Welcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to Tennessee! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Tennessee.
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Tennessee is music-obsessed state, with country and rock-and-roll playing in Nashville
and blues rolling in Memphis. Beyond Nashville and Memphis, the state of Tennessee offers many natural attractions, including some of the best waterfalls in the country and many underground caves to explore. What brings most people to the state though, is the Great Smoky Mountains and all the tourist insanity that surrounds it. Gateway towns like Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg are unlike any place you've ever been. Every tourist attraction you can possibly think of is there, and probably 5x each. If you can embrace the touristy madness, you can have a great time.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN TENNESSEE
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in Tennessee? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in Tennessee, in no particular order:
✮ Embrace the tourist madness of Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville; there are literally dozens of amusement parks and other attractions there
✮ Take a drive and/or hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
✮ Enjoy live music at some of the 30-plus bars found on famous Broadway Street in Nashville
✮ Visit Beale Street and the fabulous museums in and around Memphis
✮ Go whitewater rafting on the Nolichucky River, Ocoee River, or Pigeon River
✮ See some of the famous waterfalls in central Tennessee (e.g. Burgess Falls, Cummins Falls, Fall Creek Falls, etc.)
✮ Ride the rollercoasters and other attractions at the excellent Dolly's Splash Country Water Adventure Park in Pigeon Forge
✮ Go underground in one of northeastern Tennessee's caves (e.g. Bristol Caverns, Lost Sea Adventure, Tuckaleechee Caverns)
✮ Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville
✮ Catch a concert at either the Grand Ole Opry or Ryman Auditorium in Nashville
If I could select only one place to visit in Tennessee, I would choose the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville area. There are literally hundreds of attractions there, plus excellent hiking and scenic views in the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you think you would enjoy tourist craziness that is on par with Disney World, you will love this place. I wish I could spend one week per year here with my daughter - she thinks this place is the greatest.
For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, click here.
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN TENNESSEE
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in Tennessee. I believe each of these attractions should be on your Tennessee bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Western Tennessee (including Jackson and Memphis)
✮ Beale Street, Memphis - the key entertainment district in Memphis; has many bars and restaurants; "one of the most iconic streets in the U.S."
✮ Children's Museum of Memphis, Memphis - a large and excellent children's museum
✮ Eiffel Tower Park, Paris - features a 60-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower; one of Tennessee's best roadside attractions
✮ Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park, Memphis - excellent zip-lining tours and an aerial adventure park
✮ Graceland, Memphis - visit the kitschy, bizarre home of Elvis Presley
✮ Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area - offers wildlife viewing (elk, bison), an 1850s working farm, and great outdoor recreation
✮ Memphis Botanic Garden, Memphis - a large collection of botanical gardens
✮ Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, Memphis - learn about the birth and growth of rock'n'roll and soul music
✮ Memphis Zoo, Memphis - a great medium-sized zoo with more than 4,500 animals
✮ National Civil Rights Museum at Lorraine Motel, Memphis - an excellent civil rights museum built around the site where MLK was murdered
✮ Orpheum Theatre, Memphis - a historic, 2,308-seat theater in downtown Memphis
✮ Peabody Ducks at the Peabody Hotel, Memphis - a unique experience where you watch ducks walk through the lobby of a 4-star hotel
✮ Rusty's TV and Movie Car Museum, Jackson - displays more than 50 cars that have been featured in movies and television
✮ Shelby Farms Park, Memphis - one of the largest urban parks in the U.S.; features 40+ miles of trails, fishing, wildlife, playgrounds, and more
✮ Shiloh National Military Park, Shiloh - tour two Civil War battlefields
✮ Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Memphis - one of several excellent music museums in Memphis
✮ Sun Studio, Memphis - visit Elvis's famous music studio; the first rock and roll song was recorded here in the 1950s
Nashville (see below for the rest of central Tennessee)
✮ Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery - guided tours of a Greek Revival-style plantation house; "a sanctuary of southern hospitality"
✮ Broadway Street - famous street with 30-plus bars and legendary nightlife (e.g. live country & rock'n'roll music); the "heart of Nashville"
✮ Centennial Park - the flagship urban park in Nashville; includes a replica of the Parthenon found in Athens, Greece
✮ Cheekwood - visit a historic estate and a 55-acre botanical garden
✮ Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum - the #1 country music museum in the U.S.
