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Top Camping Spots
for Enjoying Nature in
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the Tennessee River
Valley
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Knoxville,
TN – March 2019 / Newsmaker Alert / The
Tennessee River
Valley welcomes millions of visitors each year and while many come
for the endless opportunities of outdoor recreation, many come to get away
from the hustle and bustle of today’s world. Guests to the region are treated
to fresh air, beautiful scenery and a variety of landscapes, abundance
of wildlife, pristine waters and majestic mountains. For those who want
to experience Mother Nature up close, the Tennessee River Valley Stewardship
Council has come up with seven camping spots camping enthusiasts should
check out this year.
“Camping
in the Tennessee River Valley region offers the perfect setting for families
to connect with each other and with nature. Visitors will have tons of
acres to explore during the day while nights are spent gazing at millions
of stars,” said Julie Graham, spokesperson for the Tennessee River Valley
Stewardship Council.
Bald
Mountain Camping Resort, Hiawassee, Ga.
Visits
in the spring, summer or fall are all ideal times to get away to the Bald
Mountain Camping Resort in northeast Georgia. The mountains provide a beautiful
backdrop and plenty activities are available within a short drive. Open
from April 1 to October 31, the resort is located two hours northeast of
metro Atlanta and day trips can be made to Alpine Helen, a Bavarian Village,
The Appalachian Trail, Brasstown Bald (highest peak in Georgia), the Georgia
Mountain Fairgrounds, beautiful Lake Chatuge, and the Cabbage Patch Kids
Babyland.
Big
Bear Resort Campground, Benton, Ky.
Located
on one of the biggest man-made lakes in the world, Big Bear Resort Campground
has been a popular camping spot for families for over 60 years. Surrounded
by the pristine waters of Kentucky Lake, Big Bear encompasses 52 acres
of rolling woodlands and campers may camp right on the water’s edge. Whether
it is crappie, bass, bluegill or catfish, Kentucky Lake is one of the best
lakes for sport fishing in the country and is also home to outstanding
recreational boating, from jet skis to ski boats to pleasure boating. Water
equipment is available for rent and after a day on the water, enjoy roasting
marshmallows and a peaceful sunset.
Piney
Campground at Land Between the Lakes, Dover, Tenn.
Piney
Campground is part of Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area,
a 170,000-acre playground nestled between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.
Land Between the Lakes offers 300 miles of undeveloped shoreline for paddlers,
boaters, fishermen and campers. Hundreds of miles of trails are dedicated
to outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, backpacking, hunting and riding
horses, mountain bikes and ATVs. Opened from March 1 through November 30,
Piney Campground offers 384 lake front and wooded sites and campers have
access to modern facilities, including a swimming beach area, archery range,
ball field, bike trails, a campfire theater, hiking trails, two boat ramps
and a fishing pier. Piney Campground connects to the Fort Henry Trail System
where Civil War soldiers traveled to protect Fort Henry, Fort Heiman and
Fort Donelson. The summer season offers daily recreation programs for all
ages. In mid-September Piney holds its popular Camper’s Fair with a variety
of activities including a campers’ flea market and dealer showcase of new
RVs, fifth wheels and motor homes.
Mountain
Glen RV Park and Campground, Pikeville, Tenn.
Mountain
Glen RV Park and Campground is located in southeastern Tennessee on the
scenic Cumberland Plateau in Pikeville, Tenn. Just fifteen minutes from
beautiful Fall Creek Falls State Park and centrally located between Knoxville,
Nashville and Chattanooga, the campground offers plenty to see and do nearby
such as breathtaking waterfalls, cave tours, golf courses, orchards, scenic
train rides, miles of challenging hiking trails and many events and festivals
throughout the year.
Watauga
Dam Campground, Elizabethton, Tenn.
A
TVA campground, the Watauga Dam Campground is located on the banks of the
peaceful Watauga River in eastern Tennessee. Beautiful scenery can be seen
in all directions and the calming waters of the river provide an ideal
setting for a relaxing getaway. Currently the campground has no tent sites,
but has 29 RV sites, many of which are right on the river. Nearby hiking
excursions can begin with TVA’s Overlook Trail, which leads to spectacular
views of the Cherokee National Forest and Watauga Dam and its unique spillway.
The Appalachian Trail intersects with trails here, making for some truly
world-class hiking. The campground is open from March 15 to November 15,
2019.
Big
Ridge State Park, Maynardville, Tenn.
Bounded
on three sides by Norris Lake, Big Ridge State Park was one of the five
demonstration parks developed by the TVA in cooperation with the National
Park Service and Civilian Conservation Corps. The heavily forested park
offers both lakeside campsites and wooded campsites and is home to a variety
of activities. More than 15 miles of hiking trails criss-cross and connect
all sections of the park while taking visitors along dry ridges, lush hollows,
old roadbeds, lakeshores and beside cemeteries and remnants of early settlements.
The Norton Gristmill is the park’s most prominent historical feature. Built
in 1825, the attraction is now mostly a replica but the original mill race
and millstones remain. Other historical features include Indian Rock where
a plaque marks the site of the 1794 ambush of Peter Graves; a small monument
at Lon Sharp Cemetery recalls the 18th-century Sharp’s Station believed
to have been located near the cemetery; and the Norton Cemetery which houses
the grave of Maston Hutcheson (1826–1910), who according to local lore
is responsible for hauntings in the area.
Tishomingo
State Park Campground, Tishomingo, Miss.
Located
in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Tishomingo State Park is
steeped in history and scenic beauty. Archeological excavations confirm
the presence of Paleo Indians in the area now encompassed by the park as
early as 7000 B.C. The famous Natchez Parkway, the premier highway of the
early 1800s and a National Scenic Byway and All-American Road,, runs directly
through the park. Tishomingo and the surrounding area offer a unique landscape
of massive rock formations and fern-filled crevices found nowhere else
in Mississippi. Campers can spend hours exploring the many hiking trails
and natural sites within the Park. Noted attractions worth checking out
are the Swinging Bridge over Bear Creek (dates back to the 1930s) and a
restored log cabin situated along the creek.
For
more information or to discover additional camping spots in the Tennessee
River Valley, visit www.exploreTRV.com.
About
the Tennessee River Valley
Beginning
in the southwest corner of Virginia, the Tennessee
River Valley region cuts through the mountainous areas of Tennessee,
North Carolina, and Northern Georgia, into the rolling hills and bottomlands
of northern Alabama and Mississippi and then north through the marshes
and wetlands of middle-west Tennessee and ending in western Kentucky. The
Tennessee River Valley offers a compelling story, captivating visitors
with its little unknown facts, pristine, untouched areas and rich, authentic
experiences. Save trip ideas and plan a trip easily with the Tennessee
River Valley Geotourism MapGuide, an online guide of authentic places and
adventures that have been recommended by locals.
Media
Contact:
Julie
Graham
Tennessee
River Valley Mapguide Council
865-585-0811 |