Desaree’s Guidebook
Waterfalls
The hike is more like a climb. So wear good shoes. There’s no phone service except in the parking area. Look up directions and screenshot them in case you lose service. We love this place! It is so worth the climb!!
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Twisting Falls
Dark Ridge RoadThe hike is more like a climb. So wear good shoes. There’s no phone service except in the parking area. Look up directions and screenshot them in case you lose service. We love this place! It is so worth the climb!!
Laurel Falls is a great hike! There are two ways in. One from Hwy 321, and one from Dennis Cove Road, Hampton Tennessee.
50 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Laurel Falls Trailhead
U.S. 321Laurel Falls is a great hike! There are two ways in. One from Hwy 321, and one from Dennis Cove Road, Hampton Tennessee.
Backbone Rock Campground
10585-10711 TN-133This is a great place to explore.
This is in Dungannon, Va...just about a 30 minute gorgeous, scenic drive through Shady Valley. You will actually cross part of the famous Appachian Trail on your way. You can rent bicycles or take your own. They will transport you to the top of the mountain trail and you get to ride back to town, exploring many different areas as you go. The trail is 12-17 miles long. A great all day outing! Pack a picnic or backpack with snacks and water.
36 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Virginia Creeper Trail
331 Douglas DriveThis is in Dungannon, Va...just about a 30 minute gorgeous, scenic drive through Shady Valley. You will actually cross part of the famous Appachian Trail on your way. You can rent bicycles or take your own. They will transport you to the top of the mountain trail and you get to ride back to town, exploring many different areas as you go. The trail is 12-17 miles long. A great all day outing! Pack a picnic or backpack with snacks and water.
Roan Mountain has the world’s largest natural rhododendron garden on the very top of the mountain. The Appalachian Trail crosses here also. The views are spectacular! At “The Balds”, there are actually wild goats that help keep the grassy balds “eaten off”. The state park campground hosts different hikes and programs throughout the summer and fall months. They also have a small river running through the park for great rainbow and native trout fishing! “Horney Head” fishing is great in the Spring months when they are “running”. You’ll need to get a fishing license at an area store like Walmart in the hunting/camping section or at The Hampton Bait Shop just up the road toward Roan Mountain in Hampton. There are mountain bike trails here also. You’ll need to bring your own bike. Check it out!
111 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Iparke yaseRoan Mountain State
527 TN-143Roan Mountain has the world’s largest natural rhododendron garden on the very top of the mountain. The Appalachian Trail crosses here also. The views are spectacular! At “The Balds”, there are actually wild goats that help keep the grassy balds “eaten off”. The state park campground hosts different hikes and programs throughout the summer and fall months. They also have a small river running through the park for great rainbow and native trout fishing! “Horney Head” fishing is great in the Spring months when they are “running”. You’ll need to get a fishing license at an area store like Walmart in the hunting/camping section or at The Hampton Bait Shop just up the road toward Roan Mountain in Hampton. There are mountain bike trails here also. You’ll need to bring your own bike. Check it out!
The Blue Hole Falls is a set of waterfalls. It is a local favorite!
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Blue Hole Falls
The Blue Hole Falls is a set of waterfalls. It is a local favorite!
They have live reinactments throughout the summer months. A great historic park with beautiful walking trails.
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
1651 W Elk AveThey have live reinactments throughout the summer months. A great historic park with beautiful walking trails.
A very interesting place of historic animals that roamed our area.
46 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Gray Fossil Site
1212 Suncrest DrA very interesting place of historic animals that roamed our area.
During the winter months, you can go ice skating, visit Santa Village, see the drive through light display, and drive on the worlds fastest half mile racetrack!
196 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bristol Motor Speedway
151 Speedway BlvdDuring the winter months, you can go ice skating, visit Santa Village, see the drive through light display, and drive on the worlds fastest half mile racetrack!
This is a great walking or biking trail that goes from Elizabethton all the way to Johnson City. There are many gorgeous scenic spots along the way. Bike rentals are at the Johnson City trailhead, along with food. The trailhead in Elizabethton is only 2 miles from us!
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tweetsie Trail Trailhead
Alabama StreetThis is a great walking or biking trail that goes from Elizabethton all the way to Johnson City. There are many gorgeous scenic spots along the way. Bike rentals are at the Johnson City trailhead, along with food. The trailhead in Elizabethton is only 2 miles from us!
This is one of our favorite local places! Throughout the summer months, they have family weekend visit days. There’s so much to do here! Our kids have attended their summer camp since they were small. They have some pretty intense activities, or you can lay on the beach around the lake. You can even take a train ride on the historic Tweetsie Railroad. There’s “The Blob” in the lake (giant pillow in the lake that you jump onto from a raised platform), and you can ride one of my favorites, the zip line off a platform into the lake!
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Doe River Gorge Ministries, Inc.
220 Doe River Gorge RdThis is one of our favorite local places! Throughout the summer months, they have family weekend visit days. There’s so much to do here! Our kids have attended their summer camp since they were small. They have some pretty intense activities, or you can lay on the beach around the lake. You can even take a train ride on the historic Tweetsie Railroad. There’s “The Blob” in the lake (giant pillow in the lake that you jump onto from a raised platform), and you can ride one of my favorites, the zip line off a platform into the lake!
The Appalachian Trail can be accessed from several places in our area. A gorgeous trail for exciting adventures!
18 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Appalachian Trail
Appalachian National Scenic TrailThe Appalachian Trail can be accessed from several places in our area. A gorgeous trail for exciting adventures!
