Whitney S Williams whitneyswcom
The picture-perfect community of Jonesborough, TN, about 90 minutes from Knoxville and the I-75.
The larger cities of Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis in Tennessee are no doubt exciting with many renowned attractions. However, it’s in the rural communities where a lot of the Tennessee spirit can also be experienced. Some are conveniently located nearby the popular north-south I-75 but for those that aren’t, they make for perfect side trips whether you’re going to a final destination or returning home from one.
The Volunteer State’s east, west and central regions have many attractions. From unique culture and rich history to full-service RV parks and outdoor adventure, a lot of enjoyment can be discovered practically anytime and in any of the following rural Tennessee communities.
- Jonesborough
Approximately 160 km (100 mi) from Knoxville in the Appalachian Mountains, Jonesborough was established in 1779 (well before Tennessee became a U.S. State in 1796), and is named ‘Tennessee’s Oldest Town.’
Jefferson County Chamber
Camping in Anchor Down RV Resort in Dandridge.
To learn about the area’s history, there are exhibits, replicated period displays and photographs at the Jonesborough-Washington County History Museum & Archives, The Chester Inn State Historic Site & Museum, and the Chuckey Railroad Depot Museum. Another great way to experience Joneborough’s past is through guided walking tours from Jonesborough's Town Tours, which provide ‘storied strolls down Main Street’ with guides in period attire.
An interesting and unique attraction is The International Storytelling Center, which showcases vivid tales of the area’s history, live music, poetry readings, and more. It hosts the popular National Storytelling Festival each year in October and the community is known as the ‘storytelling capital of the world.’
If you want to stay in the area for the night or a few days, a variety of RV parks are located within 30 minutes of Jonesborough.
Jeff Adkins
- Townsend
This rural Tennessee community is where you can take a break from the wheel and enjoy some time outdoors. Townsend is only about 48 km (30 mi) south of Knoxville and while campgrounds are located throughout the area, perhaps stay in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the main attractions in the region.
There are 10 campgrounds in the park and while all have restrooms with cold running water and flush toilets, power and water hookups are not available so it’s best to prepare for a boondocking experience. One of the popular ways to explore the park is driving (or biking) the 18 km (11 mi) Cades Cove Loop Trail, which can be enjoyed from the comfort of your RV. Guidebooks are available for a minimal cost at the park’s entrance.
Another way to get close to Mother Nature here is by hiking any number of the designated trail systems. The level of difficulty ranges but the kid-friendly hike of Porters Creek trails is a great choice. Or, plan a day to visit one of the park’s stunning waterfalls including Grotto, Laurel, Abrams, and Rainbow.
Tennessee Tourism
The national park is open all year and although temperatures can reach around 33°C (91°F) in the summer, it can get as low as 8 to 13° C (46 to 55° F) in March and 15 to 9° C (59°F to 48F°) in October and November.
If you’re looking for more fun things to do in the area, check out the shopping and dining options in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg - approximately 29 to 37 km (18 to 23 mi) from Townsend. Some popular attractions in Pigeon Forge are the Dollywood theme park and the self-guided tours at the Titanic Museum, which is considered one of the largest Titanic Museum attractions in the world with an impressive 400 artifacts on display.
Civil War buffs will appreciate that Gatlinburg is where the Battle of Burg Hill took place in 1863 and battlefield tours are available with reenactments hosted every summer.
Tennessee Tourism Greta Hollar
- Dandridge
This is Tennessee’s second-oldest town and was named after Martha Dandridge Washington, the wife of the first President of the United States, George Washington. It only has a population of a little more than just 2,000 but it draws many RVers throughout the year with its diverse attractions.
For example, downtown Dandridge, which is only about 48 km (30 mi) from Knoxville, is a registered National Historic District and self-guided tours of the 21 interesting sites are available, and another 17 sites are a short drive away. Details and directions can be found in the maps available at the Dandridge Visitor’s Centre on 133 W. Main Street.
