30 Best & Fun Things To Do In Tennessee

Tennessee is regarded as the land of country music, but there is also a rich history and many other sightseeing opportunities throughout the state.

If you’re looking for good tourist spots or figuring out where to go, look no further.

Here are the 30 best and fun things to do in Tennessee.

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains and is America’s most popular national park to visit.

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is packed with impressive wildlife, teeming history, and geological marvels.

The famous Appalachian Trail also winds through the park’s middle, as well as the North Carolina-Tennessee border.

Address: 107 Park Headquarters Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, United States

2. Ryman Auditorium

Once upon a time, the Ryman Auditorium was known as the Carnegie of the South, beginning with its opening in 1885.

Today, Ryman Auditorium is known as the Mother Church of Country Music and is much more fun than it was before, making it one of the tourist attractions that visitors flock to in Tennessee.

From being the home of the Grand Old Opry, it has grown and changed so much, now a live performance venue that is hankered after by celebrities and performers.

2,362 seats wait within for audience members, and if you love country music, this is one of the places to visit in Tennessee that you shouldn’t miss.

Address: 116 5th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219, United States

3. National Civil Rights Museum

First established back in 1991, National Civil Rights Museum tells visitors all about the Civil Rights Movement of America, its history, its legacy, and its continued influence on the fight for equality in today’s modern world.

One of the museum’s buildings sits at the lot that was once the Lorraine Motel, which is where the amazing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was sadly assassinated.

That’s also why the museum has exhibits centered around the great man and many interactive ones dedicated to honoring him.

You can opt to take a two-hour tour around the museum, go on your own, or even rent out the museum for events!

Address: 450 Mulberry St, Memphis, TN 38103, United States

4. The Parthenon

The Parthenon is a structure that most would probably think belongs in Athens, Greece – and yet it’s one of the points of interest found in Tennessee!

Originally, this sculpture, which is a replica at full-scale of the original Greecian Parthenon, was built for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition of 1897.

Today, it is used as a museum for art, where it can be found in Centennial Park, housing 63 paintings that date back to the19th and 20th centuries, all done by American artists.

Address: 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203, United States

5. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum first opened its doors in 1960, when it originally merely functioned as a Western Union equipment storage and display center.

More cars were added when Southern Railway’s passenger service came to a close, and in 1970, a permanent facility was opened up, which still remains as we know it today in East Chattanooga.

Better yet, the trains still run, allowing visitors to experience an authentic steam train ride.

Address: 4119 Cromwell Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37421, United States

6. Stones River National Battlefield

The Stones River National Battlefield is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Spanning 570 acres, what is today a park is meant to memorialize the battle and its historical significance.

The field houses the Stones River National Cemetery, which has Hazen’s Brigade Monument – the oldest surviving monument to the American Civil War – as well as nearly 7,000 different gravesites.

Address: 3501 Old Nashville Hwy, Murfreesboro, TN 37129, United States

7. The Titanic Museum

The Titanic Museum is located in Pigeon Forge and is close to another one of the things to see in Tennessee later on this list, Dollywood.

First opening in 2010, the Titanic Museum is shaped just like the RMS Titanic, at 50% the size of the original but with accurate scale percentages.

It cost a whopping $25 million to construct, so it’s no surprise that there is plenty of stuff to do inside.

Upon entering, you receive a boarding ticket that has the name of a real passenger on the Titanic, as well as the class they are traveling on.

You get to put yourself in the position of that person, and at the end of your exploration, you’ll happen upon the Titanic Memorial Room, which will tell you of all the passengers – including your own – and whether or not they survived.

Address: 2134 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, United States

8. Lookout Mountain

Lookout Mountain is a mountain ridge that is one of the most beautiful places in Tennessee.

It sits slightly overlapping the Georgia state line, with the Tennessee side falling in Chattanooga.

As one of the most loved tourist attractions in the state, it is full of options when you’re looking for what to see.

Address: Chattanooga, TN 37409, United States

9. The Tennessee State Capitol Building

The Tennessee State Capitol Building opened in 1859 in Nashville as a form of tribute to locals living in the state.

The imposing building is designated a US Historic Landmark and is on the country’s Register of Historic Places.

There are also other monuments to those passed away, with statues for Sergeant Alvin York, President Andrew Johnson, President Andrew Jackson, and Sam Davis on the premises.

Guided tours are offered every week.

Address: 600 Dr. M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Nashville, TN 37243, United States

10. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

You may already associate Tennessee with the sultry drawls and twangy banjo plucks of country music – and that’s why it’s no surprise that Tennessee houses the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the best place to go if you love the genre.

It has been around for over five decades, focusing on preserving the traditions, history, and evolution of country music.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s main showcase is once called Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music.

Address: 222 5th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203, United States

11. Beale Street

Beale Street is one of the most famous streets in the state of Tennessee, located in Memphis and spanning from East Street to the Mississippi River.

It is approximately two miles long and is commonly known as one of the best spots for tourists in the area, lined with restaurants serving scrumptious fare and clubs that play blues and soul music.

