Meet Our Favorite Cities

Bristol straddles the Tennessee-Virginia border, allowing you to walk down State Street with a foot in each state. As the “Birthplace of Country Music,” the city celebrates the legendary 1927 Bristol Sessions that launched the genre into the mainstream. It is also home to the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway, a high-banked “Colosseum” of NASCAR racing carved into the Appalachian foothills. This unique “Twin City” blends deep musical heritage and high-speed thrills with the natural beauty of underground caverns, world-class trout fishing, and the excitement of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Johnson City, Tennessee, is a vibrant mountain town that blends deep Appalachian history with a modern, artsy energy centered around East Tennessee State University. Once a rough-and-tumble rail hub nicknamed “Little Chicago” during the Prohibition era, the city now features a revitalized downtown packed with local breweries, murals, and independent shops. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the rugged peaks of Buffalo Mountain Park or bike the 10-mile Tweetsie Trail, a scenic rail-to-trail path connecting the city to neighboring Elizabethton. For a truly unique experience, visitors can tour the world-class Gray Fossil Site, an active dig uncovering five-million-year-old mastodons and red pandas right in the city’s backyard.

Kingsport proudly calls itself the “City of Originals,” famously serving as the true birthplace of the Long Island Iced Tea recipe and the legendary Pal’s Sudden Service burger chain. Nature lovers can explore Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium, the largest city-owned park in the state, which features a massive lake, 40 miles of trails, and a unique wolf habitat. The city’s history comes alive at the Netherland Inn and Exchange Place, while the hand-carved Kingsport Carousel offers a whimsical ride for visitors of all ages. For a scenic urban adventure, the 10-mile Greenbelt walking path meanders along the Holston River, connecting charming downtown boutiques with lush, mountain-view parks.

Jonesborough, established in 1779, holds the title of Tennessee’s oldest town and once served as the capital of the short-lived, autonomous State of Franklin. As the “Storytelling Capital of the World,” the town hosts the prestigious National Storytelling Festival each October and is home to the International Storytelling Center. Its well-preserved 18th-century downtown features red-brick sidewalks and historic sites like the Chester Inn, where three U.S. Presidents have stayed. This charming village uniquely blends pioneer history with the arts, offering everything from a resident ghost story tradition to an active railroad that rolls right through the heart of Main Street.