Welcome to Tennessee—where the backbeat of American music meets blue ridgelines and black bear country. From Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry to Gatlinburg’s gateway into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the state marries culture and wild beauty with a wink and a guitar pick.

In Nashville, you’ll trace the roots of country, rock, and bluegrass at legendary venues and museums, then cap nights with dance floors and neon-lit honky-tonks. Eastward, mountain mornings arrive with the smell of woodsmoke, towering tulip poplars, and the hush of fog drifting through spruce-fir peaks.

Practical notes: Fly into Nashville (BNA) and, if you prefer, out of Knoxville (TYS) for a one-way loop. Spring wildflowers, summer festivals, and fall foliage bring crowds—book accommodations early. Pack layers, comfortable shoes, and an appetite for hot chicken, biscuits, and pit-smoked barbecue.

Nashville

Nashville, “Music City,” is equal parts recording studio and front porch, where storytellers plug in at noon and legends step onstage after dark. Beyond Broadway’s neon, you’ll find chef-driven restaurants, historic neighborhoods, and intimate songwriters’ rounds that feel like eavesdropping on history.

• Don’t miss: Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, Broadway honky-tonks, 12South boutiques, and the Grand Ole Opry.
• Eat + drink: Hot chicken at Prince’s or Hattie B’s; biscuits at Biscuit Love; refined Southern at Audrey or Etch; cocktails at Attaboy or The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club.
• Fun fact: The Ryman was once a tabernacle—its near-perfect acoustics were an accident of faith and architecture.

Where to stay: Browse central stays near Broadway, Germantown townhomes, and 12South cottages on VRBO Nashville or compare boutique hotels and poolside options on Hotels.com Nashville.

Getting in: Fly to BNA via Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Typical domestic roundtrips run ~$150–$450; rideshares and taxis reach downtown in 15–20 minutes.

Day 1 — Nashville Arrival, Broadway, and a Warm Southern Welcome

Morning: Fly into Nashville (aim to land around midday). Grab a quick coffee at Crema near the riverfront—try a cortado and a guava pastry if you’re peckish.

Afternoon: Check in, then get your bearings with a riverfront stroll and photo stop by the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. Duck into the Ryman gift shop to admire Hatch Show Print posters—an intro to Music City’s letterpress lore.

Evening: Dinner at Merchants (Broadway bistro staples—fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits) or The Southern Steak & Oyster (oysters, hot cast-iron cornbread). Cap the night with live honky-tonk at Robert’s Western World (classic country, no cover) or a songwriter round at The Listening Room Café if you prefer seated sets.

Day 2 — Icons and Orientation

Morning: Fuel up at Biscuit Love in The Gulch (order the “Bonuts”—biscuit-dough doughnuts). Then see the city your way on the Nashville Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour (90 minutes, 13 stops). It’s perfect for hopping between the Gulch, Bicentennial Mall, and the Ryman without fuss.

Afternoon: Dive deep at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum—costumes, instruments, and 2.5+ million artifacts. If time allows, add Hatch Show Print (on-site) to see presses in action.

Evening: Dinner in Germantown—Rolf & Daughters (handmade pastas, Mediterranean accents) or City House’s spiritual heirs like Tailor (tasting menu; book ahead). Nightcap at Attaboy (bartender’s choice cocktails; no menu) or Skull’s Rainbow Room in Printer’s Alley with live jazz and a retro lounge vibe.

Day 3 — Neighborhoods, Street Murals, and the Opry

Morning: Brunch in 12South at Frothy Monkey or grab coffee at the original Barista Parlor. Shop Imogene + Willie (denim) and take mural photos at “I Believe in Nashville.”

Afternoon: Head west to Centennial Park to meet Nashville’s full‑scale Parthenon. Then swing by RCA Studio B (book via the Hall of Fame) for a look at where Dolly and Elvis recorded. Early dinner at Hattie B’s—medium heat is plenty spicy.

Evening: Experience the show that built the city’s mythos: Grand Ole Opry Show Admission Ticket (most Tue/Fri/Sat; seasonal extras). Go early to browse the Opry shop; if schedules don’t align, consider the backstage tour on another night.

Day 4 — History, Mansions, and Speakeasy Vibes

Morning: Pancakes at Pancake Pantry (Hillsboro Village) or baked layers at Five Daughters Bakery. Tour Belle Meade Historic Site for racing history and Greek Revival architecture; wrap with a complimentary winery tasting. If you prefer a guided experience, book the Belle Meade Guided Mansion Tour.

Afternoon: Explore The Gulch’s boutiques or unwind at Pinewood Social (bocce and bowling with espresso martinis). Early supper at Etch (chef Deb Paquette’s famed roasted cauliflower, lamb, and inventive sauces).

