11 Greatest Tennessee Towns For First-Time Visitors

First-timers in Tennessee have a full plate of points of interest to expertise, due to the state’s spectacular mix of beautiful pure sources, enduring nation music tradition, fascinating historic heritage, and distinctive Southern attraction. But with so many choices obtainable, therein lies the chance of being overwhelmed and never figuring out the place to begin your itinerary. While cities like Nashville and Memphis usually steal the highlight, the smaller cities actually seize the guts and soul of the Volunteer State.

From mountain escapes and riverfront hideaways to historic hamlets and artsy communities throughout the state, these cities supply an genuine Tennessee expertise with out the crowds. Whether craving outside journey, toe-tapping reside music, or a heat welcome, listed here are the very best Tennessee cities for first-time guests trying to fall in love with the state’s true character.

Bristol

Tennessee’s nation music heritage comes alive on this border city on the Virginia state line, aptly nicknamed the “Birthplace of Country Music.” Bristol is residence to the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, which honors nation music legends and explains the origins of the favored native style via an unlimited assortment of associated artifacts. Adventurers are in for a shock on the mystical Bristol Caverns. This historic system of caverns affords a singular underground expertise that exposes you to stalagmites, stalactites, columns, and an underground river.

Meanwhile, company can spare a couple of hours to look at an entertaining new movie at Marquee Cinemas Pinnacle 12. The intimate theater showcases first-run films in a comfortable venue with 3D screens. Alternatively, you catch a dizzying race on the Bristol Dragway and get a really feel for an amazing stadium environment with 30,000 cheering followers.

Lynchburg

Lynchburg is understood for producing Tennessee’s most well-known whiskey and offers newcomers with an eye-opening journey into the origins of Jack Daniel’s. Home to the Jack Daniel’s Distillery, the city attracts whiskey fans trying to discover the historical past and craftsmanship behind the model. A behind-the-scenes tour takes company via the distilling course of and outdated memorabilia earlier than culminating in refreshing tastings within the pattern room. Several barbecue hotspots guarantee you do not begin imbibing on an empty abdomen. This consists of Barrel House BBQ, which serves Southern-style favorites, comparable to pulled pork and glazed ribs. A journey via time to the early days awaits vacationers on the Moore County Old Jail Museum. This former jailhouse serves as a museum with Victorian artifacts and relics, providing an thought of life in Nineteenth-century Lynchburg.

Jonesborough

Jonesborough is the state’s oldest neighborhood, and visiting this charming vacation spot exposes first-timers to the storied beginnings of Tennessee. The city’s historic district maintains constructions from its early days, headlined by the Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum. This outdated resort harbors a captivating library of reveals documenting Tennessee’s historical past since its 1779 inception. A tour of the Christopher Taylor House seems like being transported again to the pioneer ages. Constructed in 1777, the country log cabin is the proper instance of pioneer structure within the city.

Beer lovers can pattern handcrafted native beers at Depot Street Brewing whereas hanging out with pleasant locals. Elsewhere, outside buffs really feel snug at Golden Oak Park, the place picnic areas, nature trails, and pristine ponds allow you to commune with nature.

Savannah

Savannah lies alongside the Tennessee River banks and affords a quiet countryside environment with beautiful views of the winding waterway. It harbors a wealthy river heritage that’s extensively preserved on the Tennessee River Museum. This resourceful facility reveals one-of-a-kind artifacts that chronicle the historical past of the Tennessee River Valley. The city’s relaxed pure areas present the proper spot to take a seat again and wind. Guests can escape to the 10-acre Wayne Jerrolds River Park and benefit from its nature trails, picnic pavilions, and a ship ramp. Savannah hosts an lively restaurant, serving varied flavors, together with genuine Mexican delicacies at El Potrillo Mexican Restaurant. Furthermore, newcomers with change to spare can store on the vigorous Savannah Farmers Community Market to mingle with native distributors.

Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg is nationally acknowledged for housing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so it makes excellent sense that it is without doubt one of the finest Tennessee cities for first-timer guests. Gatlinburg is the official gateway to the enduring park and units the stage for unforgettable outside adventures within the uncooked rural surroundings of Tennessee’s countryside. An exhilarating chairlift journey to the 1,800-foot summit of the Gatlinburg SkyPark spoils guests with unprecedented panoramas of the Smokies’ forested landscapes and a possibility to stroll throughout an intimidating SkyBridge.

Meanwhile, the Ripley’s Mountain Coaster offers a singular solution to expertise the Smoky Mountains whereas zooming at 25mph via a dense forest panorama. Animal lovers will get pleasure from visiting the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies to look at totally different marine species, together with stingrays, sea turtles, penguins, and sharks, from behind a glass enclosure.

