Tennessee is a state within the Southeastern United States that gives pure wonders, outside adventures, wealthy historical past, and distinctive music tradition. Don’t overlook to pattern the state’s well-known barbecue and whiskey whereas having fun with Southern hospitality alongside the best way. Right here to help you along with your journey itinerary, are the 35 greatest issues to do in Tennessee.
The 35 Greatest Issues To Do In Tennessee
1. Hike In The Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park
This nationwide park is probably the most visited nationwide park within the nation. It stretches throughout Tennessee and North Carolina and options 522,000 acres of forest, mountains, and waterfalls. It consists of 70 miles of the Appalachian Path and 850 miles of backcountry trails. Clingmans Dome is the best level within the park with an elevation of over 6,600. 1000’s of species of animals and vegetation flourish right here, together with black bears, elk, deer, and over 1,600 forms of wildflowers.
2. Go to Memphis
The town of Memphis is named the birthplace of the blues and rock ‘n’ roll. A number of the hottest websites listed below are Beale Avenue, well-known for its music golf equipment; Graceland, the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, and the Solar Studio. You can even take a riverboat cruise on the “Mighty” Mississippi and head to the Lorraine Motel to see the Nationwide Civil Rights Museum. Dine on Memphis-style ribs on the nigh-iconic Rendezvous too!
3. Go To Graceland
“I’m going to Graceland, Graceland…” Memphis’ Graceland is a large mansion on a 13.8-acre property that’s a part of a 120-acre leisure complicated. Previously owned by American singer-songwriter and musician Elvis Presley. This iconic rock ‘n’ roll residence turned museum first opened in 1982. Over 650,000 folks come right here yearly to see the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s jumpsuits, jets, and different previous possessions. Movie aficionados will pretty thrill on the limited-time “Making of ELVIS Film Exhibition.”
4. See Nashville
Nashville is a good place for nation music followers. You possibly can go to the Nation Music Corridor of Fame and Museum, the Grand Ole Opry, the Johnny Money Museum, and the Ryman Auditorium. Try up-and-comers at such scorching honky-tonks as Robert’s Western World.
Ebook your room on the in style Union Station Nashville Yards. Different highlights right here embody the Bluebird Cafe, the Frist Artwork Museum, the Parthenon duplicate, and the Tennessee State Museum. Take pleasure in a dinner showboat cruise aboard the jazzy Normal Jackson too.
5. Discover The Nation Music Corridor Of Fame And Museum
The well-known Nation Music Corridor of Fame and Museum is a giant Nashville attraction that each nation music followers and historical past buffs will respect. Discover three tales of each rotating and everlasting displays centered on the music style from previous to current. Right here you’ll see a large wall of gold and even platinum platters, and nation music memorabilia like Garth Brooks’ guitar, Elvis Presley’s gold Cadillac and extra amidst a mixture of music and video clips.
6. Go to Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge is a family-friendly city on the foothills of the Smoky Mountains that has saved folks entertained with music, outside actions, rides, and eating for years. Curler coaster lovers will get pleasure from Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud Present and Journey Park, the place you possibly can courageous the zip line coaster known as Flying Ox. The Island in Pigeon Forge is a kid-friendly leisure complicated that has escape rooms, rides, and extra. Dollywood is one other nice attraction that includes many rides, music exhibits, and culinary choices.
7. Have Enjoyable At Dollywood
Dollywood is a theme park owned by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It options 160 acres of kid-friendly thrilling rides, stay exhibits, and even Southern-inspired eating. Remember to try the brand new Huge Bear Mountain.
It’s a native black bear-themed curler coaster and has a size of almost 4,000 ft. One other in style journey right here is Splash Nation, the water park. It comes full with majestic mountain views, great water slides, and a 1,500-foot lazy river.
8. Test Out Chattanooga
Chattanooga is positioned alongside the Tennessee River within the rugged Appalachian Mountains. It has a number of museums, a vigorous downtown space, a noteworthy artwork district, and loads of locations to buy. Go to Lookout Mountain, the Chattanooga Zoo, the Tennessee Aquarium, and the historic Chickamauga and Chattanooga Nationwide Navy Park. Keep on the well-known Chattanooga Choo Choo, a decommissioned railway station-turned-hotel, and journey the rails on the terrific Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Later, cool off at Coolidge Park’s interactive water fountains.
