BRISTOL, Tenn. — Wondering where you can explore in East Tennessee without having to break the bank?
Head to the northeast corner of Tennessee and you'll find Bristol—a city split between two states with lots to do.
Of course, we have to start the day at the Bristol Motor Speedway.
The Last Great Coliseum fan experience includes food, games, stage entertainment and even driver autographs. However, once the event begins, nobody wants to miss the action zooming around the half-mile bull ring short track.
The electric atmosphere brings the noise. Bristol Motor Speedway is the loudest of the NASCAR circuits—noise levels during a race exceed 140 decibels. That's equivalent to a jet engine flying overhead, so wear ear protection.
In the Pixar movie "Cars," the main track is based on the speedway. So, if you thought the movie was good, imagine seeing it live!
Aside from the speedway, there are lots of attractions outside of town.
Families are sure to have an adventure at the Bristol Caverns with a hike much different from one above ground.
The caverns are surprisingly spacious. There's plenty of headroom between you and the stalactites above. You'll want to make sure not to touch them because that could damage their growth.
"Water coming down as precipitation, whether it be rain or snowmelt, is dissolving a little bit of carbon dioxide within it—making carbonic acid. [It's the] same stuff that gives our beverages their nice bubbly fizz," Bristol Caverns Co-owner Reid Barnett said. "It will dissolve a little bit of the calcium carbonate making up that limestone and leave behind the calcite formations down here."
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum tells a story of how Bristol came to be.
The city's title was coined in 1998, thanks to the impact of the 1972 Bristol Sessions. The session involved 76 songs by 19 performers over two weeks. It laid the groundwork for the country music we know today.
The Bristol Hotel rooftop offers gorgeous sunset views over downtown and would be great for happy hour. There are plenty of delicious spots to grab a bite—including Delta Blues BBQ.
For a sweet treat, head over to Blackbird Bakery. It's a local staple where everyone knows your name. They've got donuts, cake and more. The shop's cozy set-up is a perfect work or study spot.
