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While Tennessee could also be finest identified for its nation music scene, there’s way more to do and see on this nice state. From the Great Smoky Mountains within the east to Memphis and the Mississippi within the west, you received’t be in need of locations to go to in Tennessee.
Unless you’re simply planning to benefit from the streets of Memphis or the Music City of Nashville, this state is finest seen with a automotive. Some of the perfect vacationer sights in Tennessee are discovered within the mountains or in smaller cities, so take into account renting a car and even an RV for those who aren’t road-tripping.
We’ve put collectively the under record of Tennessee issues to do, together with historic locations with wealthy historical past, places with natural beauty, enjoyable sights for the entire household, and extra. Read on to see what it’s best to do in your Tennessee trip or why it’s best to plan one now!
TLDR
- Most important landmark – The Country Music Hall of Fame
- Best park – Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Best free exercise – Lookout Mountain
- Best exercise for teenagers – Dollywood & Dollywood’s Splash Country
- Best exercise for adults – Graceland
- Best meals – Wet Willie’s
- Best nightlife – Beale Street
- Best all-around lodging – The Westin Memphis Beale Street
Best & Fun Things to do in Tennessee
If you’re questioning what to do in Tennessee, these are among the high vacationer sights within the state. Don’t fear – even for those who aren’t a rustic music fan, you’ll completely discover one thing for you on this state!
1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Let’s begin with some of the visited sights in Tennessee and essentially the most visited nationwide park within the nation: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, a subrange of the well-known Blue Ridge Mountains, is positioned within the east of Tennessee and straddles the border with North Carolina.
The Great Smoky Mountains include greater than 500,000 acres of rolling forests almost untouched by people.
That makes it an incredible place for out of doors actions corresponding to tenting, fishing, mountaineering, and wandering a whole lot of hiking trails. In reality, a big portion of the well-known Appalachian Trail runs straight via the park for those who’re up for an actual problem.
The foremost Tennessee gateway to this nationwide park is the city of Gatlinburg, the place you’ll additionally discover the park’s customer heart, in case you might have any questions for the Park Service Rangers earlier than heading off.
Don’t move up a cease on the town, although, as downtown Gatlinburg has a lot to do – just like the Moonshine Mountain Coaster Ride or a Ghosts of the Smokies Haunted Walking Tour.
When it’s time to hit the park, it’s nice to have a automotive to see every little thing at your personal tempo. Consider doing a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self-Driving Tour to get the complete expertise. If you’d relatively be a passenger, a Smoky Mountains Jeep Tour is nice too.
Gatlinburg has some nice locations to remain for those who spend just a few days in japanese Tennessee.
One in style resort is the Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg, which has nearly every little thing you might want to calm down and luxuriate in. If you want more room or just need extra of a mountain retreat, take a look at this log cabin rental, which even has a scorching tub.
See Related: Best Things to do in Nashville, Tennessee
2. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Located in downtown Nashville, Tennessee‘s most visited metropolis, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is definitely some of the in style sights within the state.
This is the place to be for those who’re a fan of Alabama, Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, or one of many greater than 100 nation music stars inducted into the Hall. And actually, it’s an incredible factor to do even for those who’ve by no means heard of them!
This Hall of Fame is way more than a tribute to America’s best bands and artists. It consists of a museum stuffed with artifacts like information, devices, and pictures from nation music historical past. It additionally hosts a analysis heart and an academic program in honor of American vernacular music, its interpretation, and its presentation.
It’s not all about classics from a long time in the past, both. You can discover reveals on current stars like Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, and Florida Georgia Line, together with different rotating artists all year long.
One of the most popular issues to see on the Country Music Hall of Fame is Historic RCA Studio B. This recording studio is the place titans like Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton stood to make their music and the place Nashville’s fame as a rustic music recording heart was born.
It’s finest to get your Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Tickets earlier than your journey, so that you don’t waste any time standing in traces. You may also get an RCA Studio B and Country Music Hall of Fame Ticket Combo if you wish to see each, which is extremely advisable.