9. Take pleasure in Tennessee Aquarium
The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga is a world-class facility with over 10,000 animals together with fish, lemurs, octopuses, penguins, and sharks. The “River Giants” exhibit showcases freshwater fish that develop to monstrous proportions. The “Turtle of the World” gallery has probably the most in depth assortment of turtles of any accredited U.S. aquarium or zoo. Ebook a guided “Deeper Dives” tour and catch an immersive present on the IMAX Theater. Patrons reward the Tennessee Aquarium as probably the greatest aquariums they’ve visited.
10. Hike Half Of The U.S. Civil Rights Path
Hike to a few of the websites included on the 15-state-spanning U.S. Civil Rights Path. In Memphis, go to the beforehand talked about Nationwide Civil Rights Museum and Clayborn Temple subsequent to I AM A MAN Plaza. In Nashville, you possibly can see the Nationwide Museum of African American Music and the Civil Rights Room on the noteworthy Nashville Public Library. Go to the Inexperienced McAdoo Cultural Middle in Clinton and be taught of the Clinton 12 as properly.
11. See The Titanic Museum Attraction
The Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge is a museum that brings the historical past of the ill-fated ship to life. The museum consists of assorted artifacts from the Titanic Historic Society and greater than 400 objects from the ship. See the duplicate of the Grand Staircase and galleries stuffed with details about the ship and private tales from some survivors. There’s even a Memorial Room devoted to the two,200+ passengers and crew members. Give your self two hours right here.
12. Look Out From Lookout Mountain
Not removed from Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain’s important draw is the pure fantastic thing about the fast space. Right here you possibly can uncover Ruby Falls, the nation’s deepest and tallest underground waterfall. Take a tour of the cave and falls, then climb the tower right here and go zip-lining.
Want extra pleasure? Climb the mountain on the 125+-year-old funicular Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. When the one-mile journey up is over, try the Rock Metropolis Gardens simply throughout the state borderline.
13. Drink In The Sights Alongside The Tennessee Whiskey Path
Tennessee has been well-known for its whiskey since earlier than the Civil Battle. Unsurprisingly, this path has over 30 distilleries and 800+ miles of pretty landscapes. The itinerary consists of locations in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, and the Smoky Mountains. Give your self two weeks to finish the path and bear in mind to register for a “whiskey passport” to gather your stamps. Further highlights embody the historic Jack Daniel’s and George Dickel and distilleries, Civil Battle battlegrounds, music venues, and state parks.
14. Proceed To The Parthenon
The Parthenon is located in Nashville’s West Finish in Centennial Park. The centerpiece of the park, it’s the world’s solely precise duplicate of the well-known historic temple positioned in Athens, Greece. It was initially in-built 1897 to mark the state’s centennial.
The non permanent construction was rebuilt within the Nineteen Twenties. Since a while within the Nineteen Thirties, it has performed host to quite a few artwork galleries and displays. At the moment, it nonetheless options totally different non permanent exhibits and exhibitions.
15. See What’s Cookin’ At The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
The favored World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is held through the annual Memphis in Might Worldwide Pageant. The competitors was first held in 1978, Since then, it has developed from a parking zone contest to a world four-day occasion. Simply final 12 months, over 200 groups from 4 international nations and 24 US states vied for the championship title. The festive competitors additionally consists of stay leisure, themed workforce tents, and extra.
16. Have a good time The Nation Music Affiliation Fest
The annual CMA Fest is a big June occasion right here and is held in downtown Nashville. As soon as named Fan Honest, it started with roughly 5,000 folks. At the moment it’s attended by tens of hundreds of individuals and consists of two nighttime levels and 6 daytime levels such because the Music Metropolis Middle and Nissan Stadium. Each award-winning acts and rising artists carry out right here. Plan on spending more cash to your lodging although as resort charges are greater at the moment.
17. Cruise Alongside The Natchez Hint Parkway
The Natchez Hint Parkway is a 444-mile scenic, leisure highway by means of three states. It (roughly) follows the well-known “Outdated Natchez Hint,” an olden historic route as soon as utilized by European settlers, Indigenous folks, troopers, and different vacationers. The Parkway presents a wide range of outside actions corresponding to biking, tenting, mountaineering, and even horseback driving. Moreover, there are a variety of various quick mountaineering trails right here that enable vacationers to see quite a few pure wonders and historic landmarks.