✮ Gaylord Opryland Resort - one of the largest hotels in the world; you can visit its indoor botanical gardens even if you don't stay
✮ Grand Ole Opry, The / Grand Ole Opry House - a famous country music stage/performance; features weekly performances
✮ Hermitage, The - visit the home of President Andrew Jackson
✮ John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge - a pedestrian bridge with great views of Nashville; very close to Nashville's main strip (Broadway St.)
✮ Johnny Cash Museum - a museum that celebrates the life of the country music icon
✮ Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum - a museum honoring the musicians, engineers, and producers behind the music we hear
✮ Party bikes and/or party buses in Nashville - drinking is what you are supposed to do in Nashville, and so why not hop on a party bus or bike
✮ RCA Studio B - guided tours of a famous country music recording studio built in the 1950s
✮ Ryman Auditorium - a live performance theatre with 2,362 seats dubbed "the mother church of country music"
Central Tennessee (including Franklin and Murfreesboro; see above for Nashville)
✮ ATV/ORV-ing in Williamsport - Williamsport is a great place to go ATV/ORV-ing in Tennessee
✮ Burgess Falls State Park, Sparta - home of four waterfalls, including the famous 130-foot Burgess Falls
✮ Carter House & Carnton Plantation, Franklin - tour an 11-room plantation
✮ Caverns, The, Pelham - a concert venue inside one of the largest underground cave rooms in the world; guided tours of the cave also available
✮ Cumberland Caverns, McMinnville - guided underground cave tours in the second longest cave in Tennessee
✮ Cummins Falls State Park, Cookeville - one of the premier swimming holes in the U.S.; also one of Tennessee's best waterfalls
✮ Downtown Franklin - an attractive 16-block historic district with more than 70 unique shops and restaurants
✮ Fall Creek Falls State Park, Spencer - features an impressive 256-foot waterfall and several other smaller falls; has 30 miles of hiking trails
✮ Historic Carnton Plantation, Franklin - guided tours of a historic home that has ties to the Civil War; also offers slavery-focused tours
✮ Jack Daniel's Distillery, Lynchburg - one of several excellent distilleries found in central Tennessee
✮ Lotz House Museum, Franklin - guided tours of a historic home linked to the Civil War
✮ Ozone Falls,
Ozone Falls State Natural Area, Rockwood - a beautiful 110-foot waterfall reached via a 0.75 mile round-trip hike
✮ Piney Falls State Natural Area, Grandview - a nature preserve with two major waterfalls: 40ft Lower Piney Falls and 80ft Upper Piney Falls
✮ Rock Island State Park, Rock Island - features scenic views, hiking, canoeing, whitewater kayaking, swimming, and a 30-foot waterfall
✮ Sewanee Natural Bridge, Sewanee - an impressive natural bridge that is 50-feet wide and 25 feet tall
✮ Stones River National Battlefield, Murfreesboro - site of one of the bloodiest Civil War battles
✮ Virgin Falls, Virgin Falls State Natural Area, Sparta - a challenging hike visits several waterfalls, including the dramatic 110-foot Virgin Falls
✮ Window Cliffs State Natural Area, Baxter - a nature preserve with large cliffs, natural bridges, and small waterfalls; close to Burgess Falls SP
Northeastern Tennessee (including Bristol, Johnson City, and Knoxville; see below for the Great Smoky Mountains region)
✮ Backyard Terrors Dinosaur Park, Bluff City - a favorite (and free) roadside attraction featuring more than 50 life-sized dinosaur sculptures
✮ Bristol Caverns, Bristol - one of several excellent underground guided cave tours in northeastern Tennessee
✮ Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol - a famous short-track racing venue
✮ Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, Petros - tours of a retired maximum-security prison; paranormal tours are also offered
✮ Bush's Beans Visitor Center, Dandridge - one of the best company/factory tours in the U.S.
