7 Playfully Peculiar Towns In Tennessee

Tennessee’s beauty is nothing new. You have likely already read an article or two about its mountain towns in Appalachia or the Smokies. However, in reality, the state’s mountains do not have half the odd stories that Tennessee’s peculiar towns do. Throughout some of the state’s smallest towns, travelers will find Cola and Moonpie festivals, entire museums dedicated to salt and pepper shakers, and underground caverns that rival the size of football stadiums. If you are looking for a bit of weirdness in your travels this year, you are sure to find it in these seven quirky destinations.

Lynchburg

Tennessee whiskey is known far and wide, and what better way to experience it than at the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg? This world-famous distillery offers a variety of tour types to the public, including classic distillery tours, barrel tours, and bonded whiskey tours, allowing you to get a sense of how this company produces its beloved product. After your tour, drop by the Jack Daniel's Lynchburg Hardware & General Store, which has little hardware but plenty of Jack Daniel’s souvenirs for sale. If your sipping and shopping has worked up an appetite, grab a savory bite at Miss Mary Bobo's Restaurant, which has been serving southern cuisine in town since 1908. A few of the dishes on the menu include meatloaf, southern fried chicken, and barbecue ribs.

Paris

Why go to France when you can go to Paris, Tennessee instead? This town knows how to represent its name well, home to a giant, 60-foot steel replica of the Eiffel Tower that visitors can see for themselves at Eiffel Tower Park. After grabbing a photo of the replica, stick around at the park for a while, enjoying its many amenities like a trout pond, swimming pool, splash pad, disc golf course, sand volleyball court, and more. Travelers with a sweet tooth will also appreciate a pit stop at Sally Lane's Candy Farm, a local candy store that sells toffee, mints, white chocolate popcorn, chocolate bark, and other sugary treats. Unwind at the end of the day with a craft beer from Paris Station, a beloved taproom that hosts trivia, bingo, and live music nights throughout the week.

Bell Buckle

If you are looking for a bit of nostalgia, you will likely find it in Bell Buckle. You might want to go ahead and mark your calendar for June 20th, 2026, when the town will celebrate its love for two iconic treats at the RC Cola and MoonPie Festival. The day’s festivities include 5K races, live music, a parade, and the cutting of the world’s largest moon pie, to name just a few highlights of this sweet celebration! Looking for an event that is coming up a bit sooner? Fortunately, the Webb Art & Craft Show will take place on October 18th and 19th this year! Commemorating the crisp fall season, this festival features a juried lineup of art exhibitors, selling everything from pottery and woodworking to jewelry and soaps. If you have been looking for a new book to get into, consider swinging by the Bell Buckle Coffee Shop & Book Swap while in town. In addition to selling some delicious brews, this local business allows customers to bring in their gently used books and trade them for something new!

Jonesborough

Known as the “Storytelling Capital of the World,” Jonesborough is the place to be to get swept up into a fantastical tale. The International Storytelling Center is at the heart of it all, producing over 300 hours of live performances each year on its stages. The National Storytelling Festival is coming up soon as well, from October 3rd to the 5th, featuring over 20 professional storytellers who will take to the stage. For a souvenir, travelers can stop by the Old Town Emporium Gift Shop in the Jonesborough Visitors Center. Here, you’ll find the largest collection of children’s and history books in town, along with a wide variety of artisan gifts.

Gatlinburg

While Gatlinburg is widely known for its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it also has some pretty quirky attractions that fly under the radar. If you have been convinced that your life was incomplete without a salt and pepper museum, consider the search officially over. The town is home to the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, the only one of its kind in the world, featuring more than 20,000 sets of shakers from across the globe! The eccentric exhibits continue at Gatlinburg’s Ripley's Believe It or Not!, which displays hundreds of odd artifacts and interactive exhibits. Up for a bit of a scare? Check out the Mysterious Mansion, a terrifying haunted house that is open year-round. During weekends in October, the mansion hosts special Halloween presentations as well for those who will be in town.

Townsend

Townsend’s quirks are largely found underground, in the depths of the Tuckaleechee Caverns. These caverns, referred to as the “Greatest Site Under the Smokies,” are estimated to be between 20 and 30 million years old, with one room reaching close to the size of a football stadium! There is also a 210-foot plunging cascade to see inside, known as “Silver Falls,” which is the tallest underground waterfall in the Eastern US. Above ground, travelers can also seek thrills on a river tube with River Rat Tubing & Rafting, which offers tubing rentals between late May to early September each year. Even though tubing season is over for the year, you can still enjoy the Townsend Fall Heritage Festival coming up, which includes a weekend of Bluegrass tunes, clogging, square dancing, and plenty of Appalachian cooking.

Sweetwater

The underground adventures continue in Sweetwater, home to the country’s largest underground lake! This lake, known as The Lost Sea, measures an impressive 800 feet long and 220 feet wide, though its full extent is still a mystery. Travelers can sign up for a tour of the lake, which lasts for about an hour and 15 minutes, exploring about three-fourths of a mile through the cave.

Milk and cheese fans can add the Sweetwater Valley Farm to their itinerary next. Upon touring the farm’s robotic milking facilities, visitors can enjoy a free cheese tasting of the farm’s artisan cheeses. If you still need to make Halloween plans, consider attending the town’s Historic Halloween event. Taking place on October 31st, this festival will feature lots of candy, a dance party, vendors, and inflatables for the kids.

A Less Conventional Side Of The State

If you are ready for a different kind of adventure this year, consider an excursion to one of these seven towns instead. While some of their attractions are not necessarily conventional, they are just as memorable as a weekend of hiking or camping under the stars can be. You might even leave with a unique souvenir from one of their quirky shops or festivals! So let yourself wander off the beaten track a bit and get ready to explore the Volunteer State like never before!