One of the best ways for me to introduce you to the state of Tennessee is to dive straight into it and say it’s a complete lot of enjoyable. So, convey your dancing sneakers and prepare for the blues.
Discover the blues bars of Memphis down Beale Avenue and uncover the house of Elvis Presley in Graceland.
Get misplaced among the many infinite honky-tonk bars of Broadway, Nashville, as musicians chase their dream of changing into a rustic music star. Uncover the quite a few mountain climbing trails across the Nice Smoky Mountains.
And you’ll want to arrive in Tennessee each hungry and thirsty, because the state affords a number of the finest BBQ pits round and whisky distilleries that may be discovered within the Deep South.
So, what are you ready for? Make sure to add the state of Tennessee to your Deep South highway journey.
Right here is my highway journey journey information to the state of Tennessee:
Embrace Tennessee as a part of your highway journey across the Deep South
This highway journey information round Tennessee is a component of a bigger highway journey across the Deep South of america that I undertook along with Scott Tisson from Intrepid Escape.
The highway journey that we did took us to the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee to cowl the entire Deep South space.
I’d suggest one week for the Tennessee part of the highway journey, which would be the focus of this weblog submit.
Making the entire highway journey together with the opposite states will take you round a month to finish.
So you possibly can simply do that one-week suggestion, mix two states and do two weeks, or go to all 4 states within the Deep South in a month.
If in case you have extra time, you possibly can lengthen your journey to 6 weeks to present your self more room and time in every state, however an excellent week in every state can be sufficient to cowl all the pieces talked about on this article.
I’ll additionally add some further suggestions on the finish when you’ve got some extra time.
You would arrive in Tennessee and use Nashville Worldwide Airport with direct flights from the UK as your place to begin in addition to your ending level; the selection is completely yours.
Strolling in Memphis, the house of blues music
Memphis is a blast, particularly should you’re into blues music. Your first cease needs to be Beale Avenue.
Every single day of the week, Beale Avenue affords a variety of bars with stay blues music.
Begin on the BB King Blues Membership, the place BB King himself used to carry out and which has a unbelievable home band.
Now, get pleasure from a number of stay blues acts that come out and in of city; you by no means know who you may see on Beale Avenue, but it surely attracts the most effective!
Keep at Hotel Indigo Memphis Downtown, an IHG Hotel, for its trendy Memphis-themed rooms displaying an array of music memorabilia. There’s additionally a jukebox within the foyer to play some tunes and get the occasion began.
Don’t neglect to take a look at the swimming pool formed like a guitar; it’s an excellent lodge to base your self whereas exploring Memphis.
Finish your night time on the Blues Metropolis Cafe. Not solely have they got stay music and a bar, however you can too dine on well-liked Memphis staples like a chili bowl, gumbo, or a slice of pecan pie earlier than hitting the dance flooring.
Keep in mind to pronounce it appropriately: “Pee-Con,” not “Pee-Can.” I obtained humorous appears to be like as if I had ordered a can of pee.
Beale Street is lined with varied bars providing a bunch of leisure, so rock up, discover, get misplaced, and let the blues music take management of your night time. You by no means know what is going to occur.
Head over to the Old Dominick Distillery for a tour and tasting session. This location is wealthy in distillery historical past and affords an excellent tour of the distillery together with a tasting session of all of the liquors they’ve on provide.
Throughout the highway, you’ll discover Gus’s Fried Rooster, arguably the most effective within the Deep South, so be certain to not miss this cease in Memphis.
A visit to Memphis wouldn’t be full with out stopping off at Sun Studio for a tour. The studio constructing itself is small, however historical past breathes via the partitions, and you may simply spend just a few hours soaking all of it up.
They are saying that is the place Rock and Roll was born, as a number of the first tracks have been recorded right here by the likes of Johnny Money and Elvis Presley.
If Solar Studio has an extended ready time, take a look at Edge Motor Museum just a few blocks up the highway. It affords a number of basic classic and muscle vehicles so that you can take a look at and luxuriate in whilst you wait.
If BBQ is what you’re after, then head to Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous for a number of the finest brisket and rack of ribs on the town.
I really like the number of BBQ sauce they’ve right here, with the BBQ ginger sauce being my favourite. Even the coleslaw is price an honorable point out.
You possibly can scent the smoke room of Rendezvous from just a few blocks away, drawing you into this particular institution in Memphis.
Truthfully, I went on 4 totally different events because the brisket simply stored bringing me again.
