Set Your Tennessee Travel Resolution

As the year begins, many write their resolutions for the next 12 months. But what about your travel resolutions? What vibe are you looking to capture from your travels this year? Read ahead to see which archetype traveler you will most emulate when vacationing in Tennessee.

Featured in this Article:

Adventure Seeker
Foodie
Joy of Missing Out Idealist
Memories Maker
Music Connoisseur
Wellness Guru
 

Adventure Seeker

Ready to be awestruck? Explore Tennessee’s outdoor playground full of secret waterfalls, hiking trails that lead to incredible views, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, ziplining, skydiving and so much more. Contemplate by the waters of Cane Creek Cascades and Machine Falls near Nashville or Conasauga Falls near Chattanooga. Set out on Raven Rock Trail at Roan Mountain State Park, a difficult trail that gifts you stunning views of Roan Valley and surrounding mountain ranges. If you want a more unique view of the scenery, soar out of a plane with Skydive Tennessee in Tullahoma and breeze through the skies with Flying Camp Paragliding. Reach your favorite summit by rock climbing and bouldering at sites in Clarksville, Knoxville and near Chattanooga. Catch clouds while riding the highest zipline in the Smokies – The Cloud Catcher Zipline Experience – at Ober Mountain. Finally, zoom down Class III and Class IV rapids on one of the country’s premier rivers, the Ocoee River, as well as the Nolichucky River and The Pigeon River.

Foodie

Be the well-dined foodie of your friend group. Hot chicken, barbecue, perfectly fried catfish, handmade desserts and chef-curated dishes. If you have a craving, Tennessee can feed it. Make your culinary pilgrimage to iconic food stops such as Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous in Memphis for fall-off-the-bone ribs, hot chicken from the grandfather of the hot chicken craze - Prince’s Hot Chicken in Nashville, and Hagy’s Catfish Hotel, one of the oldest family-owned restaurants in the U.S. For fluffy breads and pastries, visit Tennessee’s oldest family-owned bakery, Dutch Maid Bakery in Tracy City. Savor scratch-made, locally sourced and organic donuts from Five Daughters Bakery and pastries from award-winning pastry chef, Alena Vaughn at Triple Crown Bakery, both in Franklin. Seek out Instagram-worthy desserts at Phoenix Pharmacy & Ice Cream Parlor housed in a 1899 building with extensive history in Knoxville. Enjoy the classic banana split featuring layers of ice cream, fresh bananas and all your favorite toppings. Dig in to gourmet “Freakshakes” from Legendairy Milkshake Bar in Nashville that serves colossal shakes topped with brownies, donuts, slices of cheesecake and so much more.

Joy of Missing Out Idealist

Is your year starting to shape up to be a busy one? Come to Tennessee for a breather. Many small towns in Tennessee welcome you to silence your phone and immerse yourself in the local history, quaint shops, eclectic festivals, unique places to stay and amazing food. Check out Oak Ridge and Rogersville for nuclear and pioneer history, respectively. Find treasures in antique shops in Paris (which also hosts the World’s Biggest Fish Fry every April), Fayetteville and Clinton, heralded as the largest antiquing district in the South. Savor great food made from scratch in Union City, Franklin and Maryville. Attend a fun festival like National Moofest in Athens, Mule Day in Columbia and the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival in Humboldt. When it's time to cozy up for the night, make a cup of tea and read a book in special places like Getaway Dale Hollow, Your Glamping Adventure in Smithville and Kelly's Jubilee in Springfield.

Memories Maker

If your resolution is to spend more time with loved ones, a vacation to Tennessee is a great springboard to accomplish your goal. Lean into your empathy and relationship building skills to craft the best getaway full of laughter and memories. Family-friendly destinations include the Smokies with world-class attractions like Dollywood and Beyond the Lens! in Pigeon Forge, Anakeesta and SkyPark in Gatlinburg, and Skyland Ranch and Foxfire Adventure Park in Sevierville. Rent a cabin for your whole crew, go glamping at Little Arrow Outdoor Resort in Townsend or stay in a treehouse like The Sanctuary Treehouse Resort in Sevierville and Treehouse Grove in Gatlinburg. Plan a Tennessee Playcation your kids will love, full of attractions actual kids have reviewed and approved.

If you’re planning a couple’s getaway, find romance in unique places to stay tucked away in nature and small towns like waterfront Mountain Harbor Inn Resort in Dandridge and Evins Mill Resort & Retreat in Smithville (there’s a waterfall on property!). Break the trip out of the group chat with your friends by going to cities with neon lights, great food and more in Memphis, Knoxville, Nashville and Chattanooga.

Music Connoisseur

Follow the beat of your own drum this year. Fill your calendar with concerts and music festivals. Grab your friends to discover new artists and see your favorites live. From iconic music venues like Grand Ole Opry that’s celebrating 100 years in 2025 and Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Overton Park Shell (where Elvis Presley made his first major public appearance) in Memphis, Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville and Tennessee Theatre – the Official State Theatre of Tennessee – in Knoxville to intimate venues where you’ll find everything from jazz, blues and country being sung and strung, Tennessee never lets the music stop. Music is even underground at The Caverns in Pelham where you can find everything from techno to rock to rock and country. Dance the day and night away at music festivals like Bristol Rhythm & Roots in Bristol, Bonnaroo in Manchester, Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Exit 56 Blues Fest in Brownsville and Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree in Smithville.  

Wellness Guru

Focus on you this year by finding peace and solace at spas and resorts in Tennessee. Enjoy sound baths, yoga and red light therapy in the Recovery Lab at Blackberry Mountain in Walland. Forest bathe at Windy Hill Farm & Preserve where you can go hiking fishing, mountain biking, test your skills in archery and take a personalized quail hunting trip. Southall, Franklin’s new luxury resort has personalized wellness experiences that include deep tissue massages, thermotherapy, hilltop yoga, tea ceremonies and more. Spend time at The Peabody Hotel’s Feathers Spa in Memphis, named one of the top spas in the U.S. Here, you can enjoy the Vichy Shower Bed which includes a steam massage, chromo light therapy and aromatherapy that creates a multi-sensory hydrotherapy.

Tennessee is ready to welcome you this year. Check out these and new experiences coming to Tennessee.