8 Of The Quietest Tennessee Towns

For diversity in America's southeast heartland, Tennessee might deserve top honors. Beyond its larger cities like the legendary blues music hub Memphis or its country capital, Nashville, the place known as the "Volunteer State" for its participation in the U.S. Civil War also offers small towns where a quieter pace of life reigns. The state has been a part of the Union since 1796, while its official motto, "Agriculture and Commerce," summarizes its past and present well. Between the state's western edge on the Mississippi River, to its famous section of the Appalachian Mountains, Tennessee's out-of-the-way corners rank among its best choices for the visitor who only wants a quiet time away.

Covington

In west Tennessee, the town of Covington unites history and local color. The Tipton County Museum downtown hosts a nature center celebrating the local ecosystem shaped by the Mississippi just west of town, as well as a veterans memorial, honoring local servicepersons who gave their time, and sometimes their lives, to their country. In culture, the Ruffin Theatre puts on vibrant art performances in a restored 1930s Art Deco building. The space welcomed a certain Elvis Presley to its stage for a 1955 concert. Likewise, in today's music, the town's Highway 51 Music Fest brings together good tunes, good barbecue, and community fun with music of various styles.

Lookout Mountain

Wedged between the Tennessee River and the Georgia state line, Lookout Mountain, just southwest of Chattanooga in east Tennessee, is home to a unique and famously Tennessean natural attraction: Rock City. The collection of natural rock formations has impressed families, school groups, and other visitors for generations. One viewpoint in the Rock City area claims to offer a 'see seven states' vantage point, with as many U.S. states visible from its heights. Other draws near Lookout Mountain include Ruby Falls, a dramatic local watercourse. For the truly adventurous, hang gliding outfitters, make the town a place to go if one's idea of fun combines mountain views and an adrenaline rush.

Lynchburg

In south-central Tennessee, the small town of Lynchburg enjoys a world-class reputation stemming from its status as the hometown and distillery of the Jack Daniels whiskey and spirits brand. The company runs a visitors center in town, which details the history, dating back nearly two centuries, of the original Jack Daniel, his whiskey vision, and the global corporation that now bears his name and legacy.

If spirits do not appeal, the town's other interests have plenty to sustain the visitor. Its celebrated historic district joins the Moore County Courthouse, built in 1885, while antiques and handcrafts fans should seek out Baker's Antiques or the Lynchburg Pottery and Gift Gallery. For some time on the water, Tims Ford Lake, just east of town, provides respite from Tennessee whiskey and its crowds.

Pigeon Forge

In the hills of the state's eastern region, southeast of Knoxville, Pigeon Forge offers culture far beyond its petite size. The town is famous for its association with the country music legend Dolly Parton, who built the theme park Dollywood in town. Today, Dollywood attracts visitors from the world over and uses its commercial success for local philanthropy, such as Ms. Parton's Imagination Library, a book drive that delivers reading materials to needy children across America.

Nature enthusiasts will also like Pigeon Forge for its access to quiet, beautiful scenery in the Great Smoky Mountains, a section of the Appalachians. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park draws millions of visitors each year for hiking, camping, and biking the beloved Cades Cove Loop, a scenic byway.

Pulaski

Along the central-southern border of the state sits Pulaski, named after Kazimierz Pulaski, a Polish officer in the Revolutionary War who is said to have saved the life of George Washington. Pulaski, the town, later saw its share of Civil War action during the Franklin-Nashville campaign. The town today bears witness to another dramatic note of U.S. history, with its Giles County Trail of Tears Memorial paying its respect to the Native American peoples native to Tennessee who were forcibly pushed to then-territories like Oklahoma. Pulaski draws history buffs from far and wide. For a lighter side of recreation, the town serves as a constant draw for turkey hunters, and is known as the 'wild turkey capital of Tennessee.' The surrounding county hosts a turkey hunt contest each year.

Sewanee

In the southeast corner of the state, Sewanee rewards the visitor, making the extra effort to find a quaint and quiet setting. The town is home to a college of the same name, also known by its alternative moniker: The University of the South. The school today owns 13,000 acres of local land, making this place a quintessential college town with southern accents. The university offers unique architectural attractions, like its famous, all-stone All Saints Chapel, set in the Gothic Revival style.

Outdoor fans will find a quiet tee time or two at the town's several golf courses. The Sewanee Golf and Tennis Club and the Course at Sewanee both sit in the town's north end. Hikers should head for the Bridal Veil Falls Trail or the Shakerag Trail, both on the Sewanee property.

Signal Mountain

Just north of Chattanooga, the suburb of Signal Mountain, above the Tennessee River, combines outdoor interests with smaller-scale entertainments like those in Pigeon Forge or Nashville. The Signal Mountain Opry, its name a twist on 'opera,' gathers country and bluegrass musicians every Friday evening. For cycling fans, the Signal Mountain Out and Back, a route organized by the Bike Tennessee department of the state's tourism board, claims to offer sublime views of the Chattanooga region — and a great workout, too.

In a nod to some local history, the town's name derives from the idea that Native American populations once used the overlook to signal messages across the distances along the valley floor below. During the Civil War, Union soldiers likewise used these heights to observe the Confederate army and traffic on the Tennesse River below.

Winchester

As a classic lakeside community, Winchester, in Tennessee's south-central region, sits by Tims Ford Lake, just like Lynchburg, its neighbor to the northwest. Being close to Chattanooga and Nashville, Winchester draws vacationers and second-homers to its shores at all times of year. That concentration of leisure-seekers helps support the town's three marinas, where pleasure boats offer just one way to enjoy the water.

For a touch of the past, visitors to the town can find historical legacies at the Old Jail Museum, which displays artifacts from the Civil War and from Dinah Shore, a local girl who went on to fame as an actress and big band singer. The downtown offers a number of historic buildings, like the Oldham Theater, built in 1950.

Tennessee's Quietest Towns Are Among Its Best

These Tennessee towns suggest that some of the state's most interesting draws come in the form of quieter places than the bustle of Nashville, Memphis, or Chattanooga. Musical tastes of all kinds will find satisfaction, from the music festival in Covington to the bluegrass and roots music of Pigeon Forge and Signal Mountain. History enthusiasts can likewise leave the city behind for a calmer exploration of Tennessee's past: Civil War sites abound, while the names of Lynchburg and Pulaski have left their mark on the real and figurative spirits of the American past. Finally, architecture fans will find something fascinating, whether at Sewanee's famous chapel, or the old buildings of Winchester. For travelers seeking a quieter time away from home, Tennessee's smaller towns provide just the relaxation they seek.