Whether you’re a music lover or a nature buff, you’ll fall head over cowboy boots for Tennessee. Visit Elvis Presley’s eye-popping mansion, tour the famous Sun Studio and bar hop in Nashville, the “Country Music Capital of the World”. Wherever you go, expect delicious food and lashings of Southern hospitality.
Things to do in Tennessee
Learn how to sing the blues in Memphis. The city is a mecca for music lovers and a former stomping ground for legends like B.B. King, Robert Johnson and Elvis Presley. You’ll find some of the best live music bars along bustling Beale Street. Venture into up-and-coming neighbourhoods like South Main and Crosstown to find trendy boutiques, brunch cafes and microbreweries.
Don your cowboy hat, boots and diamante-studded shirt in Nashville. Known as “Music City”, Nashville combines a proud country music legacy with a newfound passion for hip bars and cafes. Most of the action is along Honky Tonk Highway, a neon-lit thoroughfare lined with live music venues.
From Willie Nelson to Taylor Swift, the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum gets you up to speed on local luminaries. Tour the landmark Ryman Auditorium and walk in the footsteps of icons like Bob Dylan. Score tickets to a Grand Ole Opry concert for the ultimate Nashville experience.
Reconnect with nature in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Set on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, the park protects rugged peaks and sun-dappled forests strewn with wildflowers. Hiking trails take you to the cascading waterfalls and scenic lookouts with breathtaking views over the surrounding wilderness. Learn about the park’s early settler heritage at open-air museums and spot wildlife like elk, bears and racoons.
From buttery biscuits slathered in sausage gravy to smoky pulled pork and fried chicken, Southern-style cuisine is the order of the day in Tennessee. Bite into cornbread-battered catfish, dig into an enormous bowl of mac ‘n’ cheese and finish with a homemade moon pie cookie. Wash it all down with a shot of premium Tennessee whiskey.
Getting around Tennessee
Towns and cities in Tennessee are pedestrian-friendly and easy to get around on foot. Public transport is a fast and affordable way to get around, while taxis and rideshare services are popular. Rental cars offer the freedom to explore Tennessee at your own pace and major airports are in Nashville and Memphis.