After learning about its history, make the short drive from downtown to two of the region’s beautiful lakes, Cherokee and Douglas. Relatively the same size (Douglas spans 115 sq km (44 sq mi) and Cherokee is 116 sq km (45 sq mi)), both have a backdrop of rolling foothills and are great places to swim, enjoy watersports, and go boating or fishing.
Boat launches are available around both lakes and once on the water, spend a day casting for crappie, walleye and channel catfish. Largemouth, smallmouth and black bass are also extremely popular. In fact, Douglas Lake commonly hosts one of the Bassmaster Opens every year and is known to have some of the best bass fishing in the U.S. The season for all species is open year-round and according to the Town of Dandridge, ‘fish bite the best from April to October.’
www.visitjeffersoncountytn.com
State of Tennessee
- Harriman
Merging to I-40 from I-75 and then driving west into the northeastern region of Tennessee will take you to Harriman. This community was established in 1889 by a Methodist minister who abolished the sale, manufacturing and storage of liquor. Due to these practices, thousands came to the area and Harriman developed the moniker, ‘The Town that Temperance Built.’
Harriman is no longer ‘dry’ (liquor became available for sale in 1993) but the countless homes and structures from the era still stand today, many featuring Victorian architecture. The town was ranked as the ‘Best Old House Neighborhoods in the U.S.’ by This Old House and of special interest is The Temperance Building - located on 330 Roane St. - that is listed in the National Historic Registry.
Other preserved buildings include The Princess Theatre and Harriman's Carnegie Library, one of the few remaining buildings in the country originally supported by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
Like many rural communities in Tennessee, Harriman is popular for antiquing. You’ll find a few opportunities in some of the designated shops in and around its downtown district. While here, perhaps pick up some take-out from one of the restaurants and enjoy lunch at David Webb Riverfront Park along the Emory River.
Should you decide to stay overnight, the region has a variety of RV parks within 20 minutes (or closer) to Harriman including The Caney Creek RV Resort as well as the Riley Creek and Four Season campgrounds.
- Cookeville
With its variety of state parks and natural areas that combine to offer more than 150 waterfalls and 1,931 km (1,200 mi) of shoreline, Cookeville in the Upper Cumberland region is worth the 90-minute drive from the I-75.
Tours of Cookeville can start at any number of the local businesses downtown including the Market on the Square, a gift and specialty shop, or clothing stores such as 31 Twenty-Five Boutique and Cigi’s. Even more options are in Cookeville’s Westside Cultural District where there are locally-owned restaurants, antique stores, and art studios.
Just outside of the community are two U.S. State Parks including Cummins Falls and Burgess Falls. While scenic, trails to the falls can be challenging and or even impassable due to weather or flash flooding so always check conditions before visiting. Camping is not permitted in these parks but there are a variety of campgrounds in Cookeville and the surrounding area.
Article courtesy of Tennessee Dept. of Tourist Development /@tnvacation. For more information about visiting The Volunteer State visit www.tnvacation.com
More Towns to Discover in Tennessee
These communities are a little off the ‘beaten path’ from I-75 but they are certainly worth visiting to experience even more culture, attractions and scenery.
Carrie Griffith
Leiper's Fork
If your travels lead you to the sights and sounds of Nashville, Leiper's Fork is about 45 km (28 mi) to the south. It’s where you can discover local art galleries like The Copper Fox and David Arms, which draws visitors from around the world. This is also where more antique shopping can be enjoyed or maybe sample some of the local whisky at the new Leiper's Fork Distillery.
Paris
An interesting landmark in Paris - the one located in Northwestern Tennessee - is a replica of the City of Light’s Eiffel Tower in Memorial Park, which makes for enjoyable selfies. Or, sip and savour the vintages at the Paris Winery, enjoy the outdoors in Paris Landing State Park and visit any one of the great dining options downtown.
Collierville
Collierville in the southwest corner of the state is approximately 32 km (20 mi) from Memphis, and where you can spend some time in its scenic Town Square, browse its Main Street, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, or relax from at the variety of nearby campgrounds and split your time visiting Collierville and nearby Memphis.