Tennessee is one of America’s fastest growing states. It is home to rivers, lakes, mountains, and waterfalls. The state also features cultural and historical attractions. Whether you want to spend time exploring the state’s history, learning about its music culture, or enjoying a little fun in the sun, there are plenty of things to do in Tennessee.
Among the state’s most popular destinations is Cades Cove. This area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers hiking trails and beautiful waterfalls.
Tennessee has many other outdoor activities as well, such as horseback riding, paddling, and cycling. You can even enjoy a relaxing day at the Boro Beach Water Park. Besides the great outdoors, you can also visit a number of museums.
One of the most popular museums in Tennessee is the Titanic Museum. Located near the Johnny Cash Museum, this attraction is shaped like the ship and features a variety of exhibits.
The Bell Witch Cave is another place to visit. It is believed that the cave is haunted by the legendary Bell Witch. There are several tours that allow visitors to go inside the cave and learn about its fascinating history.
Another notable museum is the Automobile Museum, which is always on the lookout for new automobiles. Besides the cars themselves, the museum also has an interactive area that includes videos featuring artists from around the world.
If you’re looking for a different kind of experience, you might want to check out the First Friday Art Crawl in Franklin. During this event, you can get free trolley service and explore a number of the city’s top galleries.
Nashville
The city of Nashville has a lot to offer tourists. Nashville is an exciting city with a rich history, beautiful natural landscape, and fantastic cultural activities. It is the capital of Tennessee. The city is also known as the “Country Music Capital of the World,” and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States.
Visitors to Nashville can enjoy dining, shopping, and sightseeing. It is also home to several historic landmarks. In fact, the city was dubbed “Athens of the South” in the 19th century.
The city is also home to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The museum features photographs, interactive displays, and musical instruments. You can also take tours of the RCA Studio B, which is located inside the museum.
Another famous tourist attraction is the Grand Ole Opry. This iconic venue is home to the infamous “Grand Ole Opry” radio show. The tour of the building includes special effects and old footage.
During the fall months, there are plenty of festivals and historical events. Fall foliage dominates the scenery, and you can enjoy nature trails. You can go on a guided tour of the grounds or simply walk along the grass.
Among other things, Nashville is home to the famous “Music Row.” This street features several businesses that relate to the musical heritage of the city.
Also, the Nashville Wildlife Sanctuary is a nonprofit organization. There are several tours of the sanctuary, which aims to repopulate plants and animals. Besides, the sanctuary also hosts special events.
Dollywood
Dollywood is a spectacular theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It’s a place that brings you closer to the legend of country music singer Dolly Parton. This amusement park features a slew of attractions, including rides, a theater, and an authentic Grist Mill.
Dollywood is organized into eleven themed sections. Each section features its own unique rides and attractions. Some of the rides include a rafting ride, a log ride, and an old-fashioned train.
Dollywood is home to five of the South’s biggest festivals, including the annual Harvest Festival and Great Pumpkin LumiNights. There’s also a special summer celebration and a variety of other events. In addition, you’ll find some excellent dining options and plenty of guest services.
Besides its numerous attractions, Dollywood is a family-friendly destination. It offers several kid-friendly rides, including a slew of carnival games. You can also enjoy traditional food and craft demonstrations.
If you’re in the mood for some fried food, check out the Hickory Hollow BBQ. Here, you can find award-winning pulled pork sandwiches. The pork is served on top of crisp fries.
Another highlight of Dollywood is its chapel. It’s named after Robert F. Thomas, a doctor who delivered Dolly Parton.
The Chasing Rainbows Museum is another one of the more exciting attractions at Dollywood. It showcases Dolly’s early career. It also includes exhibits that focus on Southern gospel music.
The Country Fair area is located just past Rivertown Junction and is home to a number of classic rides. This area also includes a duck pond and a variety of midway games.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Nashville, Tennessee. It features one of the largest collections of musical artifacts in the world, and is dedicated to the preservation of American vernacular music.
There are two floors of galleries dedicated to the history of country music. There are permanent exhibitions and visiting exhibitions, as well as interactive displays. These galleries feature video footage and carefully selected sound recordings of historic and contemporary artists.
One of the highlights of the museum is the gold piano owned by Elvis Presley. Other notable artifacts are blue suede shoes worn by Carl Perkins, Willie Nelson’s bandanas, and Hank Williams’ boots.
The museum also features an Outlaw section that looks at the politics of the country music industry. A small theater plays a loop of classic performances.
There are also two gift shops. Circa: The Museum Store is located on the first floor. They sell books, apparel, and other unique items. The Red Onion snack bar is also in the lobby.
Visitors can also attend special one-hour songwriter sessions. The museum has an extensive collection of memorabilia, and offers many insightful educational initiatives.
The music museum is a beautiful place to visit. The architecture of the building is impressive. This is a top stop on many guided tours of Nashville.
The museum is very well organized. There are multiple exhibits, including a tour bus, a recording booth, and a replica of Dolly Parton’s tour bus.
Graceland
Graceland is the former home of Elvis Presley, the singer who is one of the greatest rock stars of all time. It is also one of the most visited private homes in the United States, with more than one million visitors every year.
Visitors can explore the many exhibits at Graceland, which feature the personal items of Elvis. They include a quilt and a plaque made from chewing gum wrappers. The museum also has a collection of Elvis’ career memorabilia, including his pink Cadillac.
