Tennessee is a state of the United States of America and one of the top-rated tourist attractions in the country. It was incorporated into the Union on June 1, 1796, as the 16th State. The state was separated from the Union due to the American Civil War and later joined.
The last state to join the Union, The State of Tennessee has main industries like agriculture, construction, and tourism, which are very famous for tourist’s getaway.
In this article, we provide you with the best things to do in Tennessee for your perfect destinations tours.
Table of Contents
- Graceland
- Ijams Nature Center
- Beale Street
- Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
- Sun studio
- Lotz house museum
- The National Civil Rights Museum
- Discovery Park of America
- Tennessee Aquarium
- Parrot Mountain & Garden
- Stone River National BattleFields
Best Things to Do in Tennessee
Tennessee offers all types of vacations. The most visited American National Park here is the Great Smoky Mountains. There are also many music venues, restaurants, and some historic buildings, all of which are the best in Tennessee.
1. Graceland
Graceland is a mansion in Memphis and is the former home of musician Elvis Presley, known as the “King of Rock and Roll”. It also has the final resting place of Elvis and is one of the top attractions in Tennessee, one of the most popular mansions to visit in the United States.
There is also a museum in this mansion in which we can see the artwork of Elvis’s life such as his clothes, cars, and aircraft, etc. The iPad is used here to increase the number of passengers and to explain demonstrations.
2. Ijams Nature Center
Ijams Nature Center has a 300-acre natural park and protected wildlife area and is also one of Tennessee’s top attractions. It is designed for travelers of all ages and offers many outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, paddling, trail walking and more.
Jo’s Grove is a natural play area for children, and for adult children. Ijams Crag is an adult climbing place. It also offers gifts and locally crafted artworks that we can use for weddings and other events.
3. Beale Street
Beale Street is Tennessee’s most famous street. Just 2 miles in length, it runs east from the Mississippi River with a blues club and restaurant located on the side of the road that makes it a famous tourist destination.
It has played a very important role in the history of blues music in the United States, making it named America’s most iconic street. There is a lot of crowd in the surrounding areas, especially in festivals.
4. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is one of the top-rated aquariums in the country. The tank of the aquarium is filled with 1.4 million gallons of water, which contains more than 100 thousand sea animals, and has a tunnel of 360 feet under it, making it one of the longest in the world.
Ripley’s tunnel gives travelers a chance to see many types of sea animals such as sharks, giant sea turtles, etc. It is also a great place for travelers of all ages.
5. Sun Studio
Sun studio is the main attraction of the city and is one of the most famous recording studios in the world, possibly one of the best things to do in Tennessee. Founded in 1950 by Sam Phillips, Sun Studios is also known as the place where the first rock and roll single “Rocket 88” was recorded. That is why this place is called the birthplace of rock and roll.
The studio still does the recording. Besides tours here, this studio has many shops for buying gifts and apparel.
6. Lotz House Museum
Lotz house museum is a museum that played a historical role in the Civil War. The museum also served as a hospital and involved artists who produced fine art and handmade furniture. The museum houses antiques, family heritage, fine arts and more, and has a gift shop in its premises.
The museum is located near Franklin Battlefield, along with Carter House, making it an ideal tourist attraction and is listed on the US National Registry.
7. The National Civil Rights Museum
The National Civil Rights Museum displays artifacts related to the history of the American Civil Rights Movement, including many Multimedia and interactive performances. The museum offers a history of civil rights in the United States and the largest advantage of this museum is that it can be rented out.
The Lorraine Motel in the museum is also famous for witnessing the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
8. Discovery Park of America
Discovery Park is located in Tennessee, U.S.A, which also houses museums, parks, gardens and a variety of educational exhibits. Spread over 50 acres, the park has many exhibits and activities that teach us about nature, military, science, and arts of Tennessee history.
The main part of this park is the Discovery Center spanning in more than 100,000 square feet which displays 10 different exhibition areas that varies from time to time.
9. Tennessee Aquarium
The Tennessee aquarium is made up of two buildings. The first building, the River Journey, is the original structure of the Aquarium and opened to 130,000 sq ft, making it the largest freshwater aquarium in the world, with exhibits dedicated only to river fish and animals.
The second building is called Ocean Journey and is dedicated to sea creatures. It has two exhibit halls. In addition to this, the Tennessee Aquarium also operates an off-site boat trip to the Tennessee River and an IMAX 3D theater.
10. Parrot Mountain Garden
Parrot Mountain and Park is a bird park and a center of attraction in Pigeon Forge. Surrounded by 6 acres of gardens, the place also includes European elements and the style of the artist named Thomas Kinkade.
Just go to the specially designed parrot cottage. This garden gives us an opportunity to feed the birds with our own hands, take photos with them or roam and enjoy the variety of different species.
There is also a baby bird nursery in Parrot Mountain & Garden, in which you can buy the bird and take it to your home.
11. Stone River National BattleFields
Murfreesboro has a civil war battlefield called The Stones River National Battlefield and is spread over 580 acres. The grounds are considered to be one of the bloodiest fighting grounds and include a national cemetery, which has approximately 7,000 cemeteries as well as the oldest surviving American Civil War memorial still standing at its original location.
There are also volunteers that provide historic information to the tourist.
Culture
1. Language
English is the main language here, and most of the residents here speak English only. There is a very small percentage in this city that speaks Spanish. (about 3%)
2. Religion
Tennessee is a Christian country with 82% of the population following Christianity and Catholicism. The largest denomination here is the Southern Baptism Conference, headquartered in Nashville. 9% of the people in this city are non-religious, which is very less in number.
3. Social Conventions
Tennessee is the unofficial music capital of the world giving birth to many talented musicians from Elvis to Justin Timberlake. The State is also the birthplace of the country music and is home to meadow blues and jazz.
Iconic food
1. Meat and Three
This food here is very famous, if you are a non-vegetarian then you must enjoy “meat and three”. The meal also comes with cornbread and sweet tea at times, which are also Southern food staples. The Nashville region here is very famous for this type of food and has a menu full of classic Southern dishes.
2. Sweet Potato Fries
The sweet potato fries are the staple food of the South that you almost cannot find at other places. Most of the restaurants here offer it as a side item for their customers who prefer regular fries. It is nice and sweet in taste and you can also eat it with a burger.
3. Cornbreads
Cornbreads are very famous in the southern U.S. Its soft texture further enhances its beauty and taste. If you want to try it, then you must visit Cafe Monel, a popular bar and cafe in the region.
4. Banana Pudding
Some consider it is a side dish, while others consider it a dessert, but Banana pudding is definitely included on the list of Tennessee foods to try. Most recipes use wafer cookies to close the pudding and are also very crispy in taste.
5. Hot Fried Chicken
Mostly found in many southern dishes, Fried chicken in Tennessee ranges from mildly hot to spicy, and people also eat it with hot sauce. The chicken is very tasty and it also presents options that appeal to almost everyone.
6. Biscuits and Gravy
Biscuits are also part of your meal, something more satisfying than cutting a hot and moist biscuit, but when you add those biscuits with gravy, the taste becomes even more intense. You can also eat it with buttermilk. It also comes with various things like peanut butter and jelly.
Final words
Definitely, the State of Tennessee has much to offer for the visitors. It is not only just about recording sounds of the greatest artists but its lush greenery, landscapes, history, tradition, and culture are also very equivalent to attract the tourists.
Come for once, if you have the feeling of visiting the State by reading the above blog. We are sure, you will get the lifetime experience of the typical American southern adventure.
Suggested read:- 9 must-see tourist attractions in the USA