18. See The Misplaced Sea, See?
The appropriately named Misplaced Sea is the USA’s largest underground lake. It’s in Sweetwater lower than 50 miles out of Knoxville. The 75-minute guided tour of the cave begins with a brief, probably difficult hike, so you should definitely put on the suitable footwear. Your information will let you know concerning the cavern’s historical past and the way numerous geological elements created the carn rooms and uncommon formations. You can even board a ship and see this 70-foot-deep lake’s clear water.
19. Discover Well-known Franklin
You’ll discover Franklin lower than 20 miles out of Nashville. It’s a must-see metropolis for historical past lovers, music experts, and shopaholics too. The bloody Battle of Franklin occurred right here.
Go to the native Civil Battle websites of Lotz Home, Carnton, and Carter Home. Stroll the 16 blocks of the historic downtown. Right here you possibly can get pleasure from artwork galleries, procuring, songwriter rounds, particular occasions, and memorable eating. Certainly, if you wish to get pleasure from an actual, sincere Southern meal, think about consuming at Puckett’s Restaurant.
20. Discover The Memphis Zoo
The Memphis Zoo is positioned in Memphis’ Overton Park. It has reportedly been a serious native attraction since 1906. The zoo’s property spans an space of virtually 80 acres.
Over 500 species of animals stay right here in a number of totally different displays and zoo zones. There’s a lot to see! Cat Nation alone consists of African lions, elusive snow leopards, and threatened jaguars. The three-acre China exhibition is house to such Asian animals as Sulawesi-crested Macaques and Francois langurs as properly.
21. Disguise Out At The Hermitage
To not be confused with the Hermitage Resort in Nashville, The Hermitage has a mansion and a customer middle and the property covers an space of 1,120 acres. You can find it lower than 10 miles out of town. President Andrew Jackson and his spouse as soon as lived right here. You’ve a number of selections with regards to touring the place. Two of them give attention to the lives of the slaves who as soon as labored on this outdated plantation.
22. Go To Gatlinburg
Some journey writers say Gatlin is the proper place to be if you happen to got here to Tennessee for some journey. Surrounded by the attractive Nice Smoky Mountains, it has a lot to supply! In the event you’re into winter sports activities, go to the superior Ober Gatlinburg Amusement Park and Ski Space.
This family-friendly place presents year-round enjoyable together with guests ice skating, snowboarding, snow tubing, an aerial tramway, assorted amusement rides, and extra! Different worthwhile sights embody Skylift Park, Anakeesta theme park, and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.
23. Spend A Night time In A Treehouse
Earlier than you leaf Tennessee, spend the night time within the soon-to-be-opened Sanctuary Treehouse Resort. When it opens in spring, Sanctuary Treehouse Resort will formally be the world’s largest treehouse resort. This tree-mendous place is nestled amidst 40 acres of picturesque property within the putting Smoky Mountains close to Gatlinburg. It has quite a few totally different luxurious treehouses for households and {couples}. They arrive full with such facilities as escape hatches, rope swings, slides, and even hidden beds.
24. Study About The Historical past Of Indigenous People
Indigenous Individuals have resided on this state for nearly 12,000 years. The names of cities like Tullahoma and Chattanooga are Indigenous phrases. Even the state’s title, Tennessee, is roughly Cherokee for “the place the river bends.” Discover the heritage of those folks by visiting The Tanasi Memorial and the informative Sequoyah Birthplace Museum. Hardcore hikers might already know {that a} portion of the notorious 5,000+-mile-long Path of Tears Nationwide Historic Path runs by means of this state.
25. Spelunk In The Caverns
The Caverns, in Pelham, is a nigh-otherworldly cave system that features over 8,000 ft of passageways. Go to through the day and also you join a guided tour of the caves to get a great “behind-the-scenes” peek at this uncommon underground live performance venue and one of many largest underground rooms on the earth. That is additionally the setting for the TV present “The Caverns Periods” (previously “Bluegrass Underground”). The handicapped-accessible Huge Mouth Cave is the place to see big-named acts carry out.
26. Subsequent Cease: Knoxville
Knoxville is house to a thriving artwork scene, a number of museums, outside adventures, and extra. You possibly can store, eat, and be entertained multi functional place–Knoxville’s Market Sq.. Different highlights right here embody the tutorial East Tennessee Historical past Middle, the McClung Museum of Pure Historical past & Tradition, the Sunsphere Tower’s Remark Deck at World’s Honest Park, and the City Wilderness. Final however not least, historical past buffs ought to see Fort Sanders and take a driving tour of the opposite close by Civil Battle websites.