But Beale Street isn’t just a fun location – it’s also an iconic street with a significant amount of historical value.

It played a big part in America’s blues music history and continues to have a role in it today, with outdoor concerts and festivals galore.

Address: Memphis, TN 38103, United States

12. Sun Studio

Sun Studio, first known during its opening in 1950 as the Memphis Recording Service, originally shared a lot with Sun Records.

Today, it is among the many cool places in Tennessee that hold historic value, known as the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll music.

It earned this title after Rocket 88 was recorded here by the Delta Cats and Jackie Brenston in 1951.

Since then, many musical icons have worked in what is now one of many fun Tennessee attractions, including Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and, of course, Elvis Presley.

Whether or not you like rock ‘n’ roll, this is one of those places to see that you just can’t miss.

Address: 706 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103, United States

13. Belle Meade Plantation

Belle Meade Plantation was merely a log cabin set on 250 acres of land when it first was founded by John Harding in 1807 in Nashville, Tennessee.

In its heyday, the plantation home welcomed a wide range of guests, ranging from celebrities to gentlemen, and even including presidents.

Over time, with the financing of the region’s richest family, it grew to take up 5,400 acres of land and blossomed as a horse farm, which had its own train station, a Revival mansion, and even a deer park.

There was, of course, also housing for slaves, who worked on and tended to the land.

Now, with only 34 acres of it remaining, this is one of the more sobering places to visit in Tennessee, but worth a visit while you’re sightseeing in the state.

It’s one of the best ways to get a glimpse into the way the world was back then.

Address: 110 Leake Ave, Nashville, TN 37205, United States

14. Tennessee Aquarium

The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga is a fully nonprofit facility that is comprised of two buildings.

The first is known as the River Journey exhibit, which covers a whopping 130,000 square feet and is the world’s biggest freshwater aquarium, and one of it’s best.

This exhibit focuses on showcasing fish and animals that live in rivers.

The second building is newer; known as Ocean Journey, it is devoted to ocean and sea animals.

While at the aquarium, you can go on a boat ride, learn about all sorts of creatures, understand more about the Southeast’s biodiversity, and understand the importance of freshwater ecosystems, carried out by the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute.

Address: 1 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN 37402, United States

15. Memphis Zoo

Memphis Zoo is one of only four American zoos to house giant pandas; the two here are named Ya Ya and Le Le.

There are over 500 species here, with more than 3,5000 animals in total.

There are plenty of fun exhibits within the zoo, including those known as Animals of The Night, Once Upon A Farm, Northwest Passage, and Primate Canyon.

All exhibits are modeled after real animal habitats to keep the fauna happy!

Address: 2000 Prentiss Pl, Memphis, TN 38112, United States

16. The Hermitage

The Hermitage is the 7th American President Andrew Jackson’s former home, which makes it one of the popular places to visit in Tennessee for tourists.

At first, the Hermitage had a brick facade and a Federal architectural style, with eight rooms, a basement summer kitchen, and a whopping nine fireplaces.

Rachel Jackson, the President’s wife, was buried in the garden of the Hermitage because it was the place she loved most, and Andrew was laid to rest next to her.

A tomb marks their final resting place.

Address: 4580 Rachels Ln, Hermitage, TN 37076, United States

17. Graceland

Graceland is America’s second most commonly visited and toured home, with the White House taking first place.

The mansion’s tour is provided via an interactive method, using iPads, and hosted by none other than John Stamos.

When you tour Graceland, you will visit many different rooms that are just as they were when Elvis left it – the living room, the kitchen, the office of Elvis’ father, the TV room, and even a rather fun offering called the Jungle Room.

Address: Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis, TN 38116, United States

18. The Bell Witch Cave

The Bell Witch Cave is named after Kate the Bell Witch, known as a terrifying spirit with a scarier story behind her.

Legend has it that even Andrew Jackson, who came by to check on the disturbances, was scared by her doings!

If you visit the spot this weekend, you’ll find conflicting stories.

Some claim the Bell Witch was never evil but lived in the Bell home, and others point out how scary the cave can be.

Either way, if you love spooky things, the Bell Cave is one of the most interesting places of interest to visit.

Address: 430 Keysburg Rd, Adams, TN 37010, United States

19. The Crystal Shrine Grotto

The Crystal Shrine Grotto was completed in the 1930s out of concrete, though it certainly doesn’t look that way.

A mix of odd-looking stones, religious imagery, and truly exceptional handiwork and craftsmanship, this is one of those Tennessee attractions that may make one scratch their head.

Like many points of interest, the Crystal Shrine Grotto doesn’t hold quite the same atmosphere it did when it was first created.

Meant to provide a reflective, serene space, it appears more like a Christian-themed neolithic park today.

Address: 5668 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38119, United States

20. Mud Island River Park

The Mud Island River Park itself isn’t often considered a must-see in Tennessee, but the five-block-long River Walk that it is home to is definitely worth the trip.

Why? Because it allows you to view the world’s fourth longest river in the span of a few hours.

