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Sullivan County · Region

Bristol

The Birthplace of Country Music and The Last Great Colosseum

Bristol is Sullivan County's largest city and its most famous, the birthplace of commercial country music (1927 Bristol Sessions) and home to NASCAR's most iconic track (Bristol Motor Speedway). Downtown State Street straddles the Tennessee-Virginia state line, creating a unique entertainment district anchored by the Smithsonian-affiliate Birthplace of Country Music Museum, the restored 1931 Paramount Center for the Arts, and a growing collection of restaurants, shops, and venues. Add Steele Creek Park's 2,696 acres and you have a city that delivers culture, sports, nature, and nightlife.

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Heritage

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Dining

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22 places

Sites in Bristol

A small city with a world-class music pedigree and NASCAR thunder. State Street buzzes with restaurants and venues, while BMS draws 160,000 fans on race weekends. Equal parts cultural sophistication and Appalachian grit, the kind of place that records hit songs and packs a speedway in the same county.

Where to stay

7 places to sleep in Bristol

Boutique downtowns, brand hotels by the interstate, and lake-front lodges. Book direct with the property.

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