6 Places In Tennessee That Are Better Than Anywhere Else In The Country

This has to be first on our list because not only is it a national park, but it happens to be my favorite national park ever. This is the most-visited park in our nation and only confirms what we have known all along: what we have is certainly special. There are endless things to do and places to explore within these majestic mountains. You can hike hundreds of miles of trails including portions of the epic Appalachian Trail. Some of our favorites are Alum Cave, Laurel Falls, and Grotto Falls.

Of course, if you want to relax in the car there are plenty of beautiful drives like the New Found Gap Road, the Foothills Parkway, or my personal favorite Cades Cove. Dive into history by finding the historic cabins within Elkmont, along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, or again in Cades Cove.

Chase some waterfalls, go fishing in the rivers, or raft your way through this gorgeous park: it's a veritable choose your own adventure!

We have lots of beautiful waterfalls throughout our state, but there is one particular underground waterfall that truly is the most wonderfully unique waterfall in the country. Ruby Falls is the biggest underground free-falling waterfall open to the public in the United States. Flowing water plunging 145 feet makes for one remarkable display. Dynamic lighting makes the water shimmer and shines as you tour this magnificent underworld.

Nashville is one of the most popular spots in our country for people to visit, and these days it seems like everyone in the country is moving to our state’s capital. It's no surprise: the city offers some of the best experiences found within our state. There are a few "jump cities" in our country, but unlike Los Angles or New York, this town isn't nearly as busy. The musical history alone brings in thousands of people from all over the world, and many of those visitors end up staying and launching their musical careers in Nashville. The city is also praised for the culinary arts and you can find a plethora of options from just about anything your pallet prefers. This is also home to the Parthenon, so you don’t even need to travel to Greece to get a Mediterranean adventure! It doesn't get more unique than that.

We could easily make a whole list of our great state parks -- but we didn't want to play favorites because each and every one of these parks is worthy of your attention.

Our Tennessee State Parks offer a wide range of activities from cave exploration, water sports, hiking, and so much more. We have a total of 56 state parks, some of which rival the experiences you can have at one of the major national parks in our country:

The views found on top of Roan Mountain are breathtaking; our tallest waterfall, Fall Creek Falls, is jaw-dropping; and the incredible hikes at Savage Gulf can not be topped. We love them all and the icing on the cake? All Tennessee State Parks are free to visit!

Our small towns have one consistent trait throughout the whole state that makes our charming small towns stand out from the rest of the country: Southern hospitality. It is a very real thing. You can instantly be integrated into the community and no one is a stranger for very long. People in Tennessee have continually been kind, welcoming, and loving to anyone who finds themselves in town for the day.

There are so many great places like Leipers Fork, Wartrace, Bell Buckle, and Gatlinburg; each place offers something different, but they will all blanket you with pure and heartfelt Southern hospitality.

Whereas the top of our list revolves around the national park, the surrounding region also deserves a spot. The towns surrounding the Smokies vary greatly from places like the quiet and quaint Townsend to the bombastic attraction-heavy Pigeon Forge.

Gatlinburg, meanwhile, offers a walkable mountain town that feels secluded from the rest of the world. Each town in the area has its own personality and vibe. Pigeon Forge is a one-of-a-kind town... where else can you go to see an upside-down building, a half-scale of the Titanic, King Kong clinging to the side of a skyscraper, and a castle all in one place?