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One of the many gorgeous back roads in Hickman County (Middle Tennessee) Photo © 2008 Mike Hendrickson

Tennessee Travel A shallow rectangle, only one hundred miles from north to south, TENNESSEE stretches 450 miles from the Mississippi to the Appalachians, and divides into three distinct regions. The marshy western third of the state occupies a low plateau edging down toward the Mississippi. Only in the far southwest corner do the bluffs rise high enough to permit a sizeable riverside settlement - the exhilarating port of Memphis . Tennessee's largest city is a magnet for music fans, as the birthplace of urban blues and long-time home of Elvis . The fine plantation homes and tidy old towns of middle Tennessee 's rolling farmland reflect the comfortable lifestyle of its pioneers; smack at the heart of this is Nashville, still country music's capital, despite upstart competition from Branson and Myrtle Beach. The mountainous east shares its top attraction with North Carolina - the peaks, streams and meadows of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

| TOP | Cities in Tennessee | Events | Scenic Drives | National Parks | Popular Locations | Major Attractions |

| TOP | Cities in Tennessee | Events | Scenic Drives | National Parks | Popular Locations | Major Attractions |

Scenic Drives in Tennessee
From NSBP

Cherohala Skyway
Highway 165 from Tellico Plains to the NC State Line.
US Forest: Cherokee National Forest, Nantahala National Forest Length: 43.0 miles / 69.1 km Time to Allow: 2 hours to drive the byway
TENNESSEE SECTION: Length: 22.4 miles / 36.1 km Time to Allow: One hour to drive the Byway
I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree. The poet Joyce Kilmer, honored by the nearby Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest in North Carolina, penned this famous line many years ago. Experience first-hand the towering trees this poem pays tribute to by traveling the Cherohala Skyway in North Carolina and Tennessee, and you will agree that nothing could be lovelier. Visit in the fall when vibrant vermillion, golden, and orange leaves drape the trees surrounding the Skyway. Or plan a leisurely summer road trip, leaving plenty of time for picnics, hikes, fishing or many of the other activities available on the Cherohala Skyway. With hundreds of miles of hiking trails traversing the national forests, you're bound to find a favorite. Botany lovers will want to whip out their sketchbooks to capture in ink some of the 2,000 native plant species that thrive around the Cherohala Skyway. Catch your breath by pausing to admire the wildflowers sprinkled throughout the landscape in the spring or make camp at one of the many campgrounds and spend several days exploring the backwoods. You can find out why Nantahala National Forest means land of the noonday sun or the Cherokee National Forest is sometimes seen as "Land of the Waterfalls." The Skyway offers sparkling waters to explore as well. Bald River Falls is beautiful in summer, but captivating in winter when covered in ice. For those who love to travel on the water, follow the Tellico River with paddle in hand and bask in the sunlight and beauty of the surrounding forests. The river parallels part of the Skyway, delighting canoeists and kayakers from all over. Take a boat ride on one of America's largest underground lakes, the Lost Sea. The striking azure waters of Lake Tellico await you for fishing, boating, or swimming. Or just camp along the shore, making it a full day on the beaches of one of Tennessee's Lakes.

Natchez Trace Parkway
From Nashville TN to Natchez MS
TENNESSEE SECTION: Length: 101.0 miles / 162.5 km Time to Allow: Two hours to drive or four hours to experience the Byway.
The Natchez Trace in Tennessee tells of Natchez, Chickasaw, and Choctaw Indians following traditional ways of life, and of people building a new nation. Signs of those who came before are abundant along the route in the names of the streams and parks - a legacy for generations to come.
Native Americans, Kaintuck boatmen, post riders, government officials and soldiers all moved across this trail, creating a vital link between the Mississippi Territory and the fledgling United States. Pass through forests, cypress swamps and farmland to meander through the rock-studded hills of Tennessee, cotton fields in Alabama, and Mississippi's marshes.

MANY other scenic routes are available. Simply get off the interstate and find a state highway! Most rides are beautiful all year, with exceptional color in the fall!
For those brave souls, there are NUMEROUS gravel back roads where you can find anything from old barns to abandoned one room school houses!
Tennessee has literally THOUSANDS of miles of scenic roadways, so fill up the tank, pack a pic-nic lunch, and ENJOY!!

