Tennessee

Tennessee offers the contrasting charms of abundant countryside and dense urban centers. The open land includes the marshy, rich fields along the banks of the Mississippi River and the rolling hills of the Appalachian mountains. The cities include Nashville and Memphis, the capitals of country music and the birthplace of rock and roll.

Memphis and Nashville are the most popular destinations for tourists, with rich musical traditions that are still strong today. Nashville is full of historic country music clubs, landmarks and artists, and continues to be the most important city for rising new musicians on the scene. Memphis, as any rock and roll fan knows, is where the King himself, Elvis Presley, started his career and lived for most of his life. His mansion Graceland draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

For a more bucolic experience, Great Smoky Mountains National Parkis the largest wilderness area in the eastern United States. The grounds include over 900 miles of hiking trails, which run across its spectacular peaks, streams and meadows. Other popular destinations in the state include Rock City Gardens near Chattanooga and the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site at Greenville.