From west to east

Up in Nashville, with its many honky-tonks and buzzing downtown, explore iconic spots like Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge or Whiskey Bent Saloon after digging into some excellent fried chicken at Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack where the staff will gladly share tales of its amusing origin story. For Appalachian-inspired dishes be sure to grab a table at Audrey where chef Sean Brock pays homage to his grandmother through her traditional recipes.

Head to Ryman Auditorium, former home of the Grand Ole Opry to dive deeper in the city’s music history where one can stand on the stage where Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash once performed. Opposite the auditorium is the outstanding immersive National Museum of African American Music ¬– a space dedicated to celebrating and preserving the many music genres created and inspired by African Americans.

The architecture alone at the Country Music Hall of Fame is bound to leave you astonished and allow a few hours on a weekday to avoid the crowds to explore all the musical greats of country and bluegrass music at their three levels indoors. For Elvis fans, a visit to Nashville's famed RCA Studio B is a must where the legend recorded many of his gospel classics.

Though Cookeville is a college town, it has a unique charm that is apparent through its boutiques and its impressive Depot Museum. There are also plenty of wild corners to explore and really stretch your legs away from the road.

Built in 1909, the Cookeville Depot Museum is free to enter and a perfect spot for families to spend a few hours to get a glimpse of Tennessee’s past when this area was once an active railroad station between Central Tennessee and Eastern Tennessee. There are steam engines, track cars and a caboose on display.

For some quirky Tennessee paraphernalia such as cowboy boots, jewellery and glittery hats, head to one of the boutiques that are often small, family-run businesses such as Cigi’s or Poppie's Boutique. Cookeville can also entice every epicurean owing to its local food and craft beer celebrations such as Taste of the Town and the Cookeville Food Truck festival.

Beyond the city, there are several picturesque state parks to explore such as Rock Island or Cummins Falls. The rugged landscapes in these state parks are known for their cascading waterfalls, narrow ridges, sheer cliffs and wildlife. In the autumn months, head to Fall Creek Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the USA where the exuberant hued trees look like an enchanting scene from a fairy-tale.

Eastern Tennessee is famous for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Dollywood, but the area is also laden with little-known towns nearby such as Maryville, Blountville and Dandridge which are all worth a visit.

Soak up all the moonshine history in the region of Sevierville where many locals will gladly tell lively tales of moonshining legends from over a century ago. Stop off at Shine Girl, a moonshine company by Danielle Parton, Dolly Parton’s niece for a quick tasting of moonshine and understand how it is made.

One can also admire the rare P-47 Thunderbolts at Tennessee Museum of Aviation before venturing further east to explore the vast underground caves at the Forbidden Caverns.

Further south in action-packed Pigeon Forge is Dollywood where one can spend the entire day in the park along with lunch at Aunt Granny’s for some outstanding regional southern dishes. While Pigeon Forge’s shops have a vintage charm, it is impossible to not drive past attractions such as the Titanic Museum and several other quirky museums. For some unique haunted stories in the region, take a tour of the Old Mill at the Old Forge Distillery.

In the heart of Gatlinburg, hop on a chairlift ride up to Anakeesta, which offers a wide variety of fun activities. One can go ziplining or opt to relax by the fire pits and take in the stunning views of the Smokies.

Tennessee’s oldest town Jonesborough is known as the ‘storytelling capital’ owing to the International Storytelling Center that became the first facility devoted exclusively to the timeless tradition of storytelling. The town also hosts the annual National Storytelling Festival along with radio shows. Take a walking tour of Jonesborough’s historic downtown to learn more about its Native American heritage.