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Tennessee National Parks
From NPS.gov

Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area Oneida, TN
Encompassing 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area protects the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries. The area boasts miles of scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs, is rich with natural and historic features and has been developed to provide visitors with a wide range of outdoor recreational activities.
Big South Fork offers two developed campgrounds, Bandy Creek Campground in Tennessee and Blue Heron Campground in Kentucky. Reservations are available at both campgrounds from April through October. Visitor Information (423) 286-7275

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Tennessee and North Carolina, NC,TN
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America’s most visited national park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker's paradise with over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short leg-stretchers to strenuous treks that may require backcountry camping. But hiking is not the only reason for visiting the Smokies. Car camping, fishing, picnicking, wildlife viewing and auto touring are popular activities. Most visitors come to the Smokies hoping to see a bear. Some 1,500 bears live in the park. From the big animals like bears, deer, and elk, down to microscopic organisms, the Smokies have the most biological diversity of any area in the world's temperate zone. The park is a sanctuary for a magnificent array of animal and plant life, all of which is protected for future generations to enjoy. The park usually experiences an autumn leaf season of several weeks as fall colors travel down the mountainsides from high elevation to low. Fall colors can typically be seen from October through early November in the park. However, the timing of the color change depends upon so many variables that the exact dates of "peak" season are impossible to predict in advance. Ranger-guided programs give visitors the opportunity to explore the wonders of the park with a Ranger. Programs are offered in spring, summer, and fall. Great Smoky Mountains National Park has a moderate climate, typified by mild winters and hot, humid summers. When planning a trip to the Smokies, keep in mind that elevations in the park range from 800 feet to 6,643 feet and that the topography can drastically affect local weather. Temperatures can vary 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit from mountain base to top, and clear skies at lower elevations do not guarantee equally pleasant weather on the higher peaks. Visitor Information (865) 436-1200

Natchez Trace Parkway the states of, AL,MS,TN
Also see 'Scenic Drives' (above)
The 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway commemorates an ancient trail that connected southern portions of the Mississippi River, through Alabama, to salt licks in today's central Tennessee. Today, visitors can experience this National Scenic Byway and All-American Road through driving, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping. There are three campgrounds located on the Parkway. No reservations required to camp at these primitive sites. Other campgrounds can be found along the Parkway corridor that offer full hookups. The Parkway is a designated bike route and is popular during the spring and fall. Plan your trip with useful information about bicyle related services available along the Parkway. The heaviest use of the Old Trace was from 1800 to about 1825 by men, known as "Kaintucks," who floated down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and returned north on foot. But the stories of the Old Trace reach far beyond the early 1800s. They include Mound Builders, Natchez, Choctaw, and Chickasaw Indians, preachers, bandits, slaves, soldiers, settlers, and even Meriwether Lewis. n the summer, expect hot and humid weather throughout the length of the Parkway, high temperatures typically in the 90s. In the winter, because the Parkway spans 444 miles north and south, conditions vary greatly. Expect very mild winters near Natchez with only occasional freezing. In Tennessee, snow and icy bridges are common. Spring and fall are very pleasant. Call 1-800-305-7417 for road conditions. Visitor Information (800) 305-7417

Obed Wild & Scenic River Wartburg, TN
The Obed Wild and Scenic River looks much the same today as it did when the first white settlers strolled its banks in the late 1700s. While meagerly populated due to poor farming soil, the river was a hospitable fishing and hunting area for trappers and pioneers. Today, the Obed stretches along the Cumberland Plateau and offers visitors a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. Canoeing, kayaking and rafting bring many people to the Obed. The river includes three different difficulty classifications (II-IV), making it one of the best whitewater rivers in the eastern United States. The Obed's sandstone rock faces provide a challenging opportunity for experienced climbers, with several hundred climbing routes spanning through much of the park. Boulder climbing is also available along the Obed. Fishing opportunities are plentiful at the Obed Wild and Scenic River. An assortment of smallmouth bass, bluegills, catfish, and muskie are but a few of the various fish that swim the river. Hiking the trails along the Obed Wild and Scenic River is one of the most enjoyable activities that we have to offer. Several different trails with different lengths and scenery are available. The Obed Wild and Scenic River sees a variety of weather patterns throughout each year. Spring and Winter are usually the best times to paddle on the river, as increased water levels during those seasons are common. Flooding can occur with several consecutive days of precipitation, however. Summers are generally hot and humid, resulting in lower water levels. Temperatures during the summer can often reach over 90 degrees. Winter water levels are generally navigable, and winter temperatures can drop below 30 degrees. Visitors are advised to wear comfortable clothing for each season and for possible extremes in temperature and climate. Visitor Information (423) 346-6294

Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail AL,AR,GA,IL,KY,MO,NC,OK,TN
INTERACTIVE MAP
Come on a journey to remember and commemorate the survival of the Cherokee people despite their forced removal from their homelands in the Southeastern United States in the 1830s.
The National Park Service works with federal agencies, state and local governments, organizations, tribes, and private individuals as partners to administer the national historic trail.
Due to the length of the trail, be sure to check weather conditions in the region that you will be visiting. Visitor Information (505) 988-6888

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In Tennessee, the Stage is Set for You!

