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Tennessee
Knoxville
Johnson City
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When it comes to American cities, Tennessee has historically been home to some of the biggest names: Nashville. Memphis. Knoxville. Chattanooga. But just because these places get all the glory doesn’t mean you should skip the small towns. In fact, there are quite a few hidden gems in the state, many of which you could take as day trips when visiting the bigger places. Read on to discover why the small towns might be the ones that bring you back for more.
Nicknamed Tennessee’s oldest town, Jonesborough was founded in 1779 and it was the capital for the failed 14th U.S. state, known as Franklin. This is but one story you can learn about in this town, home to the International Storytelling Center. Catch a performance from one of 26 nationally known storytellers who perform Tuesdays-Saturdays from May through October. The 50th National Storytelling Festival takes place Oct. 7-9 this year. At the Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum, you can view photos of the town through the years as well as walk through the upstairs parlor, dining and lodging rooms, which are restored to their late-1800s glory.
David Crockett grew up around here, so that might give you a sense of what sort of outdoor adventures await in Morristown. The Crockett Tavern Museum, built on the site of his boyhood home, recreates 1790s life and is on the National Register of Historic Places. About six miles west of the town center is Panther Creek State Park, a 1,444-acre retreat that has more than 30 miles of hiking trails. The park is located along Cherokee Lake, where anglers come for miles to fish for striped bass and Cherokee bass. In addition to its natural activities, Morristown is also the Disc Golf Capital and has a few championship-caliber courses.
Jonesborough
Morristown
At the foot of the Appalachian Mountains lies this bustling city that’s the king of craft beers in northeast Tennessee (and quite naturally also has numerous clubs and karaoke bars). Sample the wares at Depot Street Brewing, Johnson City Brewing and Yee-Haw Brewing and then soak it up with a trip to Pal's Sudden Service, a local favorite known for its burgers, “Frenchie” fries and cheddar rounds (crisp hash browns with cheddar cheese inside).
Johnson City
If you feel like you’ve been boozing and BBQing too hard in Tennessee, you can head to McMinnville for a mini wellness retreat. Here you can find yoga at Twisted Yogis, eat at Juicy’s Wellness Café, a juice bar and plant-based café, or go biking at Rock Island State Park and have a moment with nature in its 883 acres. For a truly unique experience, you can head 333 feet underground and see a concert in the Volcano Room at Cumberland Caverns.
McMinnville
Monteagle
Crank up Johnny Cash’s “Monteagle Mountain” and get rolling on I-24 as you head to this town located on the Cumberland Plateau, a stretch of elevated land at the base of the Appalachian Mountains, known for its outdoor recreation spots like South Cumberland State Park. Before the town became part of pop culture, it also played a role in the Civil Rights movement as Rosa Parks was a student at The Highlander Folk School, a leadership training institution for activists. Head to High Point restaurant, where rumor has it, Al Capone and John Dillinger shared a drink on the front porch.
Cleveland
Stretch your legs with a self-guided walking tour around Cleveland’s historic downtown that’s a mix of Victorian-era homes, pre-Civil War churches and 20 listings on the National Register of Historic Places. This area was once the heart of Cherokee Nation and there are a number of sites to visit. Red Clay State Historic Park was the last council grounds of the Cherokee Nation before their removal along the Trail of Tears; today, it has a replica of a Cherokee farm and council house. Check out the Museum Center at 5ive Points to get the full history and culture of the area, including a special focus on the region’s Civil War experiences.
Chattanooga
Move over, Hershey. Here in Pulaski, you can pay homage to your favorite Mars candies (M&Ms, Dove chocolate, 3 Musketeers, Milky Way, etc.) at Milky Way Farms. Set on 1,000 acres of green pastures and rolling hills, you can tour creator Frank Mars’ estate, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. During the Great Depression, construction of the Tudor Revival manor house needed 800 workers, making it the largest employer in the county.