Watauga Lake is ranked as one of Tennessee’s top cleanest lakes! There’s access from both sides of the lake, and an observatory that shows and tells the history of the lake. There is a whole town, Old Butler, sitting on the bottom of the lake.
105 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Watauga Lake
Watauga Lake is ranked as one of Tennessee’s top cleanest lakes! There’s access from both sides of the lake, and an observatory that shows and tells the history of the lake. There is a whole town, Old Butler, sitting on the bottom of the lake.
We love the USO Christmas Show in November and December! It’s an awesome show! Keeps you entertained! It’s in Tennessee’s oldest town!
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Jonesborough Repertory Theatre
125 W Main StWe love the USO Christmas Show in November and December! It’s an awesome show! Keeps you entertained! It’s in Tennessee’s oldest town!
We absolutely love going to the drive in to watch movies! Tonight, we’re seeing a classic...E.T.
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
State Line
3690 State Line RdWe absolutely love going to the drive in to watch movies! Tonight, we’re seeing a classic...E.T.
The “bathtub” isn’t that big, but it is so beautiful! And the swimming hole is absolutely gorgeous! Coldest water ever! So refreshing!! There’s two trails in. Be sure to take the lower trail. The higher trail is a lot longer.
🌟🌟BE SURE to eat at “The Front Porch”! Best homemade burgers around!!!
33 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Devil's Bathtub
Devils Fork Loop TrailThe “bathtub” isn’t that big, but it is so beautiful! And the swimming hole is absolutely gorgeous! Coldest water ever! So refreshing!! There’s two trails in. Be sure to take the lower trail. The higher trail is a lot longer.
🌟🌟BE SURE to eat at “The Front Porch”! Best homemade burgers around!!!
Blue Hole Falls
Food scene
The best home cooked meals around! The best gravy and biscuits, just like Grannie used to make, and more breakfast items. On Wednesday’s, they have the home style bbq boneless ribs special. They are amazing!! Tell Lisa the Gentry’s sent you!
Laurel Fork Restaurant
201 US-321The best home cooked meals around! The best gravy and biscuits, just like Grannie used to make, and more breakfast items. On Wednesday’s, they have the home style bbq boneless ribs special. They are amazing!! Tell Lisa the Gentry’s sent you!
This place is AMAZING!!!! The BEST home cooked food around! They serve it family style, so you can eat all you want! Try their cornbread salad! Yum!!!! Everything is home cooked!
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Shirley's Home Cooking
3266 US-321This place is AMAZING!!!! The BEST home cooked food around! They serve it family style, so you can eat all you want! Try their cornbread salad! Yum!!!! Everything is home cooked!
Big Dan's BBQ
633 East Elk AvenueGreat bbq!!!!!!
By far, the best and freshest salad bar in the country! The pizza is amazing and our favorite is “The Gobble”! A thick handcrafted turkey sub!
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Jiggy Rays Downtown Pizzeria
610 E Elk AveBy far, the best and freshest salad bar in the country! The pizza is amazing and our favorite is “The Gobble”! A thick handcrafted turkey sub!
Thai-Am
5925 US-19ETHE ABSOLUTE BEST Thai food you will ever eat!!
Cook Out
509 W Elk AveThe very best hamburger you’ll ever eat at a restaurant!!!
Pal's
413 W Elk AvePal’s is a local establishment that has awesome fast food!
Horseback Riding
Call David Mull (828-260-0947) at Roan Mountain Riding Company to make reservations for horseback riding in our gorgeous neighboring mountains at Roan Mountain! It’s only 25 minutes up the road from us! You will need to make reservations at least two days in advance. It’s $50 per person. There’s a 250 pound limit and a card is required up front. The ride is an hour and twenty minutes long. The age limit is 6 years old. No experience required. The address of the store is 8713 Hwy 19E and the address to the barn is 8806 Hwy 19E, Roan Mountain Tn 37687.
If you want to explore our mountains the old timey way, horseback riding is it! Roan Mountain Riding Company caters to the inexperienced or experienced riders.
Roan Mountain Riding Company
8267 US-19EIf you want to explore our mountains the old timey way, horseback riding is it! Roan Mountain Riding Company caters to the inexperienced or experienced riders.
Sightseeing
This is a gorgeous area! When you reach the top, you are looking down over all the mountains. You can see Tennessee and Bakersville, NC from here.
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Beauty Spot
This is a gorgeous area! When you reach the top, you are looking down over all the mountains. You can see Tennessee and Bakersville, NC from here.
This is a great company to float down the Watauga River with!
29 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Wahoo's Adventures New River Outpost
3380 Big Hill RdThis is a great company to float down the Watauga River with!
Thanksgiving through sometime in January, Bristol Motor Speedway has the Children’s Charity lights exhibition. There’s a few miles of Christmas lights, you get to actually drive on the world’s fastest half mile track and the drag strip, and in the infield are set up many activities for families including rides, bon fires for roasting marshmallows and s’mores, and an ice skating rink just outside the track. This is a must see in the winter!
196 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bristol Motor Speedway
151 Speedway BlvdThanksgiving through sometime in January, Bristol Motor Speedway has the Children’s Charity lights exhibition. There’s a few miles of Christmas lights, you get to actually drive on the world’s fastest half mile track and the drag strip, and in the infield are set up many activities for families including rides, bon fires for roasting marshmallows and s’mores, and an ice skating rink just outside the track. This is a must see in the winter!
Amacebiso ngesixeko
Ungaphoswa
Car Show
Visit the car show in the historic part of Elizabethton every Saturday evening during the summer months! It’s free! (East Elk Avenue)