From the Mississippi River to the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee is waiting for you to discover the best of America’s
riveting history, exciting outdoors, great musical styles, friendly people and mouthwatering foods!
Take a back road or stroll city sidewalks; it’s all here, so come to Tennessee where you’ll be center stage on your next vacation!

Tennessee has endless blockbuster entertainment from Beale Street blues and Elvis’s rock ’n’ roll in Memphis to Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry
and Music Row’s country, gospel, and pop music to the bluegrass of Appalachia.
There’s world-famous events including BBQ cook off’s at Memphis in May, Gaylord Opryland, and Jack Daniel Distillery.
Tennessee offers eclectic festivals like South Pittsburg’s Cornbread Festival, Bell Buckle’s Moon Pie Festival and
Jonesborough’s International Storytelling Festival. And for Tennessee’s fine arts,
there are world-class galleries like the Frist in Nashville, the Hunter in Chattanooga and Knoxville’s Museum of Art.

Outdoor enthusiasts can take a hike through the deep forests of Big South Fork, raft down roaring Olympic gorges of the Ocoee River,
follow pioneer footsteps through the Cumberland Gap and the Great Smoky Mountains, and catch a glimpse of the nesting American bald eagles in the cypress trees of Reelfoot Lake.
Can’t decide? You don’t have to. In Tennessee, you’re welcome to try a little bit of everything. History is everywhere, from the homes of U.S.
presidents Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson, to the Civil War battlefields of Shiloh, Stones River and Franklin.
Tour the self-guided Antebellum Trail through Davidson, Williamson and Maury counties, and ride along the ancient Natchez Trace Parkway in Middle Tennessee.
Travel by paddlewheel in Clarksville and Savannah. Explore English ancestry in Elizabethton and Rugby, and follow the origins of country music in Bristol, Knoxville and Nashville.

And there are museums to showcase it all. The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum in Vonore details Cherokee Heritage, and the American Museum
of Science & Energy in Oak Ridge chronicles our transition from the 18th century to the Atomic Age.
The Stax Rock ’n’ Soul Museum and Sun Studio in Memphis reveal our influential impact on American music in the last 50 years,
and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville showcases all of country music’s roots.
The Casey Jones Village in Jackson illustrates one man’s deeds in legend and song, and the International Towing Museum in Chattanooga reveals how everything has a history worth telling.

Hear our best music for yourself in small town festivals and attractions. There’s the Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree where famous musicians are actually discovered,
and the Brownsville Blues Festival rooted in talent that started in the cotton fields and played all the way to Memphis.
Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge is jam packed with musical shows, and the Cumberland Playhouse in Crossville offers the best in
Broadway musicals every year. And The Dixie Carter Prforming Arts Center in her hometown of Huntingdon offers some of Tennessee’s finest theatrical events.

Tennessee is a four season state. In deep winter, there’s cross country skiing at Roan Mountain State Park. In spring, massive clouds of white dogwood blooms fill the
forests of East Tennessee in and around Knoxville and are celebrated each year at Knoxville’s Dogwood Festival.
In summer, cool off in Sweetwater’s underground Lost Sea, or take a pontoon ride at Birdsong Resort in Camden to see divers harvest freshwater pearls.
In the fall, pause under a tree of brilliant fall leaves at one of our 54 state parks. So, what are you waiting for? Come to Tennessee, where you’ll be center stage!

West Tennessee

The land between the Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers is a stage rich with natural, historical and cultural drama. The biggest earthquake in American history,
an 1811-12 show-stopper gave us Reelfoot Lake near Dyersburg. In West Tennessee, David Crockett lost a Congressional election and left for the Alamo in Texas.
The Civil War took its toll at Shiloh, the scene of the first major battle in the Western theater of the war. The blues may not have been born here,
but the minute they learned to walk, they found their way to Beale Street in Memphis. West Tennessee was the stage for black and white musicians who turned the world on its ear.
The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum chronicles this amazing story. Graceland offers an insiders look at the life of Elvis,
and Soulsville reveals Stax Records’ greats like Sam & Dave, Isaac Hayes and Otis Redding.

Now it’s your turn to take the stage in West Tennessee. Walk to the National Civil Rights Museum.
See the microphone Elvis sang into at Sun Studio. Take a road trip to Alex Haley’s home in Henning, where Roots began.
Reel in a monster catfish at Birdsong Resort in Camden or Pickwick Landing State Park.
Make a whistle-stop at Casey Jones Village in Jackson before going to La Grange, home to the best antebellum
homes in the state. West Tennessee invites you to be swept away by the land between the rivers.

