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On the town
Town, to us, is Maryville, which is a medium-sized city about 20 minutes away.
Vonore, quite a bit smaller and slightly closer, is well worth exploring, and for the big-city lights, there is Knoxville, which
is just a half-hour beyond Maryville. (To find out what's happening in Knoxville, see The Metro Pulse.)
In general, we prefer Maryville as a destination from Tallassee because of its convenience and
it's abundance of unique establishments.Maryville has an assortment of major
chain retail outlets and restaurants and a
major mall.
The town also has what is beomming an increasingly vibrant downtown core. Our
favorite spots are Brackins Blues Club,
The Palace Theatre.
and Sullivan's Restaurant.
Concert at the Shed
A must-visit for music lovers, particularly music lovers who are also motorcyclists,
is The Shed, a unique concert pavilion/motorcycle shop operated by
Somky Mountain Harley Davidson & Buell.
The Shed has become an important venue in the area's music scene, particularly in the
genres of Americanna, Bluegrass and Blues. Past performances have featured
nationally recognized artists such as John Hiatt, John Prine, and Todd Snyder.
More often the shows feature important reginal bands or touring tribute bands.
Lunch?
For a place to eat close to home, our first pick is the Tallassee (Heart of the Dragon) Store. The
store is less than a third of a mile from our front door and often becomes a second home
for our guests. It has an extensive delli menu, free wi-fi, a pleasant outdoor deck, and a hospitable staff.
Also, any visit to Tallassee should include a stop at Tellico Harbor Marina, about 15 minutes away,
for a
meal at their floating restaurant. The food is good, but even if it weren't,
the visit would be worthwhile if only to view
the giant carp in the waters outside the restaurant.
Outside
Nearby lakes:
Tallassee is a third of a mile away from a boating put-in on upper Tellico Lake.
The Chilhowee Dam, barely two miles north of Tallassee,
separates Tellico Lake from Chilhowee Lake. Both lakes offer recreational opportunities
such as fishing an canoing.
Didn't bring a boat? No problem, professional guide Tim Doyle
will meet you on the front porch with all the expertise and equipment you leave for a great day on the lake.
Local outfitter Jeff DeBree of Dragin Canoes (865) 856-9480 will be happy to set you up with a rental canoo or a guided outing.
Wildcat Falls in Slickrock Creek National Wilderness
Hiking:
As the most visited national park in the United States, Great Smoky Mountains National
park has few secrets, but Abrams Creek campground is a rare exception. The campground is a
traffic-free an scenic, 25-minute drive from Tallassee. It offers
access to the park's trail system and to one of the parks most beautiful mountain streams,
Abrams Creek.
Another favorite of ours is over The Dragon in Slickrock Creek National Wilderness. You can park near the Chiowa Dam and hike to waterfalls and swimming holes. If you have a canoe, you can cut 45 minutes off the hike by
paddling from the campground to the mouth of Slickrock Creek. The trail is rugged and not for the faint of heart.
Whitewater:
Tallassee is an ideal staging area for visitors who want to combine the
rich recreational opportunities of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
with the numerous whitewater adventures afforded by our region. We are situated
halfway between Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg and the famous Occoee River. Just
over the Dragon is the Nantahala Gorge, wich offers visitors u-paddle raft trips, funyaks,
or guided trips.
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