Keep in thoughts that among the finest leisure in Tennessee is positioned proper on this space of downtown Nashville, which is filled with honky tonk nation bars with nightly stay music. An awesome place to remain is the Moxy Nashville Downtown, the place the party and nightlife match proper in with snug rooms.
See Related: Best Places to Visit in the US
3. Lookout Mountain
Moving to southern Tennessee, you’ll discover just a little city known as Lookout Mountain proper on the border with Georgia, which has a city of the identical title on its facet as effectively! As you may think, it’s positioned on a mountaintop and only a 15-minute drive from downtown Chattanooga.
But, essentially the most enjoyable option to rise up to Lookout Mountain is on the funicular railway that runs up its slopes. You’ll get to trip on a vertical gauge railway over a century outdated, and also you’ll get to benefit from the superior views alongside the way in which.
At the highest, there are a ton of issues to do. You’ll undoubtedly need to see Ruby Falls, the place water flows inside a cavern and drops 100 toes under. There’s a Civil War battlefield with memorials and historic data, in addition to loads of hiking trails.
You can tackle the tougher Sunset Rock path for sweeping views of the Tennessee countryside or go for the extra organized Rock City Gardens, with its historical rock formations and views simply as scenic. Don’t hesitate to walk via city to go to the lovely boutiques and cafés, both.
If you might be spending extra time within the Chattanooga space, don’t overlook to take pleasure in some actions on the Tennessee River, corresponding to taking a Stand-Up Paddling & Kayak Tour or a Whitewater Rafting Trip.
To style the perfect of southern Tennessee, you’ll be able to take a 2-Hour Walking Chattanooga Food Tour to see the place the locals go.
See Related: Most Historical Landmarks in the USA
4. Graceland
A go to to the house of the King himself, Elvis Presley, is the entire cause for a visit to Tennessee for a lot of vacationers. Elvis was such an iconic celebrity that his Graceland house is on the National Register of Historic Places.
You’ll discover the Graceland compound in Memphis, conveniently positioned on Elvis Presley Boulevard. The sights are extra than simply his mansion: a museum of his automobiles, his two plane, his soundstage, a shopping mall, a resort, and the ultimate resting place of the King himself.
Elvis’ house is open to guests who need a glimpse of his private life. You can discover the mansion by way of an iPad-guided tour, on which his solely daughter, Lisa Marie, will let you know the tales of her father’s non-public life.
You can see Elvis’ planes, with their total bedrooms, dressing rooms, and different luxuries, in addition to his jeweled jumpsuits and golden information. His total automotive assortment of classics could be explored as effectively.
If you really need the complete Elvis expertise, e-book a room at The Guest House at Graceland, a five-diamond resort on web site. And in order for you much more of Elvis, you’ll be able to take a Bus Tour from Memphis to Elvis’ Childhood Home in Tupelo, Mississippi, to pair with the Graceland expertise.
5. Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
On the outskirts of Nashville, yow will discover a really distinctive exercise that takes you into the private lifetime of one of many United States’ first leaders. President Andrew Jackson lived at his huge Hermitage property for many of his life.
Its Greek-style building started within the early 1800s and slowly constructed up the 1,000-acre property as Jackson grew to become increasingly more outstanding as a businessman within the Nashville space.
While he served because the nation’s seventh president between 1829 and 1837, the mansion was nonetheless an essential place the place he would go to see household, calm down, and get work completed.
The total property was become a museum in 1889 and has been working as such since then. It has been meticulously restored and incorporates the true, authentic belongings of President Jackson.
The museum doesn’t ignore its darkish previous – there’s an acknowledgment and tribute to the 100-plus slaves who labored on the property.
The historians there have gone via painstaking efforts to get well the biographies of those that carried out compelled labor there, which sadly has solely led to just some of their tales being revealed.
You should buy an Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Grounds Pass prematurely to make certain you get entry to the property, which additionally features a discounted wine tasting on the Natchez Hills Winery.
It’s finest to have a automotive to enterprise to this a part of Nashville, though there’s a public bus obtainable for these on a price range.
