35 Must-Visit Attractions in Tennessee

Memphis was once a thriving hub of the cotton industry, and the Cotton Museum now sits on the historic trade floor of the Memphis Cotton Exchange. Admission to the museum includes a self-guided audio tour of Cotton Row, where the center of the worldwide cotton trade was located for generations. The museum also explores the way blues music played an important role in the lives of Southern slaves and field hands who worked on cotton plantations.

In the city of Hermitage is the former home of President Andrew Jackson. The home, built between 1819 and 1821 by local carpenters, was originally a brick, Federal-style house. It had eight rooms, nine fireplaces and a basement summer kitchen, and it was decorated with French wallpaper. After the death of his wife, Rachel, Jackson decided to bury her in the garden on the property since it was her favorite place. Today, both the former President and his wife are laid to rest on the grounds.

The Memphis Zoo features several animal exhibits, such as Once Upon a Farm, Primate Canyon, Northwest Passage, and Animals of the Night. The zoo houses two giant pandas, Le Le and Ya Ya; it is one of four zoos in the U.S. to house these beautiful animals. It was also the home of the world’s longest living hippopotamus; Adonis, a male hippo who died in 1965 at the age of 54, giving the zoo the title of “hippo capital of the world.”

At 4,500 acres (1,821ha), Shelby Farms Park is one of the largest urban parks in the country, covering more than five times the area of Central Park in New York City. Located in Memphis, the park has more than 40 miles (64km) of walking, biking and hiking trails and more than 20 bodies of water. Shelby Farms Greenline, a 10.7-mile (17km) paved trail connects Memphis to the city of Cordova through Shelby Farms Park.

Call yourself intrepid? Forget the Blair Witch and instead venture to the tiny city of Adams in the north of the state for an utterly spooky encounter. The Bell Witch is claimed to be the ghost of Kate Batts, a cantankerous neighbor of John Bell, who believed she cheated him out of a piece of land in the early 1800s. The witch tormented Mr. Bell and his daughter, Betsy, and over a century later, many locals believed the eerie apparition never left the area. As the cave was owned by Mr. Bell, it’s well worth making the trip to test your nerves and partake in a spot of ghost-hunting. Oh, and the legend is still taught in schools – sweet dreams, kids!

Established in 1949 in an old cafeteria (it’s amazing where some prominent museums originate), the AMSE provides educational programs that focus on the country’s Department of Energy’s nuclear usage. War enthusiasts will be intrigued to note the AMSE played a large part in the Manhattan Project, which researched and developed the first nuclear weapons in World War II. Fascinating exhibits include Big Science, National Security and Environmental Restoration. The AMSE is essential viewing for budding scientists and is crucial to the country’s future.

Held in the town of Bell Buckle, the annual RC-Moon Pie Festival takes places the third Saturday in June. The family-friendly event celebrates two Tennessee drink and food staples: RC Cola and the Moon Pie. There’s a 10-mile run to start the day and a parade to crown the festival king and queen. The grand finale is where visitors can expect free dessert thanks to the cutting of the World’s Largest Moon Pie. With live music, games, contests, and cloggers, this festival has been a Bell Buckle favorite since it first started in 1994.

Anyone who’s seen the commercials for Bush’s Baked Beans knows that Jay Bush, the great-grandson of the company’s founder, isn’t giving away the family’s secret recipe. But there’s still the opportunity to take a closer look at how the beans are made and learn more about the Bush family’s story at the Bush’s Beans Factory. It’s located in Chestnut Hill, approximately 40 miles from Knoxville. Housed in the original A.J. Bush & Company general store, the tour travels from 1897, when the business began, through to the present day. Walk through a giant replica of a Bush’s Baked Beans can, and get a glimpse into the methods of processing and canning beans. For die-hard fans of the Bush’s brand, the gift shop sells cookbooks, cookware, and Bush family (and Duke the dog) memorabilia.

Every June, Nashville hosts the CMA Music Festival, a four-day live music event. It takes place at three venues downtown; the Music City Center, the Riverfront Park stage, and Nissan Stadium. Top country artists, as well as those who are still making a name for themselves in the country music scene, grace the stages to bring Music City four days of top-notch entertainment. A package must be purchased in advance in order to attend the event; packages have options that include hotel accommodations, as well as meet-and-greet opportunities with the performers.

Like biscuits? Then be sure to hit the International Biscuit Festival held in Knoxville every year. It began in 2009 by a group of biscuit-lovers who gathered as friends to share their fondness of biscuits. That small gathering evolved into a nationally recognized food festival. Some events include a biscuit baking contest, the Miss or Mister Biscuit Pageant, and the Biscuit Bazaar. The Southern Food Writing Conference was added to the festival’s schedule in 2012 to bring together southern food authors, chefs, and publishers.

Fans of Dukes of Hazzard know who Cooter is. Once the show ended, the real-life Cooter, actor Ben Jones, went into politics and served as a U.S. congressman in Georgia from 1989 to 1993. Today, he owns the fittingly named Cooter’s Place in Nashville, a museum with pictures, props, and memorabilia from the show. There is also a replica of the iconic 1969 Dodge Charger known as General Lee, as well as Cooter’s tow truck, Daisy’s Jeep, “Dixie,” and Sheriff Roscoe’s patrol cruiser.

The Tuckaleechee Caverns lie under the Great Smoky Mountains, near the town of Gatlinburg. They run 150ft into the ground and were used by Native Americans to evade white settlers in the 1800s. Inside the caves you get to marvel at the pure water stream and the abstract geological formations such as the towering stalagmites. The main room is enormous but the tallest subterranean waterfall in the United States is just as impressive. It’s definitely worth travelling to the oldest mountain range on the planet for. Recommended by Frank Lopez.

The soul man, Al Green, known all across the world for his yearning love songs such as ‘Tired of Being Alone’ quit music to follow a religious calling. His church is situated not far from Graceland. When he vowed to leave his lucrative career in music behind so that he could preach in his own church he transformed his world. Fans of his music still go to visit him preaching today – and he’s a stirring and passionate front man with a no less than electric backing band. Recommended by Frank Lopez.

Sound Waves in Gaylord exclaim that they are not a waterpark. Let’s just say this is one of the best kinds of upscale water resorts for splashing around with friends and family, with more than 200,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor water activities that go from relaxing to extremely exhilarating. Whether it be state-of-the-art slides or poolsides to lounge in. There is even an adults-only bar for you to sip cocktails and really unwind in after a hard day of having fun. Recommended by Frank Lopez.

Travel to the town of Sweetwater to have a unique experience of visiting The Lost Sea Adventure, witnessing America’s largest underground lake by boat. It begins with a guided walking tour of the caverns that slope down into the depths. The lake itself is lit in such a way as to really highlight the fantastical formations, making the vivid saturated colours of the water and the cave walls seem to come alive. It all feels quite unearthly with a good lesson in history and geology to boot. Those who really love the cave even have the option of staying overnight. Recommended by Frank Lopez.
Additional reporting by Jo Varley