Loads of fun right at your fingertips...
Things Do Do
What do you fancy?
The Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee are the most famous range in the country boasting sloping ridges, crests, valleys, and forests. A limitless array of outdoor and unique activities abound. This diverse area has something for all ages.
Hiking, fishing, horseback riding, biking, zip lines..... the list is endless and the scenery is breathtaking.
Or maybe you prefer wine tasting, distilleries, art, museums, theaters, festivals, music, and restaurants.... this area has lots to offer.
This region also boasts of unique seasonal activities, spectacular views of the leaves turning in the Fall, winter attractions, the International Storyingtelling Festival, Highland games.....the list goes on.
Perhaps you enjoy interesting small towns that offer unique shopping and antiquing possibilities, this area has several to offer within a few miles.
Come for a weekend, week, or longer.... You will not be disappointed!
Outdoor Activities
Hiking
We recommend using AllTrails to explore the trails of East Tennessee. You can access All Trails here: https://www.alltrails.com/ Below are a few of our favorite trails in the region.
- Tweetsie Trial
- Appalachian Trail
- Laurel Falls
- Blue Hole Falls
- White Rock Trail Loop
- Holston Mountain
- Roan Mountain
- Grandfather Mountain
Biking
Check out local biking trails and bike stores below. We also recommend checking out Local Motion Cyclery's Bike Trail Map
- Pedals on Rails https://pedalsonrails.com/
- Local Motion Cyclery https://www.localmotiontn.com/
- Creeper Trail Bike and Rental & Shuttle https://creepertrailbikerental.company/
- Adventure Damascus Bicycle & Outdoor Co. https://adventuredamascus.com/index.html
- The Bike Station https://thebikestation.net/
Fishing & Fishing Guide Services
- High Country Angler https://highcountryangler.com/
- TN Tailwaters https://tntailwaters.com/
- Ellis Ward Guide Service https://www.elliswardflies.com/
Adventure activities (ATV, Rafting, Zip Line)
- Sky Valley Zip Tours https://skyvalleyziptours.com/
- Off the Grid Mountain Adventures https://highcountryutvtours.com/
- High Gravity Adventures https://www.highgravityadventures.com/
- Hawksnest Snow tubing https://hawksnesttubing.com/
- Beanstalk Zip Lines https://www.thebeanstalkjourney.com/
- French Broad Adventures https://www.frenchbroadrafting.com/
- Navitat https://navitat.com/asheville-nc/
- Black Mountain Offroad https://www.blackmountainoffroad.com/
- Rafting in the Smokies https://raftinginthesmokies.com/
- Wahoo’s Adventure https://www.wahoosadventures.com/
- Blue Ridge Paddling https://www.blueridgepaddling.com/
- Watauga Kayak https://wataugakayak.com/
Horseback Riding
- Warriors’ Path Riding Stables https://tnstateparks.com/parks/activity-detail/warriors-path-horseback-riding
- Dutch Creek Trails http://www.dutchcreektrails.com/
- VX3 Trail Rides http://www.vx3trailrides.com/
- Blowing Rock Trail Rides https://www.blowingrocktrailrides.com/
Waterparks
- The Wetland Water Park https://www.wetlandsjonesborough.com/
- Kingsport Aquatic Center https://www.swimkingsport.com/
Amusement Parks
- Grandfather Mountain https://grandfather.com/
- Dollywood Theme Park https://www.dollywood.com/
- Tweetsie Railroad https://tweetsie.com/
- Fender’s Farm https://www.fendersmaze.com/about-3
- Land of OZ @ Beach Mountain NC http://www.landofoznc.com/
Caverns
- Appalachian Caverns http://appacaverns.com/
- Bristol Caverns https://bristolcaverns.com/
- Worley’s Cave https://www.worleyscave.co/
- Tuckaleechee Caverns https://tuckaleecheecaverns.com/
- Forbidden Caverns https://forbiddencavern.com
Lakes
- Boone Lake https://www.tva.com/energy/our-power-system/hydroelectric/Boone
- Wilbur Lake https://www.tva.com/energy/our-power-system/hydroelectric/wilbur-dam
- Watauga Lake https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cherokee/recarea/?recid=34990
- Fort Patrick Henry Lake https://www.tva.com/energy/our-power-system/hydroelectric/fort-patrick-henry
- Kingsport Reservoir https://goo.gl/maps/96J2u4UW5oPALpnTA
- Steele Creek Park Lake https://bristoltn.org/166/Steele-Creek-Park
- South Holston Lake https://www.tva.com/energy/our-power-system/hydroelectric/south-holston
Bristol Motor Speedway
BMS hosts various activities throughout beyond their TWO famous major NASCAR Races. It's Bristol Baby! See some common events held at the speedway and learn more here: https://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/
- Nascar Races
- Truck Races
- Dirt Races
- Ice Skating Rink
- Christmas Lights (Speedway in Lights)
- Concerts & Shows
- Other Sporting Events
The Appalachian Baseball League
The Appalachian Baseball League is part of Major League Baseball's Prospect Development Pipeline, a collaboration between MLB and USA Baseball. Learn more here: https://www.appyleague.com/
- Elizabethton River Riders https://www.appyleague.com/elizabethton
- Johnson City Doughboys https://www.appyleague.com/johnson-city
Taste of Tennessee
Food & Drinks! Check out the best Mountain Restaurants and Southern Cuisine the Appalachia has to offer. Bon Appetit! Local Breweries, Distilleries, and Vineyards abound in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains so drop in for good spirits and good times. Enjoy!