See Related: List of US National Monuments (Including Best to Visit)
6. Centennial Park, Nashville
If you might be in want of some city inexperienced house to calm down after an evening within the honky tonks of Nashville, Centennial Park is the right spot.
This big park is the place the well-known Tennessee Centennial Exposition befell in 1897 in celebration of Tennessee’s one centesimal anniversary of admission to the Union (albeit one 12 months late).
That celebration had Centennial Park stuffed with reveals on Tennessee’s progress in agriculture, schooling, arts, trade, and way more. There was additionally a big overseas illustration, with a large reproduction of the Greek Parthenon constructed, together with Egyptian pyramids and Italian gondolas within the lake.
The occasion was such a success that its legacy lives on within the park right now, the place the Parthenon has been rebuilt, a efficiency space nonetheless stands, and gardens, museums, and trails line the grounds.
Whether you need to calm down for a picnic or see historic steam engines and fighter jets, Centennial Park is the place to go in Nashville.
If you’re seeking to keep close to this peaceable a part of city, the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University is simply throughout the road. There’s even a free shuttle service to downtown Nashville to get to the middle of all of the enjoyable.
7. National Civil Rights Museum
In Memphis, you’ll be able to face among the nation’s darker historical past on the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. And as a lot because the museum is a somber expertise, it’s additionally an uplifting one if you see how far we’ve come and the way a lot some people have devoted to the civil rights motion.
Most famously, the Lorraine Motel, the place the museum is housed, was the location of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. He was shot whereas standing on his room’s second-floor balcony, which remains to be obtainable for viewing right now.
There are loads of different historic artifacts and tales housed within the museum.
Ranging from the time over 5 centuries in the past that slaves had been first delivered to the nation, to the Civil War period and the start of the resistance, to the gradual recognition of equal rights that befell through the horrible occasions of the mid-1900s.
The struggle for civil rights for everybody continues right now, and the museum reveals what current leaders within the motion are doing for the trigger. Martin Luther King Jr.’s murderer’s automotive remains to be displayed, as is a recreation of the burned-out shell of a Greyhound bus that the Freedom Riders rode.
If you need to see the perfect of Memphis with knowledgeable, together with an up-close have a look at the museum, take into account a Private Memphis Tour with Entry to the National Civil Rights Museum. Even if a personal tour information isn’t essential for you, don’t move up this shifting expertise in Memphis.
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8. Grand Ole Opry House
Another icon of nation music in Nashville, followers received’t need to move up a chance to see the Grand Ole Opry House in particular person. Often known as nation music’s most well-known stage, this venue is dwelling to the world’s longest-running radio present.
Therefore, your journey simply could coincide with among the largest names in nation music having a present there. Check out their calendar to see who’s going to be enjoying and get your tickets beforehand.
Alternatively, the Grand Ole Opry affords a Backstage Tour each through the daytime in addition to following reveals. You’ll first get an immersive theater expertise, then see the place the celebrities hang around behind the scenes and the place the well-known radio present is broadcast from.
9. Titanic Museum
One quirky factor to do within the small mountain city of Pigeon Forge is the Titanic Museum Attraction. This huge, full-scale reproduction of the well-known cruise liner serves as a lot as a memorial because it does as a museum of all issues Titanic.
Your go to to the Titanic Museum Attraction takes place as if you’re a passenger: you get an actual passenger or crew member’s boarding move, stroll the halls as they did, and see what their staterooms actually regarded like. The museum is packed stuffed with actual artifacts recovered from the wreck, numbering within the a whole lot.
Other enjoyable issues to do onboard are touching an actual iceberg, feeling what 28-degree water actually appears like, shoveling coal into the ship’s boiler room, and way more. There’s additionally a Tot-Titanic interactive space for the youngest of kids.
At the tip of your expertise, guests uncover their passenger’s destiny within the Memorial Room, the place their tales are stored alive. If you’re prepared for boarding, be sure that to get a Titanic Museum Advance Purchase Ticket, so that you don’t waste any time.
