Chattanooga
One of America’s best family-friendly cities, Chattanooga offers an irresistible blend of old and new. Retro favorites like Rock City, Ruby Falls (wildly lit as ever), Lookout Mountain, and the Incline Railway still dazzle small fry and get big points for nostalgia, while the state-of-the-art Tennessee Aquarium draws crowds and wins accolades with its sleek, interactive exhibits. A new walkway by city hotspots makes it easy to meander.
Memphis
Sure, Graceland-and Elvis sightings-get all the attention, but Memphis reigns as a music mecca. The local music scene is thriving, with historic Beale Street providing inspiration to new generations of songwriters and blues singers. Amateur jam sessions are a fixture on Beale’s street corners, while Handy Park comes alive with the sounds of live gospel, rock, blues, and jazz acts. Visit the Center for Southern Folklore to get a feel for the area’s cultural past, then pay homage to one of the greats at B.B. King’s Blues Club, featuring live blues acts and Southern-style cooking.