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 two-story white brick building with a crenellated roofline sits on a gravel yard; a flagpole with the US flag stands to the right.

Meet Tennessee's Ghosts

Meet Tennessee's Ghosts
Clop Clop the tiny horses run, The warm breeze blows through their manes, Clop clop it’s time for some fun, A visit to Skyland Ranch, you’ll never be the same. Written about Skyland Ranch in Sevierville, Tennessee.

Family Vacation in the Smokies

Family Vacation in the Smokies
A mother kneels beside her young son on a railed overlook deck at Rock City, gazing toward a dramatic waterfall cascading down layered cliffs, with sweeping views of a lush green valley stretching to the horizon.

Rural Road Trip Near Chattanooga

Rural Road Trip Near Chattanooga
Exhibits about desegregation, student support and more show black-and-white photographs of students in Tennessee at the Green McAdoo Cultural Center in Clinton, Tennessee

Travel the U.S. Civil Rights Trail

Travel the U.S. Civil Rights Trail
Pancake Pantry in Gatlinburg, TN

Pancake Houses in the Smokies

Pancake Houses in the Smokies
Feel the leaves changing, the days getting shorter, There’s a crisp in the air, a breeze from the north, Mother Nature smiles, everything is in order, Summer recedes as autumn springs forth. Written about the Smoky Mountains for fall travel inspiration.

Tennessee Fall Travel Guide

Tennessee Fall Travel Guide
Kayaking in Kingsport, TN

20 Secret Kayaking Spots

20 Secret Kayaking Spots
Woman stands on a blue tufted couch in a colorful stacked wall of books, wearing a white jacket and ripped jeans.

James Beard Chefs

James Beard Chefs
The UT Gardens featuring lavender, a giant tree, perennial and annual flowers in flower beds in Jackson, Tennessee

Gardens and Wildflower Trails

Gardens and Wildflower Trails