What to See in Tennessee, United States

Tennessee is a landlocked state of mountains, plateaus, rivers, fertile plains, and cities with an outsized musical legacy. The best things to do in Tennessee range from exploring Southern Appalachia in the east to discovering the blues, country, soul, and rock and roll traditions of Memphis and Nashville in the west and centre. Neywo offers free audio guides for 7 cities in Tennessee, with 352 narrated places in total across 21 walking tours.

What to see and do in Tennessee

Tennessee is divided into three geographical and cultural regions: East, Middle, and West Tennessee. The differences are clear in the landscape. The Blue Ridge Mountains rise along the eastern border, the Cumberland Plateau brings valleys and waterfalls, central Tennessee has rolling hills, and the west opens into level plains beside the Mississippi River.

Explore the mountains and plateaus of East Tennessee

The eastern part of the state is associated with Southern Appalachia. The Blue Ridge includes some of the highest elevations in eastern North America, while the Cumberland Plateau is known for scenic valleys and waterfalls. Higher Appalachian elevations also have a cooler climate than most of the state.

Water is a defining feature throughout Tennessee. The Tennessee River crosses the state twice, and the Cumberland and Mississippi rivers are also central to its geography. In the west, the Mississippi forms the state line. These rivers are not only part of the scenery: the Mississippi, Tennessee, and Cumberland are navigable waterways that continue to support modern life.

Chattanooga is one of Neywo’s Tennessee destinations, with 48 narrated places. Knoxville has 68 narrated places, including William Blount Mansion, Beck Cultural Exchange Center, Old Customs House, and Knoxville Museum of Art. Further east, Gatlinburg has two narrated places, including the Museum of Salt and Pepper Shakers and First Methodist Church, Gatlinburg.

Discover Tennessee’s history

Tennessee’s name reaches back to Tanasi, a Cherokee town in what is now Monroe County. Tanasi stood on the Tanasi River, now called the Little Tennessee River. The modern spelling appeared in official correspondence during the 1750s, and Tennessee became the name of the new state in 1796.

The region’s history extends much further back. Paleo-Indians were its first inhabitants, followed later by the first recorded European expeditions led by Spanish explorers. The Watauga Association was a frontier pact generally regarded as the first constitutional government west of the Appalachian Mountains. Tennessee was first part of North Carolina, then the Southwest Territory, before entering the Union as the sixteenth state.

The state’s nickname, the Volunteer State, reflects its tradition of military service. Tennessee’s Civil War history was especially divided: much of Middle and West Tennessee supported the Confederacy, while much of East Tennessee held pro-Union feeling. Tennessee became the last state to secede and the first former Confederate state readmitted to the Union after the war.

In Lynchburg, Neywo covers 22 narrated places, including Lynchburg Courthouse, Diamond Hill Baptist Church, South River Friends Meetinghouse, and Centerview. Manchester has five narrated places, including New Hampshire State Union Armory, Currier Museum of Art, Cathedral of St. Joseph, and Palace Theatre.

Follow Tennessee’s musical story

Music is one of the strongest reasons to visit Tennessee. The state has played an important role in blues, country, rock and roll, soul, bluegrass, and gospel. Its musical identity is not limited to a single genre or city.

In Memphis, Beale Street is considered by many to be the epicentre of the blues. W. C. Handy performed in its clubs as early as 1909. Memphis later became home to Sun Records, where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and others began their recording careers. Rock and roll took shape in the city during the 1950s.

Memphis has 97 narrated places on Neywo, including Graceland, Sun Studio, Blues Hall of Fame, and the Metal Museum.

Nashville tells another part of the story. The Grand Ole Opry has broadcast continuously since 1925, making it the country’s longest-running radio show. The city is also Tennessee’s capital and largest city. Neywo’s guide to Nashville includes 110 narrated places, among them The Hermitage, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Ryman Auditorium, Downtown Presbyterian Church, and Nashville.

Visit Tennessee’s main cities

The state’s cities each offer a different way into Tennessee’s geography and culture. Nashville connects the capital’s history with the country-music tradition. Memphis brings together the blues, recording history, and the Mississippi River. Knoxville and Chattanooga provide gateways to East Tennessee’s mountain landscapes, while Lynchburg and Manchester add smaller destinations to a wider road trip.

Tennessee has an estimated population of 7.22 million people. Nashville anchors the state’s largest metropolitan area, while Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga are other major population centres. The modern economy combines farming, services, transportation, music and entertainment, banking, and finance. Farms cover more than 40 percent of the state’s land, even as Tennessee has developed well beyond its earlier agrarian economy.

Explore Tennessee with Neywo

Download Neywo to explore Tennessee with free audio guides for 7 cities, 21 walking tours, and 352 narrated places in total. Narration is available in 11 languages. The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule.

Use Neywo in United States and choose the Tennessee cities that fit your trip, from Chattanooga and Knoxville to Memphis and Nashville.