Brimstone Retreats

There’s so much to explore hereabouts, whether on two or four wheel or horseback: you can ride horses along upland trails in Big South Fork National Park (20 minutes’ drive), go whitewater rafting on the Big South Fork River and mountain biking through the backcountry. Or how about sitting back and enjoying a chug through the park from Stearns to Blue Heron on the Big South Fork Scenic Railway? Jump in your car to explore this wild corner of Appalachia. Norris Lake (two hours) makes a scenic circular trip from the campground, with watersports and boat hire on the lake, surrounded by mountain foothills. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park (an hour) offers birdwatching opportunities and hiking trails leading to the spectacular, horseshoe-shaped Cumberland Falls (nicknamed ‘Little Niagara’). To learn about the backstory of the region, head to Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary (55 minutes) for self-guided tours of the cells and execution site inside Tennessee’s first maximum-security prison. On a brighter note, wander the open-air museum packed with old-world houses at Historic Rugby (25 minutes).