Home to country, rock ‘n’ roll and blues music superstars, rich Appalachian culture and the Great Smoky Mountains, a scenic road trip through Tennessee offers many enriching and enjoyable sites and activities. Route 61 from Memphis and Vicksburg is sometimes called the Old Blues Highway, and a good place to start for music lovers. Foodies must be sure to stop at one of the region’s famous barbecue and Southern cooking restaurants for a truly authentic experience. From Nashville and Graceland, to avant-garde roadside art and nostalgic museums, everyone in the car will have something to look forward to.
No trip to Tennessee would be complete without a stop at the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s palace. Guests can tour his residential mansion, modest by today’s standards, and walk through his living room, music room, dining room, kitchen, TV room, parents’ bedroom, pool room, and of course, the Jungle Room. The rest of his 14-acre estate has buildings that act as museums, where you can see Elvis’ car collection, gold and platinum records, clothing and other memorabilia. Other stops on the tour include Vernon Presley’s business office, the racquetball building and the Meditation Garden where Elvis and his parents were laid to rest. After your tour, grab a peanut butter and banana sandwich from Rockabilly’s Diner. If you need overnight accommodations, the Heartbreak Hotel is just next door to the estate.
The former Grand Ole Opry House, from 1943 to 1974 Ryman Auditorium was the place where today’s country music legends got their start. See the stage outfits and other memorabilia of stars such as Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline. The auditorium is located in vibrant downtown Nashville, and you can follow your stop with a break at one of the nearby restaurants, cafes or bars, which typically feature live music from up-and-coming stars and local favorites.
Located behind a barber shop and motel, Billy Tripp’s Mindfield sculpture is one of those quirky roadside stops that compel you to drive an hour out of your way to quench your curiosity. The artist expands the towering network of gray steel and iron girders over about an acre, and incorporates salvaged relics, like the water tower from a now defunct factory in Western Kentucky. You can also find signs with messages like “defrock tribalism” and a memorial to the artist’s parents. Billy Tripp started the sculpture in 1989, and has continued adding to it ever since.
This outdoor museum is a collection of pioneer buildings and artifacts, acquired over the course of more than 50 years by John Rice Irwin. The museum celebrates the lives of the mountain communities of Southern Appalachia. Walk through the museum village, touring cabins filled with cut firewood, handcrafted quilts and other everyday items. If you visit in April, you can take part in the annual Sheep Shearing Day, or if you come in May, join in and cut a rug at the Barn Dance.
