A collage of various Tennessee attractions and experiences, overlaid with a purple and red gradient.

trip inspiration

When it comes to writing a song, or planning a trip, some of the best ideas seem to appear out of thin air. Or, from articles and itineraries we’ve already built for you.

Compass drawing with purple outline on grid background; shows cardinal directions and needle pointing northeast.

Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started. Here are a few trip ideas to help get you going. For better results, sort them by area or category of interest.

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A small tour boat carrying passengers glides across the still, dark waters of an underground cave lake, its lantern glow illuminating jagged rock formations and stalactites overhead.

Small Towns Near Big Cities

Small Towns Near Big Cities
Dolly Parton's Stampede in Pigeon Forge, TN Sponsored

Pigeon Forge Entertainment

Pigeon Forge Entertainment
A variety of barbecue from Nashville's Martin's Bar-B-Que

Taste Your Way Through Tennessee

Taste Your Way Through Tennessee
A lakeside view from a room at The Retreat at Center Hill Lake

Smithville: Day Trip from Nashville

Smithville: Day Trip from Nashville
Statue of a man playing a violin outdoors, with an American flag and evergreen trees in the background.

Bluegrass Tennessee Music Pathway

Bluegrass Tennessee Music Pathway
Nighttime exterior of the Bluebird Cafe with its blue awning and neon-lit window display of framed photos, as a crowd of people gathers near the entrance under the glowing storefront lights."

Nashville Music Spots

Nashville Music Spots
Cool off in Tennessee on the Holston River

Caves, Lakes, Rivers and Waterfalls

Caves, Lakes, Rivers and Waterfalls
Old Country Store & Restaurant: weathered wooden facade with large red sign reading “OLD COUNTRY STORE & RESTAURANT.” Sponsored

Step Back in Time

Step Back in Time
Daytime street view of storefronts along a brick building in Germantown, Nashville, featuring the 'Abednego' shop sign and 'Cavi Medspa' sign, with trimmed shrubs, leafy trees, and parked cars lining the sidewalk.

6 Tennessee Boutiques

6 Tennessee Boutiques