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 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
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
Port Royal State Historic Park in Adams, TN

Fall Hikes Near Nashville

Fall Hikes Near Nashville
Sprockets and gears and wheels on the wall, They click and hum when they turn, Doesn’t matter how much you go, There’s always much more to learn. Written about the Machinery Exhibit at the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Middle Tennessee Spring Destinations

Middle Tennessee Spring Destinations
Painted white and standing tall, A place where folks can find it all, Root beer floats and pocket knives, A meat-and-three and bluegrass nights, They don’t make ‘em anymore, Like the T.B. Sutton Store. Written about the T.B. Sutton General Store in Granville, Tennessee.

Promised Land Trail

Promised Land Trail
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
Mountain top, Anakeesta, Rides and shops and ice cold brews, Fresh air feelings theme park thrills, From your head down to your shoes. Written about Anakeesta in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

12 Whimsical Places

12 Whimsical Places
A who's who of music has lit up the stages, From hip hop to folk to country and blues, Bonnaroo is a place of all places, No worries, no problem, no shirt and no shoes. Written about the Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tennessee.

Music Festivals

Music Festivals
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