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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Sprinkled, glazed and frosted donuts in colors of pink, red and orange behind a bakery case at Blackbird Bakery Donuts in Bristol, TN. A girl bends down to see the expansive selection. Tarts, slices of pie and chocolate desserts are lined up in another bakery case to her right.

Must-Visit Donut Shops in Tennessee

Must-Visit Donut Shops in Tennessee
A wooden deck with a metal railing overlooks a vast, forested valley and distant mountains under a dramatic cloudy sky at sunset. Sponsored

Find Your Peace in the Smokies

Find Your Peace in the Smokies
A heavily wooded area surrounding the Jack Daniel barrel house, with the sun lighting up the sky behind it.

Beyond the Barrels

Beyond the Barrels
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

Explore Hiking Trails in Tennessee

Explore Hiking Trails in Tennessee
Coal Miners’ Daughter sign atop a manicured hedge arch at the gate of a fenced property.

Screaming Eagle Trail

Screaming Eagle Trail
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.

Ghost Towns Tennessee

Ghost Towns Tennessee
Outdoor rooftop patio at The Mailroom in Clarksville, Tennessee, with diners seated at tables under string lights, overlooking historic downtown buildings at sunset.

Outdoor Dining: Patios and Rooftops

Outdoor Dining: Patios and Rooftops
Sunset view of a historic graveyard at Carnton in Franklin, TN

Old Tennessee

Old Tennessee
Milky Way over Center Hill Lake in Edgar Evins State Park, TN

12 Stargazing Places

12 Stargazing Places