Tennessee

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Tennessee is a US state in the South.

[edit] Regions

Each region is known for its distinctive musical heritage: Blues (Western), Country-western (Central), and Bluegrass (Eastern).

[edit] Cities

• Nashville - Country music capital of the world and the state capital.
• Memphis - Home of the blues and the birthplace of rock 'n' roll.
• Knoxville - Home of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville
• Greeneville- One of America’s Most Charming Towns & Villages
• Chattanooga - Home of the Chattanooga Choo Choo and the Tennessee Aquarium.
• Gatlinburg - Gateway to the Smokies
• Pigeon Forge - Home of Dollywood - Country Legend Dolly Parton's amusement park.
• Cookeville - Home of Tennessee Tech University
• Hendersonville - City by The Lake, Nashville suburb

[edit] Other destinations

• Appalachian National Scenic Trail
• Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Obed Wild and Scenic River [1]

[edit] Understand

Tennessee State Flag The three stars on the flag represent the three different land forms in Tennessee. Mountains in the east, highlands in the middle and lowlands in the west. On the flag these regions are bound together in an unbroken circle. The field is crimson with a blue background for the stars. The final blue strip represents the Mississippi River that borders on Tennessee's western bank. Statehood Granted: June 1, 1796 State Bird: Mockingbird State Flower: Iris State Tree: Yellow-poplar State Nickname: The Volunteer State 16th largest population in the United States

[edit] Talk

Native Tennesseans speak in the dialect of the American South. This dialect changes slightly as you cross through each region, and will be especially pronounced in rural areas. Also, be aware that there are noticeable differences in pronunciation according to the race of the speaker; Caucasians and African-Americans will typically employ distinctive accents and vocabulary.

Generally speaking, it is accepted that people in the South speak more slowly and carefully than those from the North. In particular, visitors from larger cities will have to adjust to the different pace of speech if they visit Tennessee's smaller mountain towns; speaking quickly and bluntly can be perceived as inconsiderate and may gather a negative response.

[edit] Get in

Interstate 40 criss-crosses the state from west to east, connecting Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville and the Smoky Mountain Region. Interstate 55 is entirely situated in Memphis. Interstate 155 crosses from Missouri into northwest Tennessee, ending in Dyersburg. Interstate 24 enters from Kentucky near Clarksville, passes through Nashville and ends in Chattanooga (but not before briefly dipping into Georgia for about three miles). Interstate 65 runs through Nashville in its trek from Kentucky to Alabama. Interstate 75, coming from Kentucky, links Knoxville with Chattanooga before heading into Georgia. Interstate 81 starts at Interstate 40 just east of Knoxville and heads northeast to Bristol before moving into Virginia. In the Kingsport area, Interstate 26 runs south from Interstate 81 into North Carolina (towards Asheville), while Interstate 181 heads toward Kingsport and the Virginia state line.

There are several airports in the state. Memphis International Airport is a hub for Northwest Airlines and is served by several other airlines. Nashville International Airport is also served by many other airlines. There is air service at smaller airports at Maryville (Knoxville), Chattanooga and Bristol. Southern Tennessee is easily accessible to the Huntsville, AL, airport.

[edit] Get around

As in most American states, automobiles are the primary form of travel. In larger cities you will find public bus systems, and Grayhound buses are an option for travel in between cities. There are also major airports in all large cities (Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and the Tri-Cities) and many smaller airports scattered across the state.

Unfortunately there is no option for rail travel to the central or eastern parts of the state. However, Amtrak runs the fabled "City of New Orleans" line through Memphis and Newbern. This is certainly worth considering if you are planning to visit those areas, especially if you are heading along the Mississippi River. Also, the city of Nashville operates a commuter rail from the suburbs to the downtown area.

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[edit] Itineraries

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[edit] Get out

To the west is Arkansas, home of former President Bill Clinton (who chose Tennessee Senator Al Gore as his vice presidential running mate) and Hot Springs National Park. Across from northwest Tennessee is Missouri, where you'll find Branson, a music mecca similar to Nashville (but nowhere near as large).

To the north is the Bluegrass State of Kentucky. The Kentucky Derby, Mammoth Cave National Park and Corvette Museum are located here. Virginia is across Tennessee's northeast corner. Here you'll find the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park.

To the east is North Carolina, where you'll find Chimney Rock, Biltmore Estate and Grandfather Mountain.

Three states border Tennessee to the south. Mississippi lies south of Memphis and boasts several riverboat casinos. Alabama has the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ava Maria Grotto in Cullman and Birmingham, home of American Idol winners Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks and finalist Bo Bice. Georgia is across the border from Chattanooga. Located here are Rock City, the historic village of Helen, and the vibrant city of Atlanta.

WikiPedia:Tennessee

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