Tennessee is the Volunteer State, a land where Appalachian mountain mist meets Mississippi Delta soul. From the neon honky-tonks of Nashville and the legendary blues clubs of Beale Street to the ancient hollows of the Great Smoky Mountains and the white-water rivers of the Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee delivers an extraordinary range of experiences. Home to more live music per capita than almost any state, birthplace of country, blues, and rock-and-roll, and blessed with stunning natural landscapes, Tennessee is a destination that rewards every type of traveler.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Tennessee whiskey / Jack Daniel's bottles
Price: $28–150 USD
Where: Jack Daniel's Distillery gift shop (Lynchburg), ABC Fine Wine & Spirits (Nashville, Memphis), Total Wine & More (Nashville, multiple locations)
Nashville hot chicken seasoning
Price: $8–15 USD
Where: Hattie B's merchandise, Nashville Farmers' Market, Puckett's Grocery gift section
Handmade dulcimer or Appalachian folk instrument
Price: $75–400+ USD
Where: Museum of Appalachia gift shop (Norris), Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community (Gatlinburg)
Country music vinyl records
Price: $15–50 USD
Where: Grimey's New & Preloved Music (Nashville; 1604 8th Ave S; +1-615-254-4801), Shangri-La Records (Memphis; 1916 Madison Ave)
Ole Smoky Moonshine
Price: $18–35 USD
Where: Ole Smoky Distillery (Gatlinburg; 903 Pkwy), ABC Fine Wine & Spirits
Tennessee-made hot sauce
Price: $6–15 USD
Where: Nashville Farmers' Market, Puckett's Grocery, Whole Foods 365 (Nashville)
Cowboy boots
Price: $80–500+ USD
Where: Boot Barn (multiple Nashville locations), Opry Mills Boot Country, Robert's Western World (422 Broadway, Nashville)
Handmade quilts (Appalachian)
Price: $150–500+ USD
Where: Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community (Glades Rd, Gatlinburg; 8-mile loop of craftspeople), Museum of Appalachia gift shop
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Nashville Farmers' Market
Year-round indoor market hall with Tennessee produce, craft vendors, and international food stalls; Saturday farmers' market features 150+ vendors with fresh local produce, honey, flowers, and artisan goods
Where: Nashville (Germantown / Bicentennial Mall area)
Hours: Daily 8 AM–6 PM (indoor market); Saturday outdoor farmers' market 8 AM–2 PM (year-round)
Chattanooga Market
Tennessee's largest combined farmers and artisan market with 200+ vendors; local honey, jams, handcrafted goods, food trucks, and live music; excellent for Tennessee-made souvenirs
Where: Chattanooga (First Tennessee Pavilion area)
Hours: Sunday 11 AM–4 PM (year-round)
Memphis Farmers Market
Downtown Memphis seasonal market with local produce, baked goods, plants, and artisan crafts; situated in the restored Main Street pedestrian mall area
Where: Memphis Downtown
Hours: Saturday 7 AM–1 PM (May through October)
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Opry Mills
Hours: Monday–Saturday 10 AM–9 PM; Sunday 11 AM–7 PM
Green Hills Mall
Hours: Monday–Saturday 10 AM–9 PM; Sunday noon–6 PM
Hamilton Place Mall
Hours: Monday–Saturday 10 AM–9 PM; Sunday noon–6 PM