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.

Choose Category

Area
Category
Clear Filters
Flocks of migrating sandhill cranes at Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Birchwood, TN

Birding in Tennessee

Birding in Tennessee
Echoes of the empty are the only sound, Voices from the past whisper through the trees, Rustling up the dead leaves drying on the ground, Only oak and hickory growing where a small town used to be. Written about Tennessee’s Ghost Towns.

Guide to Ghost Towns and Haunted Places in Tennessee

Guide to Ghost Towns and Haunted Places in Tennessee
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
A helmeted zip-line adventurer glides through a sunlit forest canopy, sunbeams streaming through vibrant green leaves as they soar between towering trees on a rope course.

Budget-Friendly Knoxville Spots

Budget-Friendly Knoxville Spots
Smiling woman in a black shirt holds a plate with fried chicken, greens, bread, and side dishes inside a room with frames and plants.

Black-Owned Restaurants in Tennessee

Black-Owned Restaurants in Tennessee
Downtown Gatlinburg, TN Sponsored

Gatlinburg's Entertaining Spots

Gatlinburg's Entertaining Spots
Family on a boat dock by a lake, sitting in chairs and smiling; a man tends a small grill or fire near the edge. Sponsored

Visit Roane County

Visit Roane County
Dolly Parton's Stampede in Pigeon Forge, TN Sponsored

Pigeon Forge Entertainment

Pigeon Forge Entertainment
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