✮ Foothills Parkway - a scenic drive with several distinct sections; offers great views of the Great Smoky Mountains and parts of eastern TN
✮ Ijams Nature Center, Knoxville - a nature center that offers a variety of outdoor activities (e.g. hiking, paddling, cycling, and rock climbing)
✮ Lost Sea Adventure, Sweetwater - one of several excellent underground guided cave tours in northeastern Tennessee
✮ Market Square, Knoxville - the key tourist area of Knoxville, with many shops and restaurants
✮ Navitat Knoxville, Knoxville - excellent zip-lining tours and an aerial adventure park
✮ Newland Stadium, Knoxville - one of the largest college football stadiums in the U.S.; home of the Tennessee Volunteers
✮ Roan Mountain State Park - mountaineous park with hiking and mountain biking trails, scenic views, historic buildings, and good trout fishing
✮ Smoky Mountain Llama Treks, Cosby - visit a llama farm and/or go for a hike with a llama
✮ Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville - a historic movie and show palace in downtown Knoxville that was built in 1928
✮ Tuckaleechee Caverns, Townsend - one of several excellent underground guided cave tours in northeastern Tennessee
✮ Whitewater rafting on the Nolichucky River - day and overnight rafting trips are offered on this wild river, which has rapids up to class IV
✮ Whitewater rafting on the Pigeon River - day rafting trips are offered on this river; River Rat Whitewater Rafting is one popular guide
✮ Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Knoxville - the only museum dedicated to women's basketball
Great Smoky Mountains region: Sevierville
✮ Forbidden Caverns - offers excellent guided underground cave tours
✮ Harrisburg Covered Bridge - a historic covered bridge over the East Fork of the Little Pigeon River that was built in 1874
✮ Smoky Mountain Deer Farm - a large petting zoo and farm that also offers horse and pony trail rides
✮ Wineries in Sevierville - there are several highly-rated wineries and tasting rooms in and around Sevierville
✮ Zip-lining tours - many companies offer excellent zip-lining tours in and around Sevierville and Pigeon Forge (e.g. Adventure Park, CLIMB Works, Foxfire Adventure Park, Legacy Mountain, Smoky Mountain, Wahoo, Wears Valley, etc.)
Great Smoky Mountains region: Pigeon Forge
✮ Alcatraz East Crime Museum - one of the best crime museums in the U.S.
✮ Comedy Barn, The - excellent family comedy shows in a big barn-shaped theater
✮ Country Tonite Theatre - live performance theater with country music, comedy acts, and more
✮ Dixie Stampede Dinner - one of several fun "dinner theater" experiences in Pigeon Forge; eat while being entertained by cowboys!
✮ Dolly's Splash Country Water Adventure Park - an excellent medium-sized waterpark; take note that this is not adjacent to Dollywood
✮ Dollywood - the best theme park in Tennessee and one of the finest in the U.S.; Appalachian-themed rides and attractions
✮ Goats on the Roof - a tourist attraction featuring a mountain coaster, gift shop, and real goats that live on the roof of the building
✮ Great Smoky Mountain Wheel - a 200-foot tall ferris wheel in the middle of the popular "The Island" tourist area of Pigeon Forge
✮ Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show - one of several fun "dinner theater" experiences in Pigeon Forge; eat while being entertained by cowboys!
✮ Island, The - a major tourist area with many family-fun attractions, including arcades, a ferris wheel, and many shops and restaurants
✮ MagiQuest - features four family-fun attractions within one building (e.g. MagiQuest game, mini-golf, a mirror maze, and arcades)
✮ Old Mill Square - a popular and attractive tourist area with restaurants and specialty shops centered around a big wooden gristmill
✮ Outdoor Gravity Park - the only place in the U.S. where you can go zorbing (slip and slide down a hill within a giant bubble)
✮ Parrot Mountain & Gardens - a parrot preserve with 100s of birds and a Bible-inspired garden
✮ Paula Deen's Lumberjack Feud - one of several fun "dinner theater" experiences in Pigeon Forge; eat while being entertained by lumberjacks!
✮ Rocky Top Mountain Coaster - one of several excellent alpine/mountain coasters in the Great Smoky Mountains region of TN
✮ Rowdy Bear Ridge Adventure Park - an amusement park with an alpine flyer (suspended rollercoaster), summer and winter tubing, and more
✮ Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster - one of several excellent alpine/mountain coasters in the Great Smoky Mountains region of TN
✮ Titanic Museum - one of several excellent Titanic museums in the U.S.; the exterior of the building is a huge ship (a great photo-op!)
✮ TopJump Trampoline & Extreme Arena - one of the best trampoline parks and indoor kid-climbing wall centers in the U.S.
✮ Zip-lining tours - many companies offer excellent zip-lining tours in and around Sevierville and Pigeon Forge (e.g. Adventure Park, CLIMB Works, Foxfire Adventure Park, Legacy Mountain, Smoky Mountain, Wahoo, Wears Valley, etc.)
