Tips on Avoiding Tennessee Tourist Traps

Tennessee Tourist Traps

Home to the Blue Ridge Mountain Range, the Cherokee National Forest and a number of tourist attractions, Tennessee provides visitors with plenty of things to see and do. Guests to the area should be aware of the tourist traps and instead stick to enjoying the free and magnificent views.

Bypass the Graceland Tour

Unless you are a huge Elvis fan, avoid paying the outrageous fees to tour the home. During the tour, you see very little of the house or the property. You do get to view the tomb where Elvis is buried, but the whole area is commercialized and not worth the price. Skip the tour and take pictures outside with the house in the background for free.

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

There is a lot of hype surrounding Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and the Dollywood Theme Park. The mountains and the surrounding area are extremely beautiful but shopping, food and attractions are expensive and not worth the cost. Also, keep in mind that these attractions are set in the mountains, so there is a lot of uphill walking all day. One good thing about Dollywood, if you return to the park the following day after 3PM you can get in free and enjoy the rides a second time. They offer excellent home cooking, but the lines for the rides are extremely long and the temperatures in the summer are extremely hot.

Visiting Ruby Falls

From the time you hit Chattanooga you will see Ruby Falls Advertised on every billboard and corner shop. The attraction is marketed very well and it’s made out to be a giant unique waterfall. The only truly unique thing about it is that it is located inside a cave. If you enjoy spelunking, this overpriced attraction might be worth it. If dark closed places aren’t top on your list, visit Lookout Mountain at night and enjoy the lights below for free.
Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about tips on avoiding Tennessee tourist traps.