Tennessee stretches from the Great Smoky Mountains in the east to the Mississippi River in the west, and its three grand divisions feel like different states entirely. Each has its own city, its own music, and its own character.
Nashville in Middle Tennessee is Music City, the undisputed capital of country music. Honky Tonk Row on Broadway pulses with live music every night of the week, the Grand Ole Opry still puts on the best show in town, and the Country Music Hall of Fame tells the story behind the songs. But Nashville has grown well beyond country, with a booming food scene, excellent craft breweries, and a creative energy that draws people from across the country.
Memphis in the west is where the blues were born and rock and roll found its voice. Beale Street is hallowed ground for music lovers, Sun Studio is where Elvis cut his first record, and Graceland remains one of the most visited private homes in America. Memphis barbecue is legendary, and the arguments about which joint is best will never be settled.
East Tennessee is mountain country. Gatlinburg is the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, the most visited national park in the United States. The park covers half a million acres of old-growth forest, with black bears, elk, and some of the most biodiverse temperate forest on the planet. Chattanooga sits in a river valley with Lookout Mountain overhead, offering Rock City, Ruby Falls, and one of the best freshwater aquariums in the country. Knoxville is a lively college town and the gateway to the park's quieter western entrance.
The best time to visit is spring or fall. Tennessee summers are hot and humid, especially in the western lowlands. Autumn brings spectacular leaf color to the mountains, and spring fills them with wildflowers.
