0
100
0
100
From: £2595
Welcome to Tennessee where you’ll find some of America’s most talent-rich, inspired, and naturally beautiful regions - all in one state.
Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, the Smoky Mountains…..surely the names alone conjure visions of Elvis, Dolly Parton, BBQ, Blues and honky tonks. The home of Country Music and the birthplace of Rock n’ Roll are reasons alone to visit, but your adventure is only just beginning.
You can easily spend a week or two in the state with a different experience every day. Our sample itinerary offers a circle route from Nashville, the state capital. You’ll be amazed at how diverse and easily drivable Tennessee is. Add in the down-to-earth locals and the dazzling scenery and you’ll be wondering why you haven’t spent more time in Tennessee!
Price per person includes:
Welcome to Music City and the capital of Tennessee.
You’ll be situated right in the heart of Nashville with everything within walking distance. Top of your list – the Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Old Opry and Ryman Auditorium. We’ll include the Nashville Total Access Pass in your itinerary which allows access to four attractions and your Bon Voyage consultant will help you decide which are the most important to you. You’ll adore exploring Nashville’s neighbourhoods too – The Gulch, Sobro (South of Broadway), Music Row and more. You can even walk across the pedestrian bridge for views over the Cumberland River. The music is likely to draw you, but you’ll take away much more. And we haven’t even talked about the food yet – don’t worry, we’ll share our favourite restaurants before you travel.
Distance: 212 miles
Leaving Nashville, we suggest a slight detour to affluent Franklin and then Leiper’s Fork. Franklin was a key city in the US Civil War and today historic Main Street is awash with Victorian buildings and plenty of shops to mooch. Franklin is also home to many celebrities including Keith Urban and Reese Witherspoon. Leiper’s Fork, just outside Franklin, is one of Tennessee’s hidden gems and rife with village charm.
Then it’s on to the birthplace of Rock n’ Roll – Memphis. Home to legendary Sun Studios, the musical pedigree in this city is mind blowing – Elvis Presley, B.B. King and Johnny Cash not only recorded here but left an indelible legacy. Stroll Beale Street, visit Graceland, see the parade of ducks at the world-famous Peabody Hotel. Memphis is also home to the Loraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was killed; today the National Civil Rights Museum tells a story that’s hard, but important, to hear.
Distance: 207 miles
Dunbar Cave State Park is worth the drive north. One of the largest cave complexes in the world, this prehistoric site is home to significant Native American cave art dating back to the 14th century. After exploring underground, stretch your legs along the Cumberland River Walk, a 2-mile riverfront promenade.
Distance: 225 miles
Situated along the Tennessee River, Knoxville was known as a major marble centre in the early 1900s. Today, you can explore downtown’s Market Square district with impressive 19th-century buildings along with unique shops and restaurants. Whilst downtown, be sure to visit the Sunsphere – no doubt you’ll notice the glass ball looming above the city. The sphere was built for the 1982 World’s Fair and travelling up to the 4th floor observation deck you’ll have your first glimpse of the Great Smoky Mountains. You’ll also want to include a stop at James White’s Fort, the Revolutionary War captain who’s reconstructed 1786 log cabin was Knoxville’s first permanent building.
Distance: 43 miles
With a short driving distance, you can take your time and soak up the amazing Smoky Mountain area.
Your first stop is Sevierville, the hometown of Dolly Parton. The Tennessee Museum of Aviation is also located here or visit the Forbidden Caverns. Fun fact - Tennessee has more caves than anywhere else in the USA - over 8,000. Forbidden Caverns is mesmerising with sparkling formations, towering natural chimneys, numerous grottos and a crystal-clear stream. Next stop, Pigeon Forge and Dollywood - Dolly Parton’s Appalachian-themed park consists of rides, water park and a museum dedicated to Dolly memorabilia.
Your base for the next two nights is Gatlinburg the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are plenty of fun attractions, but you’ll also want to consider settling into a rustic log cabin and enjoy miles of hiking trails and the most inspiring views.
Distance: 150 miles
Take the road less travelled as you leave Gatlinburg and enjoy the scenery and small mountain towns.
Pardon me boys, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?! Well, as it turns out, Glen Miller’s famous song was actually about a fictional train. But the arrival of the railroad in 1850 turned Chattanooga into a boom town – the place ’where cotton meets corn,’ a reference to its strategic location between the mountain communities of southern Appalachia and the cotton-growing states of the south.
During the American Civil War, the battles fought in the city resulted in one of the most dramatic turnabouts in military history - learn more by visiting the Battles For Chattanooga Museum. Be sure to walk the revitalised Tennessee Riverfront with more than fifteen miles along the paved Riverwalk and the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge, plus plenty of activity on the water.