Great Smoky Mountains region: Gatlinburg
✮ Doc Collier Moonshine Distillery - one of several excellent distilleries in the Great Smoky Mountains region of Tennessee
✮ Downtown Gatlinburg - an extremely popular tourist area with tons of shops, restaurants, and moonshine/distillery tasting rooms
✮ Gatlinburg SkyLift Park - take a chairlift to walk across the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America
✮ Hollywood Star Cars Museum - features more than 40 vehicles shown on TV and movies
✮ Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine - one of several excellent distilleries in the Great Smoky Mountains region of Tennessee
✮ Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies - one of the best aquariums in the U.S.
✮ Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum - a quirky museum displaying thousands of salt and pepper shakers; an inexpensive and awesome attraction!
✮ Sugarlands Distilling Company - one of several excellent distilleries in the Great Smoky Mountains region of Tennessee
✮ Tennessee Cider Company - Gatlinburg's original hard cider tasting room
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
✮ Adams Falls - a 5.0 mile round-trip hike from a trailhead in Cades Cove will bring you to this scenic 20-foot tall waterfall
✮ Alum Cave - one of the best hikes in the Smoky Mountains; visits a geologic landmark and eventually climbs to Mount LeConte
✮ Cades Cove - an isolated valley with a scenic drive and several historic cabins and other buildings; wildlife is commonly seen (e.g. bears)
✮ Clingmans Dome - the highpoint of TN (6,643'); in season, you can drive to a high parking area and hike 1.3 miles to the top for scenic views
✮ Great Smoky Mountains National Park - the #1 most popular national park in the U.S. has awesome trails, scenery, waterfalls, & scenic drives
✮ Grotto Falls - a 3.0 mile round-trip hike from a trailhead on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail will bring you to this 85-foot waterfall
✮ Laurel Falls - a 2.6 mile round-trip hike will bring you to the lower and upper Laurel Falls
✮ Newfound Gap Road - a scenic drive through the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains; connects Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC
✮ Rainbow Falls - a 5.4 mile round-trip hike from a trailhead on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail will bring you to this 80-foot waterfall
✮ Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail - a 5.5 mile scenic driving loop with old-growth forests and several historic buildings; closed in winter
Southeastern Tennessee (including Chattanooga)
✮ Bald River Falls, Cherokee National Forest - a spectacular 90-foot falls; access is via Tellico River Road (NFRS 2010); parking is limited
✮ Chattanooga Ducks, Chattanooga - popular duck boat sightseeing tours that travel on both land and water
✮ Creative Discovery Museum, Chattanooga - an excellent children's museum
✮ Foster Falls, Foster Falls Recreation Area, Sequatchie - a pretty 60-foot waterfall that spills into a deep pool; part of South Cumberland SP
✮ Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga - drive or take an incline railway up to great views; also has a scenic but man-made waterfall (High Falls)
✮ Raccoon Mountain Caverns, Chattanooga - offers walking and "wild" underground cave tours; there's also a campground on site
✮ Ruby Falls, Chattanooga - take a cave tour to visit a large brightly-lit underground waterfall
✮ South Cumberland State Park, Monteagle - a huge state park with nine separate areas; offers some of the best hiking and backpacking in TN
✮ Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga - supposedly the world's largest freshwater aquarium
✮ Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, Chattanooga - see a collection of historic trains and take a scenic train ride
✮ Walnut Street Bridge / Coolidge Park, Chattanooga - walk across one of the world's longest pedestrian bridges
✮ Whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River - several rafting trips are offered on this wild river, including some with major class IV+ rapids
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Tennessee? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
For a list of 5-star attractions in neighboring states, click on any of these links:
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN TENNESSEE
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These towns and cities in Tennessee are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Chattanooga - a mid-sized city in southeastern TN famous for its outdoor activities, nature parks, family attractions, and Civil War history
✮ Franklin - a small city near Nashville that has a lively historic downtown/main street area with many shops, restaurants, and art galleries
✮ Gatlinburg - one of several mega-tourist destination towns near Great Smoky Mountains National Park; has dozens of tourist attractions
✮ Lynchburg - a small city famous for its distilleries, including Jack Daniel's Distillery; many historic buildings; visit Cave Spring Hollow
✮ Memphis - a major city with world-famous BBQ, live music (blues, soul, rock & roll) and great museums; visit Beale Street
✮ Nashville - a major city dubbed the "capital of country music"; Broadway Street has more than 30 bars (many with live music)
✮ Pigeon Forge - a small town with an enormous amount of tourist attractions; several excellent performance theaters and amusement parks
✮ Sevierville - a small town with dozens of popular tourist attractions; several awesome distilleries and wineries; next to Pigeon Forge
My favorite city in Tennessee is Nashville - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there. You will obviously want to visit Broadway Street, which has all the live music and bars you've heard about (there are more than 30 bars!). The rest of your time in Nashville can easily be spent visiting its excellent museums. If you have a vehicle, you could also take a day trip to historic Franklin.
