As long time TN residents, we started this blog to help you travel in Tennessee like a local! As you’ll discover, the Volunteer State has so much more to offer than country music and whiskey (although you almost can’t find better than in TN!).
We know adventures abound in Tennessee—you just gotta know how to find ’em! That’s where our Tennessee blog comes in. Read more about us and follow along on our Facebook!
Plan Your Trip to Tennessee
Discover the best activities and places to eat, drink, camp, and stay in the Tennessee Highlands and beyond!
Latest News Tennessee
- 12 Tennessee Forests That Feel Like the Last Untouched Places
There are places in Tennessee where the road narrows, the cell signal fades, and the woods suddenly feel bigger than your plans for the day. Not curated. Not overly polished. Just deep-green, creek-fed, birdsong-loud country … - 20 Tennessee Chicken Shacks That Have Earned Cult Status
Tennessee knows fried chicken in a way that can’t be faked. This is a state where a roadside cinderblock spot, a decades-old family joint, or a no-frills counter with a hand-painted sign can inspire the … - 10 Tennessee Steakhouses Where All You Can Eat Actually Means All You Can Eat
Tennessee does not play around when it comes to hearty meals, and that is especially true when steak is involved. Around this state, “all you can eat” can mean a full-on parade of skewers, endless … - This Tennessee Arboretum Has 2,500 Plant Species and More Than 7 Miles of Scenic Trails
Tucked away in Oak Ridge, the University of Tennessee Arboretum is one of those rare places where you can lose yourself in nature without ever feeling lost. This 250-acre wonderland boasts more than 2,500 plant … - 6 Tennessee Candy Shops That Make You Feel Like a Kid Again
Sugar hits differently when there’s a little nostalgia mixed in. Tennessee knows that better than most places. Across the state, candy shops are still pulling taffy, dipping truffles, slicing fudge, and stacking shelves with the … - This Tennessee Italian Buffet Is So Good, Locals Call It Heaven for Just $10
When you walk into Sami’s Brick Oven Pizzeria & Buffet in Murfreesboro, the smell of fresh pizza baking in a real brick oven hits you instantly. For only $10.99, you get unlimited access to wood-fired … - 13 Tennessee Restaurants Proving Gluten-Free Food Can Be Incredible in 2026
Tennessee is not exactly short on good food, but finding gluten-free meals that feel exciting instead of like an afterthought used to take serious effort. Not anymore. Across the state, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and casual … - This Small Tennessee Town Hid One of the Cold War’s Biggest Secrets
Tucked into the rolling hills of East Tennessee, Oak Ridge looks like any other charming Southern town, but its past is anything but ordinary. During World War II, this city was built in secret as … - 10 Old-Fashioned Tennessee Restaurants Where the Food Still Shines
Tennessee has always been a place where good food and tradition go hand in hand. Across the state, from the Mississippi River to the Smoky Mountains, you’ll find restaurants that have been serving the same … - This Tennessee Animal Sanctuary Makes the Perfect April Day Trip
Some Tennessee day trips are all about squeezing in as much as possible before heading home tired, sunburned, and wondering why you thought traffic plus crowds sounded relaxing. This one goes in the opposite direction. … - The Tennessee Town Quietly Becoming a Retirement Favorite
Retirement dreams usually come packaged with a trade-off. You get the pretty downtown, but no real conveniences. Or you get the hospitals, stores, and services, but the place feels like every other highway exit in … - 15 Secondhand Bookstores In Tennessee Every Book Lover Should Visit
Tennessee is a dangerous place to “just pop in for a minute” when secondhand bookstores are involved. You tell yourself you’re looking for one paperback, and the next thing you know, you’re balancing a Civil … - This No-Frills Tennessee Restaurant Might Just Serve Your New Favorite Burrito
Some restaurants try way too hard to impress you. El Charolais in Johnson City is not one of them, and that is exactly the charm. This is the kind of place people return to because … - The Best Deep Dish Pizza In Tennessee Is Hiding Inside This Casual Nashville Restaurant
Nashville gets plenty of praise for hot chicken, biscuits, and barbecue, but pizza lovers know the city has a few tricks up its sleeve too. Tucked into Germantown, 312 Pizza Company is the kind of … - The 10 Best Tennessee Markets for Fresh, Homemade Deli Meals
Some grocery stores are just places to grab milk, bread, and whatever you forgot for dinner. Then there are the Tennessee markets where you walk in for one thing and leave with a container of …