I really like the old-school smokehouse really feel of this institution; it has loads of BBQ historical past and has been a preferred BBQ joint in Memphis.
Even the President has ordered Rendezvous to Air Pressure One — now that’s spectacular. If solely they delivered to London!
Head out on the water and take a scenic journey alongside the Delta onboard Memphis River Boats.
It is a nice method to expertise a paddleboat for just a few hours alongside the border of Tennessee and Arkansas, which the Delta splits equally between the 2. A pleasant method to see the skyline of Memphis from the water as effectively.
Stax Museum of American Soul Music is a hidden gem of Memphis.
As soon as left derelict and deserted, this former Stax Information recording studio has been renovated and restored right into a museum, sharing the historical past of soul music in Memphis and the journey of the report label.
Properly price a go to for my part as you can be tapping your toes to all of the unbelievable soul tunes that have been created and recorded amongst these very partitions.
Uncover Graceland, the house of Elvis Presley in Tennessee
You possibly can’t go to Memphis and skip Graceland, the house of Elvis Presley.
Be a part of a guided home tour and discover the residence Elvis referred to as house, from the jungle room the place he entertained friends to his TV room with 4 totally different TVs, making certain he wouldn’t have to vary the channel.
Wait until you see Elvis’s kitchen geared up with state-of-the-art home equipment for making his favourite grilled sandwiches simply the way in which he appreciated them.
To assume, on the time, this home was groundbreaking, as he was the King and wished his racquetball court docket.
Graceland additionally contains a assortment of Elvis Presley’s jet planes, vehicles he used to drive and accumulate, a number of his performing costumes from stay exhibits, and gadgets from the numerous films he made.
There’s additionally a restaurant referred to as Glady’s Diner, serving his favourite peanut butter and banana grilled sandwich.
It’s a unbelievable glimpse into the lifetime of Elvis Presley with quite a few shows, providing perception into his life on the time and the way he used to stay.
Should you’re an Elvis fan, a go to to Graceland is a should.
I’d first discover Tupelo, the birthplace of Elvis, should you plan on touring Elvis areas and need a look into his humble beginnings. Graceland is extra an emblem of his nice achievements and success.
Each areas are price a go to and are inside shut distance.
Nashville, Tennessee: Make your method to the honky-tonk metropolis, the house of nation music
On the subject of music in Tennessee, Memphis has the blues, whereas Nashville has nation music.
Begin your exploration of the town by heading down the honky-tonk freeway of Broadway Avenue.
You possibly can uncover varied varieties of bars right here, all providing stay performances, so put in your dancing sneakers, dive into each and see the place the night time takes you.
I like to begin with The Second Fiddle on Broadway and the Tin Roof and find yourself at Child Rock’s very personal bar, which has flooring with totally different performers to select from.
A wild card go to could be the Johnny Cash Museum in Nashville. Since Johnny Money’s home, which had been deliberate to be become a museum, burned down in a fireplace, this museum is the following smartest thing to honour the nation legend.
I cherished strolling round and taking in all the data and historical past from the shows. It was effectively price a go to and is effectively put collectively for any Johnny Money fan to get pleasure from.
Throughout the highway, you’ll find a Goo Goo Cluster store promoting these native candy treats made in Nashville which are price attempting.
For lunch, head to the Nashville Farmers’ Market, which has nice spots to seize a chunk to eat, together with native farmers promoting contemporary produce akin to peaches and corn. It’s nice to go to such an area farmers’ market with a beautiful CO-OP really feel.
Should you’re in search of a spot to park your rental automotive, keep at The Gallatin, a motel model lodge, which has clear and classy rooms. Make sure to take a look at this location.
Pins Mechanical Company has a complete host of yard video games, pinball machines and bowling alleys so that you can get pleasure from with your pals should you’re in search of some difficult enjoyable in Nashville.
Should you’re in search of a enjoyable spot to eat, head to Prince’s Scorching Rooster in Meeting Meals Corridor. Goes face to face with Hattie B’s Scorching Rooster for the most effective sizzling hen in Nashville.
For me, Prince’s Scorching Rooster wins, however I’ll allow you to be the choose of that for your self.
My favorite museum in Tennessee needs to be the National Museum of African American Music. Shows are effectively put along with many interactive cubicles so that you can totally interact with the music and historical past of the museum.
The gospel sales space and the rap recording studio have been tremendous enjoyable, and I discovered loads about African American Music. I’d extremely suggest a go to.
