7 of the Most Charming Towns in Tennessee
While the beautiful Volunteer State is best known for the lights and action of the Grand Ole Opry, Graceland, and Dollywood, it's the small, charming towns that give it a warm, welcoming feel. From the sprawling areas surrounding Nashville to the eastern region's mountains, Tennessee offers small communities that make ideal weekend getaway and summer vacation destinations. It's these towns' natural beauty, outdoor recreational opportunities and historical attractions that draw in travelers from all over. Let's explore seven of these quaint towns now.
Gatlinburg
Stunning Gatlinburg is the ideal destination for those who wants to spend their vacation experiencing outdoor adventures, such as mountain hiking and biking. Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, charming Gatlinburg is as scenic as it is exciting. If arts, culture, and history is more your thing, you'll find plenty of things to keep you occupied while in town as well.
Gatlinburg is known as the gateway to the Smoky Mountains National Park, which features 520,000 acres of native wildlife, flora, fauna, and miles and miles of trails for exploring it all. For the adventurous among your travel group, Anakeesta's Rain Runner Mountain Coaster, an aerial tram to Ober Mountain, and the glass-bottom Gatlinburg Skybridge are all available. Families can spend a day enjoying the outdoors at Gatlin's Mini Golf, or indoors at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies.
Jonesborough
Founded in the 18th Century, the unique, cozy mountain town of Jonesborough is steeped in rich history. Situated in the Appalachian Mountains in the northeast region of Tennessee, Jonesborough is known for its eye-catching historic architecture and charming, brick street-lined downtown. Visitors can immerse themselves in local history by taking a Historic Jonesborough Town Tour, which features guides wearing period costumes and a stop at the Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum on Main Street.
Other notable local attractions include the International Storytelling Center, and the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre, which offers lives performances and workships year-round. Beer lovers won't want to miss at trip to Depot St. Brewing, which produces small batches of craft brews using local ingredients. If you want to stay a night or two surrounded by local wildlife, check out the Persimmon Ridge Campground.
Granville
Picturesque Granville is the quintessential southern small town, and is situated in the Upper Cumberland Region on the state. Southern Living Magazine rated the charming town among the top 10 Tennesse towns to visit in 2023, and named Granville's historic T.B. Sutton General Store on its Top 35 General Stores list. This quaint town offers slow, southern living at its best, but also offers plenty of attractions and outdoor recreational activities to keep visitors coming back for more.
Get acquainted with the town's interesting past at the Granville Museum, which is housed in a historic church building and features rooms dedicated to genealogy, the military, and local schools. The Sutton Homeplace and Pioneer Village is another must-see attraction, as it features the 19th Century residence of the T.B. Sutton General Store's owner, complete with authentic furnishings and other personal items.
Dayton
Warm and welcoming Dayton, which is located in southeastern region of the state, is the ideal vacation destination for those looking for a mix of outdoor adventures and historic charm. The area is home to several significant natural areas, which offer recreational opportunties, such as hiking, biking and bird-watching, all year long. The historic downtown is filled with unique shops, antique stores, eateries, and cafes, adding to Dayton's appeal.
Begin your visit at the Laurel Snow State Natural Area, a 2,259-acre natural area located in the scenic Walden Ridge of the Cumberland Plateau. The site is home to two stunning waterfalls, steep gorges, interesting geologic features, and pretty creeks. The Hiawassee Wildlife Refuge is another place that nature lovers flock to, as it features 6,000 pristine acres and access to Chickamauga Lake. It's also located at the confluence of the Tennessee and Hiawassee Rivers.
Leiper's Fork
Located just outside of bustling Franklin, Leiper's Fork offers a more laid-back feel in a charming village setting. Although it's a small Southern town, Leiper's Fork is known for its scenic surroundings, collection of eclectic shops and galleries, and quaint cafes and eateries serving up plenty of local flavor. Whether you want to kick back and enjoy a slower pace of life on a front porch, or shop for high-end home decor, clothing, and art, you'll find it all in Leiper's Fork.
Art enthusiasts won't want to miss a trip to the Leiper's Creek Gallery, which features a unique range of artwork ranging from sculptures to paintings made by local artists. The gallery also offers a fire pit for small gatherings, and a family-friendly summer movie series. For the adults in your group, the Leiper's Fork Distillery is an artisan operation produces small-batch whiskey, and offers behind-the-scenes tours.
Lynchburg
The small, charming town of Lynchburg is situated in Tennesee's rolling hills and is best known for the Jack Daniels Distillery, which is the oldest registered distillery in the country. The distillery produces Jack Daniels Tennessee whiskey using the pure water from local caves, and is open for tours year-round. Other attractions that draw in tourists include a thriving historic downtown, and the nearby Beechcraft Heritage Museum, which is a one-of-a-kind aviation museum.
If you love the outdoors, you'll feel right at home at the Tims Ford State Park, which is located in the scenic Tims Ford Reservoir. You can hike the park's seven miles of rustic, unpaved trails, one of which wraps around the scenic lake. There are also 24 miles of biking trails, a marina, public boat ramps, and opportunities for fishing and birding.
Pigeon Forge
Unique Pigeon Forge is one of Tennessee's most-visited towns as it's home to Dollywood, singer Dolly Parton's Appalachian-themed amusement park, as well as the adjoining Dollywood's Splash Country. The large attraction also features a museum displaying the singer's clothing and personal memorabilia. The small town is also known for the Smoky Mountain Opry, a country music review offering live entertainment.
History lovers can spend a few hours at the Titanic Museum attraction, which offers more than 400 artifacts from the doomed ship as well as 22,000-square-feet of educational history. The Island in Pigeon Forge is a family-friendly shopping and dining destination offering live musical performances and 200-foot-tall observation wheel overlooking the stunning Great Smoky Mountains as well.
From top to bottom and end to end, the scenic state of Tennesse is filled with charming small towns, all of which offer their own unique flavor, whether its artisan whiskey or delicious Southern fare at a local eatery. No matter if you're just driving through the state or have chosen it as your getaway destination, take some time to explore its mountains, historic sites, and other trip-worthy attractions.