Middle Tennessee

You really want to get at the heart of Middle Tennessee? Then hop in the car, grab a map and just listen for the music.
You’ll hear country, blues, rock… you'd expect that. But there's so much more to hear when you take the time to listen.

Like the creak of floorboards in pre-Civil War mansions along the Antebellum Trail. Or an anvil ringing at 1700s Mansker's Station in Goodlettsville.
Amid the murmurs of excited antique shoppers in downtown Franklin, the faint echo of Civil War battlefields still haunt the breeze, including at Franklin’s Carter House as well as the Carnton Plantation,
setting for the New York Times bestseller, Widow of the South. In quaint small towns like Pulaski and Murfreesboro, the wind carries whispers of history through museums,
courthouses and recreated pioneer villages. Clopping hooves and braying mules punctuate the song of Columbia's Mule Day festival,
while impromptu proclamations of love for a little chocolate and marshmallow cake are the beat of Bell Buckle's Moon Pie Festival.
Head down the road to Lynchburg, where the trickle of a natural spring yields up some of Mr. Jack Daniel's world-famous sour mash whiskey.

Have a hankering for more natural music? Tennessee's got you covered with the sound of world-record bass, jumping in the placid waters of
Dale Hollow Lake and Center Hill Lakes, named by USA Today in the “Top Ten Best Places to Float Your Houseboat.”

When the sun goes down, the notes flow from Nashville's Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium as well as the more than 100 live music clubs throughout the city,
including Exit In, Bluebird Café, City Hall, Mercy Lounge, the Cannery, 3rd & Lindsley and B.B. King’s Blues Club, which showcase the talents of up and coming artists.
Nashville is also home to countless major record labels, music publishers and recording studios. Fall brings the whirling lights and the screams of delight from children and adults alike
at more than 50 county fairs including Wilson and Williamson and at the Tennessee State Fair in Nashville. The heart of Tennessee is singing to you just down the road, too. Can you hear it?

East Tennessee

There’s no doubt about it, East Tennessee is singing your song down from the 6,000-foot ridges in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,
the most visited destination in the country’s national park system, to the shaded gorges of the Tennessee, Nolichucky and Holston rivers.
Here, settlers living in rustic log cabins, worked hard and created ballads from the heart. Visitors today are welcome to tour some of their restored homesteads
as they listen for the echoes of fiddles and dulcimers still ringing through the hills.
Appalachian music abounds, along with rock, gospel, country and bluegrass at the 20+ live music shows featured at Dollywood, Tennessee’s premiere amusement park in Pigeon Forge.
There’s music in wood craft, too, in towns, like Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, the official “Honeymoon Capital of the South,” where quality mountain crafts abound.
Hear the songs of laughter as families enjoy Riply’s Aquarium and fabulous outlet shopping at Tanger’s Mall. Join with the thousands who attend shows in one of the dozens of musical theatres in East Tennessee.
Dolly Parton’s home town of Sevierville even showcases 100 years of aviation history at The Tennessee
Museum of Aviation or you can create your own high-flying memories in helicopter rides above the clouds.
Enjoy a unique hike in the mountains with Smoky Mountain Llama Treks, where the llama's carry your stuff while you enjoy the fantastic mountain views.
East Tennessee’s urban areas are diverse. Knoxville features a vibrant Volunteer waterfront district on the banks of the Tennessee River and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
In the fall, feel the energy of Tennessee Football as UT fans come alive to support our state’s favorite college pastime.

Chattanooga is ripe with attractions and adventure from the Tennessee Aquarium, the world’s largest fresh-water aquarium, to the legendary natural wonders of Rock City and Ruby Falls.
Oak Ridge brings a history all its own as the Secret City of the Manhattan Project, and now is Tennessee’s “City of Energy”.
The bustling Tri-Cities area - Bristol, Johnson City and Kingsport is known as “America’s First Frontier”. Park your car at a quaint B&B in Jonesborough and listen to tall tales
from our colonial past or celebrate NASCAR at the Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway where fans can even take a cruising tour down Thunder Valley, the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile” track.

Outdoor enthusiasts can hear the wind sing as they hang-glide at Raccoon Mountain and thrill to the churn of white water as they raft or kayak the
Olympic-quality Ocoee River in the Tennessee Overhill. For the novice, outdoor adventures include hiking a portion of the Appalachian Trail,
canoeing the Hiwassee or drifting over the landscape in a colorful hot-air balloon. For the avid golfer, Tennessee offers five Bear Trace courses designed by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus.

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