Nashville is growing and the surrounding area kind of all gets lumped into what is now known as the Nashville area. So we came up with 12 things to do in Nashville this weekend but in reality, it’s all about the surrounding area. While Nashville is full of tons of stuff to do, it’s always a good idea to get out of town every once in a while and explore all that Middle Tennessee has to offer. These 12 best day trips in Nashville we’ve put together are the perfect ways to get out of town all year round and see some of the most beautiful, fun, and unique spots throughout the state. Check them out!

Out of these 12 things to do in Nashville this weekend how many have you done? Have you visited any of these places? If so, we’d love to see your photos and hear about your experiences there!

If you want an adrenaline rush of an adventure, check out this epic ziplining tour through the mountains of East Tennessee.

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Best day trips in Nashville

I’m looking for a unique music festival in Tennessee.

A unique music festival in Tennessee is the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

Well, as you know, Tennessee—Nashville in particular—is home to some of the greatest musicians in the world. As such, the Volunteer State plays host to a wide array of music festivals covering just about any genre imaginable. In the tiny town of Manchester, a little over an hour from Nashville, there’s the annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Its uniqueness is exemplified in the names of the over half dozen stages. Think monikers like, "The Other” and "What Stage" just to name a few. Another quirk is that it’s held out in the middle of a 650-acre countryside farm, so a large majority of the thousands of guests come to the festival camp for the four-day event. Bonnaroo (as the Tennesseans call it) is the place to enjoy some of the best live music in the country.

I want to take a day trip to the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.

Check out not only the Country Music Hall of Fame but all of these museums in Nashville.

The Country Music Hall of Fame is a fantastic day trip option and believe me, you could literally spend an entire day there! Located in downtown Nashville, it is easy to get to Franklin (30 minutes), Chattanooga (a little over two hours), Knoxville (two hours and 45 minutes), and Memphis (3 hours and 15 minutes). The Country Music Hall of Fame is the city’s flagship attraction and the home of one of the most amazing collections of photographs, sound recordings, costumes, musical instruments, and other artifacts about some of the most influential songwriters, performers, and sound technicians the world has ever seen.

Where can I go to learn about Civil War history in Tennessee?

One of the best places to learn about Civil War history in Tennessee can be found at the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park.

Tennessee played an integral role in the Civil War and there are historical markers and battlefields dotted all over the state. One of the most popular is the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park. Located on Lookout Mountain about 20 minutes south of downtown Chattanooga, it is where the Union and Confederate forces initially fought in 1863, each alternately coming out victorious as the battle raged on. The history here is absolutely fascinating and the remnants left behind tell a sobering yet historically important story. It is one of the best day trips in Tennessee – hands down.