My favorite small town in Tennessee is Pigeon Forge - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least a full week in this area. The amount of attractions (both tourist and outdoor) is astounding. If you don't like tourist chaos, stay far far away from this place. For the rest of us, it's a ton of fun. Take note that Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville are all next to each other, and all three have dozens of attractions. This entire area also serves as a gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
If you want to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park, stay in either Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, or Sevierville.
Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S.
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WHAT IS TENNESSEE FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that Tennessee is famous or well-known for:
✮ aerial adventure parks
✮ amusement parks - e.g. Dollywood
✮ BBQ - e.g. Memphis-style BBQ
✮ blues music
✮ caves / cave tours
✮ Civil War history / military parks / battlefields
✮ country music
✮ dinner theaters - the town of Pigeon Forge has several excellent dinner theaters
✮ Elvis Presley
✮ live music
✮ moonshine - the towns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg have several distilleries/moonshine tasting experiences
✮ mountain coasters / alpine slides
✮ music museums
✮ tourist attractions
✮ waterfalls
✮ whiskey distilleries
✮ whitewater rafting
✮ zip-lining tours
Click here if you'd like to learn what other U.S. states are famous for.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN TENNESSEE
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There is one national park and many other federally-managed parks and properties in Tennessee, including:
National Parks
✮ Great Smoky Mountains National Park - the #1 most popular national park in the U.S. has awesome trails, scenery, waterfalls, & scenic drives
National Recreation Areas
✮ Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
✮ Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area
National Forests
✮ Cherokee National Forest
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
✮ Andrew Johnson National Historic Site
✮ Appalachian National Scenic Trail
✮ Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
✮ Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
✮ Fort Donelson National Battlefield
✮ Manhattan Project National Historical Park
✮ Natchez Trace Parkway
✮ Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
✮ Obed Wild & Scenic River
✮ Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
✮ Shiloh National Military Park
✮ Stones River National Battlefield
✮ Trail of Tears National Historic Trail
If you are visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the first time, I recommend staying for a full week. Between the attractions of the national park and all the tourist attractions of the nearby towns of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville, you'll find plenty to do.
For more information on Tennessee's national parks, visit the Tennessee page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all U.S. national parks, click here.
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Tennessee has more than 50 state parks. Here is a list of many of Tennessee's finest state parks:
Central Tennessee (including Franklin, Murfreesboro, and Nashville)
✮ Burgess Falls State Park / Burgess Falls, Sparta - home of four waterfalls, including the famous 130-foot Burgess Falls
✮ Cummins Falls State Park, Cookeville - one of the premier swimming holes in the U.S. below one of Tennessee's best waterfalls
✮ Fall Creek Falls State Park, Pikeville - features an impressive 256-foot waterfall and several other smaller falls; has 30 miles of hiking trails
✮ Ozone Falls State Natural Area, Rockwood - a beautiful 110-foot waterfall visible from a 0.75 mile round-trip hike
✮ Piney Falls State Natural Area, Grandview - a nature preserve with two major waterfalls: 40ft Lower Piney Falls and 80ft Upper Piney Falls
✮ Rock Island State Park, Rock Island - features scenic views, hiking, canoeing, whitewater kayaking, swimming, and a 30-foot waterfall
✮ Virgin Falls State Natural Area, Sparta - a challenging hike visits several waterfalls, including the dramatic 110-foot Virgin Falls
✮ Window Cliffs State Natural Area, Baxter - a nature preserve with large cliffs, natural bridges, and small waterfalls; close to Burgess Falls SP
Northeastern Tennessee (including Bristol, Johnson City, and Knoxville)
✮ Roan Mountain State Park, Roan Mountain - mountaineous park with hiking trails, mountain biking trails, scenic views, historic buildings, and trout fishing
Southeastern Tennessee (including Chattanooga)
✮ South Cumberland State Park, Monteagle - a huge state park with nine separate areas; offers some of the best hiking and backpacking in TN
To see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN TENNESSEE
