How To Make Tennessee Gift Baskets

When I was a bride-to-be, I left "Welcome to Tennessee" bags in my out-of-town guests' hotel rooms. Local products and information, tied with a bow, create a great gift for new neighbors.

Real estate agents could even place a brimming basket in their backseats, adding WOW to a client's first tour of Brentwood homes for sale.

MAKING YOUR OWN "WELCOME TO TENNESSEE" GIFT BASKET:

Start with a map. You can pick up simple copies at a Brentwood hotel's front desk, from a visitor center or the Chamber of Commerce. Add your own helpful markings with a red pen. I'll be showing my guests which Brentwood stores and restaurants are convenient to the Holiday Inn. (FREE!)

Add ideas for fun things to do in Tennessee, or more specifically, within a few mile radius. I tracked down brochures from Judge John Overton's historic home, Traveller's Rest, and the Ellington Agricultural Center's free history museum. (FREE!)

Give your guests something interesting to read while they relax in the hotel. Did you know that Franklin Road was the travel route between the Civil War battles of Franklin and Nashville? I found a great guide to the Civil War trail, complete with map and historical notes. (FREE!)

Find a quality momento of Tennessee--no tacky trinkets or t-shirts! I bought beautiful etched notecards from Traveller's Rest. Both the Belle Meade Plantation and the Loveless Cafe gift shops stock regional cookbooks to oil paintings to individually sealed slices of country ham.

--->My vote for the best Nashville postcards? The Spirit of Nashville collection--these incredible Art Deco images of local landmarks are available in sets of 29 for just $11. Or, 75 cents apiece at the Loveless Cafe.

Provide a few healthy snacks and bottled water from local companies like Stone Clear Springs. Don't leave guests to the mercy of $2 hotel vending machines! The Fresh Market on Franklin Road has everything you could want for gift baskets, but Big Lots on Nolensville Road has choices for the budget gourmet, too.

--->To make your welcome basket even more unique, find products made right here in Tennessee. Here's a handy list:

• Goo Goo Clusters

• King Leo Peppermint Sticks
• Moon Pies
• (and their Southern cousin) RC Cola
• the Hee Haw Honey's Colt's Bolts
• A fresh bag of roasted nuts from the Arcade's Peanut Shop

--->Need more local products for your Welcome to Tennessee gift basket? Try PickTNProducts.org.

Last--but not least--include a handwritten note with all your contact information and a standing offer of assistance. After all, Southern hospitality is our most famous local flavor!

Calling all brides! Are you getting married in Nashville, Tennessee?

Don't miss our page FULL of local Nashville wedding information, including firsthand reviews of historic homes for rent, reception sites in downtown Nashville, the best--and cheapest florists, and much, much more!