Discover the Delights of Tennessee

America As You Like It • 1 November 2024

Tennessee, the birthplace of iconic music legends like Dolly Parton, Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin, is a vibrant state rich in music, cuisine, festivals, and outdoor adventures. Gather friends or family for a road trip or fly-drive getaway, where each stop is a wonder to discover. In Tennessee, the next adventure is yours to uncover.

A Culinary Journey
For food lovers, Tennessee offers culinary delights second to none. Whether you crave Southern comfort or farm-to-table flavours, award-winning dishes await across the state. Tennessee’s restaurants are known for fresh, world-renowned flavours that delight travellers in both big cities and small towns. In Memphis, choose from over 100 barbeque-style restaurants from smoke shacks to line-out-the-door landmarks to new-generation haunts. Chez Philippe at The Peabody Hotel presents inventive dishes merging French elegance with bold Asian tastes. Nashville’s Hattie B's brings its famous Nashville Hot Chicken to spice lovers in a casual setting with local brews like Tennessee Brew Works, while Blue Bank Fish House and Grill in Hornbeak offers waterside dining with local flavours, including Catfish Bites and Honey Hot Sliders that make it well worth the trip. In Lynchburg, try Miss Mary Bobo’s Restaurant. Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House has served up traditional Southern Hospitality since 1908.

Step Back in Time

Tennessee’s Civil War Trails offers a closer look at the state’s Civil War legacy. The Civil Rights Trail features 15 stops honouring the men and women who shaped the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. From Memphis to Nashville, and ending in Clinton, you can trace Tennessee’s significant contributions to the movement. Explore Parker's Crossroads Battlefield, where Union forces attempted to capture Confederate troops returning from their first West Tennessee raid.

History in Tennessee comes alive through immersive re-enactments, museums, and historical sites that vividly tell the state’s story. In Nashville, the Tennessee State Museum provides a comprehensive journey through Tennessee's rich history, with exhibits spanning from prehistoric times to modern events. With free admission, it offers an accessible opportunity for you to connect with the past.

 

In Harrogate, the Abraham Lincoln Library & Museum highlights Tennessee’s influence on both state and national history. Its exhibits illuminate Lincoln’s legacy and the state’s connection to pivotal moments in American history. The Tennessee River Museum celebrates the Tennessee River’s profound impact on the land, people, and culture of the Tennessee Valley. Among its unique displays is a replica of the renowned kneeling figure of the Shiloh Effigy Pipe, a remarkable artifact reflecting the region’s deep heritage. For a journey back in time, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga offers a family-friendly glimpse into the golden age of rail travel. Historic passenger trains traverse the iconic Missionary Ridge Tunnel, a landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. During the holidays, the museum hosts festive rides with seasonal storytelling and visits from Santa, creating magical memories for visitors of all ages.

Music and Festivals

Experience the sound of Tennessee’s legendary music scene, where today’s greats and tomorrow’s legends take the stage. From the iconic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to the Graceland Soundstage at Elvis Presley’s Memphis Museum, music history comes alive in every performance. Annual music festivals include Big Ears in Knoxville which takes place in March and CaveJam in the Caverns in Pelham in May . For another unforgettable experience, visit the Tina Turner Museum in Brownsville, dedicated to the legendary artist’s incredible life and legacy - a brilliant experience for all ages. Discover the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol.

Outdoor Adventure

Tennessee’s great outdoors is filled with stunning landscapes and unforgettable experiences. Explore the state's fifty-two cycling routes, such as the Rock Island Loop or the scenic Cummins Falls route, ideal for nature enthusiasts and cyclists alike. For thrill-seekers, whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River offers unbeatable rapids just a few hours from Knoxville. Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport, Tennessee’s largest city-owned park, provides family-friendly fun with hiking trails, animal habitats, and even a ropes course with a 300-foot zipline. Tennessee’s natural wonders promise lasting memories.

Road Trips

Take a road trip across Tennessee to uncover hidden gems and must-see spots in the state’s counties. The Promised Land Trail offers scenic drives through quaint small towns and rural communities filled with wineries, local restaurants, and outdoor activities throughout Nashville. For music lovers, the Cotton Junction Trail in West Tennessee blends music heritage, history, and nature for an unforgettable road trip experience through Memphis. Explore the Waterfalls and Other Secrets of the Cumberland Plateau during a Tennessee summer, where you will find beautiful overlooks, classic swimming holes, cool coves, and secret hikes. Alternatively explore East Tennessee through Chattanooga and Knoxville where you will come across gorges and the Great Smoky Mountains. 

Sports Thrills

Tennessee’s sports culture is electrifying, from NFL games to minor league baseball. Catch the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville from October to January, feel the intensity of the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena from October to April, or cheer on the Memphis Grizzlies in NBA action at FedExForum, also from October to April. Catch the excitements of a Volunteers college football game in Knoxville. Racing fans won’t want to miss Bristol Motor Speedway, renowned for its thrilling NASCAR short track and action-packed events all year round.

Tennessee Whiskey

No visit to Tennessee is complete without savouring its iconic whiskey. The Tennessee Whiskey Trail leads you through the state’s distilleries, where you can experience authentic Tennessee flavours. Start at Short Mountain Distillery in Woodbury for traditional Tennessee Whiskey and Moonshine, then head to Lynchburg, home of the world-renowned Jack Daniel’s distillery. In Shelbyville, visit Nearest Green Distillery to taste Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, which honours Nearest Green, the first-known African American master distiller.


Plan your Tennessee adventure with America As You Like It today. Call 020 8742 8299 to start your journey! 

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by America As You Like It • 14 May 2026
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by America As You Like It • 27 March 2026
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by America As You Like It • 10 February 2026
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by America As You Like It • 26 January 2026
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