186 Best Sights in Tennessee, USA

The enormously popular radio show, the Grand Ole Opry, has been performed in the Opry House since 1925. You can see superstars, legends, and up-and-coming stars on this stage. The Opry has been in its current location since 1974, when then-President Richard Nixon played a song on the house piano on opening night, and as such it’s the epicenter around which the rest of Music Valley has rippled out over the years. Even if you aren’t a huge fan of country music, it’s definitely worth a visit for the spectacle of it all. And if attending a live show isn’t enough to satisfy your love of country music, you can take a backstage tour seven days a week to hear more about the history, stars, and stories that make the Grand Ole Opry truly grand.

This 5-mile round-trip trail is one of the most popular in the Smokies, thanks to its trailhead location on Cades Cove Loop Road. Beginning at the wooden bridge over Abrams Creek, the trail first follows a pleasant course through rhododendron, then becomes steeper at a couple of points, especially near Arbutus Ridge. The path then leads above Abrams Falls and down to Wilson Creek. Though only about 20 feet high, the falls are beautiful, with a large volume of water and a broad pool below. Moderate.  It is dangerous to climb, jump from, or swim near the falls.

Take a treetop tour through the old-growth forests north of Nashville. There are nine steel cable ziplines on this course, and each one lets you safely soar above the wooded ravines and blossoming valleys along the Harpeth River. The longest line is about 700 feet long, the highest is about 85 feet high, and the whole journey takes about 90 minutes to complete.

The Alex Haley House Museum, the only state-owned historic site in West Tennessee, displays family portraits, mementos, and furnishings.

Beautiful views of the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee surround this 75-acre property co-owned by Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn. In addition to free tastings, Arrington Vineyards hosts live music on weekends (April to November), bonfires in chilly weather, and other seasonal events. Though there isn't a restaurant on the grounds, the gift shop stocks gourmet cheeses and truffles, and visitors are welcome to bring picnics and make use of the tables throughout the grounds.

Commemorating Knoxville's African-American history with photographs, art, and a large archive of newspapers, this center is located in the former home of one of the city's most prominent Black families. In nearby Morningside Park is a statue of the late Alex Haley, a one-time Knoxville resident and author of the book Roots.

The tall limestone pillars of Belle Meade are markers of a bygone era. Today, this historic mansion is a museum at the center of 30 acres of smooth green pastures west of Nashville. In addition to the Greek Revival–style mansion, the property includes a winery and more than 10 outbuildings. General tours are available, or you can take a themed tour like The Journey to Jubilee, which tells the stories of the people who were enslaved at Belle Meade Plantation. A complimentary wine tasting is offered at the end of your tour, or you can book a private tasting separately.

This 1850s Italian-style villa was the home of Adelicia Acklen, a wealthy plantation owner who married \"once for money, once for love, and once for the hell of it.\" On Belmont University's campus, it's rich with historical and architectural details, with guided tours suited to varying interests. The property now also features Freedom Plaza, a monument built in 2021 honoring the many enslaved people who lived and worked on the property. The last tour of the day starts at 3:30.

Built to celebrate Tennessee's bicentennial, this beautifully landscaped 19-acre park includes a 2,000-seat amphitheater, a scaled map of the state in granite, a World War II memorial, a wall etched with a time line of state events, and fountains representing each of Tennessee's rivers (you'll see both kids and adults splashing in them April–October). The park has a number of picnic tables and there are several dining options at the nearby Nashville Farmers' Market.

In this modest structure dating from 1792, Territorial Governor William Blount, a signer of the Constitution, planned the admission of Tennessee as the 16th state in the Union. The home looks out over the Tennessee River and is furnished with original and period antiques, along with memorabilia of Blount's checkered career.

Home to the Nashville Predators, the city's NHL team since 1998, visitors can catch a home game from October to April (tickets may be hard to get) and then hit the honky-tonks right outside the arena to celebrate the win. The arena also plays host to numerous concerts and other large-format events. The Nashville Visitor Center, also known as the Music City Shop at Bridgestone, is located by the main entrance. If you make it inside, head to the elevator lobby outside of Section 109 on the building's main concourse to see the Brad Paisley–Rob Hendon mural.

Tucked behind an apartment complex, the Browns Creek Greenway is a 0.65-mile trail in Battlemont Park. Occupying a space that was cleared of houses after the 2010 Nashville Flood, the repurposed area features a dog-friendly paved loop that is shaded by mature trees. The Battle of Nashville Monument stands nearby in Battlemont Park to commemorate soldiers from both sides of the Civil War who fought in an important battle in this portion of the city in 1864.

This picnic area, near the beginning of the Cades Cove Loop, has 81 picnic tables open all year. Its big advantage is that it's near the beautiful Cades Cove valley; the disadvantage is that as many as 2 million people come through this area each year. Also, at only 1,800 feet high, it can be hot and humid in summer. Potable water and flush toilets are available. Bears are fairly common, so closely observe food storage precautions. Several trailheads are at the picnic area. There is a campground store here that sells hot dogs, burgers, ice cream, basic grocery supplies, and firewood; it also rents bikes.