See Related: What to Pack for an Alaskan Cruise: Essential Packing Items
10. Dollywood & Dollywood’s Splash Country
The attraction that brings most individuals to Pigeon Forge, nonetheless, is the well-known Dollywood theme park. Dolly Parton has created this Appalachian-themed property of enjoyable packed stuffed with thrilling rides and even a water park.
You can discover nearly any form of trip in the primary theme park, from rollercoasters to spinning teacups to Dolly’s actual tour bus that’s now open for viewing. In the water park, you’ll be able to plunge down some huge slides, float all day within the lazy river, or do all of it!
Dollywood is usually a full, multi-day expertise, and there’s on-site lodging obtainable on the Dollywood DreamMore Resort & Spa. For those that need extra of a Smoky Mountain expertise, Dollywood additionally affords the Bear Cove Cabins, with nice views and scorching tubs as effectively.
Speaking of the Smoky Mountains, Dollywood could be simply paired with a visit to the national park, as Pigeon Forge is only a 20-minute drive to its entrance. If you need to pair them collectively, take into account a full-sized cabin rental for optimum consolation and long-stay facilities.
11. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
Whether you’re a railway fanatic or not, a go to to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is a really attention-grabbing factor to do within the southern city of Chattanooga.
This is the one place in Tennessee the place you’ll be able to trip on genuine, classic trains and study how they performed such an essential half within the state’s historical past.
The museum was began over 50 years in the past by some fanatics from the world who had been bored with driving 200 miles to the month-to-month National Railway Historical Society conferences in Atlanta. They started by buying an outdated steam engine, and their undertaking has been rising ever since.
A go to is way more than a trip on an outdated practice. Each expertise is specifically themed, corresponding to excessive tea on the rails, Dinner on the Diner, the Christmas Dinner Train, and way more. There’s even a Wine Train for individuals who need to say “all abordeaux.”
If studying about Chattanooga’s transportation historical past appears like your form of exercise, take into account a Trolley and Train Tour across the metropolis and the rail automobiles. It additionally features a practice journey on the Missionary Ridge Local line on the museum.
12. Tennessee Aquarium
Are you stunned to listen to that there’s an enormous aquarium in landlocked Tennessee?
While there might not be any oceans close by, Tennessee has a few of America’s largest rivers passing straight via it, together with the entire aquatic life that decision them dwelling. You can study all about these river creatures on the Tennessee Aquarium, together with salt water sea life as effectively.
The River Journey expertise takes you beneath the waters of Tennessee, Mississippi, and different main rivers within the state and across the nation. You’ll encounter animals like river trout, alligator snapping turtles, American alligator, and way more.
The Ocean Journey takes you beneath the ocean to find reefs, jellyfish, penguins, and even sharks. All in all, there are over 10,000 animals on the Tennessee Aquarium. After you’ve seen them, there’s additionally an IMAX theater displaying 3-D reveals from even additional out to sea.
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13. Bell Witch Cave
Out within the countryside within the city of Adams, simply 40 minutes from Nashville, you’ll discover Historic Bell Witch Cave. This pure cavern is alleged to have been haunted for the previous 200 years!
While there are a lot of variations of the story, the prevailing one says that the witch is the spirit of Kate Batts, who was a neighbor of John Bell close to the cave.
John Bell had a cabin there, and Kate felt that she was cheated by him in his buy of land. She haunted and tortured John’s daughter for years within the cabin.
This ghost story is likely one of the finest documented in the entire state and even caught the eye of President Andrew Jackson throughout his time.
Today, the cabin has been reconstructed with a few of its authentic structure and plenty of of its authentic artifacts. Brave guests can see what the haunting is all about and study a cool piece of long-surviving paranormal historical past.
The cave itself is an attention-grabbing pure expertise as effectively, with distinctive rock formations and stalagmites. There’s a beautiful waterfall close by as effectively.
14. Memphis Music Hall of Fame
There’s little doubt Tennessee has produced among the most iconic musicians of all time, and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame is all about honoring those from their metropolis. They proudly show every little thing about their inductees who shook the music world from Memphis.
