Mama Mystic's "All the Things" Tennessee Tourist Guide
Tennessee, the “Volunteer State,” offers a vibrant mix of natural beauty, cultural richness, and family-friendly attractions for moms, families, friends, groups, organizations, and individuals who love forests, national parks, museums, outdoor sports, hiking, fishing, hunting, driving, entertainment, dining, arts, and culture. While Tennessee lacks ocean beaches, its lakes and rivers provide water-based activities. This guide covers seasonal activities, attractions, ticket rates, shows, children’s activities (including zoos and riverboat rides), holiday events, park activities, sporting events, conferences, major concert events (June 2025–March 2026), airport and transit information, lodging, traffic patterns, alternate transportation, food scene, renowned personalities, major cities, interstates, backroads, and lake, hiking, and outdoor activities.
Beaches and Water Activities
Tennessee is landlocked, but its 500,000+ acres of lakes and 50,000 miles of rivers offer water-based fun.
Location Area Activities Notes Norris Lake East Tennessee Boating, fishing, swimming Free access; boat rentals $50–$150/day Douglas Lake Sevierville Kayaking, fishing, jet skiing Free access; parking $5–$10/day Cherokee Lake Morristown Boating, camping Free access; camping $20–$40/night Reelfoot Lake Northwest Tennessee Fishing, birdwatching $5/vehicle entry Center Hill Lake Smithville Pontooning, hiking Free access; rentals $100–$200/day
Fishing: Lakes like Norris and Reelfoot are stocked with bass and catfish. Licenses start at $16/year (TN Wildlife).
Water Sports: Kayaking and paddleboarding are popular on the Tennessee River and lakes (Outdoor Knoxville).
Note: For surfing, consider indoor wave pools like SoundWaves at Gaylord Opryland ($40–$60/day).
Forests and National Parks
Tennessee’s forests and parks offer diverse outdoor experiences.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Spans Tennessee and North Carolina, with 800+ miles of trails and wildlife. Free entry (NPS Great Smoky).
Cherokee National Forest: Covers 650,000 acres with hiking, fishing, and camping. Free entry (USFS Cherokee).
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area: Features gorges and sandstone bluffs for hiking and rafting. Free entry (NPS Big South Fork).
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park: Offers historical trails and scenic views. Free entry (NPS Cumberland Gap).
Museums
Tennessee’s museums highlight music, history, and science.
Museum Location Admission Highlights Country Music Hall of Fame Nashville $28/adult, $18/child Music artifacts, interactive exhibits National Civil Rights Museum Memphis $18/adult, $15/child Civil rights history, Lorraine Motel Tennessee State Museum Nashville Free State history, interactive galleries Museum of Appalachia Clinton $20/adult, $10/child Appalachian culture, historic structures Graceland Memphis $77/adult, $47/child Elvis Presley’s home, memorabilia
Outdoor Sports and Activities
Tennessee is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.
Hiking: Top trails include:
Laurel Falls (Great Smoky Mountains): 2.6-mile easy trail to a waterfall. Free entry.
Fiery Gizzard (South Cumberland): 12-mile challenging trail with waterfalls. $5/vehicle.
Charlie’s Bunion (Appalachian Trail): 8-mile moderate hike with views. Free entry.
Fishing: Norris and Douglas Lakes offer bass and trout. Licenses: $16/year (TN Wildlife).
Hunting: Seasons include deer (September–January), turkey (March–May), and bear (October–December). Licenses: $33–$150 (TN Wildlife).
Rock Climbing: Obed Wild and Scenic River has 300+ routes (NPS Obed).
Driving and Scenic Routes
Tennessee’s roads offer breathtaking drives.
Blue Ridge Parkway: 469-mile scenic drive through the Appalachians (NPS Blue Ridge).
Natchez Trace Parkway: 444-mile historic route with cultural stops (NPS Natchez Trace).
Cherohala Skyway: 43-mile drive through Cherokee National Forest with mountain views.
Foothills Parkway: 72-mile route in the Smokies with panoramic vistas.
Entertainment, Arts, and Culture
Tennessee’s cultural scene is vibrant, with music and theater at its core.
Theater:
Ryman Auditorium (Nashville): Historic venue for country music ($25–$50, Ryman).
Tennessee Theatre (Knoxville): Broadway shows and concerts ($40–$100, Tennessee Theatre).
Music Venues:
Bridgestone Arena (Nashville): Major concerts ($50–$150, Bridgestone Arena).
The Caverns (Pelham): Underground music venue ($40–$120, The Caverns).
Festivals:
CMA Fest (June, Nashville): Country music festival ($80–$300, CMA Fest).
Bonnaroo (June, Manchester): Multi-genre music festival ($350–$800, Bonnaroo).
Memphis in May: Cultural festival with music and barbecue ($20–$100, Memphis in May).
Seasonal and Holiday Activities
Spring: Dogwood Arts Festival (Knoxville, April, free–$20, Dogwood Arts).
Summer: Outdoor concerts, lake activities, and Fourth of July fireworks in Nashville and Memphis (free).
Fall: Foliage drives on Natchez Trace, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion (September, $50–$150).
Winter: Holiday events like Speedway in Lights (Bristol, $20/vehicle, Bristol Motor Speedway) and Christmas at Graceland ($77/adult, Graceland).
Local, State, and National Park Activities
State Parks: 56 parks, including Fall Creek Falls and Reelfoot Lake, offer camping ($15–$40/night), hiking, and fishing (TN State Parks).
