Tennessee – Unusual Attractions & Day Trips

Tennessee is where the American Midwest meets the American South. While there’s plenty to do in much of the state, there are also lots of places out of the way places deserving a look.

Tennessee Off The Beaten Path

You can get to know the real Tennessee if you explore some of the lesser known places here.

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The Crystal Shrine Grotto 

One of the less visited parts of the city, this a man-made cave. It was built in Memphis 1935 by Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez. Outside of the elaborate grotto, you will find a beautiful garden and a pond. Inside, there’s a series of quartz crystal panels that has been painted. It has sections that are designed to demonstrate the stages of “Christ’s Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection.” The grotto has been on the National Register of Historic Places for over two decades.

Museum Houses 

Memphis is also home to some of the most usual museums in the state. The Woodruff-Fontaine House and Museum is an authentic house from the 1800’s that has been turned into a museum. If you like history, check out the Massey House and the Gingerbread Playhouse. They’re all along Adams Street in Memphis. The National Ornamental Metal Museum has lots of metal exhibits and a working area where you can watch metal being hammered. The Police Museum on Beale Street lets you learn more about the police force in Tennesse.

More Fun Tennesse Places

The culture of Appalachia is strong in this state. If you’re driving through the state via I- 75 through Knoxville while going to the Great Smoky Mountains, the Museum of Appalachia is an ideal place to stop and take the time to understand the world of the early settlers here. Sixteen miles north of Knoxville, it offers a large collection of log cabins as well as antiques and artifacts from this period. if you want to have a firsthand look at one of the most famous cultural products of this state, take a Jack Daniel’s Distillery Tour. Located in Lynchburg, tours of the facility are free. You can see how the whiskey is made from start to finish. They take an hour and leave every fifteen minutes.

More from SmarterTravel:

• Tips on Avoiding Tennessee Tourist Traps
• Tennessee Things To Do – Attractions & Must See
• Top Things to Do In Savannah, Tennessee

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Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about areas that are off the beaten path in Tennessee.