Rock Out In Rocky Top Tennessee!
Okay, so Tennessee has earned the nickname “The Volunteer State” which isn’t as outwardly appealing as Georgia’s (The Peach State) or as high-society as Delaware’s (The Diamond State), but if you’re looking for the perfect dose of BBQ, music, and southern charm, we have a spot.
The thing about Tennessee, unlike so many other one trick pony states that are limited to one tour-worthy city or site, Tennessee is packed. In fact, there are some must-visit spots and a road that (sort-of, less a few worthwhile detours) connects them all with tons to do in between.
First Things First, Gatlinburg To Get You Going
To fully unwind, you have to set the mood. And there’s not much better for unwinding from life’s stressors and finding the heartbeat of Tennessee than Gatlinburgh, nestled at the Gateway of the Great Smoky Mountains. Complete with its own space needle for some high-altitude sight-seeing and the 2.1 mile SkyLift aerial cable car that guides you from downtown to the popular Ober Gatlinburg amusement park & ski resort – it’s hard to find a more charming place to rejuvenate.
A Stop You May Soon Forget, Lynchburg
In Kentucky they are proud of their bourbons, but Tennessee still owns the market with their very own “Sour Mash.” Distilled in Lynchburg from it’s very first batch – it might be some sort of unwritten sacrilege to visit Tennessee without paying homage to the maker of America’s Favorite whiskey, Jack Daniels. And as you might expect, the fun just begins there with the breathtaking Limestone Cave Spring, and the charcoal-making Rickyard. Just a word of advice, if you order lemonade, make sure you are specific about what KIND of lemonade you’d like.
Grand ‘Ol Opry, Grand ‘Ol Nashville
By air or by the I-40, accessible Nashville always over delivers. From “hot chicken” and the Grand Ole Opry House to the Country Music Hall of Fame all interspersed among a bevy of legendary honky-tonks, dive bars, and dance halls, Music Valley has a way of capturing the heart. Come discover Steve Earle’s “West Nashville Boogie” for yourself. We can’t wait to help you plan, so here’s a few ideas to get you started.
Tennessee’s Undisputed Queens
Dolly or Loretta, Loretta or Dolly? Either way, you come up with Country Music Royalty. And you can check out both of their homes right here in the Volunteer State. Now, you may not have heard of Hurricane Mills, TN, but if you see a sign, you’re just minutes away from Loretta Lynn’s beautiful ranch … a place you’d be foolish not to give a proper look-see. And before you depart (or arrive) in Gatlinburg, you should make it your business to scoot on down to Dollywood – a place whose honoree needs no introduction – on of this Country’s most beloved and talented singer-songwriters. It’s just amazing to consider how much natural talent this state has produced. There must be magic in the water.
Lace Up Those Blue Suede Shoes, Memphis Awaits!
Walk in the footsteps of the King and you’ll soon discover, there’s only one Memphis, Tennessee. Set upon the banks of the life-giving Mississippi, has there ever been a place with so much soul? Visit Rock and Roll’s birthplace and find out for yourself. We must warn you though, if Graceland, Beale Street, and the Stax Museum of American Soul get their way with you, you’ll leave a piece of your heart behind. Don’t worry, those special memories will be worth it.