Exercise and Explore on Historic Tennessee Walking Tours

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Mural by Damon Lamar Reed and Pugs Atomz at 100 S. Main Street in Memphis; Tennessee walking tours

Mural by Damon Lamar Reed and Pugs Atomz at 100 S. Main Street in Memphis; Photo credit: Jeff Adkins

When traveling, there’s no better way to get to know a place than with a walking tour. They allow you to see an area up close while taking in its history and highlights. In Tennessee, you can walk the line on Columbia’s Cultural Trail or walk a mile in blue suede shoes in Memphis. As part of the Rugby State Natural Area, Historic Rugby features a tour that’s a walk in the park. And these are just three of the many amazing Tennessee walking tours throughout the state.

So walk these walks. With so much historical meaning and cultural importance in these fabulous places, you’re going to worship the ground you walk on.

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See more: Test Your Knowledge of All Things Tennessee With Our Tennessee Trivia Quiz

The Columbia Cultural Trail app leads visitors through downtown and the arts district; Tennessee walking tours

The Columbia Cultural Trail app leads visitors through downtown and the arts district. Photo credit: Jeff Adkins

Moseying Around Muletown

If you enjoy a walking tour at your own pace and on your own schedule, the Columbia Cultural Trail app is the perfect companion for exploring Columbia, which appeared on lists of the country’s top 10 small towns in both Southern Living and Country Living. Allow your smartphone to guide you along this self-guided tour that takes you all around downtown Columbia and the town’s Arts District. Your friendly pocket tour guide will point out 48 different points of interest, including artistic murals, historical markers, live music venues and other spots that have historic or cultural significance for the city of Columbia – which proudly goes by the monikers “Muletown” and “Dimple of the Universe.”

See more: Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth at Sweet Bakes Donuts & Cakes in Columbia

The tour kicks off at the Visit Columbia Welcome Center on Main Street with stops including churches, cemeteries, public art and museums – even a former president’s home. Depending on your walking speed and how much history you want to soak up at each stop, the approximately 3.5-mile tour (round trip) takes most people around an hour and 15 minutes to complete. For those with mobility issues or who already got their daily steps in elsewhere, the tour is completely drivable as well.

The Cultural Trail itself was designed to join the downtown area with the Columbia Arts District, and the tour was created to show all that the city has to offer along the way. To download the free app, search “Visit Columbia TN” in your phone’s app store, and you’ll be ready to start hoofing it around Muletown.

Historic Downtown Columbia Public Square; Tennessee walking tours

Historic Downtown Columbia Public Square; Photo credit: Jeff Adkins

Walking in Memphis

Memphis is the home of barbecue, blues and Beale Street. It has music and the Mississippi River, cotton and culture. People everywhere are singing its praises – Memphis is mentioned in more commercially recorded songs (over 1,000, in fact!) than any other city anywhere.

With the Historic Memphis Walking Tour by Backbeat Tours, you’ll hear all about this famous city while tour guide, author, historian and master of Memphis Bill Patton (or someone from his team of fellow knowledgeable tour leaders) regales you with stories of the Memphis of yore. Spend two unforgettable hours walking in the footsteps of Elvis Presley and Martin Luther King as you visit several of Memphis’ historical districts. Learn the history of such landmarks as Court Square, Cotton Row, Deadman’s Alley and the bluffs above the river. Discover Civil War sites where the Battle of Memphis and Forrest’s Raid took place. You’ll even get to watch the famous Peabody ducks waddling through their historic hotel.

In addition to tours by bike and bus, Backbeat Tours also leads a walking tour of Beale Street and a ghost tour exploring the city’s haunted heritage.

See more: 4 Must-See Stops in Memphis

Christ Church Episcopal in Historic Rugby

Christ Church Episcopal in Historic Rugby; Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht

Rambling Through Rugby

Whether you’re “on holiday” or just fancy a proper day trip, grab your family or a few of your mates and head to Historic Rugby for some history and fun, British style. Located on the Cumberland Plateau about 75 miles northwest of Knoxville, the town of Rugby was originally founded in 1880 by British author Thomas Hughes as a utopian, class-free agricultural community for the sons of fellow British colonists. Today, it’s become Historic Rugby, a nonprofit and living Victorian village dedicated to protecting and promoting the resources and history of both Britain and the Appalachian region and connecting the two cultures.

See more: 5 Delightful Detours to Take on Your Next Tennessee Road Trip

Guided walking tours in Historic Rugby start at the Visitor Centre & Theatre

Guided walking tours in Historic Rugby start at the Visitor Centre & Theatre. Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht

Let one of Rugby’s brilliant tour guides show you around town and teach you the history of the Victorian community. You’ll stop at the historic buildings that have helped the community to be recognized as a public historic site: the 1882 Thomas Hughes Library, the first free public library in the South; the 1884 Kingston Lisle, which is Hughes’ former home; the 1887 Christ Church Episcopal and the 1907 Schoolhouse. The guided walking tour starts at the Visitor Centre & Theatre with a film called The Power of a Dream, telling the story of how Hughes made his dream of founding Rugby become a reality.

But before you say “cheerio” to Historic Rugby, check out the shops, hike the trails or stay overnight in a historic inn or cottage. You’ll have a bloody brilliant time.

See more: See the State on Foot With These 10 Tennessee Walking Tours

Thomas Hughes Libraryin Historic Rugby, Tennessee

Thomas Hughes Library in Historic Rugby; Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht

Tennessee Walking Tours

Columbia Cultural Trail

Download the free Visit Columbia TN app to take a self-guided walking tour of the Columbia Cultural Trail that runs through downtown and the Columbia Arts District.

visitcolumbiatn.com/explore/cultural-trail-app

Backbeat Tours in Memphis

Featuring a two-hour walk through old Memphis, the Historic Memphis Walking Tour was created by the author of A History Lover’s Guide to Memphis & Shelby County and A Guide to Historic Downtown Memphis. Advance purchase required.

(901) 527-9415

backbeattours.com

Historic Rugby

Located in the Eastern time zone, the Visitor Centre hosts regular guided tours at 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Tours for groups of 10 or more are available by reservation.

(423) 628-2441 ext. 1

historicrugby.org

Check out our Tennessee walking tour roundup for additional tours, including those in Jonesborough, Knoxville and Athens. Discover even more at tnvacation.com/things-do/tours.

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