Attractions By City

Chattanooga

Tennessee Aquarium
More than 9,000 animals swim, fly and crawl through this aquarium dedicated to educating visitors about freshwater ecosystems.
Attraction type: Aquarium

Coolidge Park
Named in honor of a World War II Medal of Honor recipient, this seven-acre park features a restored hand-carved carousel, pavilion and interactive play fountain.
Attraction type: Bridge; Urban park; Fountain

Rock City
This hiking path along the “Enchanted Flagstone Trail” takes visitors on a winding trek through scenic grottos and glens.
Attraction type: Scenic railroad; Hiking trail; Park; Garden

Tennessee Valley Railroad (TVR)
One of the largest operating historic railroads in the United States offers scenic trips through the Tennessee countryside.
Attraction type: Scenic railroad; Transportation museum

Bluff View Art District
Neighborhood lined with small shops, galleries and two museums.
412 East 2nd St, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403, United States
Attraction type: Scenic/historic walking area

Lookout Mountain
This high, wide plateau located on top of a mountain and surrounded by perpendicular cliffs is home to three exciting attractions: Incline Railway, Ruby Falls and Rock City.
Attraction type: Battlefield; Garden; Cavern/cave; Mountain

Chattanooga African-American Museum
Attraction type: History museum

Creative Discovery Museum
Four areas of exhibits including art, music, invention and science.
Attraction type: Children’s museum; Museum

Hunters Museum of American Art
Art museum with a wonderful collection of 19th and 20th century American art.
Attraction type: Art gallery; Museum; Art museum

Ruby Falls
Visitors are wowed by this thundering 145-foot underground waterfall, a natural wonder located on the scenic Lookout Mountain.
Attraction type: Park; Waterfall

Chattanooga Zoo
Attraction type: Zoo

Civil War Museum
This interactive history museum recounts stories of the Civil War through touch-screen films, computer displays, flags, equipment and life-sized mannequins dressed in Confederate and Union soldier uniforms.
Attraction type: History museum; Military museum

Raccoon Mountain Caverns
Raccoon Mountain Caverns is located just outside of Chattanooga in the Black Creek area of Lookout Valley and offers a vast cave system, panning for gemstones, go-kart rides, and spectacular views of both Lookout Mountain and Raccoon Mountain.

Chattanooga Choo Choo
A 30-acre vacation and convention complex is located in the heart of Chattanooga and has something for everyone. The Choo Choo combines history and fun in a delightful blend that appeals to visitors of all ages.

Nashville

Grand Ole Opry
America’s longest continuously running radio show, the Grand Ole Opry has been broadcasting since 1925 from various venues. The performance now comes to listeners from the world’s largest broadcast studio, which seats an audience of 4,424.
Attraction type: Theater; Performance

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
This museum highlights the history of country music from its birthplace in the Music City to present-day.
Attraction type: Specialty museum; Museum; Sports museum

The Parthenon
The only full-size replica of the Parthenon (in Greece) in the world.
Attraction type: Monument; Landmark/point of interest; Statue

Belle Meade Plantation
This huge Old South plantation is home to an impressive Greek Revival mansion.
Attraction type: Farm; Historic home; Historic site

Ryman Auditorium
One of the most famous concert halls in the history of country music, this auditorium still hosts live music events.
Attraction type: Concert; Theater

Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art
This museum exhibits the work of contemporary regional artists and is surrounded by immaculately manicured gardens.
Attraction type: Art museum; Garden

Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge
Bar where performers have taken the stage since the early 1960s in hopes of being discovered.
Attraction type: Bar/club

Belmont Mansion
Tours are available of this fancy 19th-century Italian villa-style mansion.
Attraction type: Historic home; Hiking trail

The State Capitol
The grounds around this majestic neo-classical building offer statues of many historic figures, plus the graves of President Polk and his wife.
Charlotte Ave., Nashville, Tennessee 37219
Attraction type: Government building

Nashville Zoo
This recently improved zoo has a diverse population of animals.
Attraction type: Zoo

Grand Ole Opry Museum
This museum features exhibits on some of Tennessee’s most beloved stars, from Patsy Cline to George Jones.
Attraction type: Specialty museum

Frist Center for Visual Arts
Attraction type: Art museum; Civic center; Art gallery

RCA Studio B
The studio where Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Lee Ann Rimes, Billy Ray Cyrus and others have recorded.
Attraction type: Historic site; Educational site; Specialty museum

Wave Country
A must-see for families with kids: waterslides and a giant wave pool ensure hours of summer fun. Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Attraction type: Water park

Travellers Rest Plantation and Museum
This mansion, built in 1799, now serves as a museum dedicated to Nashville’s early history.
Attraction type: Historic home; History museum