Pulaski
Cookeville
Cookeville bills itself as a natural fit (its logo is even a bear riding a bike with a canoe strapped to its back). Nestled in the Upper Cumberland region, this is where people come to play outside. Hike the 1.5-mile roundtrip loop to see four waterfalls at Burgess Falls State Park or take a dip in the swimming hole below the waterfall at Cummins Falls State Park. Play golf at a nearby course like Belle Acres, Cumberland Cove or White Plains. Fish for rainbow trout, bluegill, crappie and catfish on Cane Creek Lake in Cane Creek Park & Recreation Area.
Murfreesboro
If you’ve got little ones in tow, bring them to the Discovery Center in Murfreesboro, a hands-on museum and environmental center that not only has a two-story slide, but also exhibits such as larger-than-life body parts to explore the five senses, a farmer’s market for kids and a tiny town for tots. The center is adjacent to Murfree Spring Wetlands, a 25-acre acre park with paved walking trails and raised boardwalks to explore it. At The Earth Experience, the Middle Tennessee Museum of Natural History, visitors can check out a working paleontology laboratory and see real dinosaur bones cleaned and repaired. Treat the kids (and your taste buds) to ice cream at Hattie Jane’s Creamery, where flavors include Nana Puddin’ (bananas, marshmallow fluff and vanilla wafers) and Cookie Jar Supreme (homemade cookies, brownies and Oreos). For a bit of history, tour Oaklands Mansion, a pre-Civil War home known for its Italianate design and on the National Register of Historic Places.
Nashville
Small Towns that Deserve a Day Trip
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Morristown
Jonesborough
McMinnville
Monteagle
Cleveland
Murfreesboro
Pulaski
Cookeville
If you can’t make it to the real Eiffel Tower, Paris has you covered. At Eiffel Tower Park, formerly known as Memorial Park, you can take a picture with a 66-foot recreation. The similarities to France end there as you’ll be dining on catfish and barbecue at restaurants like Perry’s BBQ, Tom’s Pizza & Steakhouse and Trolinger’s Old Fashioned Butcher Shoppe. For 69 years now, the last full week of April has drawn local and national visitors to “The World’s Biggest Fish Fry” where, at last count, over 12,500 pounds of catfish is served with all the trimmings.
Paris
Savannah
When you’re in the “Catfish Capital of the World,” you can’t not eat it, so head directly to Hagy’s Catfish Hotel Restaurant. Despite the name, there are no beds here at one of the oldest family-owned restaurants in the country. Once you’re fueled up, the day’s outings could include antique shopping at one of the 40 booths inside Junk in the Trunk Vintage Antique Mall or a visit to Shiloh National Military Park, considered one of the best-preserved battlefields in the U.S. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, head to Savannah Donuts before they close at 2 p.m. each day.
Collierville
You might feel like you’ve stepped into a Hallmark movie when you come to Collierville and you wouldn’t be wrong; Hallmark’s 2019 movie, “Wedding in Graceland,” was filmed here. Parade magazine even named Collierville’s main street the best one in America in 2014. For more than two decades now, musicians have gathered on Collierville Town Square to give a free bluegrass and traditional folk music concert every Friday night from April-October. Be sure to look up if you’re in town Sept. 17-18 as the Collierville Balloon Festival will feature more than 20 hot air balloons floating around.
Savannah
Paris
Collierville
Memphis
DAY TRIPS FROM
(93.2 mi)
(48.7 mi)
(105.7 mi)
(33.8 mi)
(47.1 mi)
(73.7 mi)
DAY TRIPS FROM
DAY TRIPS FROM
DAY TRIPS FROM
(34.4 mi)
(80.9 mi)
(73.8 mi)
(30.2 mi)
(113.8 mi)
(144.8 mi)
Pick your hub
pick YOUR hub: knoxville | Chattanooga | nashville | memphis
knoxville | Chattanooga | nashville | memphis
knoxville | Chattanooga | nashville | memphis
knoxville | Chattanooga | nashville | memphis
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