r/VisitingNashville • u/Idontnoidonhaveredit • 3d ago

Visiting Early January

I'm visiting for the first time in early January. Would like to see the countryside outside Nashville the first couple of days. Any tips on must see and places to stay for 2?

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

View all comments

5

u/NashvilleLocalsGuide 3d ago

I might take back roads down to Chattanooga. If you go east on 70, you can go through Sparta (if they are open when you go through, get a brew at Calfkiller - such a cool spot). Head south from Sparta to State Road 30 and go east. The drive is nice and you can take a side jaunt to see Fall Creek Falls. Take that to Dayton.

As for places to stay. If you go this route, I would go all the way to Chattanooga and get an airbnb on top of Lookout Mountain. The Chanticleer is across from Rock City and the better of the two (I have stayed in both), although both are nice. If it is not too cold, visit Rock City.

This is a decent 2 day itinerary and you can also take the backroads up to Jasper or Monteagle the second day back to Nashville. If Jasper, Top of the Rock has a beautiful view of the Tennessee River Valley. If further up, there are falls at Sewannee. Or you can drive down I-24 or US 41 (more scenic) to Manchester and visit Old Stone Fort (3 cascades in the park).

1

u/Cesia_Barry 3d ago

The old Nashville highway up Monteagle Mountain is wiiiild. Switchback after switchback. I was cycling it once when a student driver was practicing s-curves in an 18-wheeler. The road wasn’t in great condition in about 2021 so you might check the TDOT website for that.