Blog

East Tennessee is home to some of the country's most beautiful scenery, so you don't have to drive far to enjoy a scenic state park. Whether you're planning an afternoon drive or a weekend getaway, here are some destinations you'll want to consider: Roan Mountain State Park Located just an hour from Kingsport on Highway 143, Roan Mountain State Park encompasses more than 2,000 acres around the majestic Roan Mountain. While it makes an ideal day trip, if you'd rather spend the night, the park offers camping sites and multiple cabins with rocking chair front porches and wood-burning stoves. Fishing is the park's most popular activity, and the trout are regularly stocked. You also won't want to miss the park's 12 miles of hiking trails. more Fall Creek Falls State Park At more than three hours away, this one is more of a weekend getaway than a quick day trip, but it's well worth the extra mileage. Fall Creek Falls State Park is the state's largest and most visited park. Sprawling more than 26,000 acres, its landscape is laced with gorges, lush hardwood timber, streams, and white cascades. At 256 feet, Fall Creek Falls itself is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States, but there are plenty of other waterfalls to see on a Fall Creek Falls excursion. Learn about the area at the hands-on Nature Center, play a round at the 18-hole golf course, go rock climbing, zip line, or fish for largemouth bass. Paris Landing State Park Another one worth an extended trip, Paris Landing State Park is located about six hours from Kingsport near the town of Buchanan. This park boasts a diverse and varied landscape with affordable lodging accommodations and family-friendly activities that encourage visitors to come back year after year. There's no access fee to enjoy the park, and once you're in, you can enjoy a wide range of activities that include geocaching, biking, birding, hiking, swimming, fishing, and even disc golf. Unique vacation packages are also available, and they include educational waterfall tours, interpretive programs, meals, transportation, and accommodations. Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park This popular park is a little bit closer to home. Located in Limestone less than an hour from Kingsport, Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park is dedicated to the soldier, pioneer, industrialist, politician, and famous Tennessean that was born here in 1786. The 105-acre historic park is a beautifully maintained memorial to Davy Crockett that features a visitor center, replica cabin, picnic pavilions, and 88 campsites. If you're interested in fishing, the Nolichucky River provides opportunities to catch bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish, and redeye. There are also a variety of easy and moderate hiking trails that provide stunning views of the local flora and wildlife. In addition to the state park, you can also visit the Crockett Tavern Museum in nearby Morristown as well as the Cherokee National Forest. Tennessee certainly has a lot to offer when it comes to natural beauty, so plan on visiting one of these state parks on your family's next outing. Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

When you want to plan a relaxing getaway, there's nothing quite like visiting a small town. Tennessee is brimming with these small, charming places that embody Southern hospitality and put other locales to shame, so be sure to add one of these to your travel itinerary: Kingsport Another small city, but one that's larger than Dayton, Kingsport is part of the Mountain Empire that spans Southwest Virginia and the mountain counties of East Tennessee. Kingsport itself is idyllic and historic with easy access to state parks, spas, antique shops, smokehouses, and family-friendly events that include a popular hot air balloon festival. When you're looking for a small-town feel with city amenities, Kingsport is the place to be. more Dayton Located in Rhea County between Chattanooga and Knoxville, Dayton is a picturesque small city oozing with charm. If you're familiar with the name, it's probably because you've heard of Dayton, Tennessee, being the location of the famous Scopes Trial in 1925, which is the town's main claim to fame. Dayton offers countless parks and recreational fields for its size, and the nightlife is an unexpected bonus with its exceptional restaurants and live music scene. Townsend Townsend tends to be overshadowed by the popularity of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville, but it's a peaceful little town nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that should be at the top of your list of places to visit. There isn't much here but ample opportunity for peace and relaxation, but that's part of its appeal. Drive around the loop at Cades Cove, check out the Tuckaleechee Caverns, or visit the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center. You can bet your weekend will be packed with nothing but the natural beauty and quiet of the mountain region. Jonesborough This quaint little town is perfect for those who love Southern history. Jonesborough is home to more than 5,000 people, but it's retained its historic charm in ways few towns in America have. Jonesborough's claim to fame is that it's the oldest city in Tennessee, even older than the state itself, so you can expect to encounter a lot of historical significance during your visit. Walk through the Chester Inn Museum, visit the International Storytelling Center, go antiquing, pop into one of the art galleries, or simply stroll along the picturesque streets. Bell Buckle The smallest on our list, Bell Buckle is home to just over 500 residents. It's a close-knit art lovers' community that will make you feel as if you've stepped back in time. As it stands today, this tiny town is a preserved and restored railroad village featuring Victorian homes, farmland, and horse country that is known for its handmade crafts, country music, quilts, antiques, and Southern hospitality. You also can't beat the home cooking. Thousands of visitors are drawn to Bell Buckle each year for its annual festivals, though the town is a great place to visit any time of year. Give yourself a chance to breathe again. Get away from the daily grind and plan a trip to one of these laid-back Tennessee towns. Image by Paul Brennan from Pixabay