Evening: Seek out hidden bars: Old Glory (in a former boiler room) or The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club (East Nashville). If you want a guided romp with true-crime tales, consider a specialty speakeasy crawl; otherwise, finish with bluegrass at The Station Inn.

Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge (Great Smoky Mountains)

When the Cumberland Plateau softens into ancient Appalachia, the Smokies rise in hemlock and rhododendron. Gatlinburg is your park gateway; Pigeon Forge brings rides, moonshine, and family fun—with the national park’s 800+ miles of trails as your backyard.

• Don’t miss: Cades Cove loop, Laurel Falls or Alum Cave hikes, Gatlinburg SkyBridge or Anakeesta, The Old Mill, and sunset from Clingmans Dome (weather permitting).
• Eat + drink: Breakfast at Crockett’s Breakfast Camp; trout at The Park Grill; steaks at The Peddler; moonshine tastings at Ole Smoky or Sugarlands.
• Tip: Wildlife is most active early/late. Keep distance from bears; pack bear-aware food storage for picnics.

Where to stay: For cabins with hot tubs and ridge views, search VRBO Gatlinburg or nearby VRBO Pigeon Forge. Compare hotels and park-adjacent stays on Hotels.com Gatlinburg and Hotels.com Pigeon Forge.

Getting there from Nashville (Day 5): Drive I‑40E (~3.5–4 hours) via Knoxville, or fly BNA→TYS (~1 hour; ~$79–$220 one-way) via Trip.com or Kiwi.com, then rent a car (TYS→Gatlinburg ~1–1.25 hours). Driving offers flexibility for trailheads and overlooks.

Day 5 — Transfer to the Smokies, Sky-high Views, and Moonshine

Morning: Depart Nashville after breakfast. If driving, break in Knoxville for a Market Square coffee; if flying to TYS, pick up a car and follow the Little River through Townsend for a scenic approach.

Afternoon: Check into your cabin or lodge. Head to Gatlinburg SkyLift Park to cross the SkyBridge or ride the gondola at Anakeesta for treetop walks and mountain coasters.

Evening: Dinner at Cherokee Grill (mountain lodge vibes—order trout almondine or bison meatloaf). Sip a tasting flight at Ole Smoky Moonshine (try white lightning and blackberry), then grab a hand-pulled taffy on the Parkway.

Day 6 — Cades Cove and Waterfall Trails

Morning: Pack a picnic and drive the 11-mile Cades Cove loop (go early to avoid traffic). Stop at historic cabins and the Cable Mill; watch for deer, coyotes, and black bears in the meadows.

Afternoon: Hike to Laurel Falls (2.6 miles round-trip, paved but uneven) or, for more challenge, Alum Cave (5.0 miles round-trip to the bluffs with geologic “alum” formations). Refuel with a late lunch at The Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge—corn fritters, pot roast, and stone-ground grits.

Evening: Explore The Island in Pigeon Forge for the fountain show and wheel views. Dinner at Local Goat (scratch kitchen—elk sliders, ribeye) or The Greenbrier (wood-fired steaks and a moody, historic setting).

Day 7 — Off-road Thrills or High Peaks, Then Departure

Morning: Adventurous start? Book the East Tennessee Off Road ATV Guided Experience for mud, creek crossings, and forest tracks.

Afternoon: Time your departure for mid-to-late afternoon. If flying, head to Knoxville’s TYS via scenic Wears Valley Road; if driving back to Nashville, allow ~4 hours. Grab a farewell bite at Crockett’s Breakfast Camp (giant cinnamon rolls) if you missed it earlier.

Evening: Travel day. If you have a final hour, stop at a roadside overlook to watch the namesake “smoke” (mountain mist) melt into twilight.

Optional add-ons if you have extra time: Dollywood (seasonal; top coasters and live music), Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (historic homesteads and streamside pullouts), and the Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Trail for Appalachian pottery and woodwork.

Departure flights: Compare outbound options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com from Knoxville (TYS) or Nashville (BNA), depending on your route home.

Seasonal and practical tips: Summer and fall weekends are busy—start drives early, bring patience for popular loops, and consider weekday visits. Weather shifts fast at elevation; carry rain layers, water, and snacks. In Nashville, many venues are 21+ after certain hours—bring ID.

In one week, you’ll toast songwriters under neon, stand in the Opry’s spotlight glow, and breathe in centuries-old forests where warblers stitch sound into the canopy. Tennessee lingers—in the spice of hot chicken, the thrum of a stand-up bass, and the quiet of mountains older than memory.