3 Great Cities To Stop At During Your Tennessee Road Trip

With so much to see in Tennessee, there’s no doubt that these 3 great cities will give you plenty to do. Our road trip will take you to what we recommend you do & see, especially if you’re a country music fan!

Chick-Fil-A: The Original One

If you want to go to a well-known restaurant, we suggest you go to the home of the original Chick-Fil-A which is really in Atlanta, GA, but it was a great stop on the way to Tennessee. It’s so much different than all the others but with the same great taste & customer service. We were surprised that they serve beef here! It used to be more of a diner with other food options, which they still sell.

Nashville

Nashville is worldly renowned as the capital of country music and I found out why very quickly. It makes sense to start there as most people think of Nashville first when speaking of Tennessee.

Murals

There are many murals in Nashville. The way I found out about them is I literally just googled “murals in Nashville.” Be careful though because one of the murals “It’s gonna be O.K.” is in front of many lanes of traffic. Please use the crosswalk. And, of course, these make great photos ops!

Hattie B’s Chicken

Need a bite to eat? Make sure you stop at Hattie B’s Chicken for some awesome fried chicken. At the time, I was watching my weight so I tried their grilled chicken with pickles on top, spinach, and coleslaw. It was delicious!

The Bluebird Cafe

The Bluebird Cafe is one of the reasons why Nashville is known as the country music capital. It is a place where you can come and listen to songwriters & the meaning behind why they wrote their songs. It is famous because many country artists that have made it big have sung here. So, you never know who you’ll hear that may become the next country star! It is small and quaint, but it’s like that so we can get that family feel. You must make reservations so make sure you go to their website to do that.

Grand Ole Opry

This should be your NUMBER 1 stop if you’re a country music fan AND it’s your very first time in Tennessee. There is no other place in the entire world like the Grand Ole Opry. There have been and continue to be so many legends that have walked the hallways & rooms and that have stood in the famous “circle.” The circle is literally a circle on the stage that the artist stands on and performs. Any artist that has been invited to perform here can be considered as having it made big in country music. It’s an awesome experience to stand in the circle. You must take a tour to go through the dressing rooms and be on stage. It is extremely informative and you won’t be sorry you took this tour. Plus, you never know who you might run into!

Centennial Park

We end our trip in Nashville at Centennial Park. Here you will find the film location from the Percy Jackson movies. The Parthenon was evident in the film and it is also the only full-scale replica of the actual Parthenon in Greece. There is a small fee to enter so check out their website for details.

Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg was one of my favorite stops because it reminded me of an old country store. The scenery here is absolutely gorgeous.

Downtown

The sidewalks in downtown Gatlinburg can get crowded especially in the evening so I suggest going during the day if you don’t want to fight crowds. However, there is a lot to see and there are many options for dining down at the village shops.

One of the most popular things to do here is to ride the SkyLift to the SkyBridge. It is the longest pedestrian bridge in the U.S.A.! You will also get the best views of The Great Smoky Mountains. For more information, visit their website.

The Greystone Lodge on the River

If you are looking for a hotel right in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg, this is your place. It is beautiful, affordable, and breakfast is included! Plus, it’s also next door to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies! What else could you want? This place has it all. For rates, availability and more information, visit their website.

Ole Red Restaurant

All that walking downtown at the village shops will make you hungry. Literally just steps away from the lodge is Ole Red Restaurant. It is owned by Blake Shelton and is a restaurant with a stage for country music bands that will perform when you’re dining. However, make sure you go to their website to see when bands/artists are playing.

The Great Smoky Mountains

The Great Smoky Mountains is a huge mountain range that stretches across the borders of Tennessee and North Carolina. If you love nature as much as I do, you will absolutely love to drive around here, especially if you have a convertible. One important thing to remind everyone is to please DO NOT feed the wildlife, especially if you see any bears. Cades Cove at The Great Smoky Mountains is the place we were told that we would most likely see a bear, but unfortunately, we never did see one here. We did see deer though. Oh! And don’t think bears can show up only in the wild. We saw a real bear in downtown Gatlinburg!

Pigeon Forge

Don’t underestimate or pass by this city because, honestly, I’ve heard of it before but I always thought “What is there to do in Pigeon Forge other than nature?” I am so glad you asked because the answer is A LOT! Let me tell you about 2 unique stops that I believe you will enjoy.

Dollywood

We met some friends at Dollywood that we hadn’t seen in a long time and we decided to make a day of it at Dollywood. I knew it was a theme park, but I left there knowing that it is one of my favorite theme parks ever!

Dollywood has something for everyone. Whether you’re young or young at heart, you will enjoy the roller coasters, markets, food, shows, and special events. For tickets and more information visit their website.

Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen

Despite any controversy, a stop at Paula Deen’s restaurant has a lot to offer. Make sure to come here VERY hungry because you will leave full. Everything is served family-style and is delicious. If you’re counting calories or strictly watching your weight, you might want to think twice or just make this your cheat meal! If you’re not hungry, you can still just visit the store without buying a meal.

BONUS! Point Park / Lookout Mtn.

On our way back home to Florida from our Tennessee road trip, we stopped at Point Park & Lookout Mountain which is located on the border of Tennessee and Georgia. It is run by the National Park Service and commemorates the battle that happened between the Union and Confederate forces in 1863. The park & mountain make a great pit stop and the views from the top are spectacular!

So as you can see, these 3 cities make great stops during your Tennessee road trip! If you had to choose just one stop or attraction, which one would it be and why? I’d love to hear if you’ve been to any or all of these places by commenting below!

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