Away from the Crowds in Tennessee

In Jackson you’ll find the delightful Casey Jones Village, which combines railroad history with Southern hospitality. The village honors the heroic engineer Casey Jones with a museum, a preserved locomotive, and a replica of his home with historic artifacts.

Visitors enjoy the Old Country Store with buffet-style meals consisting of Southern classics. There is an adjoining gift shop and a sweets shop.

In Cookeville, you’ll find the Cummins Falls State Park in the Highland Rim of Tennessee.

The beautiful park is by the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River.

The park includes the 75-foot Cummins Falls that splashes into a crystal-clear swimming hole surrounded by layered rock walls and dense forest.

Take a 1.5-mile hike with creek crossings.

In Chattanooga, you’ll find Lookout Mountain with great views and trails to explore. The ridge stretches across three states.

Lula Lake Land Trust trails take hikers to forests, waterfalls, and a blue swimming hole.

Sunset Rock offers panoramic views.

History lovers enjoy Point Park, which was the site of a major Civil War battle.

Amazing as it might seem, beneath East Tennessee farmland is the Lost Sea Adventure. It takes visitors into a huge cave system with the largest underground lake in the US. Visitors can enjoy guided tours winding through the tunnels in glass-bottom boats.

The lake is clear and reflects colorful rock formations. Blind fish swim by, and the cool cave air is refreshing.

Outside the visitor center, there is gem mining for children and a general store with local treats.

See the Minister’s Tree House on Beehive Lane in Crossville. The 97-foot tree structure was built by Horace Burgess, who said he was building a combination of a home and church as instructed by God.

Southwest of Nashville is the Natchez Trace Parkway, which is a lovely drive through forests, hills, and meadows.

Along the way you’ll enjoy the Jackson Falls

Get panoramic views from the Natchez Double Arch Bridge (pictured above)

In Crab Orchard, you’ll find one of the most dramatic falls in Tennessee, Ozone Falls. The 110-foot-high falls cascades down into a rocky basin. A short trail takes you to the base, where you can feel the mist and look up at the stone cliffs that surround the pool. Scenes from the 1994 live-action “Jungle Book” by Disney were filmed here.

In Tiptonville, Reelfoot Lake has some of the most surreal landscapes in the state. It was formed by a series of earthquakes in the early 1800s. Today the flooded forest has bald cypress trees, shallow waters, and wildlife that enjoy the quiet. There are nature trails to explore.

In the winter, this is the spot to see bald eagles.

Visitors enjoy kayaking and slow pontoon rides through tree-lined channels.

Roan Mountain State Park includes the Canadian Rockies with elevations over 6,000 feet. It has a unique ecosystem with wildflowers and wildlife. The highlights here are the rhododendron gardens. There are trails stretching along the riverside.

For a brisker hike, take the Appalachian Trail.

The Miller Farmstead is a nice place to have a picnic.

The Sewanee Natural Bridge is located near the University of the South. It is a 27-foot-high sandstone arch and sits in a peaceful wooded area. There are benches nearby to just sit and enjoy nature.

Shiloh National Military Park is the place where many battles were fought. At the visitor center you can start driving the loop or walking along the shorter trails. There are markers and cannons lining the roads.

See the nearby Indian Mounds dating back hundreds of years.

The park stretches along the Tennessee River for beautiful views.