7 Most Inviting Towns in Tennessee

Best known for Nashville and legendary honky tonks, Tennessee is welcoming to more than just country music lovers. The diverse state may be landlocked, but offers stunning lakes and rivers, and breathtaking Appalachian Mountain vistas. Small, inviting towns are found throughout Tennessee, beckoning visitors to relax, explore and immerse themselves in southern culture, history and outdoor adventures. Check out these hidden and not-so-hidden gems the next time you find yourself in the country's Mid-South region.

Lynchburg

Lynchburg may be small in terms of population, but its Jack Daniels Distillery makes it a big-time tourist destination. The distillery, which offers free daily tours, is the oldest-running one in the United States and draws in about 250,000 visitors annually. If you're looking for some unique gifts during your trip, check out the the distillery's onsite Lynchburg Hardware and General Store. The town's quaint, historic downtown, as well as the scenic rolling hills that suround it, are also aspects that put it Lynchburg on the map.

History lovers will revel in a walk around the historic Lynchburg Square, which is home to a collection of one-of-a-kind boutiques and eateries, the Lynchburg Old Jail Museum, as well as a courthouse that dates back to 1885. The Lynchburg Winery is another attraction to put on your "must-see" list, as it produces a variety of artisan wines using local ingredients.

Leiper's Fork

There is a long list of things that make Leiper's Fork an inviting Tennessee town, but its location on the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway, is at the top. The parkway is a 444-mile roadway passing though three states, and offering endless opportunities for natural and historical exploration. Quaint Leiper's Fork also has one main street running through town, and it's lined with charming boutiques, eateries, coffee shops, and galleries.

For the adults in your group, the Leiper's Fork Distillery is a must-see attraction, as it produces small-batch whiskey and bourbon and offers tastings in an aunthetic and cozy 1820s log cabin. Antiques enthusiasts won't want to miss a trip to Props Antiques, which offers retro toys, furnishings, home decor, and locally made items, such as sweet treats, candles and soaps, all under one roof.

Townsend

No matter what you like to do or where your interests lie, you'll feel welcome in pretty Townsend. Tucked away at the edge of the magestic Great Smoky Mountains, the town is known as the "Gateway to Cades Cove," which is a picturesque valley surounded by a 11-mile nature loop. No visit to Townsend would be complete without spending a day exploring the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which offers plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, boating, camping, and much more.

Townsend invites the adventurous to try tubing on the Little River by renting a tube and other gear at the Smoky Mountains River Rat. If history is more your thing, check out the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, which features educational programs for kids and adults, gallery exhibits, and occasional live demonstrations.

Dandridge

Known as "Tennessee's Second Oldest Town," Dandridge invites visitors to explore its historic downtown, a registered National Historic District, as well as experience the abundance of natural attractions. Downtown Dandridge is home to eateries and coffee shops, one-of-a-kind boutques, and antique shops that are filled with second-hand treasures. Take a step back in time at the town's visitor center, which is housed in a restored 1820s coach house.

If you're visiting early September, check out the town's Scots-Irish Festival, an annual event that celebrates the region's hertiage of Scots-Irish people with Irish dance performances, Celtic foods, and Bagpipe and Drum competitions, among other types of live entertainment. Douglas Lake is available for a variety of water activities year-round, such as boating, fishing, and water skiiing, depending on your interests.

Gatlinburg

Charming and unique Gatlinburg is nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, making it the perfect town to visit if you're seeking outdoor adventures on a solo trip or a family vacation. Not only is it surrounded by stunning natural scenery, the small town of Gatlinburg welcomes visitors from all over with its excitiing downtown, shopping opportunities, and thriving arts and crafts scene. No matter what you and your family like to do, Gatlinburg provides an inviting home away from home.

For those craving thrilling experiences in nature, consider soaring to the top of Anakeesta Mountain on a chondola, or trekking across the pedestrian Skybridge, which is known as the longest one in the country. The Ober Mountain aerial tram is another way to get a unique perspective of Gatlinburg. The destination also offers plenty of opportunities for ziplining, whitewater rafting, boating, fishing, hiking, and other recreational activities. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is also easily accessible from town.

Cookeville

Find out "what's cooking" in charming Cookeville during a weekend getaway, week-long family vacation, or any other type of trip. Outdoor excitement awaits you in Cookeville, which is home to more than 150 waterfalls, an abundance of natural areas to explore, hiking and biking trails, and scenic overlooks that are ideal picture backdrops. Start your adventure at one of the area's several parks, such as Cummins Falls State Park, Burgess Falls State Park, Rock Island State Park, or Fall Creek Falls State Park.

As for arts and culture, Cookeville offers a wide range of art galleries, and live musical and theater productions at the 456-seat Cookville Performing Arts Center. History buffs won't want to miss a trip to the Cookeville History Museum, which is has exhibits depicting local early days to the present and is open for self-guided tours. The Baxter Depot Museum and the Cookeville Depot Museum are other must-see historical attractions.

Sevierville

Another welcoming town situated in the Great Smoky Mountains, Seiverville offers everything you need for either an adventurous getaway filled with hiking foothills, canoeing rivers, and riding mountainous ATV trails, or a relaxing respite away from big city life. If you're on a family vacation, spend a day at Anakeesta, an outdoor attraction that provides scenic mountain views from ziplines, chondola rides, a rollercoaster, and a tower.

If history is your thing, check out the Biblical Times Dinner Theater and Museum, the Ancient Lore Village, which offers axe-throwing and guided story tours, or Alcatraz East, a unique crime museum. The town's Niswonger Performing Arts Center offers live entertainment all year long for those who love the arts. Sevierville is also home to the Sevier County Fair,which takes place at the end of August annually.

No matter where you find yourself traveling in Tennessee, you won't be far from a warm and welcoming small town. What these inviting towns lack in population, they make up for with outdoor recreational opportunities, natural wonders such as waterfalls and sweeping mountain views, and thriving arts and cultural scenes.