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Tennessee is one of the best states for waterfall hunting in the United States. There are at least 500-600 natural waterfalls in the state. Here are some of the best and/or most popular waterfalls in Tennessee:
Central Tennessee (including Franklin, Murfreesboro, and Nashville)
✮ Burgess Falls - Burgess Falls State Park, Sparta
✮ Cummins Falls - Cummins Falls State Park, Cookeville
✮ Fall Creek Falls - Fall Creek Falls State Park, Spencer
✮ Great Falls - Rock Island State Park, Rock Island
✮ Machine Falls - Short Springs Natural Area, Tullahoma
✮ Ozone Falls - Ozone Falls State Natural Area, Rockwood
✮ Piney Falls - Piney Falls State Natural Area, Grandview
✮ Virgin Falls - Virgin Falls State Natural Area, Sparta
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
✮ Abrams Falls
✮ Grotto Falls
✮ Indian Creek Falls
✮ Laurel Falls
✮ Rainbow Falls
✮ Ramsey Cascades
Southeastern Tennessee (including Chattanooga)
✮ Bald River Falls - Cherokee National Forest
✮ Conasauga Fall - Cherokee National Forest
✮ Foster Falls - Foster Falls Recreation Area, Sequatchie
✮ Greeter Falls - South Cumberland State Park, Altamont
✮ High Falls - scenic but man-made waterfall on Lookout Mountain on the TN/GA border
✮ Ruby Falls - a privately-owned cave and waterfall attraction in Chattanooga
For a listing of all known waterfalls in Tennessee, visit the World Waterfall Database.
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BEST SHOW CAVES IN TENNESSEE
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This section coming soon!
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN TENNESSEE
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in Tennessee:
✮ Cades Cove Loop, Great Smoky Mountains National Park- a popular 11-mile paved loop with pastoral scenery and historic sites (e.g. cabins)
✮ Cherohala Skyway
- a 51-mile paved route from Tellico Plains, TN to Robbinsville, NC using both TN-165 an NC-143
✮ Clingman's Dome Road - a seasonal 7-mile paved route that climbs from Newfound Gap Road to within 0.5 mile of the Tennessee highpoint
✮ Foothills Parkway
- a series of sectional/fragmented paved routes in the northern Great Smoky Mountains; winter weather can cause closures
✮ Little River Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park - a 18-mile paved route that connects Gatlinburg with Cades Cove
✮ Natchez Trace Parkway - a 444-mile paved route from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN with many historic sites and scenic overlooks
✮ Newfound Gap Road/US-441 - a 35-mile paved route from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC through a high pass in the Great Smoky Mtns
✮ Rich Mountain Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park - a seasonal 7-mile dirt/gravel road from Cades Cove to the town of Townsend
✮ Roan Mountain/Carvers Gap - a 25-mile paved route from Roan Mountain, TN (highway TN-143) to Bakersville, NC (highway NC-261)
✮ Roaring Fork Motor Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park - a seasonal 6-mile paved route that starts just to the south of Gatlinburg
✮ Tail of the Dragon
- an 11-mile paved route on US-129 with 318 curves from Chilhowee Lake in Tallassee, TN to Deals Gap/NC-28 in NC
The Ocoee Scenic Byway is a decent drive, but the scenery is not on par with the roads I've listed above.
Nearly 200 miles of the 2,000-plus mile Great River Road
travels through Tennessee, but I'm not sure how scenic the Tennessee sections are.
For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here.
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BEST RAIL TRAILS IN TENNESSEE
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Here is a list of some of the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in Tennessee:
Western Tennessee (including Jackson and Memphis)
✮ Shelby Farms Greenline
Central Tennessee (including Franklin, Murfreesboro, and Nashville)
✮ Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail
✮ Stones River Greenway
Northeastern Tennessee (including Bristol, Johnson City, and Knoxville)
✮ Kingsport Greenbelt
✮ Maryville-Alcoa Greenway
✮ Tweetsie Trail
Southeastern Tennessee (including Chattanooga)
✮ Chattanooga Riverwalk
For detailed information on all known rail trails in Kansas, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN TENNESSEE
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There are a few notable amusement parks in Tennessee, including:
✮ Dollywood, Pigeon Forge
✮ Dollywood's Splash Country, Pigeon Forge
✮ Lake Winnie Amusement Park, Chattanooga
✮ Soaky Mountain Waterpark, Sevierville
✮ Wild Bear Falls Water Park, Gatlinburg
✮ Wild Water Dome Indoor Waterpark, Sevierville
In addition to the amusement parks listed above, the Sevierville/Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area near Great Smoky Mountains National Park has literally dozens more small to medium-sized amusement parks, including some excellent mountain coasters and go-kart tracks. That area also has more than a dozen miniature golf courses.