Breweries
- Johnson City Brewing Co. http://johnsoncitybrewing.com/
- Yee-Haw Brewing https://yeehawbrewing.com/
- Little Animals Brewery https://www.littleanimalsbrewery.com/
- Bierdock Brewery https://bierdocksp.wixsite.com/bierdock/home
Vineyards
- Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards https://www.nicewonderfarm.com/nicewondervineyards
- Grandfather Vineyard & Winery https://grandfathervineyard.com/
- Abingdon Vineyards https://www.abingdonvineyards.com/
- Linville Falls Winery https://www.linvillefallswinery.com/
- Banner Elk Winery & Villa http://www.bannerelkwinery.com/
Distilleries
- Tennessee Hills https://www.tennesseehills.com/
- King City Distillery https://www.kingcitydistillery.net/
- Hool & Ladder Moonshine https://hookladdershine.com/?v=9a0d701a3b2a
Restaurants
- Freiberg’s https://eatbrats.com/
- Label Restaurant https://www.labelrestaurant.com/
- Cootie Brown’s https://www.cootiebrowns.com/
- Southern Craft BBQ https://southerncraftbbq.com/
- Juniper https://www.juniperjc.com/
- Stateline Bar & Grill https://www.statelinebristol.com/
- Delta Blues BBQ https://www.deltablues-bbq.com/
- Drake’s https://drakescomeplay.com/
- 620 State https://www.620state.com/
- Dan’l Boone Inn http://www.danlbooneinn.com/
- City Market Downtown Elizabethton (Absolute fav must visit for weekday breakfast or lunch)
Arts & Culture
Museums
- Tipton-Haynes Historic Site http://www.tipton-haynes.org/
- Rocky Mount State Historic Site https://www.rockymountmuseum.com/
- The Gray Fossil Site https://www.etsu.edu/gray-fossil-site-museum/
- Hands-On Discovery @ The Gray Fossil Site https://visithandson.org/
- Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park https://www.tnstateparks.com/parks/about/sycamore-shoals
- Boones Creek Historical Trust (Museum & Opry) https://www.boonescreekhistoricaltrust.org/
- Chester Inn State Historic Museum https://www.heritageall.org/museum-archive/
- The Birthplace of Country Music Museum https://birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/museum/
- International Storytelling Center https://www.storytellingcenter.net/
- Hickory Ridge Museum https://www.horninthewest.com/tours-events
Theaters
- Jonesborough Repertory Theatre http://www.jonesboroughtheatre.com/
- Theatre Bristol https://theatrebristol.org/
- Lamplight Theater https://www.lamplighttheatre.net/
- Paramount Center for the Arts https://paramountbristol.org/
- Barter Theatre https://bartertheatre.com/
- Wallace Theatre https://wallacetheatre.com/
- Twin City Drive-In Theater https://www.twincitydriveintheatre.com/
- State Line Drive-In http://www.statelinedrivein.com/
Live Music
Several local bars and venues feature live music and all are within a few minutes drive of Riverside RV Park. The birthplace of country music is Bristol, TN/VA too which is just 20 minutes away! Check out popular live music venues below.
- The Down Home https://thedownhome.com/
- The Paramount Bristol https://paramountbristol.org/
- The Hard Rock Bristol https://www.hardrockhotelcasinobristol.com/
- Freedom Hall Civic Center https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/15164/freedom-hall-civic-center
Art Galleries
- Blowing Rock Art & History Museum Artists https://www.blowingrockmuseum.org/
- Artists in Residence at Edgewood Cottage https://www.artistsatedgewood.org/
- William King Museum of Art https://www.williamkingmuseum.org/
Festivals & Seasonal Events
- Elizabethton Covered Bridge Day festival (September) live music , art, & craft vendors http://www.easttn.us/attractions/attraction.aspx/ElizabethtonCoveredBridge
- Liberty! The Saga of Sycamore Shoals (June) https://www.tnstateparks.com/parks/about/sycamore-shoals
- Johnson City Thirsty Orange Beer Festival https://thirstyorange.com/
- Johnson City Blue Plum Music Festival https://www.blueplum.org/
- Bristol Motor Speedway Christmas Lights https://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/events/the-pinnacle-speedway-in-lights/
- Bristol Rhythm & Roots Music Festival https://birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/festival
- Jonesborough National Storytelling Festival https://jonesborough.com/storytelling
- Grandfather Mountain Highland Games https://gmhg.org/
- Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival http://www.roanmountain.com/rhododendron-festival/
- Beech Mountain NC Year-Round Activities; skiing, sledding, hiking, biking https://beechmtn.com/
- Sugar Mountain NC Year-Round Activities https://skisugar.com/
- Boone High Country Jazz Festival https://www.apptheatre.org/highcountryjazzfestival
- Boone Art in The Park https://blowingrock.com/artinthepark/
Unique Towns Nearby
Nearby interesting towns offer multiple unique shopping, antiquing, and eating opportunities. Here are a few of our favorites!
- Elizabethton TN https://www.elizabethton.org/
- Bristol, TN https://www.bristoltn.org/
- Bristol, VA https://www.bristolva.org/
- Johnson City TN https://www.johnsoncitytn.org/
- Jonesborough, TN https://www.jonesboroughtn.org/
- Gatlinburg, TN https://www.gatlinburg.com/
- Pigeon Forge, TN https://www.mypigeonforge.com/
- Boone, NC https://www.exploreboone.com/
- Banner Elk, NC https://www.bannerelk.com/
- Blowing Rock, NC https://blowingrock.com/
- Asheville, NC https://www.exploreasheville.com/