Tennessee is a year-round destination, but your experience will depend on the season—and how you feel about humidity.
Spring (March–May): Wildflowers bloom across the Smokies, Nashville patios reopen, and festival season begins. It’s warm without being too hot.
Summer (June–August): Hot, humid, and lively. Music festivals, lake days, and backyard BBQs dominate the calendar. Bring your sunscreen and your patience for the heat.
Fall (September–November): Peak season for a reason. The Smoky Mountains turn every shade of gold and orange, and small towns come alive with harvest festivals.
Winter (December–February): Quieter and budget-friendly, with cozy cabin stays and light displays galore. East Tennessee even gets a dusting of snow for that storybook vibe.
If you want the perfect mix of weather and scenery, fall is the best time to visit Tennessee.
Explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park: America’s most-visited national park is packed with waterfalls, scenic drives, and easy hikes for all levels.
Experience Nashville: Catch a show at the Grand Ole Opry, stroll Broadway’s honky-tonks, and tour the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Visit Memphis: Walk through music history at Graceland, Sun Studio, and the National Civil Rights Museum. Don’t forget to grab a rack of ribs at Central BBQ.
Discover Chattanooga: Ride the Incline Railway up Lookout Mountain, visit Ruby Falls, and walk the world’s longest pedestrian bridge over the Tennessee River.
Soak in small-town charm: Places like Franklin, Jonesborough, and Gatlinburg are perfect for antique shopping, local eats, and cozy weekend getaways.
Tennessee is well-connected by air, road, and even scenic train routes.
By Air: Major airports include Nashville International (BNA), Memphis International (MEM), and McGhee Tyson in Knoxville (TYS). Smaller regional airports serve cities like Chattanooga and Tri-Cities.
By Car: Interstates 40, 24, 75, and 81 make road-tripping across Tennessee easy. Expect gorgeous drives, especially through the Smokies.
By Train: Amtrak’s “City of New Orleans” line runs through Memphis for a nostalgic, scenic route from Chicago to New Orleans.
Pack for all seasons: Tennessee weather can’t make up its mind. Layers are your best friend.
Plan around events: Hotels book fast during big festivals like Bonnaroo, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas, and Memphis in May.
Bring comfy shoes: Between downtown strolls, hikes, and exploring mountain towns, you’ll easily hit your step goal.
Don’t rush it: Tennessee isn’t meant to be “done” in a weekend. Each region—West, Middle, and East Tennessee—feels like its own mini trip.
Personal Tip: My favorite way to experience the state? Pair a few nights in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge with a Nashville city stay. Mountains + music = the ultimate Tennessee combo.
Tennessee’s best explored by car—public transportation outside of major cities is pretty limited.
Rent a Car: Ideal for road trips through the Smokies, small towns, and scenic byways.
City Transit: Nashville has rideshare and scooters; Memphis has trolleys downtown.
Scenic Routes: Don’t miss drives like the Cherohala Skyway, Natchez Trace Parkway, or the Great Smoky Mountains scenic loop.
I walked down to the beach and immediately noticed how calm the water was. 🐚
It sits in a small cove, so there’s really no waves pushing in. You just walk right in without thinking about it. I grabbed my snorkel (they actually rent them for free at the resort, which I didn’t expect) and went out near the pier and stayed way longer than I planned, because the water was that clear.
Honest caveat: if you need a lot of energy and activity at a beach, this probably isn’t it. It’s quiet, it’s calm, and you’re mostly just... sitting there. Which for me was exactly the point.☀️
Full Baoase review linked in bio. 🔗
#curaçao #travel #luxuryresort #privatebeach #visitcuraçao
Dinner at Baoase in Curaçao isn’t just a restaurant, you’re walking into a full resort setting where everything feels intentional. The table is right by the water, the food is French-inspired with tropical and Asian flavors woven in, and the whole thing moves slowly in the best way. We sat there for hours and didn’t want it to end.
✨ Culinary Beach Restaurant, oceanside tables, candlelit ambiance
✨ French-inspired menu with tropical and Asian influences
✨ Service that’s attentive without being over the top
✨ The kind of dinner you’re still thinking about days later
Fair warning: this isn’t a casual grab-a-table kind of spot. You’re making a reservation, thinking through your outfit, and blocking off the whole evening and it’s worth every bit of that.
If you’re celebrating something or just want one dinner that feels a little extra, this is where to do it. Full Baoase resort review linked in bio. 🔗
Curaçao has the beaches everyone talks about, and then it has these. The spots that made this trip actually feel like mine weren’t on any resort map. I found them by renting a car, asking locals, and just following what looked good.
✨ Playa Lagun: a calm little cove where the water does all the work
✨ Playa Kalki: rocky entry, but the snorkeling right off shore is worth it
✨ Playa Jeremi: no rentals, no crowds, no setup. Just the beach
✨ Fort Nassau: watched the sun go down over Willemstad and stayed for dinner
✨ Hofi Cas Cora: breakfast on an actual farm and the freshest food of the whole trip
✨ Willemstad Street Party: I had no idea Thursday nights turned into that. Just followed the music.
✨ Playa Forti: cliff jumping and amazing food, talk about dinner and a show!
Honest caveat: if you need everything planned and structured, a few of these will feel a little too unpolished. But if you like the kind of trip where the best parts are the ones you stumble into, this is exactly that.
All 7 spots with full details are linked in bio. ☀️
#curaçao #hiddengems #travel #travelguide #whattodoincuracao
Here’s the thing about Curaçao that nobody talks about enough there’s really no bad time to go. 🌤️ Outside the hurricane belt. Mid-80s nearly every day of the year. Colorful buildings no matter what month it is.
But there IS a difference between going in peak season vs. shoulder season, and it shows up in your wallet, your beach chair availability, and how long you’re waiting for a table at dinner.
Full breakdown of every season, what to expect, and when I’d personally go linked in bio.
I wasn’t expecting much. I just needed dinner. 🍽️ Kome ended up being one of the best meals of the entire trip.
Wood-fired everything. A menu that actually makes you read it twice. A vibe in Pietermaai that feels nothing like a tourist restaurant and everything like somewhere locals actually go. I didn’t rush. I didn’t check my phone. I just ate, start to finish, and enjoyed every single second of it.
If you’re in Curaçao and you only have one nice dinner make it this one.
#curaçao #travelling #travelvlog #musttryrestaurant #visitcuracao
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