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BEST MUSEUMS IN TENNESSEE
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Tennessee has an amazing assortment of museums - one of the best collections of museums of any U.S. state. The music museums of Tennessee are especially notable. The best museums in Tennessee include:
Western Tennessee (including Jackson and Memphis)
✮ Graceland, Memphis
✮ Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, Memphis
✮ National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, Memphis
✮ Rusty's TV and Movie Car Museum, Jackson
✮ Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Memphis
✮ Sun Studio, Memphis
Central Tennessee (including Franklin, Murfreesboro, and Nashville)
✮ Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, Nashville
✮ Carnton, Franklin
✮ Carter House, Franklin
✮ Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, Nashville
✮ Frist Art Museum, Nashville
✮ Johnny Cash Museum, Nashville
✮ Lane Motor Museum, Nashville
✮ Lots House Museum, Franklin
✮ Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, Nashville
✮ RCA Studio B, Nashville
✮ Tennessee State Museum, Nashville
Northeastern Tennessee (including Bristol, Johnson City, and Knoxville; see below for Great Smoky Mountains National Park)
✮ Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville
✮ Museum of Appalachia, Clinton
✮ Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Knoxville
Great Smoky Mountains area (including Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville)
✮ Alcatraz East Crime Museum, Pigeon Forge
✮ Hollywood Star Cars Museum, Gatlinburg
✮ Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, Gatlinburg
✮ Titanic Museum, Pigeon Forge
Southeastern Tennessee (including Chattanooga)
✮ Creative Discovery Museum, Chattanooga
✮ International Towing & Recovery Museum, Chattanooga
✮ Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, Chattanooga
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BEST DAY HIKES IN TENNESSEE
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Tennessee has many great hiking trails, especially in the central and eastern sections of the state. Here are some of the best day hikes in Tennessee:
Central Tennessee (including Franklin, Murfreesboro, and Nashville)
✮ Burgess Falls Trail, Burgess Falls State Park
✮ Colditz Cove Trail, Colditz Cove State Natural Area, Jamestown
✮ Cummins Falls, Cummins Falls State Park
✮ Fall Creek Falls State Park trails - includes a relatively easy hike to one of Tennessee's best waterfalls
✮ Honey Creek Loop Trail, Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
✮ Rock Island State Park trails (e.g. Twin Falls)
✮ Savage Gulf State Park trails (e.g. Greeter Falls Loop, Stone Door Trail)
✮ Twin Arches, Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
✮ Virgin Falls, Virgin Falls State Natural Area
✮ Window Cliffs State Natural Area, Baxter
Northeastern Tennessee (including Bristol, Johnson City, and Knoxville; see below for Great Smoky Mountains National Park)
✮ Laurel Falls, Pond Mountain Wilderness
✮ Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower, Cherokee National Forest
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (in eastern Tennessee)
✮ Abrams Falls
✮ Alum Cave
✮ Charlies Bunion
✮ Chimney Tops Trail
✮ Clingmans Dome - relatively easy walk of 1.3 miles round-trip to the TN highpoint (take note that the road is typically closed Dec-Apr)
✮ Grotto Falls, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
✮ Laurel Falls, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
✮ Mount Cammerer, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
✮ Mount LeConte, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
✮ Rainbow Falls, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
✮ Ramsey Cascades, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Southeastern Tennessee (including Chattanooga)
✮ Conasauga Falls, Cherokee National Forest
✮ Edward's Point Trail, Prentice Cooper State Forest
✮ Fiery Gizzard Trail to Raven's Point, South Cumberland State Park
✮ Foster Falls, South Cumberland State Park
✮ Snoopers Rock Trail, Prentice Cooper State Forest
✮ Stone Door Trail, South Cumberland State Park
The highpoint of Tennessee is Clingmans Dome (6,643') in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In season, you can drive to a parking area and then do a 1.3 mile fairly easy round-trip walk to the top. Expect fantastic views!