Some of essentially the most outstanding inductees embrace Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, and Justin Timberlake. Museum highlights embrace the musical devices, efficiency outfits, and pictures and tales of those superstars.
The museum is open seven days every week, and you should purchase an Admission Ticket prematurely. If you intend to go to the close by Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, there’s a Combo Ticket obtainable as effectively.
See Related: Best Music Festivals to Attend This Summer
15. Stones River National Cemetery & National Battlefield
About 30 miles outdoors of Nashville, within the city of Murfreesboro, is the Stones River National Battlefield & Cemetery. This National Historic Landmark was the location of an American Civil War battle that started on the final day of 1862 and is named one of many bloodiest of the struggle.
The Union was the final word winner, and it was an essential, symbolic victory that boosted nationwide morale. But it wasn’t with out main losses, as greater than 6,100 troopers are of their last resting locations right here. In reality, the identities of over 2,500 of them usually are not identified.
Today, the Stones River National Battlefield has been preserved as a 500+ acre park memorializing the battle and those that had been misplaced.
There are cannons, monuments, statues, and informative indicators all through its strolling trails. There’s additionally a customer heart serving each the battlefield and the cemetery.
16. The Great River Road Along the Mississippi River
The Great River Road is arguably one in all America’s most scenic drives, and Tennessee is likely one of the ten states it passes via.
The full highway runs from northern Minnesota all the way in which to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana, and if you’re planning a highway journey anyplace alongside this route, you received’t remorse taking this scenic byway.
The Tennessee portion passes by flatlands so far as the attention can see, lakes stuffed with fish, typical Tennessee small towns, and the colourful metropolis of Memphis. It’s a good way to get a simple snapshot of among the finest Tennessee has to supply.
See Related: Best Things to do along the Great River Road
17. Discovery Park of America
In the northwestern nook of Tennessee are Union City and its well-known Discovery Park of America museum and heritage park. The mission of this comparatively new park, which opened in 2013, is to assist folks study, uncover, and encourage themselves via every kind of distinctive issues to do.
Things to find on the park embrace a gallery on electrical energy and vitality storage all through historical past, a army gallery with actual planes and Humvees, a Native American gallery with artifacts and a woolly mammoth skeleton, and way more. There’s even an area and science gallery with a Big Bang simulator.
The prospects are infinite on the Discovery Park of America, and it’s nice enjoyable for adults and youngsters of all ages.
If you don’t need to make this a day journey from Memphis or Nashville, there’s a snug Holiday Inn Express & Suites simply subsequent door with their always-free, scorching breakfast.
18. Smoky Mountain Deer Farm & Exotic Petting Zoo
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is filled with wildlife. But if you wish to assure your self a sighting and even be capable of see some up shut, the Smoky Mountain Deer Farm & Exotic Petting Zoo is a superb selection.
The farm is in Sevierville, simply 20 minutes from Pigeon Forge and 35 from Gatlinburg, making this a simple diversion from among the hottest locations to remain within the area. Once there, you’ll be greeted by pleasant deer who’re simply ready to be petted (and perhaps fed).
But the enjoyable doesn’t cease there: you’ll additionally be capable of see unique animals up shut like zebras, kangaroos, peacocks, ostriches, and extra. There are additionally horses obtainable to take out on a path trip and ponies for the youngsters to trip across the stables.
See Related: Amazing Hotels & Resorts with Animals On-Site
19. The Lost Sea Adventure
Did you understand the United States’ largest underground lake is within the Tennessee countryside? Roughly midway between Knoxville and Chattanooga, the Lost Sea Cave positioned within the Craighead Caverns is an incredible sight to see in Tennessee.
Your journey begins with a leisurely stroll down into the Lost Sea cave on sloped pathways main deeper and deeper into the system. A educated information will let you know all in regards to the fascinating historical past and geology of the caverns.
At the tip of the paths, you’ll embark on a ship trip on a lake – underground! There are few locations on the earth the place you are able to do such a factor at.
