Tennessee isn't known as "Rocky Top" for nothing. The state sits on a solid foundation of bedrock, one that's struck through with myriad caves and cave systems at its heart. Worley's Cave is located in Bluff City, Tennessee, a historic and incredible natural landmark that's great for all sorts of adventurous folk. Whether you're looking to camp or explore, a visit to Worley's Cave should be way up there on your bucket list.
Worley's Cave is considered one of the best natural spots for spelunking on this side of the Mississippi, with more than 4,000 feet in the cave system waiting to be explored. Multiple companies provide cave adventure trips that are fun, affordable and safe for your subterranean adventures.
As you're guided through the cave, you'll find yourself up close and personal with stalactites, stalagmites, incredible formations and natural columns. The cave is truly a feat of great natural beauty, one that we'd highly recommend over and over again.
Looking for a truly raw and rugged experience? Check out the Camp and Cave Adventure that offers Friday or Saturday night camping in the cave coupled with a guided tour of the system itself. Roughly $80 a person, it's an affordable way to spend the night beneath the earth's surface.
Make sure that you visit with a guide, folks! There are multiple companies that tour the cave, located right outside of Bristol, and you'll want to make sure you're guided through the incredible space with the help of a knowledgable aide. It's for your own safety!
It's a pretty amazing opportunity that should definitely be experienced, preferably more than once. Have you been? Would you go? Address: 449 Timber Ridge Road, Bluff City, TN 37618
You can take a closer look below:
Pretty incredible, don't you think? You can learn more about this neat adventure through the Worley Cave official website.
It seems we have endless bodies of water in the Volunteer State which makes it great to find your own lakefront Airbnb in Tennessee. You might not get to live the lake life every day, but sometimes it's nice to dream and catch a glimpse of that glamorous way of living every now and again. I have fond memories visiting various waterfront cabins as a kid, and that feeling can now be passed down to my own children with this cozy little lakefront rental in Tennessee:
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Located on Boone Lake in East Tennessee, you will find this stunning little property in a little place called Piney Flats. The exterior is fittingly blue because this Airbnb is all about time spent right on the water.
First, let's take a look at the interior where you will find a modern and sleek look mixed with typical lake decor. There will be no question that you are in a place where the owners have meticulously designed to make the most of the lake life.
The cozy bedroom will give you a cool place to rest on a lazy afternoon when the sun is beaming down. While the bathroom is adorned with a huge and beautifully tiled, stand-up shower.
We can’t get enough of that view of the lake and when you book a night you will have plenty of space to enjoy it. The best parts of this rental highlight the waterfront in the right ways - and angles!
Enjoy the crackling of a campfire and let the aroma carry you away to complete bliss. The fire pit offers a stunning view of the water, which becomes downright divine come nightfall when you are under a blanket of twinkling stars.
The long concrete boat ramp will make it easy for guests to bring their vessel of choice. It is one thing to enjoy the water from the shoreline, but a wholly different experience to float downstream! Take a voyage and go fishing or simply enjoy the views as you float down the lake.
Then if you prefer, pop open the umbrellas and lounge around the deck. There is just something relaxing about listening to the peaceful cadence of the water lapping gently along the wooded platform as the warm Tennessee sun beams down.
Lazy days by the lake are what life is all about isn’t it? So if you have been looking for a lakefront Airbnb in Tennessee, then you can stop the search, because this one is so nice you’ll wanna snatch up a getaway before it books up! To reserve a night, please check out this Boone Lake rental’s Airbnb page.
If you can't get enough of this pristine body of water (same!), check out even more reasons to fall in love with Boone Lake.
I have always wanted to go to John Oliver Place, but have always skipped it for some reason. This historic cabin is located in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains, and although I have been on this scenic route many times I have never made the time to stop to explore this cabin. One brisk morning we were driving through this area of the Smokies once again and decided to finally stop and check it out. What we found was an intriguing piece of Appalachian history and worthwhile detour while in Cades Cove.
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Driving around and looking for bears is one of my favorite things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There is no better place to do it than the scenic one-road drive through Cades Cove. One foggy morning we set off in search of the elusive black bear once again and I decided to finally stop and check out John Oliver’s cabin.
The structure is a bit hidden with a small parking area and a long path through the field leading up to it. I have heard several people mention how they have seen black bears roaming around the property, and I myself have even seen them in the very fields I started my journey on! I am not afraid of bears, but they're something I always prepare for, so I kept my eyes open and my bear spray close.
The cabin was a brilliantly created structure and I started to imagine what it was like to live in such a place. I pictured waking up early and hearing the creaking floorboards as I prepared for the day. I put myself in the shoes of the individuals who would start a fire to prepare a meal and warm up the cabin.
I noticed a small staircase and had to explore further. Most cabins I have seen from this time period don’t typically have a second story, so it was exciting to see it. I carefully moved up each step in the narrow staircase.
There was a railing that did not allow visitors to walk in the second story section, but you can peek at what it was like to have a wide open space that the family presumably used as a sleeping area.
The exact date of this cabin is unknown, but John Oliver arrived in the area in 1818, so it is presumed that his cabin was finished in 1820. That makes this one of the oldest structures in the Smokies! Building such a place back then was no easy task, as each log had to be hand cut, shaped, and placed just right to finalize this design. There were no chainsaws or power tools to help get the job done, just back-breaking labor. Knowing this made me appreciate the craftsmanship so much more. The work that went into building this cabin and having it still standing after 200 years is a testament to the workmanship!
I stopped to read a sign and was greeted by a lovely couple who wanted to ask me a few questions about the Smokies. I apparently looked like a local to these tourists, which I was very proud of, and gave them some helpful tips. I gave them a few suggestions on how to look for bears and recommended that they also take some time to explore the ghost town of Elkmont while they were on their Smoky Mountains trip.
I said my goodbyes and decided to take a different path back. This time I choose to go through the woods. It was so quiet and peaceful as I traversed the simple hike back. The area is similar to many of the Smoky Mountain trails I have been on, with downed trees in the distance and many green rhododendrons lining the trail. I got back to my vehicle without seeing any bears and continued to have a great relaxing day in my favorite national park.
John Oliver Place is something I have wanted to visit for a long time now and was glad I finally stopped. There is just so much history built into these mountains, making for an interesting detour on an already amazing scenic drive. To learn more about this history please visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park page. If you decide to go on any of the trails in the park I would highly suggest bringing along bear spray I always have it ready on the side of my backpack just in case.
Another must-stop place in Cades Cove is the old Methodist church so make sure you check it out. If you want to see more of our journey through Cades Cove check out this Adventuring in the Moment video. This was also the trip where we saw the most amount of deer we have ever seen in the park.