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN TENNESSEE
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Tennessee offers several great backpacking opportunities. Some of the premier backpacking routes/areas in Tennessee include:
Central Tennessee (including Franklin, Murfreesboro, and Nashville)
✮ Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail - 290 miles from northern KY to Pickett State Park in TN; only a small portion is in TN
Northeastern Tennessee (including Bristol, Johnson City, and Knoxville)
✮ Appalachian Trail - about 66 miles of this 2,200 mile long trail is located in Tennessee
✮ Bald Mountains Ridge Scenic Area trails - within Cherokee National Forest
✮ Cherokee National Forest trails
✮ Shady Valley Loop - includes the Iron Mountain Trail and the Appalachian Trail
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (in eastern Tennessee)
✮ Appalachian Trail - about 66 miles of this 2,200 mile trail are in Tennessee
✮ LeConte Lodge on Mount LeConte
Southeastern Tennessee (including Chattanooga)
✮ Cherokee National Forest trails
✮ South Cumberland State Park trails
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN TENNESSEE
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Tennessee offers many excellent outdoor adventures, including these classics:
✮ Backpacking the Appalachian Trail
✮ Backpacking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
✮ Backpacking to LeConte Lodge
✮ Backpacking the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail
✮ Bouldering at Stone Fort (aka Little Rock City)
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Buffalo River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Caney Fork River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Duck River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Harpeth River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Little River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the New River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking on the Wolf River
✮ Cycling the Chattanooga Riverwalk
✮ Cycling the Shelby Farms Greenline
✮ Day hiking Charlies Bunion
✮ Day hiking Chimney Tops
✮ Day hiking Mount Cammerer
✮ Day hiking Mount LeConte
✮ Hot air ballooning in Franklin
✮ Mountain biking Baker Creek Preserve in Knoxville
✮ Mountain biking the Knoxville Urban Wilderness
✮ Mountain biking the Raccoon Mountain Trail Network in Chattanooga
✮ Mountain biking the Tanasi Trail System in Cherokee National Forest
✮ Mountain biking White Oak Mountain
✮ Mountain biking Windrock Bike Park
✮ Rock climbing in/near Chattanooga (e.g. the Tennessee Wall)
✮ Rock climbing at King's Bluff
✮ Rock climbing along the Obed Wild & Scenic River
✮ Rock climbing at Prentice Cooper
✮ Rock climbing at Suck Creek Canyon
✮ Rock climbing in Sunset Park in Lookout Mountain
✮ Skydiving in Greenville, Jasper, New Market, Tullahoma, Waverly, and Whiteville
✮ Tubing the Buffalo River
✮ Tubing the Harpeth River
✮ Tubing the Little River
✮ Tubing the New River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Nolichucky River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Ocoee River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Pigeon River
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Tennessee only has one ski resort: Ober Gatlinburg. It's a very small ski area (10 trails) and it doesn't get all that much snow.
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN TENNESSEE
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in Tennessee:
✮ barbecue pork sandwich
✮ barbecue ribs
✮ hot chicken
✮ hot fish sandwich
✮ Memphis-style ribs
✮ moonpies
✮ moonshine
✮ pancake houses
✮ pimento cheese
✮ sorghum syrup
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Tennessee (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Tennessee (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY TENNESSEE INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about Tennessee:
State Capital:
Nashville
Major Airports:
Nashville International Airport (BNA), Memphis International Airport (MEM), or McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) near Knoxville
Largest Cities:
Nashville (707,091). Memphis (630,348), Knoxville (193,114), Chattanooga (183,783), Clarksville (173,480), Murfreesboro (161,571)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-24, I-26, I-40, I-55, I-65, I-75, I-81
State Highpoint:
Clingmans Dome (6,643') in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee; a 1.3 mile fairly easy round-trip walk from a seasonal road (which is typically open May-Nov) is required to reach the top
Professional Sports Teams:
NBA: Memphis Grizzlies
NFL: Tennessee Titans
NHL: Nashville Predators
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Bucksnort, Bugscuffle, Disco, Finger, Lick Skillet, Nutbush, Skullbone, Sweet Lips, and Wartrace
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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Fall Creek Falls State Park in Spencer, Tennessee
Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee
historic cabin in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
moonshine distilleries thrive in Tennessee
the famous Broadway Street in Nashville, Tennessee
World's Largest Rubik's Cube in Knoxville, Tennessee
Harrisburg Covered Bridge in Sevierville, Tennessee
Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
In addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any book cover to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com.
 
 
 
 
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MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
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As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
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