27. Journey To Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge, a.ok.a. the “Secret Metropolis” is the place over 100,000 uninformed authorities staff had been transported to work on the now not-so-top-secret, notorious Manhattan Venture through the second world battle. Are you a historical past buff? Try the Ok-25 Historical past Middle and the Oak Ridge Historical past Museum.
Feeling extra athletic and outdoorsy? Head to Windrock Park and go jogging or bike driving. Fishers and swimmers ought to go to Melton Lake Park.
28. Boogie At The Bonnaroo Music And Arts Pageant
The annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Pageant started in 2002. Named after a Dr. John album, this occasion focuses on tenting, arts, and music. It’s held in Manchester on the well-known 650-acre Bonnaroo Farm.
Tens of hundreds of individuals attend this competition normally held in June. It usually consists of 150+ performers taking part in on 10 separate levels. A partial checklist of previous performers options Bob Dylan, Eminem, Foo Fighters, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Odesza, Phish, Radiohead, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, and U2.
29. Hike In Fall Creek Falls State Park
You could find Fall Creek Falls State Park lower than 70 miles from Chattanooga. It is without doubt one of the state’s most visited and largest parks. It consists of nearly 30,000 acres and crosses the Cumberland Plateau. Right here you’ll uncover rugged gorges, lush, verdant hardwood forests, dashing streams, and crashing waterfalls like its namesake 256-foot-tall Fall Creek Falls. There are additionally over 50 miles of trails to hike. You possibly can camp open air or keep in a cabin.
30. Go to Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary
Situated in Petros, Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, a.ok.a. “Finish of the Line”, was the primary maximum-security jail in Tennessee. At the moment guests can take self-guided excursions, hear tales, and find out about 30 stations right here. You possibly can see the cafeteria, the cell block, the train yard, the laundry room, and the notorious “Gap” the place prisoners had been put into solitary confinement in complete darkness. Feeling adventurous? Then join an in a single day paranormal tour too!
31. Uncover Discovery Park Of America
Cease in Union Metropolis and uncover this 100,000-square-foot, family-friendly museum and the attractive surrounding 50-acre heritage park as properly. There are 10 indoor galleries and interactive shows that target topics as diversified as artwork and native historical past to house and know-how. The park additionally consists of the area’s highest commentary tower, a movie theater, and a 20,000-gallon aquarium. See the duplicate of an 1800s frontier settlement, the European and Japanese gardens, and the prepare station too.
32. Meander Round The Museum Of Appalachia
That is truly a 65-acre dwelling historical past museum ensconced in Clinton. It features a actual farm and an outdated pioneer village full with barns, church buildings, log cabins, and colleges. It is usually a Smithsonian Affiliate.
There are greater than 250,000 artifacts in collections of musical devices and folks artwork. See the free-range livestock. Wander by means of the gardens. Lastly, go to the Corridor of Fame to see displays that honor folks related to the Southern Appalachians.
33. Drink It All In At Belle Meade Historic Web site And Vineyard
This can be a historic Greek Revival mansion located southwest of Nashville. The property spans an space of 5,400 acres and divulges a bit concerning the state’s structure, equestrian heritage, and historical past. Obtainable excursions embody the “Journey to Jubilee” tour which considerations the slaves who labored right here, the “Southern Meals Traditions”, an out of doors strolling tour, and the well-regarded “Mansion Tour” which supplies a historic overview. There’s even a kid-friendly tour possibility!
34. Chill out At Reelfoot Lake
Reelfoot Lake is a pure lake positioned in Tiptonville. Born of quite a few earthquakes within the 1800s, it now has a singular ecosystem with a flooded forest of cypress timber. Each February, the Reelfoot Lake Eagle Pageant marks the event when hundreds of American bald eagles converge on the lake. You possibly can take nature excursions, have interaction in numerous leisure actions or simply calm down and benefit from the peacefulness. Arrange camp on the stunning Blue Financial institution Resort camp.
35. Go to The Actual Birthplace Of Nation Music
Bristol is taken into account the true birthplace of nation music. You’ll discover it on the foothills of the superior Appalachian Mountains on the Tennessee and Virginia state line. Cease in on the Birthplace of Nation Music Museum and be taught of the style’s historical past and the now-famous 1927 Bristol Periods. Catch a stay act on the town or go to in September and go to the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion!