfast with Bob Keast, owner, and Kristi for "A Pearl of a Tour." They were all amazed that such a wonderful attraction could be found in this "off-the-beath-path" location. Michele stated that she was "quite sure" the Tennessee River Pearl Farm and its tour would "make the top ten most-suggested place to go." Keast commented that he was "excited to have had this opportunity," because his "theory of business, marketing and life has always been: the family that plays together, stays together."

The Tennessee travel guide should be available for sale in bookstores by sometime mid-April. Keast and Halsey talked with the Zavaskys about the possibility of their returning to the Camden area in the spring of 2004 for a book signing. They hoped that they might return to meet Rhonda Tippett and the staff of the Benton County Library for a potential event location. For more information about the Zavaskys and their travel publications, visit www.KidsLovePublications.com. For more information about Tennessee River Freshwater Pearls, visit their website at www.TennesseeRiverPearls.com.