The state of Tennessee has many points of interest. Here are twelve of the best places to visit in Tennessee:
1. Graceland Mansion in Memphis, TN was the home of Elvis Presley from 1957 until the time of his death in 1977. Visitors to graceland can tour the mansion and view many other exhibits commemorating the life the the great Elvis Presley.
2. The Memphis Zoo is one of the premier zoos in the world, ranked #1 in the USA in 2008 by Trip Advisor, which gages popularity by customer reviews. The zoo is home to more than 3,500 animals of 500 species. The Giant Pandas Ya Ya and Le Le are trademarks of the Memphis Zoo.
3. Beautiful Reelfoot Lake State Park, located in at the NW Corner of Tennessee,is a refuge for nearly every kind of shore and wading bird as well as the Golden and American Bald Eagles. The park features campgrounds, fishing piers, canoeing and several playgrounds with picnic areas.
4. The small town of Dover in NW middle tennessee is home to Ft. Donelson National Battlefield, the site of the Union Army’s first major victory of the Civil War. Surrender House, a museum display on the banks of the Cumberland River, is the original structure where the surrender took place. Displays of cannons, warships and trenches dug by the Confederate soldiers are common sights at Ft. Donelson. It also features picnic areas, playgrounds and occasional reenactments of the Battle of Ft. Donelson.
5. The Opry Museum in Nashville, TN commemorates the early years of country music. Legendary stars of the Grand Ole Opry, including such performers as Jimmy Dickens, Patsy Cline and Minnie Pearl are honored with displays in the Opry Museum. Displays include such memorabilia as the stars’ awards,
costumes and musical instruments.
6. The Hermitage, located in Nashville, TN, is a Museum dedicated to Andrew Jackson, the 7th president of the United States. The museum is built on the site Jackson’s stunning Antebellum plantation, and also features the first Hermitage cabins, the site of Jackson’s humble beginnings.
7. The Parthenon, located in Nashville’s Centennial Park, is a full-scale replica of the temple of the goddess Athena of ancient Greece. The display features a 42-foot statue Athena, and an abundance of Greek art and artifacts.
8. Nashville Shores, located in Nashville on the shores of beautiful J. Percy Priest Lake, is a water park offering a variety of family activities including nine water slides, swimming pools, pleasure boat rentals and picnic areas.
9. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the Tennessee/North Carolina
border of East Tennessee, is a great place to visit. The beauty, wildlife and history of the Great Smoky Mountains area make it one of the most visited
parks in the USA.
10. The resort town of Gatlinburg, nestled in the heart of the Great Smoky
Mountains offers a variety of activities and gift shops. There are an abundance of mountain chalets for rent and the Alpine Sky Lift, a ski lift type ride up the side of a mountain, is a very popular attraction.
11. Dollywood, a family oriented theme park owned by country music legend Dolly Parton, is located in the mountainous area of East Tennessee, at Pigeon Forge. Dollywood offers musical performances, shows and fun rides.
12. The Lost Sea, located in Sweetwater, TN in the Chattanooga area, is the world’s largest underground lake. The Lost sea offers boatrides through the underground cavern so visitors can get a close up view of the lake.