Located near the midway point on the highly popular 11-mile Cades Cove Loop, the Cades Cove Visitor Center is especially worth visiting to see the Cable Mill, which operates spring through fall, and the Becky Cable House, a pioneer home with farm outbuildings.

Named for Carlos Campbell, a conservationist who was instrumental in helping to establish the park, this overlook provides a beautiful view up a valley to Bull Head Peak and, farther up, to Balsam Point. An exhibit at the overlook explains the different types of forests within the park.

This antebellum home was converted to a field hospital after the Battle of Franklin in 1864. Today, the property offers several different tours, including a 90-minute Behind the Scenes Tour of the house and the 90-minute Slavery & the Enslaved Tour focusing on the individuals enslaved at Carnton and how emancipation changed their lives; check the online schedule before visiting. Be sure to explore the grounds after your visit. In addition to the house, there are gardens, several outbuildings, and a Civil War cemetery. Combination tickets are available with Carter House and Rippa Villa.

On the morning of November 30, 1864, General Jacob D. Cox seized the Carter family’s home and made it the Federal Army’s headquarters for the Battle of Franklin. Today you can tour this one-and-a-half-story brick house and hear how the Civil War changed the lives of one family in particular, the country at large, and the enslaved people who also lived here. Combination tickets are available with Carnton and Rippa Villa.

the Casey Jones Home and Railroad Museum contains a diverse assortment of railroad memorabilia. On the grounds is a replica of Old No. 382, Casey's steam engine

In Casey Jones Village. The Casey Jones Village Old Country Store, also in the village, has a restaurant, an 1890s-style ice cream parlor, and gift, souvenir, confectionery, and antiques shops.

Home to the Parthenon, this 132-acre park has a 1-mile walking trail, Lake Watauga, the Centennial Art Center, Musicians Corner, sunken gardens, and a bandshell. It's home to the bench that was famously dedicated to Taylor Swift by the city of Nashville in 2023 to honor the park's mention in Swift's song “Invisible String.” It's also a great place to explore an outdoor festival or hear live music.

Occupying multiple floors in two adjoining historic buildings, this vibrant gallery features artworks from local and regional artists to showcase the unique styles that characterize the South. Prices range from premium to affordable enough for tourists to pick up a fine art souvenir of their vacation in Nashville. The atmosphere is particularly lively during the monthly First Saturday Downtown Art Crawl where CHAUVET is an anchor destination of the route.

At the center of this sprawling 55-acre botanical garden is a Georgian-style limestone mansion-turned-art gallery, enclosed by clipped lawns, terraced gardens, and an ancient-looking reflection pool. In addition to the collection of paintings and photographs inside the mansion, the Carell Woodland Sculpture Trail takes you down a 0.9-mile path of outdoor art pieces. There are seasonal garden displays, as well—including 150,000 blooming tulip bulbs in the spring and 5,000 chrysanthemums in the fall—so there’s always something new to enjoy no matter what time of year you visit.

The historic Cherry Mansion, built in 1830, served as General Grant's headquarters during the Battle of Shiloh. The house is privately owned, but visitors are allowed to walk around the grounds and take pictures.

At the The Children's Museum of Memphis youngsters can touch, climb, and explore their way through a child-size city, and delve into the many interactive exhibitions.

From any of the three overlooks grouped together on Newfound Gap Road, you'll have a good view of the Chimney Tops—twin peaks that cap 2,000-foot-high cliffs. Sadly, you'll also see dozens of dead fir and spruce trees, victims of the invasive woolly adelgids.

Chucalissa Archaeological Museum is a reconstruction of a Native American village that existed from AD 1000 to AD 1500. Skilled Choctaw craftspeople fashion jewelry, weapons, and pottery outside the C. H. Nash Museum, which houses historic originals of the same articles.

A small urban block originally earmarked for yet another Downtown skyscraper has been repurposed into a delightful little pocket park that offers organized arts, music, and fitness programs for children and adults throughout the week.

Nashville’s role in the civil rights movement comes alive in this interactive display inside the library’s main branch. Explore the ways Black Nashvillians protested segregation, challenged racist laws, and contributed to the nationwide fight for equality through the library’s time lines, archival materials, and photos.

A must-visit for fans of the early '80s TV sitcom The Dukes of Hazzard, Cooter's offers a plethora of collectibles and Duke Boys ephemera. After seven seasons portraying the amiable mechanic Cooter on the show, Ben Jones served four years as a U.S. congressman representing Georgia's 4th District. After retiring from public service, Jones opened this museum and gift shop filled with memorabilia, props, and autographed items from the show. Some are for sale and others are too rare for Jones to part with, but they all tell the story of the fictional Hazzard County. Visitors can even get a photo in the General Lee for an added cost.

On the northeast edge of the park, this picnic area has 35 tables in well-tended grassy areas under large poplar trees. Cosby Creek runs through the grounds. A wheelchair-accessible pavilion seats 55 and can be reserved for $25. There's a ranger station, restrooms, trailheads, and horse trails. Cosby has easy access from Interstate 40 via the Foothills Parkway and Tennessee State Route 32.