There is plenty to see in Tennessee, from one end of the state to the other, with attractions that stretch from Beale Street and Graceland in Memphis to Dollywood and the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee.

The Volunteer State enjoys a favorable climate, reasonable cost of living, some of the world's most renowned health-care institutions, and abundant outdoor resources for fishing, boating and hiking. Twelve national parks, 53 state parks and 79 natural areas make it easy to get outside. For sports fans, Tennessee offers professional football, basketball and hockey, NASCAR racing, major Division I college sports and 150 golf courses.

Ranked for Livability

Tennessee has a number of cities that rank high for their quality of life. Franklin in Williamson County ranked 66th on CNN/Money's 2010 Best Places to Live list, and several Tennessee cities appear on the Livability.com national website that lists desirable places to live in the United States. Tennessee cities ranking on Livability.com include Collierville in West Tennessee; Brentwood, Clarksville and Mt. Juliet in Middle Tennessee; and Johnson City and Kingston in East Tennessee. 

Nashville always receives accolades thanks to its country music scene and Grand Ole Opry, but Music City is also the health-care capital of the United States, with some 300 health-related enterprises. More than two dozen higher education institutions (including Vanderbilt University) are in Nashville, and the city's vibrant economy is drawing growing numbers of young professionals to the downtown district.

Jackson, Knoxville, Chattanooga

Jackson, located in West Tennessee between Memphis and Nashville, includes attractions like the Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum. Jackson enjoys a good business climate, top-rated hospitals, award-winning schools, affordable housing and a wealth of recreational opportunities.

Two of the state's largest cities are in East Tennessee, a region graced with the Blue Ridge Mountains and its Great Smoky Mountains subrange. Knoxville is the third-largest city in the state and home to the University of Tennessee. Nearby is the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, one of the world's premier research institutions. Chattanooga, in Southeast Tennessee, is the state's fourth-largest city, offering attractions such as Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain and the Tennessee Aquarium. Volkswagen opened its first North American manufacturing plant in Chattanooga in 2011.

Street Smarts

The state has made a commitment to preserving and restoring its historic downtowns through efforts such as the Tennessee Main Street Program. Nearly 30 communities across the state now have eye-pleasing downtowns that are growing economically, attracting new businesses and even luring residents. The Main Street Program helps communities with efforts to create vibrant downtown districts with interesting shops, restaurants, offices, nightlife and residential development.

Dyersburg, Savannah and Tiptonville in West Tennessee, Columbia and Murfreesboro in Middle Tennessee, and Dayton, Morristown and Rogersville in East Tennessee are among the state's Main Street communities.