Graceland also has a meditation garden, which is a resting place for the singer. The garden is closed on Christmas and Thanksgiving Day. However, fans can still visit the garden for free during the day.
For fans of rock ‘n’ roll, Graceland is a must-see. There are many tours that let you explore the former home of Elvis. You can take a tour of the mansion or visit the trophy building, which has a collection of the platinum and gold records that the singer earned.
The most popular room at Graceland is the Jungle Room. In this room, you can listen to Elvis’s recordings. Also, you can touch the microphone that he used when recording his first album.
Various events are held at Graceland throughout the year. Some of them are held for the birthday of the singer. These include the Elvis Week, held mid-August, and the Elvis Birthday Celebration, held in January.
Visitors can get a glimpse into the personal life of the singer by taking a guided tour of his mansion. There are several options for tickets, which range from the basic $21 for kids 7-12 to the Ultimate VIP Tour, which includes a guided tour, lunch, and a souvenir lanyard.
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is an iconic, world-famous country music venue located in Nashville, Tennessee. It is the oldest radio show in the United States, and one of the most famous live music performances in the world. A variety of tours are available to see the venue.
The Opry house tour is a great way to get a peek inside the historic building. Guests learn about the building’s history, and listen to stories about the people who have performed on the Opry stage. There are different options for touring the house, and tickets vary in price.
Another tour option is the Behind the Opry Curtain VIP Tour. This is a unique opportunity to be onstage for the performance, and a glimpse of the backstage area. Depending on the show, guests can choose from a private or public tour.
Southern Appalachian Mountains
If you’re looking for a little adventure in the southern Appalachian Mountains, there are plenty of hiking trails. There are also waterfalls, rafting and tubing opportunities. These areas are home to many different species of plants and animals.
The Smokies are an international biosphere reserve. This is due to their biodiversity. Scientists have found more than 19,000 species of organisms in the park. In addition, the park was named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.
Clingman’s Dome is the highest point in Tennessee. It offers 360-degree views of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Hiking to the top is a good option, but keep in mind that it is often foggy.
The Appalachian Trail is the world’s longest hiking-only trail. It runs more than 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine. Many hikes overlap with it, and you may find yourself sharing the trail with hard-core through-hikers.
In the mountains, there are also a number of great places to kayak. The Sinks is a popular series of cascades and waterfalls. Other highlights include Ruby Falls, a 145-foot waterfall in a cave.
In addition to water sports, the area is a popular destination for camping. Cataloochee Valley, which is a valley in the southern Appalachian Mountains, is home to many wildlife species. Here, you’ll find remnants of antebellum homes and trout streams.
You can also try out the park’s full-sized train rides at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Or visit the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough.
Ruby Falls
Ruby Falls is a 145-foot underground waterfall in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. It is the tallest of its kind in the United States. The water stream runs through the mountain and eventually meets up with the Tennessee River. This water is fed by natural springs and rainwater.
Ruby Falls offers a variety of cave tours. One of the more popular is the Classic Waterfall Tour. This tour is more than a mile long and has a few perks. For instance, you’ll see over 500 lights along the way. Some tour members even get to take a hand held electric lantern.
There’s also the High Point Zip Adventure, a 700 foot zipline through the trees. Participants are required to weigh between 60 and 275 pounds.
Another must see is the 1885 Grill, a restaurant serving up a tasty selection of southern fare. The cafe’s menu is fun for all ages. You can also check out Rock City, a tourist attraction that has always been a winner with its large and informative signs.
The best way to enjoy Ruby Falls is to go on a guided tour. Guided tours of the cave are available on selected dates, with a 26-story elevator leading into the cavern. If you’re lucky, you’ll even get to see a show.
Ruby Falls also boasts a few other attractions. In addition to its caves and waterfalls, there are several zip lines to choose from. As for the best time to visit, spring is definitely the season to visit.
National Civil Rights Museum
The National Civil Rights Museum is an educational institution that explores the history of the civil rights movement in the United States. It is located in Memphis, Tennessee. As part of its mission, the Museum strives to promote nonviolence and love.
In addition to its collection of artifacts and documents, the museum also provides interactive exhibits and films. Visitors can explore the civil rights history of the United States, as well as international human rights.
The museum is home to over 260 artifacts from the American Civil Rights Movement. Additionally, visitors can learn about African-American culture. Several of the exhibits feature photographs, three-dimensional scenes, and oral histories.
To visit the museum, guests should plan on spending about two hours. They should also bring comfortable shoes and a guide. A family guide is available to help visitors explore sensitive exhibits.
Another special exhibit, the “Movement to Overcome,” celebrates people who are fighting for civil rights today. These include Martin Luther King Jr. and other activists who were on the frontlines of the fight.
During their tour, guests can check out an interactive smart table called “Join the Movement.” Lexie liked the phone that held recordings of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Martin Luther Johnson.
The National Civil Rights Museum has been a place for Black Memphians to come together for the past 30 years. It has also been a site for numerous protests, pro-immigration rallies, and other events.
The museum has an extensive Web site, which includes a list of local civil rights organizations. It also offers webinars and other special events. Members of the Museum receive invitations to special events, and discounts on gift shop merchandise.
