2-Day Tennessee Backroads

Day 1 You'll See:

  • Jack Daniels’ Distillery
  • Cumberland Caverns
  • Cumberland County Playhouse

Day 2 You'll See:

It’s time to celebrate your big day with an exciting 2 day trip around the heart of Tennessee! Get off the grid and onto some serious country back roads as your group explores the rural side of things around Nashville. Pay a visit to Mr. Jack Daniels, explore some of the biggest and best natural areas around Cumberland, and spend a day taking in all of Nashville's most impressive and historically influential music stops, such as the Grand Ole Opry or Country Music Hall of Fame. This 2-day trip is perfect for you and your classmates ready to let loose and have some fun in Tennessee.

Day 1

Jack Daniels’ Distillery - Spend some time in Lynchburg getting to know Mr. Jack and his very successful business at the Jack Daniels Distillery! A tour of the distillery will give your group the complete story of their whiskey, as well as several personal stories about Mr. Jack himself. The tour is mostly outdoors, so wear comfortable shoes as you explore the grounds and the "hollow" the source of the cave spring water that is mixed with corn, rye, barley, and yeast to make this 7 time Amsterdam Monde Selection Award-winning whiskey. You will also get to see up close and personal the mellowing process in which 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal is used. Be sure to stop by the visitor center on your way in or out to learn more about Jack’s personal life, including the story of his anger-driven death (gangrene after kicking a safe out of frustration) and 7 mourning mistresses (the origin of the bottle's no.7). 

Cumberland Caverns - Next stop, McMinnville, Tennessee, for America’s greatest caving adventure at Cumberland Caverns. Inside your group will find over 32 miles of caves and underground passageways, incredible rock formations, beautiful underground waterfalls, and several gleaming pools. Thousands of visitors have explored this cavern, with daily walking tours and adventure trips ranging from themes such as "Parts Unknown" to "Higginbothams Revenge." They also offer overnight adventure trips as well as access to the Emmy Award-Winning Bluegrass Underground feature. This stage is 333 feet below the ground and is actually part of the PBS concert series, with monthly taped recordings from the Volcano Room. Your group will also have the chance to explore the massive wonder of the ten-acre room, as well as shop at the gift shop on your way out. Everyone in your group is going to love this "spelunk-tacular" adventure in the heart of Tennessee!

Cumberland County Playhouse - The Cumberland County Playhouse is one of the top 10 largest professional theaters in rural America, as well as rural Tennessee’s only not for profit professional performing arts resource. Over 145,000 visitors enjoy a show here annually, with an option of viewing the show from the two indoor and two outdoor stages. The Cumberland County Playhouse also sees young audience productions, competitive dance programs, as well as a permanent concert series. As your group will see, the subject matter typically revolves around Tennessee and Southeastern history and culture, mainly rural Appalachian themes. While you are there your group will have the chance to catch an opera, dance, or maybe a dramatic work, each themed appropriately for this area!

Day 1

Fall Creek Falls State Park - Start your second day of Nashville area adventures at Tennessee’s largest and most visited state park, Fall Creek Falls State Park.  Within the park, your group will see breathtaking cascades, gorges, waterfalls, streams, and immense stands of virgin hardwood timber. The namesake, Fall Creek Falls, is a 256-foot waterfall, making it one of the highest in all of the eastern U.S. You will also see Piney Falls, Cane Creek Falls, and Cane Creek Cascades within, each uniquely gorgeous. There are over 34 miles of trails to hike within, from short distance treks to overnight backcountry camping adventures. Be sure to check out the on-site nature center, full of hands-on environmental education exhibits led by naturalists from the area. 

Country Music Hall of Fame -  Established in the musical heart of Nashville in 1967, the Country Music Hall of Fame is an essential and exciting stop for your group while visiting Nashville. Considered the Smithsonian of country music, this hall of fame aims to collect, preserve, and interpret the evolving history and traditions of country music, which it does spectacularly. Inside this 350,000 square foot wonder your group will find exhibits, publications, and various educational programs that highlight the enduring beauty and cultural importance of country music. Your group will delight in the opportunity to look through the history of the most popular and influential country music stars, the very first to be inducted into the hall of fame being Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose, and Hank Williams. 

Ryman Auditorium - Known tenderly by Southerners and tourists alike as the "Carnegie Hall of the South," Ryman Auditorium is a true country music icon in Nashville that your group is not going to want to miss.  Inside the Ryman, your group will have the chance to tour the halls of the historic entertainment mecca and set foot on stage and backstage, getting the full Ryman Auditorium experience. Hear the story of Earl Scruggs and how this very site became the birthplace of Bluegrass, see memorabilia from the 1901 Barber of Seville opening at Ryman, and be immersed in the past as you learn about the earliest performers at this venue, such as John Philip Sousa, Harry Houdini, Charlie Chaplin, Bob Hope, and Theodore Roosevelt. 

Grand Ole Opry -
End your trip at what began as a simple radio broadcast in 1925, and has now grown into Nashville’s number one attraction and a true American icon, the Grand Ole Opry. During a tour, you will walk in the footsteps of country superstars and get an exclusive look at the behind the scenes on the Grand Ole Opry stage. Your group will hear stories of backstage excitement throughout the years, as well as have the varying opportunity to see a star preparing or practicing before a big show! Prepare yourself and your group for a ‘foot-stomping, hand clapping, laughing, crying good ol' time as you visit an absolutely essential country music tour stop, Nashville historic icon, and home of American music!