The complete expertise lasts a bit over an hour, and there’s a Lost Sea Shopping Village on the floor, in addition to some gratifying nature trails for individuals who need to proceed exploring. Be certain to get your tickets prematurely as this attraction is a well-liked one which’s identified to promote out.
20. Memphis Rock ‘n Soul Museum
If you haven’t seen, Tennessee is packed stuffed with issues to do for music followers. The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum is one other so as to add to the record. The museum tells the story of how rock ‘n roll and soul music had been born and developed in Memphis.
Visitors get to see how the distinctive sounds of those genres took place out within the hollers and crop fields of rural Tennessee, how Memphis grew to become a booming capital for them within the Nineteen Seventies, and the way they unfold throughout the globe.
It’s an attention-grabbing story about how these music pioneers overcame racial and socio-economic boundaries for his or her love of music.
The museum is positioned on the nook of the well-known Beale Street and the legendary Blue Highway, accordingly. As talked about earlier than, the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum is a superb pair with the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, and combo tickets for the 2 can be found.
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21. Beale Street
While we simply talked about it above, Beale Street is de facto an attraction itself that ought to undoubtedly be a cease for anybody in Memphis. This iconic avenue is a little bit of an leisure district packed stuffed with bars, eating places, and stay music.
While there are numerous locations to eat, drink, and luxuriate in on Beale Street, some favorites are Jerry Lee Lewis’ Cafe & Honky Tonk, Wet Willie’s, and the Pig on Beale. Even for those who aren’t there to party all evening, you’ll be able to nonetheless discover among the finest Tennessee barbecue and cajun specialties alongside this avenue.
There’s even a Beale Street cellular app to indicate you all the most recent performances and the obtainable eating and buying at any given time. For an in-depth have a look at America’s most iconic avenue, you’ll be able to take a 1-Hour Beale Street Guided Walking Tour to actually see all of it.
The Beale Street space is usually a excellent place to remain in Memphis. The Westin Memphis Beale Street has these heavenly beds and is simply steps away from the best Memphis has to supply.
See Related: Best Unkown Places to Visit in the US
22. Sun Studio
If you’re headed to Tennessee for many of the different music-themed sights we’ve lined, then you definately’ll additionally need to make a cease on the well-known Sun Studio. This Memphis recording studio is the place Elvis and Johnny Cash recorded their hits within the Fifties.
The “Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll” is now a tribute to the legends that made their music, full with memorabilia and outtakes of recordings, offering an intimate look into the place the magic was made. But moreover preserving rock music historical past, the studio nonetheless capabilities as a recording studio after darkish.
But until you’re seeking to document your first single in the identical room that Elvis did, you’re most likely headed there for the 45-minute guided excursions going down between 10 am and 6 pm each day.
You may also pair the Sun Studio Admission with a Memphis City Tour to actually get the perfect of the music metropolis.
FAQ
Do I want a automotive to go to Tennessee?
The reality is, Tennessee is a spot finest visited by automotive as a way to expertise every little thing the state has to supply.
Kayak is all the time a great place to determine automotive leases forward of time. If you simply need to see the honky tonks, bars, and sights of Nashville or Memphis, you may get away with out renting a automotive.
Should you go to Tennessee within the winter?
If you don’t thoughts a little bit of chilly, Tennessee is definitely fairly lovely within the winter. Indoor sights just like the museums and historic websites are, after all, nonetheless open, and the out of doors great thing about the waterfalls and mountain forests turns right into a winter wonderland within the snow. You received’t discover the nation bars closed up, both!
What are the perfect cities to remain in Tennessee?
Favorite cities for vacationer stays are, after all, Nashville and Memphis. Don’t overlook Gatlinburg for its quick access to the Great Smoky Mountains, Pigeon Forge for its well-known Dollywood, or Chattanooga for some wonderful views.
Is there extra than simply nation music in Tennessee?
There is totally a lot extra to do than simply go to the numerous locations of nation music and hearken to it in a honky tonk!
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, underground lakes, a number of theme parks, and attention-grabbing museums are just a few of the various issues this state has to supply.
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