Spring time is one of our favorite times of the year here at the Bristol Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Center. The trees that line State Street have come alive with white buds, making our historic downtown area even more charming and serving as beautiful frame for the Bristol sign.

Speaking of charming, we’re very proud that we were recently named Most Charming Town in America by ShopOnMain.com. It’s great to know that they recognize what the rest of us in Bristol have long known!

There are lots of things that make us deserving of such an honor, starting with the people who live and work here. OK, so we might be a little biased but you’d be hard pressed to find better folks for whom being friendly and hospitable is as natural as breathing. We’re also blessed with a number of unique and fantastic businesses downtown that visitors to our community truly enjoy.

For any first-timers visiting Bristol there’s one thing you need to know right off the bat – Bristol, in actuality, is TWO cities, one that happens to be in Tennessee and the other in Virginia. The state line runs right down the middle of State Street so there’s a Bristol, Tennessee and a Bristol, Virginia BUT make no mistake about it, we’re united in the fact that we’re truly ONE Bristol!

If you’d like to #GetYourBristolOn and check out some of the cool places downtown, read on (and also visit DiscoverBristol.org to see a complete listing of everything Bristol has to offer):

The Birthplace of Country Music Museum – Yep, Bristol, not Nashville, is the honest to goodness birthplace of country music. That came about in 1927 with the celebrated Bristol Sessions and now we’ve got an amazing new museum (Smithsonian affiliated) to commemorate our musical history. Doesn’t matter what kind of genre you prefer, a trip here takes you back in time to our musical roots.

The Bristol Sign – Originally erected in 1910, the sign straddles the Tennessee/Virginia state line and reads “Bristol TN/VA A Good Place To Live” and it is indeed that. Why doesn’t it say Bristol’s a “Great Place To Live?”  Because residents back in those days felt that saying that would make them sound too cocky… Makes perfect sense to the locals. 

The Brass Markers on State Street – Know how it’s impossible to be in two places at one time? Well, that’s not the case in Bristol. One of the most snapped photos in the area is of visitors standing on State Street with one foot in Tennessee and the other in Virginia. It’s a great picture BUT please make sure you’ve got someone watching traffic for you!

Downtown Restaurants - Burger Bar, Stateline, Quaker Steak and Lube, Machiavelli’s, 620 State, Shelbees Vintage Café, Macado’s, Little Italy, Southern Churn, Eatz, Cootie Browns, J Frank, Blackbird Bakery, Manna Bagel…. There are all kinds of great food, including desserts, candy and ice cream downtown. Side note: Burger Bar is purportedly the last place the legendary Hank Williams Sr., was seen alive back in 1953 – and they’ve got a heckuva burger too! A complete list of restaurants can be found HERE.

The Paramount and the Train Station - Two of our most beautiful downtown buildings, the Paramount was built in the 1930s and today continues to bring music, plays, ballet, etc. to Bristol, while the Train Station, originally built in 1856, is a great place for weddings, receptions and meetings.

The Guitar at the Bristol Chamber of Commerce – It’s 20 feet tall and right next to the Battle at Bristol sign. After the brass markers on State Street, likely the most popular place for photos.

Music, Music, Music - We are the Birthplace of Country Music so you’ll likely find live music at numerous venues throughout race week/weekend. Just check out www.PickBristol for a schedule.

Nightlife and Breweries – Bristol has three craft breweries – Holston River Brewing Company, Bristol Brewery and Studio Brew – all of which are extremely popular. Check them, and other great bars, out HERE.

Retail – There are some great men’s and women’s clothing stores downtown with plenty of unique items, along with antique and furniture stores, the amazing Cranberry Lane, where you can find all kinds of great Americana-themed décor and art galleries. If you’re into pottery you can make your own at Kil’n Time or if you’d like to purchase some outdoor gear, Mountain Sports will have what you need. For more information, just CLICK HERE

Motorcycle Rentals – Yes, we’ve got that too at Friendship EagleRider, which is just a few blocks from the downtown area, so if you’d like to rent a couple of bikes and head out for the day to enjoy our beautiful mountains and lakes, we’ve got you covered.

As you can see, there’s plenty to keep you busy in downtown Bristol, which is indeed the best of two states. Once you Discover Bristol you’ll feel right at home and have a tough time staying away!