Photo: Great Smoky Mountains · AppalachianCentrist · CC BY-SA 4.0
🎸Tennessee: What to Know Before You Go
Destination Intel / United States / Tennessee
Culture, Food and Etiquette
- Hot chicken, spicy fried chicken (Nashville signature dish)
- Tennessee barbecue, Memphis ribs and Nashville styles
- Biscuits and gravy, breakfast staple
- Soul food, greens, black-eyed peas, and cornbread
- Nashville music scene, country and Honky Tonk nightlife
- Memphis blues heritage and Graceland (Elvis mansion)
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park, popular hiking
- Whiskey distilleries in Lynchburg and throughout state
Tennessee accent and Southern dialect; musical and warm communication.
- Music is central to Tennessee culture. Respect all genres
- Tipping 18-20% is expected
- Southern courtesy and politeness are important
- Honky Tonk etiquette in Nashville. Respect performers
Best Time to Visit
Tennessee is humid subtropical; spring and fall are mild, summers are hot and humid, and the Smokies are cooler with winter snow.
- Peak: April to May, September to October
- Shoulder: March, November
- Off season: July to August, the hot humid months
Source: ncei.noaa.gov
Getting Around
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What moves the cost: Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville are the main hubs.
Common Questions
When is the best time to visit Tennessee?+
The Smoky Mountains are best reached by car.
Source: ncei.noaa.gov
The music and festival seasons in Nashville and Memphis and the fall in the Smokies cost the most, while the humid summer is quieter.+
Spring and fall are the most comfortable, and the Smoky Mountains are especially popular for fall color.