Tennessee Bakery Can Lay Claim to Inventing One of America’s Favorite Sweets

We all know about Gatlinburg and the Smokies, Nashville, and Memphis. They're perhaps the three highest-profile tourist destinations in Tennessee. But never let this beautiful lake get too far from your plans:

Just outside of Chattanooga, Nickajack Lake welcomes guests throughout the year, and there is certainly no shortage of activities to keep you busy. Well, Chattanooga is right there and is one of the coolest cities on the planet.

One of your stops should most definitely be the Chattanooga Bakery. For one thing, it's a BAKERY. But for another, it's responsible for giving America one of its favorite sweet treats. That's why it is OFFICIALLY known as the MoonPie General Store & Chattanooga Bakery.

Yes, this bakery is where the MoonPie was created way back in 1919, and the world has been a happier place ever since. (And if there's an RC somewhere close by, even better.) Here's a little B-roll action from YouTube's early days, but this is pretty much how they still make our beloved MoonPies:

Now if your near-future plans don't include Chattanooga, but they DO include Pigeon Forge, then you're in luck. Yes, there is a MoonPie General Store in the Smokies. It may not be where they were invented, but I still wouldn't pass up an opportunity to visit.

Full disclosure...I do not like the original chocolate MoonPies. I know...blasphemy, right? But the vanilla and chocolate mint MoonPies rock my world. (I'm sure I won some points back.)

The thing is, that doesn't matter. I mean, look at that merchandise. I've never in my life, but I plan to correct that. Good night, I've just added something ELSE to my Pigeon Forge itinerary.