Music Valley Wax Museum
The wax models of more than 50 country music stars are on display here.
2515 McGavock Pike, Nashville, Tennessee 37214
Attraction type: Wax museum

Knoxville

Old City
Rejuvenated section of town with lots of live Jazz, blues and rock music.
Attraction type: Neighborhood

Yee-Haw Industries
Factory tour of an old style printing press currently in use.
Attraction type: Factory tour; Art gallery

Star of Knoxville Riverboat
The Star of Knoxville Riverboat is an authentic 325-passenger sternwheel riverboat offering sightseeing, lunch, dinner, entertainment and moonlight cruises along the Tennessee River.
300 Neyland Drive, at Volunteer Landing, Knoxville
Tel: 865-525-7827
Attraction type: Group tour/boat

University of Tennessee
Over 26,000 students attend the University of Tennessee.
Attraction type: Educational site

Ijams Nature Center
80 acres of woods, meadows and trails.
Attraction type: Nature reserve

James White Fort
The original Pioneer structure of Knoxville’s founder.
Attraction type: Historic home; Historic village

Sunsphere Tower
300 foot tower built for the 1982 World’s Fair.
Attraction type: Observation deck/tower

Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
From the 10-ton, 30-foot-high basketball that sits on top of the building to the life-like animatronic figure of Senda Berenson, “the mother of women’s basketball,” this will not be your typical hall of fame visit.
Attraction type: Sports museum

Knoxville Museum of Art
Attraction type: Art museum

Frank H. McClung Museum
A general interest museum on the University of Tennessee campus.
Attraction type: History museum

Knoxville Zoological Gardens
Realistic habitats offer glimpses of over 800 animals from around the world.
Attraction type: Zoo

Knoxville Convention Center
Attraction type: Convention center

Haley Heritage Square
A scenic city park includes a magnificent statue honoring Alex Haley, author of numerous novels, including “Roots,” who made Knoxville his home.
Morningside Park, 1600 Dandridge Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee
Tel: 800-727-8045
Attraction type: Park

Three Rivers Rambler, Knoxville
Attraction type: Scenic railroad

Memphis

Graceland
A veritable Elvis theme park, Graceland contains everything from the King’s jets, cars, motorcycles, records and films to his grave site. Attraction type: Historic home; Tour

National Civil Rights Museum
Museum focuses on the Civil Rights Movement in America through private collections, exhibitions, research and educational programs.
Attraction type: Specialty museum; History museum

Beale Street
Renovation and renewal have come to this historic street known as the “Home of the Blues.” Flashy music clubs and restaurants abound.
Attraction type: Street; Scenic/historic walking area; Historic walking area; Mysterious site

Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum
Chronicling the artists and the music that shaped the legacy of “Memphis Sound,” this museum features the Smithsonian’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll: Social Crossroads” exhibition.
Attraction type: Specialty museum; History museum

Sun Studio
Recording studio where Elvis Presley made his first record.
Attraction type: Historic site; Tour; Landmark/point of interest

Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Attraction type: Educational site; Specialty museum

Peabody Hotel
Famous for the procession of the ducks every day at 11 a.m.
Attraction type: Performance; Historic site; Architectural building

Slave Haven/Burkle Estate Museum
Visitors can tour the tunnels used by runaway slaves who stopped at this plantation, one of the stations of the Underground Railroad.
826 N. Second St., Memphis, Tennessee 38107, United States
Tel: 901 527 3427
Attraction type: Historic home; Tour; History museum

Mud Island
Island containing a 52-acre park that is home to the River Walk and the Mississippi River Museum accessible only by a footbridge.
Attraction type: Island; Park; History museum; Theater; Beach

Blues City Café
Swinging blues bar with great food and music and very late hours.
138 Beale St, Memphis, Tennessee
Attraction type: Blues bar

National Ornamental Metal Museum
This museum contains many fine specimens of delicately wrought metal work.
Attraction type: Specialty museum

Memphis Zoo
Newly renovated zoo with innovative exhibition spaces and many species of animals.
Attraction type: Zoo

Dixon Gallery & Gardens
Art museum specializing in impressionist and post-impressionist painting, featuring work by Matisse, Renoir, Gaugin, Cassat and Turner.
Attraction type: Art museum

Brooks Museum Of Art
The state’s oldest and largest art museum.
Attraction type: Art museum

B.B. King’s Blues Club
Chow down on some fried pickle chips while listening to some of your favorite blues music.
Attraction type: Blues bar

Children’s Museum of Memphis
Children’s museum featuring a kid-sized city where kids run things while parents sit back and watch.
Attraction type: Children’s museum

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