Union City

Union City is a beautiful northwest Tennessee neighborhood identified for its numerous cultural aptitude. You can inform this from the varied flavors of the various downtown eating places. If you have got a delicate spot for Mexican meals, Don Sol Mexican Grill is the go-to joint for scrumptious tacos and burritos. The Discovery Park of America is a noteworthy focal point in Union City. Set on a 50-acre property, the museum and heritage park showcase an array of interactive artifacts chronicling nature, historical past, tradition, artwork, and extra. For an outside escape, many individuals isolate themselves alongside the Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge, which lies on the shores of Reelfoot Lake. This clear and tranquil pure sanctuary is residence to a thriving migratory fowl inhabitants price trying out.

Smithville

Smithville is a tiny village in the midst of Tennessee, set alongside the attractive shores of Center Hill Lake. It has a quiet rural environment and offers entry to enjoyable water enjoyable at Hidden Harbor Marina. Tourists come right here to hire boats, pontoons, and different vessels for a cruise on the calm lake. Furthermore, golf fans can discover thrilling alternatives on the Smithville Golf Club, whose serene greens and holes accommodate all ability ranges. The Harvester Performance Art and Event Center hosts a lineup of social occasions close to Center Hill Lake, the place you and outdated residents alike collect to look at performs, concert events, and attend events. Finally, those that respect visible artwork can go to the Appalachian Center for Craft to examine or buy a broad spectrum of inventive items.

Paris

Paris feels weirdly acquainted to many newcomers to town, due to the picturesque Eiffel Tower that rises above the Eiffel Tower Park. Unlike the well-known landmark in Paris, that is solely a duplicate rising 60 toes, nevertheless it excites vacationers with an ideal background for a selfie. The city preserves and interprets its lengthy historical past on the Paris Henry County Heritage Center. Housed inside a 1910s mansion, the venue is rife with archives and memorabilia documenting the area’s growth courting again to the adolescence.

The downtown area hosts a cluster of neighborly eating places the place you’ll find a scrumptious meal. Olive Pit A Pasta House is without doubt one of the hottest, serving luscious steaks and pasta in a romantic environment. Meanwhile, among the best occasions to go to the city is when it hosts its annual World’s Biggest Fish Fry Festival.

Sevierville

Sevierville is residence to one among nation music’s most acknowledged stars. Dolly Parton is a local of this quaint neighborhood in japanese Tennessee, and the city has immortalized her with a life-size statue in entrance of the Sevier County Courthouse. There is not any scarcity of points of interest, with animal lovers discovering time to work together with over 100 wildlife species at RainForest Adventures Discovery Zoo. Tourists are welcome for an array of thrills at SkyLand Ranch, a enjoyable amusement heart with a mountain coaster, a 300-foot swing, a petting zoo, and a hayride.

Elsewhere, retail remedy lovers are in for a outstanding purchasing expertise at Tanger Outlets Sevierville, which homes a number of designer manufacturers and nationwide retail shops. Lastly, bear in mind to pattern tasty native wines at Hillside Winery everytime you really feel like stress-free and unwinding.

Morristown

Morristown is a pleasant city on the shores of the Cherokee Reservoir that guarantees a complete vacationer expertise. It welcomes outside adventurers to discover the 1,400-acre Panther Creek State Park, the place individuals hike, camp, hunt, boat, and fish on the Cherokee Reservoir. On the opposite hand, the downtown district stays abuzz with an array of leisure, eating, and purchasing venues. The sprawling College Square Mall affords an all-around expertise, with an opportunity to buy at brand-name shops and dine at gourmand eating places. Those who get pleasure from historic experiences can go to the attractive Rose Center Museum. This resourceful cultural and museum facility, housed inside a red-brick Nineteenth-century constructing, highlights the area’s heritage with an unlimited library of artifacts, together with Civil War relics.

Dyersburg

Dyersburg is a close-knit rural city close to the Missouri border, identified for its Southern hospitality, stunning pure areas, and a vibrant downtown area. At Dyersburg Dog Park, people and households from across the neighborhood go to to spend high quality time outside with their canines in a lush park. The city additionally hosts a number of occasions that assist unite the residents, headlined by the Spring Arts Festival. This is a wonderful time to have a good time neighborhood and the humanities via music, dance, crafts, and reveals. The city sq. affords loads of alternatives for foodies at totally different native eating places, together with a style of savory Italian delicacies at Moustos Pasta & Grill. Meanwhile, those that love to buy can go to the Dyersburg Mall to verify the newest trend tendencies and decor objects.

Friendly Towns for First-Time Visitors

While there isn’t a scarcity of nice locations to discover within the Volunteer State, the above Tennessee cities for first-time guests current a compelling case for beginning your journey off the overwhelmed path. Offering distinct countryside attraction towards mountain vistas, lakeside serenity, wealthy historical past, or genuine Southern tradition, these welcoming communities promise scenic environment and memorable points of interest to final a lifetime within the United States. Together, they showcase the guts and soul of Tennessee, making them ideally suited introductions to all of the state has to supply.