Mountains, Music and History: Drive the Sunny Side Trail

Historic Greeneville is home to the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, providing insight into the complex 17th U.S. president. The Memorial Building houses the presidential museum, the Early Home tells the story of the tailor-turned-politician, the Homestead contains furnishings and artifacts as Johnson’s family home for 24 years, and the president is buried at Andrew Johnson National Cemetery.

Tennessee's oldest town is also the Storytelling Capital of the World. The International Storytelling Center, located in downtown Jonesborough, hosts resident artists who tell vibrant stories throughout the year. Catch a performance of the famous Storytelling Live! series that features 20 nationally known storytellings in live concerts at 2 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday from May-October. The annual National Storytelling Festival occurs every October and is the premier storytelling event in the United States, frequently hosting international tellers.

Previously known as the Watauga Settlement at Sycamore Shoals, Elizabethton was one of the first permanent settlements outside the original 13 colonies. Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park sits on the site of the early settlement and features interpretive programs throughout the year, including “Liberty!,” the state’s longest-running outdoor drama performed each July. The park also hosts tours of the nearby Taylor Home at Sabine Hill, built circa 1815, and Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in the state built from 1775 to 1780.

The Cherokee National Forest is the largest tract of public land in Tennessee with more than 660,000 acres of views and adventure to be enjoyed. In Unicoi, explore the many hiking trails that weave through the Southern Appalachian Mountains. When driving “The Snake,” part of the Southern Dozen motorcycle trail program, be sure to visit Backbone Rock, known as the world’s shortest highway tunnel, in the Cherokee National Forest.

Rocky Mount State Historic Site is located minutes away in Piney Flats. The home of William Cobb and outbuildings serve as a living history museum that helped build the State of Tennessee. Wander the same grounds where frontier families forged a future. Visit historic cabins, meet heritage animals and chat with costumed interpreters who bring the story to life. 

Kingsport is the site of the first Pal’s Sudden Service, featuring burgers, shakes and other “great food in a flash.” Order a burger, chipped ham sandwich or a chilibun - a hot dog smothered in chili and onions. For additional local tastes, check out the city’s original Long Island Tea – created with five types of liquor by Charles Bishop and named for his local island in the midst of Prohibition – long before a similar drink appeared in New York.

The easily accessible Elrod Falls near Sneedville is a great side trip during your road trip. Consisting of three cascading falls that drop almost 100 feet, Elrod Falls is accessible so everyone can enjoy the beauty of these gentle rolling water. Hike one of the surrounding trails, enjoy a picnic and swim in the pools at the base of the falls.

The Thomas Amis Historic Site was settled by Revolutionary War Capt. Thomas Amis in 1780 and is still owned by family. Today, it’s a functioning farm and the site of numerous cultural and historical events. Stop by the Amis Mill Eatery for delicious Southern cooking and beautiful views.

Let your creativity run wild at a workshop class hosted the fourth Saturday of each month at The Rose Center Council for the Arts. In addition to art workshops, the Rose Center hosts major craft fairs like the Mountain Makins Festival, a juried arts and crafts show that also includes Appalachian music and folklife demonstrations and the Between the Lakes Blues Festival in May. Year-round exhibits can be toured including the local artist gallery and gift shop, the historic gallery and and the children's studio, a hands-on, interactive display designed for creative fun.

Enjoy an overnight stay at Shepard Inn in downtown Dandridge. The inn has a unique, historic charm that you will love, plus it's steps away from antique shops, boutiques and eateries like the famous Tinsley-Bible Drug Store and Dandridge Brewing Company. You'll love the charming and inviting rooms, enjoy quiet reading in the bright sunroom and enjoy the lunch menu that changes monthly.