Discover Lady Legends and Heroes on the Screaming Eagle Trail

Step inside one of the most legendary music venues in the world. The Ryman Auditorium is known as the “Mother Church of Country Music” and was the original home of the Grand Ole Opry. Tour exhibits about Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton, or catch a live show from today’s biggest stars. One of the top answers to what is Tennessee most known for, the Ryman brings fans and performers together like no other place.

Make your way west to the crafty community of Pegram, Tennessee. Visit Mud Puddle Pottery Studio & Art Gallery for pottery wheel throwing, painting, jewelry making, and copper-smithing classes. If shopping for fine art is more your forte, Mud Puddle's gallery is full of beautiful artisan creations. Explore live bluegrass events at Fiddle & Pick, the Musical Heritage Center of Middle Tennessee. In addition to pickin' parties, Fiddle & Pick offers classes, workshops, and open jam sessions.

The popular Harpeth River State Park, renowned for canoeing and kayaking, is where Montgomery Bell created an engineering masterpiece in 1818: a 200-foot tunnel chiseled by enslaved people through solid rock at the “narrows” of the Harpeth River to power iron-forge machinery. Take one of the marked nature trails to get a great view of the water spilling through the tunnel. The “narrows” is just one of several sites in the park, a hot spot for hiking, canoeing and fishing. 

The Historic Charlotte Town Square is anchored by the 1804 Dickson County Courthouse, the oldest working courthouse in the state. When you explore the area a bit, you’ll find several historic buildings on the square. Shop at Country View Market, where you’ll find Amish-made gifts, crafts, quilts, toys and games, as well as quality items from vendors in the local community.

Montgomery Bell State Park is one of Middle Tennessee's pristine natural beauties. With remnants from the iron furnace that was once located here and cemeteries dating back to some of the earliest settlers in Dickson County, this state park is rich with history. Iron ore was abundant at this location, and remains can still be found of the Old Laurel Furnace. Set among the natural beauty of a hardwood forest where fox, squirrel, raccoon, opossum and deer make their homes, visitors can hike, camp and picnic. Stay overnight in the park’s inn or villas, fish on Lake Acorn, enjoy a Southern buffet at the restaurant or play a round on the Audubon-certified 18-hole golf course.

Explore history at the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum, the birthplace of former Tennessee Gov. Frank Clement. The "railroad hotel" opened to the public in 1914, to both rail travelers and locals, until 1954. Today, the hotel operates as a museum with 11 different permanent exhibits about the Civil War, City of Dickson, Civil Rights Movement, the railroad and more. An entire room upstairs is filled with a model train exhibit.

Loretta Lynn’s Ranch is a wonderful celebration of the life and career of one of the most beloved female performers in country music. Tour her majestic plantation home, walk through the simulated coal mine chute, see her recreated Butcher Holler Homeplace and admire her many achievements in the Coal Miner’s Daughter Museum. While at the ranch, guests can simultaneously learn the history of Hurricane Mills and see the water-powered mill.

Fort Donelson National Battlefield is the scene of the first major Union victory in the Civil War. See the earthworks and remnants of the historic fort, cannons and Cumberland River vistas. Related on-site monuments and stops include Fort Donelson National Cemetery, established in 1867, and the Dover Hotel, where the Confederate surrender to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant took place. Fort Donelson is fee-free, year-round.

Fort Campbell is an active military base-- home to the 101st Airborne Division, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Visit the Wings of Liberty Museum, opening in March 2026, to see memorabilia of the Screaming Eagles, the name for this infantry division trained for air assault operations, along with artifacts and weapons from WWII, and various military aircraft and equipment. The museum will encompass over 51,000 square feet of exhibit space-- four times the size of its predecessor, The Pratt Museum.

Experience the patriotic spirit(s) at Old Glory Distilling Co. in Clarksville, Tennessee. Every batch is made from scratch at their campus and visitors can take guided distillery tours to see the process of "grain to glory." Tours generally last around 45 minutes and are followed by a guided-tasting. Try the spirit-inspired menu at the OGD Restaurant or taste Old Glory cocktails in Silo Park.

Opening in 2027, explore sports history at the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, which honors local athletes such as Olympic runner Wilma Rudolph, two-time Super Bowl champ Peyton Manning and college basketball’s winningest coach of all time, Pat Summitt. The museum will open its doors at the brand-new Nissan Stadium.