When it comes to finding the gem of the south, Tennessee takes the cake. This spectacular state boasts views that sweep the length of the Appalachian mountains, over valleys ringed by gurgling creeks and rife with rushing rivers. The pronounced greenery of the Volunteer State is about to give your summer vacation plans a run for their money.
20) Tricorner Knob lies on the Appalachian Trail, and is one of the most isolated destinations in the Smoky Mountains. Plan a visit for a touch of Thoreau and oneness with nature.
19) The Lost Sea graces Sweetwater, TN with its title as the largest underground lake in the United States.
18) Twin Falls is a man-made waterfall that graces Rock Island State Park and rushes from the foot of an age old cotton mill.
17) Head out to the Tennessee River Gorge for a mini road trip where you can drive through the 26-mile canyon and catch stunning views of the Tennessee River.
16) Why settle for the blasé above ground waterfall when you can head beneath the surface? Ruby Falls rushes 1,120 feet below ground in Chattanooga and is sure to make you gasp in awe.
15) Roan Mountain rhododendron gardens boast thousands of flowers that tumble over the valleys of Appalachia, fondly nicknamed, ‘Cloudland.’
14) If you’re in Ocoee, you can’t help but take a gander at the beauty of the Cherokee National Forest. The Ocoee Scenic Byway runs through the whole of it as a 26-mile bit of God’s country that’ll get your camera working overtime.
13) Looking for a longer road trip? You can make it all the way to Mississippi along the Natchez Trace, a beautiful stretch of road that runs through the beating heart of middle Tennessee.
12) Head on over to Chattanooga to spend a minute on Lookout Mountain where the crazy great view claims to touch seven states.
11) Fall Creek Falls is the highest waterfall located east of the Mississippi, and it ain’t too bad on the eyes either.
10) Cumberland Caverns is the place for you if you’re looking for miles of stalactites and stalagmites. With close to 32 miles of breathtaking cave trail, you’ll have a new appreciation for ‘ol Rocky Top.
9) Plan a vacation in the Cherokee National Forest and you’ll be ready to fill your scrapbook with shots of calming valleys, rocky rivers and magnificent mountains in no time.
8) Two hours of Tennessee road stretch into the Cherohala Skyway, where the mountainous view and stunning sunrises will give you a reason to come back again and again.
7) Another Appalachian treasure is Backbone Rock, a Johnson County gem known for the world’s shortest tunnel and Backbone Falls.
6) Rock City is located on Lookout Mountain, and it’s where you can take in the valley and strange beauty of magnificent rock formations.
5) The magnificence of a waterfall simply can’t be denied. Abrams Falls is the shining star of Blount County, and you can reach this spectacular view on the Abrams Falls Trail.
4) Pigeon Forge clings close to Gatlinburg and offers crazy beautiful views of Tennessee’s valleys and mountains of the east.
3) If you’re looking for the peace and quiet of a valley, Cades Cove is where it’s at. Take in views of the forested valley on foot or by horseback on the eleven mile trail.
2) Looking for the beauty of a skyline? Look no farther than Nashville, making its home right in middle Tennessee. The state capitol is rimmed by the Cumberland River and glows neon when the sun sets.
1) Clingmans Dome is the highest point in Tennessee, rivaling the entirety of land east of the Mississippi. It stands at a whopping 6,643 feet and is the perfect place to take in a romantic sunset.
Tennessee is a place of wonder and beauty, a landlocked state with a gold mine of opportunity. Buy a camera and jump in the car, folks - the south has got you covered.
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