Tennessee

Introduction

Tennessee is state of wonder! Home to Elvis, the blues and president Andrew Jackson this state knows how to rock. With the Appalachian Mountains running in the east and Cumberland Plateau in the middle of the state makes for some excellent hiking and exploring. And if you're looking for the heart of country music Nashville is the place to be.

History

Geography

Cities

• Chattanooga
• Clarksville
• Franklin
• Jackson is the home to casey jones.
• Johnson City
• Kingsport
• Knoxville is home to the University of Tennessee and close to the Dolly Wood Amusement Park
• Memphis is the state's largest city and home to a great time
• Murfreesboro
• Nashville is the state capital and the capital of country music.

Sights and Activities

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Over eight million people visit the park each year, making it the most visited park in the United States. There are 78 historic buildings in the Park, which is open year round. Spanning the borders of North Carolina and Tennessee, the Park is a popular destination for hikers. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Pinson Mounds State Archeological Area is a large Mississippian site in western Tennessee about 24 miles outside of Jackson.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Getting There

By Plane

• Memphis International Airport (MEM) is located about 3 miles (5 kilometres) south from the CBD of Memphis and has connections to most domestic locations and a limited number of international connections, although there is even a direct daily connection to/from Amsterdam.
• Nashville International Airport (BNA) is located near Nashville and mainly serves as a large domestic airport, with a few international connections.

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Getting Around

By Plane

By Train

By Car

Many international rental companies have a wide selection of rental cars and these include Hertz, Avis, Dollar, Thrifty, Enterprise, Budget and Alamo/National. Most companies will require you are at least 25 years of age, although younger people might be able to rent cars at slightly higher rates and with some insurance differences as well. A national driver's license is usually enough, but an additional international one is recommended. Also note that it usually costs more to include lots of other extra things. For example extra drivers, GPS, the first full tank, SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance), PAI (Personal Accident Insurance, usually covered already at home), road assistance/service plan, and drop-off costs for one-way rentals.
If you want to book a car, it is recommended that you book your car before arriving in the USA. This is almost always (much) cheaper compared to just showing up. Also, try and book with a so-called 'broker', which usually works together with a few or many car rental companies and can offer the best deal. Some examples include Holidayautos, Holidaycars and Sunny Cars. Some of the cheapest deals to book from Europe, includes Drive-USA, which also has a German version.

For more information and tips about renting cars and campers, additional costs, insurance, traffic rules, scenic routes and getting maps and fuel it is advised to check the USA Getting Around section.

Tennessee has a number of National Scenic Byways which offer a great way to explore the state crossing beautiful landscapes. Mostly, there are lots of national parks, state parks or monuments along the way and it's generally a better alternative than the faster but boring Interstate Highways.

By Bus

By Boat

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Hotel and Motel Chains

There are dozens of hotel and motel chains, ranging from budget to top end. Allthough they are not the most charming accommodations, they usually have a very decent midrange service with good rooms and are generally good value. At least you know what to expect and in some cases they are either the only or the best option in the area. Some of them include:

• Motel 6
• Super 8
• Days Inn
• Quality Inn
• Red Roof Inn
• Howard Johnson
• Best Western
• La Quinta Inns and Suites
• Holiday Inn
• Econo Lodge
• Travelodge
• Hilton
• Choice Hotels
• Ramada
• Radisson
• Starwood Hotels
• Marriott Hotels