One other good spot to take a look at in Nashville is the Country Music Hall of Fame, effectively put along with a number of shows strolling you thru the historical past of nation music and its artists.
Additionally related to the museum is a tour of the Historic RCA Studio B Tour, the place Dolly Parton famously recorded two hit songs in in the future, and Elvis wished to purchase the piano, however the studio refused his request due to all of the superb hits it was capable of create.
You too can go to the print manufacturing unit the place most of the well-liked stay present posters have been created. Good for any nation music fan.
Should you’re in search of a spot to get pleasure from a slice of BBQ, you’ll want to go to Martin’s BBQ Joint. The firepits create an incredible flavour to the brisket and ribs right here.
In addition they have a stay music stage and an incredible cocktail menu so that you can get pleasure from should you’re in search of a spot to get the occasion began.
Go open air in Tennessee and head to the Nice Smoky Mountains and Pigeon Forge
A highway journey to Tennessee wouldn’t be full with out exploring a number of the strolling trails discovered across the Nationwide Park of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Put in your mountain climbing boots as you’ll uncover a wide array of various trails primarily based in your length and talent.
I’d suggest the hike in direction of Rainbow Falls, which is a pleasant hike to do from Pigeon Forge that may be simply accomplished inside half a day, rewarding you with a waterfall on the finish of the path.
Cease off on the Outdoor Gravity Park for some Zorbing enjoyable. These massive inflated balls, first created in New Zealand, may be loved in Pigeon Forge.
Bounce contained in the ball and head down one of many many Zorbing tracks on provide – an excellent, enjoyable journey to strive after you’ve completed mountain climbing the paths.
Take the cable gondolas as much as discover Anakeesta, an journey backyard within the sky.
Discover all of the totally different floral arrangements, in addition to the viewing factors, to get an excellent view of the encompassing nationwide park.
Uncover the Treetop Skywalk as you stroll between the timber excessive up within the sky. Searching for a spot to eat? Take a look at the Smokehouse BBQ for an excellent number of selections.
Should you’re in search of a spot to remain in Pigeon Forge, contemplate the lodge at Five Oaks, which affords comfy lodge-style rooms.
Sevierville is the hometown of Dolly Parton and is situated near Dollywood Park. Get pleasure from dinner at Appalachian; should you’re fortunate, you may have the ability to e book a seat on the chef’s desk.
Let the cooks create a menu for you, crafting from regionally sourced elements and impressed by basic Tennessee dishes. It actually is an incredible eating expertise.
After dinner, you’ll want to move by the city corridor to see the Dolly Parton statue earlier than ending your night time at The Pines.
This newly refurbished bowling alley, The Pines, was the primary venue the place Dolly Parton carried out stay and has not too long ago been given a brand new lease of life with a renovation to show this location into the hippest place to hang around on the town.
Order your self a cocktail with some native Tennessee whisky and luxuriate in just a few video games of bowling alongside one of many many lanes you possibly can rent out for the night. A good way to finish your time in Tennessee.
Earlier than Leaving Pigeon Forge, head in direction of to Skyland Ranch, take the cable automotive as much as the highest and expertise a variety of enjoyable cowboy model actions in addition to a unbelievable lunch spot to seize a chunk to eat.
They even have the Wild Stallion Mounter Coaster for the journey seeker in search of a thrill!
Thanks for studying my weblog submit about my highway journey round Tennessee
Thanks for visiting my weblog and studying about my highway journey across the state of Tennessee.
I hope you discovered all the data tremendous helpful in direction of your journey planning, and I want you an incredible journey to the state of Tennessee.
This journey was a part of an even bigger highway journey across the Deep South of america of America.
Make sure to go to the opposite weblog posts masking Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Additionally, you’ll want to take a look at my highway journey information to Alabama to proceed the journey onwards after Tennessee.
Wishing you a beautiful journey to Tennessee and the Deep South of america.
If in case you have any additional questions, please be at liberty to contact me, and I can be very happy to assist.
This text was performed in collaboration with TTM and the State of Tennessee to advertise highway journeys within the Deep South.
Take a look at my YouTube video of my Deep South Street Journey round Tennessee
I’ve created a video playlist of all my YouTube movies taken from my current Deep South Street Journey.
From Tennessee, you possibly can get pleasure from my movies visiting Nashville, Pigeon Forge, Memphis and Graceland in addition to different movies from the opposite states from the journey.
