Bucks Ranch

Get out in untamed Tennessee backcountry with kayaking trips down the Buffalo River (20 minutes’ drive), or head for the Natchez Trace State Park (an hour and 20 minutes) for hiking trails through forest and along the lakeshore. There’s a rich history running through the region too. Popular for hiking along Shoal Creek to Crockett Falls and fishing in Lake Lindsey, David Crockett State Park (half an hour) is dedicated to the Tennessee frontiersman who died at the Alamo in 1836. It’s crossed by the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, commemorating displaced Cherokee peoples as it wends its scenic way through nine states. At Shiloh National Military Park (50 minutes), you can stop off at Civil War battlefields as you hike or cycle along way-marked trails. Visit the Vaughan Museum in Lawrenceburg (half an hour) to celebrate the life of gospel singer James Vaughan, and pick up woodwork or hand-stitched quilts as souvenirs at the Amish Country Flea Market (40 minutes).