The River Walk is a replica of the Mississippi River.

Every 30 inches of the walk equals about a mile of the real river.

Address: 125 N Front St, Memphis, TN 38103, United States

21. Grand Ole Opry

The Grand Ole Opry is famous worldwide, so it’s definitely among the best when it comes to places to see while you’re in Tennessee.

Originally, what we know as the Opry today was just a radio broadcast called The WSM Barn Dance that first began in 1925.

It first broadcasted from the Ryman Auditorium before moving, in 1974, to the Grand Ole Opry House.

The Grand Ole Opry is still hosting country music concerts every single week, with big names like Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.

Address: 2804 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214, United States

22. Adventure Science Center

Kids and adults alike can find some activities to their liking here in the Adventure Science Center.

The center boasts interactive displays designed to teach kids about all sorts of science topics, ranging from space to biology.

Children can try out flight simulators, try a photo booth that will show them what they may look like as adults, and learn about becoming astronauts.

It’s worth noting that the planetarium, as well as some other locations, cost extra to enter.

Address: 800 Fort Negley Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203, United States

23. Lost Sea Cave

The Lost Sea Cave is located within Craighead Caverns, which earned its name from Chief Craighead, a Cherokee chief.

Within these caverns is America’s biggest non-subglacial lake, known as the Lost Sea.

Within you’ll find a stunning waterfall and many crystal clusters that hang off the walls of the caves, making for a fun and awe-inspiring trip that doesn’t even feel like it’s within Tennessee anymore.

Address: 140 Lost Sea Rd, Sweetwater, TN 37874, United States

24. Hatch Show Print

The Hatch Show Print is one of the oldest letterpress print stores, not just in Tennessee, but in all of America.

It was founded in 1870 by the Hatch brothers in Nashville, first known as CR and HH Hatch.

A mix of smartly picked graphics, gorgeous type, and well-done composition made the company rise in the ranks to become one of the best and most renowned throughout Tennessee.

It still is a print shop that continues to create more than 150,000 posters annually.

Address: 224 5th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203, United States

25. RCA Studio B

RCA Studio B rose to fame in the 1960s after becoming known for producing “Nashville Sound” country music.

Big names such as Waylon Jennings, Elvis, and even Dolly Parton did recordings in this Tennessee studio.

The studio is one of the select few Tennessee attractions on the US National Registry of Historic Places.

Address: 1611 Roy Acuff Pl, Nashville, TN 37203, United States

26. Discovery Park of America

The Discovery Park of America is an excellent destination for visitors to Tennessee, holding fascinating secrets and awe-inspiring exhibits within its fifty-acre grounds.

This is in no small part due to its diversity, housing a giant model of a human body, an earthquake simulator, and even a twenty thousand gallon aquarium.

This Museum has something for everyone.

Address: 830 Everett Blvd, Union City, TN 38261, United States

27. Dollywood

Remade from the ground up by Dolly Parton, the legendary country singer, Dollywood boasts many attractions typical of a theme park.

Amongst the core Tennessee attractions, Dollywood stands out as being particularly enticing for fans of country music.

Its sister attractions, such as the Splash Country, provide further diversions for those less interested in Parton’s life.

Overall, Dollywood is a crucial stop for those who adore Dolly Parton’s music and all true country fans, but it nonetheless provides entertainment for those less enthusiastic about her too.

Don’t miss the festivals that Dollywood hosts, either!

Address: 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, United States

28. Shelby Farms Park

Shelby Farms Park spans a colossal 4,500 acres – more than five times larger than NYC’s Central Park!

In fact, this pristine park is one of the largest urban parks in the country and a staggering forty miles of trails crisscrossing it, and twenty bodies of water.

Fortunately, boats, bicycles, and horses are available for rental to help you traverse this sprawling park.

There are many fun activities available here, ranging from fishing to hiking to disc golf.

Address: 6903 Great View Dr N, Memphis, TN 38134, United States

29. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

With more than a hundred thousand individual animals and nearly one and a half million gallons of water, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokie is one of the largest aquariums in America.

Ripley’s has many fascinating species, and visitors can observe them clearly from one of the world’s longest underground tunnels, which provides a spectacular view of the sharks and rays, amongst many other fascinating fish that live at Ripley’s Aquarium.

Address: 88 River Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, United States

30. Parrot Mountain and Gardens

Parrot Mountain and Gardens was designed by the renowned artist Thomas Kincade in a tasteful European style, masterfully blending the architectural style of Europe with the bright vividness of the Amazon.

The parrots are housed in interestingly designed cottages that dot the four acres that the park covers.

The birds fly freely in the sky and perch in the open air, providing ample opportunity to take photographs, feed them, or simply admire their vibrancy and beauty.

Address: 1471 McCarter Hollow Rd, Pigeon Forge, TN 37862, United States

Start Planning Your Trip To Tennessee

Tennessee is packed with amazing tourist attractions and best vacation spots just waiting to be seen.

Hopefully, this list of the best things to do in Tennessee has inspired you with vacation ideas for an exciting and enjoyable holiday.