National Parks: Great Smoky Mountains and Big South Fork provide hiking, rafting, and wildlife viewing.
Activities: Kayaking, birdwatching, and ranger-led programs are popular.
Sporting Events and Conferences
Sports:
Tennessee Titans (NFL): Nissan Stadium, Nashville ($50–$200, Titans).
Nashville Predators (NHL): Bridgestone Arena ($30–$150, Predators).
Memphis Grizzlies (NBA): FedExForum ($20–$120, Grizzlies).
Bristol Motor Speedway (NASCAR): Races in April and September ($50–$150, Bristol Motor Speedway).
Conferences:
Tennessee Smart Mobility Expo (2025, Nashville): Focuses on transportation innovation ($100–$300, Eventbrite).
HOSA International Leadership Conference (June 2025, Nashville): Health professions education ($150–$400, HOSA).
Major Concert Events (June 2025–March 2026)
Event Date Location Tickets CMA Fest 2025 June 5–8, 2025 Nashville $80–$300 Nashville Navy Party June 27–29, 2025 Nashville $50–$150 Bristol Rhythm & Roots September 5–7, 2025 Bristol $50–$150 Bonnaroo June 12–15, 2025 Manchester $350–$800 Ryman Auditorium Shows Various dates Nashville $40–$120
Check Ticketmaster or Songkick for updates.
Airport and Transit Information
Airports:
Nashville International (BNA): Major hub, 8 miles from downtown (Fly Nashville).
Memphis International (MEM): Hub for FedEx, 7 miles from downtown (Fly Memphis).
McGhee Tyson (TYS): Serves Knoxville, 12 miles from downtown (Fly Knoxville).
Chattanooga Metropolitan (CHA): 5 miles from downtown (Chattanooga Airport).
Transit:
Buses: WeGo Public Transit (Nashville), MATA (Memphis), CARTA (Chattanooga) (WeGo Transit, MATA, CARTA).
Trolleys: Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge trolleys ($2–$5/ride, Gatlinburg Trolley).
Bikes: Bike-sharing in Nashville and Chattanooga ($2–$5/ride, Nashville BCycle).
Rideshares: Uber and Lyft available in major cities.
Lodging
Hotel Location Type Rates The Hermitage Hotel Nashville Luxury $250–$500/night Four Seasons Nashville Nashville Luxury $300–$600/night The Peabody Memphis Memphis Luxury $200–$400/night Hilton Nashville Downtown Nashville Business $150–$300/night Embassy Suites Chattanooga Chattanooga Business $120–$250/night
Traffic Patterns
Peak Hours: 7–9 AM and 4–6 PM in Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville.
Strategies: Use public transit or bikes; plan travel outside rush hours (TDOT).
Evaluation: Monitor travel times and adjust schedules.
Food Scene
Local Specialties: Memphis-style barbecue, Nashville hot chicken, biscuits.
Notable Restaurants:
Prince’s Hot Chicken (Nashville): Iconic spicy chicken ($10–$20/entree, Prince’s).
The Loveless Cafe (Nashville): Southern comfort food ($15–$30/entree, Loveless Cafe).
Gus’s Fried Chicken (Memphis): World-famous fried chicken ($10–$20/entree, Gus’s).
Assembly Food Hall (Nashville): Diverse vendors ($10–$25/entree, Assembly Food Hall).
Renowned Personalities
Historical: Davy Crockett, Andrew Jackson, Elvis Presley.
Modern: Dolly Parton, Morgan Freeman, Justin Timberlake, Reese Witherspoon.
Major Cities and Attractions
Nashville: Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium.
Memphis: Graceland, Beale Street, National Civil Rights Museum.
Knoxville: Tennessee Theatre, Market Square, Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
Chattanooga: Tennessee Aquarium, Ruby Falls, Incline Railway.
Interstates and Backroads
Interstates: I-40 (east-west), I-75 (north-south), I-65 (north-south), I-24 (east-west).
Backroads: Blue Ridge Parkway, Natchez Trace Parkway, Cherohala Skyway.
Lake, Hiking, and Outdoor Activities
Lakes:
Norris Lake: Boating, fishing ($5/vehicle, TVA Norris).
Douglas Lake: Water sports, camping ($5/vehicle, TVA Douglas).
Cherokee Lake: Fishing, hiking ($5/vehicle, TVA Cherokee).
Hiking Trails:
Laurel Falls: Easy waterfall hike.
Fiery Gizzard: Challenging trail with scenic views.
Charlie’s Bunion: Moderate Appalachian Trail hike.
Outdoor Activities: Ziplining, rock climbing, whitewater rafting in the Smokies.
Potential Barriers and Strategies
Barrier: Limited beach access due to landlocked geography.
Strategy: Focus on lakes like Norris or Douglas for water activities; consider day trips to coastal areas in nearby states (TVA Lakes).
Evaluation: Assess visitor satisfaction via TripAdvisor reviews.
Barrier: Traffic congestion in urban areas during peak hours.
Strategy: Use WeGo Transit or bike-sharing; schedule activities outside rush hours (TDOT).
Evaluation: Track travel times and adjust plans based on real-time updates.
Barrier: Limited ticket availability for concerts and festivals.
Strategy: Book early through Ticketmaster or Songkick; set alerts on Eventbrite.
Evaluation: Confirm ticket purchases and monitor event feedback.
Conclusion
Tennessee offers a rich tapestry of experiences, from the music-filled streets of Nashville to the serene trails of the Great Smoky Mountains. Plan ahead to navigate crowds, traffic, and ticket availability for a memorable visit.