Wake up to bluegrass drifting over mountain mist, drive roads lined with dogwoods, and finish the day on Beale Street or Broadway—Tennessee is the story of America told in music, barbecue smoke, and legendary landscapes.

Wander old towns where songwriters still play for supper, explore the Great Smoky Mountains by trail or river, and join a festival crowd for every genre under the Southern sun.

Top Stops & Local Scenes

• Music Cities: Nashville (Country Music Hall of Fame, honky-tonks, Ascend Amphitheater), Memphis (Graceland, Beale St, soul food, Sun Studio), Bristol (birthplace of country)
• Great Smoky Mountains: Hiking, waterfalls, black bears, spring wildflowers, fall color; gateway towns Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge
• Chattanooga: Scenic city, riverfront, anniversaries for Civil Rights music & stories
• Knoxville: Start of bluegrass trails, lively college town, World's Fair Park
• Hidden Gems: Leiper's Fork for art & Lawnchair Theatre, Arrington Vineyards for music picnics, mountain drives on Natchez Trace

Must-Experience

• Music festivals: Bonnaroo, Riverbend, Barbecue Fest, small-town bluegrass fests
• BBQ & Cuisine: Pulled pork, hot chicken, fried green tomatoes, farm-to-table in the foothills
• Outdoor escapes: Hike, paddle, zipline, fish—end at a back-porch concert

Tips

• Best time: Spring and Fall for weather and festivals
• Book tours (Graceland, studio visits) early
• Safe and family-friendly everywhere; nightlife is lively but local