There's a lot to love about East Tennessee, including our off-beat attractions. While there may not seem like much to do in the immediate Kingsport area, locals generally know where to head to find the best, most unusual attractions that would surprise any tourist. If you're ready to visit some of these sites, you'll want to add the following to your itinerary: 1. Titanic Museum Located in Pigeon Forge, the quintessential Tennessean's vacation spot, the RMS Titanic Museum boasts a half-scale model of the Titanic itself, just hanging out on the side of the road with the iceberg. It's an unusual site when you first drive into Pigeon Forge, but the museum holds the claim to fame as being the world's largest Titanic museum attraction. View the Titanic's exclusive jewelry collection, have your photo taken on the ornate staircase, and see haunting special displays like the $1.7 million violin owned by the Titanic's bandmaster. more 2. The Evil Dead Cabin Located down the road in Morristown, just past Martin Road, is the deserted film set from the "Evil Dead" movie. The cabin itself was largely destroyed during filming, and what remains today is an eerie ruin. Be warned, though. Visiting this cabin means you're trespassing. It's essentially private property, but that hasn't stopped locals from braving the wooded trail and observing this rural section of Appalachia firsthand. 3. Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum Let's face it: Many gift shops in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are filled with Americana kitsch souvenirs. It's the nature of this highly visited tourist area. What many East Tennessee locals may not realize, however, is that Gatlinburg houses a little-known secret called the Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum. This unexpected museum features over 20,000 sets of spice shakers from the 1500s to today, and it's the only one of its kind according to the owners. To get there, take the East Parkway from the Gatlinburg Visitor Center, and it's near the Flapjacks Pancake Cabin. 4. Lost Cove Settlement Located along the Nolichucky River between Tennessee and North Carolina, Lost Cove is a ghost town that was abandoned after the railroad left. It was first settled by moonshiners in the early 1900s, and at its height during the town's timber production, Lost Cove was home to about 100 people. The last family left in 1957 after state legislation stalled on building a road into the town. Now, only a few buildings are still standing. Getting to the Lost Cove Settlement is a bit tricky, and you can only hike in, but there are several entry points. Kingsport residents should drive to Uncle Johnny's Hostel and Outfitters in Erwin, then hit the trail from there. 5. Natural Tunnel State Park Although located in Virginia instead of Tennessee, the Natural Tunnel is worth a mention because it's just 30 minutes northwest of Kingsport. The park features a naturally formed cave that is so large that it's used as a railroad tunnel. Getting down to the tunnel requires a hike or riding a chairlift, which makes for some great scenery as well. Unusual attractions abound in our neck of the woods, so get out there and explore! Image via Pixabay

East Tennessee is a beautiful area to call home. Thanks to our prime location between the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains, Kingsport boasts several nearby scenic drives that are best experienced in the cooler months when the air is crisp and the leaves are changing. If you're looking for a great drive to take this weekend, here are a few you may consider: 1. Cades Cove Located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park less than three hours from Kingsport, Cades Cove is an isolated valley that was once home to numerous settlers. The loop through the cove is 11 miles long and circles back to the beginning, so drivers have the opportunity to experience Cades Cove at their own pace. Scattered along the loop are a variety of historical buildings as well – a testament to the area's early settler days. Expect to see barns, log cabins, a working grist mill, churches, and other restored 18- and 19th-century structures. The loop is open daily except for Christmas, and year-round campgrounds serve as the perfect place to pitch a tent and enjoy an entire weekend here. Simply take I-81 South and go through Townsend via TN-1 East. Continue straight on TN-73 into Cades Cove. more 2. Clingmans Dome This mountain is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so it's no wonder visitors flock to its observation tower every year. On clear days, you can see over 100 miles, although pollution usually limits viewing distances more to 20 miles. While Clingmans Dome itself is a great destination, the drive there is quite scenic. Although it will take about two hours and 30 minutes to arrive at the park, driving through Gatlinburg into the mountains is a spectacular sight. Once you're in Newfound Gap, turn off Newfound Gap Road and follow the seven-mile-long Clingmans Dome Road to the parking lot. Bring your camera. 3. Blue Ridge Parkway Just an hour and a half south of Kingsport is Asheville, North Carolina, and the drive there on I-26 is a speculator one in and of itself. The Blue Ridge Parkway, however, is an iconic scenic route with numerous trails and overlooks the parkway. There are several places that allow you to enter and exit the parkway, but the ones in Asheville are among the most convenient. Once on the parkway, drive north to Little Switzerland and Spruce Pine, then get off and drive back past Burnsville straight to I-26, which will bring you back into Tennessee. The best thing to do is download a map from the National Park Service site and plan your route according to where you want to enter and exit the parkway. Along the way, be sure to visit the Folk Art Center, Craggy Gardens Visitor Center, Mount Mitchell State Park, and the Museum of North Carolina Minerals Visitor Center. These gorgeous mountains offer countless hidden gems and awe-inspiring views you won't want to miss. If you're feeling cooped up, set aside a day and head out on a scenic drive. You never know where you'll wind up. Image via Pixabay