8. Tennessee

We reach our final Southern state, and some people may be surprised that a state in the South made it so high given my criticisms of so many of them. But what Tennessee offers makes it stand out so much that it deserves to be with the best of the best.

When people talk about Southern culture and pride, I feel like it gets a very negative connotation because of its association with slavery and segregation. And I think there’s good reason for that. But while that does exist in Tennessee, it’s southern culture I feel like stands apart from this and is more about appreciation for the life of the rural south. And that lends its way into what makes the state special.

Bass Pro Pyramid before it was a Bass Pro Shop

I think Nashville and Memphis are two of the coolest cities in the country, and it all has to do with their ties to music. Musicians from Memphis have pioneered so many of our biggest genres from soul, to blues, to rock n’ roll, to country, to rap. I mean it’s the site of Graceland. Memphis isn’t necessarily where all these musicians are from, but it is the city that gave way for all these musicians to have the career they did. Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley. All are some of the most influential musicians of their genre, and all are famous because a place like Memphis exists. It’s a shame it has been declining for decades at this point, but just as its fellow city on the Mississippi, St. Louis, it remains an incredible place.

And Nashville. I don’t think I need to go in depth because everyone knows its impact on music. And I know, I know, most music coming out of Nashville these days is pretty bad, but you can’t deny the history it has had in shaping the best country music.

Even though most music coming out of the state might not have the same quality it used to, I know Tennessee is still important to folk and country and it is still thriving. You just might have to look for it a little harder. I think country has become this genre that has forgotten its roots from folk living and Appalachia, but I think as you move a little closer to the east side, that’s where you find more of the people who respect those roots. When I think of that, I think of a city like Knoxville where I have gotten to see first hand what comes out of it. And it’s pretty amazing.

Chattanooga, TN

And finally, I believe Tennessee to be the prettiest southern state. If you’ve ever been near Chattanooga, then you know how gorgeous the drive into that city is. And of course there’s the Great Smokey Mountains, and isn’t it interesting how the two states that share it made it so high. I know I’ve talked about the Appalachians to death while I’ve gone through this list, but it is so amazing and long reaching. And out of every state that has Appalachian mountains, I think Tennessee has it the best. Except for maybe one state you’ll see pretty soon.