Activities

Recreational Opportunities Abound!

From hiking, bicycling, tubing and canoeing, fishing, horseback-riding, camping, and picnicking to shopping for arts and crafts, golfing, enjoying music concerts and festivals, or visiting museums, there is something for all ages and interests, year-round in Townsend.

(Please use inside scroll bar on the right to view more information below.)

Arts and Crafts Exhibits at the Townsend Visitor Center from April through December. Enjoy woodcrafts, stained glass, fiber arts, photography, painting, and more on display and for sale by local artists. See the calendar at: http://www.smokymountains.org/arts/arts-crafts-demos.html and sign up for an arts, crafts, or music workshop yourself!
Don't miss the Townsend Spring Festival, the first Friday/Saturday in May each year, The Smoky Mountain Pottery Festival the first Saturday in June, and the Townsend Fall Heritage Festival, the last Friday/Saturday in September. These events feature bluegrass and mountain music and dance, local crafts, fine pottery, and demonstrations of Appalachian skills. An all-Townsend event is the Winter Heritage Festival in early February. For more information about all our Festivals: Click here to view our new Smoky Mountain Festivals website!
Music is everywhere! Enjoy seasonal concerts in Townsend at Wood-N-Strings Dulcimer Shop and at Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center. Enjoy nationally known performers at The Palace Theater in Maryville or atttend week-long workshops for guitar, mandolin, banjo, dobro, and fiddle at Kaufman Acoustic Kamps at Maryille College. Visit those websites or call the Townsend Visitor Center at 800-525-6834 for details.
Fishing is lots of fun in the cool, clear Little River which flows out of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and right through Townsend. Bring your own gear, or stop by one of the outfitters in the area and get everything you need to fish for trout, bass, rockbass, or bluegill.
Hiking: From backcountry treks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to a stroll along a stream or a half day walk, there are trails for everyone and for any time of year. Come by the Townsend Visitors Center to purchase a map and get advice.

Laurel Valley Golf Course is open to the public and offers 18 scenic holes, senior rates, and a full service restaurant. See http://www.laurelvalleygolf.com/
Go Caving! Tuckaleechee Caverns is open from mid March through mid November and offers guided tours of this beautiful underground wonderland.
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, nestled in Walker Valley within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offers residential environmental education programs, photography workshops, and nature camps for both adults and young people. See http://www.gsmit.org/
Two museums highlight the fascinating history of this region: Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, http://www.gsmheritagecenter.org/, showcases Native American lore, pioneer settlement, and transportation. The Little River Railroad Museum, http://www.littleriverrailroad.org/, features exhibits about the railroad and lumbering days. There is a locomotive engine, handcar, and other equipment from the 1920's and 30's.
Enjoy traditional mountain music, and even watch a dulcimer being made, at the Wood-N-Strings Dulcimer shop, http://www.clemmerdulcimer.com/. There are several other venues that feature live bluegrass during the spring, summer, and fall.
Saddle up and enjoy horseback riding in Great Smoky Mountains National Park or along other trails at the borders of the Park. See http://www.smokymountains.org/attractions/horseback-riding.html

Blount County has recently been designated a "Preserve America" Community. This national honor reflects our dedication to the natural and cultural heritage of this beautiful and historic region of East Tennessee. See: http://www.preserveamerica.gov/09-04-07PAcommunity-blountTN.html