If you prefer the quiet beauty of a small-town over the noise and chaos of a big city, and would choose hiking through a state park over navigating a bustling street, then you’ll absolutely fall in love with the cities and towns of Middle and East Tennessee.
The region’s mountains and rocky bluffs, dense timberland, lakes, rivers and waterfalls provide the perfect backdrop for outdoor recreation. And there’s also plenty of history, music and local culture to explore.
Let’s take a closer look at the appeal of these two Tennessee regions for visitors and residents alike, whether around our McMinnville office in Warren County, farther north in Jamestown (Fentress County), or just about anywhere else in these parts of the state. Our real estate brokerage serves at least 20 counties, maybe more, so we cannot cover everything here. But we'll aim for a good mix of areas to consider.
For perspective, here’s a historical “snapshot” of the two main counties and cities from which our brokerage operates. Warren County was established in 1807 as Tennessee’s 30th county (separated independently from White County at the time). Shortly after, McMinnville was formed as the county seat from 41 acres of available land. Settlers from Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina had begun to populate the general area several years earlier.
The rivers, creeks and natural springs brought more people in, mostly in the river valleys and later in more mountainous parts of the region. By the early 1830s, Warren County’s population exceeded 15,000. Cannon, Coffee, Dekalb, Van Buren and Grundy counties all eventually sprung out of the original Warren County. Agriculture was big early on, with hog and horse farms dominated the area, along with some apple production. Like many growing cities in America, McMinnville benefitted from the burgeoning railroad industry, and later from mineral, coal and lumber businesses as the decades passed. Today, the natural beauty and mild climate continue to attract new residents.
Established in 1823, Jamestown, and Fentress County – the county in which it sits – were both named after local politician James Fentress. The city would see steady growth from that point on, and is today a hot spot for manufacturing, healthcare and agriculture. But even as recently as 2025, Jamestown remains a close community of a little more than 2,000. By comparison, McMinnville is a bit bigger but not by much, with just under 14,000 people calling the city home.
Here on and around Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau, there’s ample opportunity for outdoor adventures. The crown jewel of the area is Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. It boasts 125,000 acres of waterways, forests and bluffs, with 200 plus miles of horse trails (After all, Big South is known as the “Trail Riding Capital of the Southeast”). Located in Oneida in Scott County near the northernmost part of Middle Tennessee, the park also offers courses, guided outings and events.
Just to the east of Cumberland County, Watts Bar Lake is the top spot to enjoy every kind of watersport imaginable. And an hour north of Jamestown, Dale Hollow Lake is one of the cleanest lakes in the country, also surrounded by great trails. But be sure to visit some of the region’s various state parks for some of the best natural beauty and recreation Tennessee offers.
Only 22 and 44 minutes respectively from McMinnville are Rock Island State Park and Fall Creek Falls State Park, two of the area's most popular destinations. One hour south of Fentress County, Cumberland Mountain State Park features swimming and fishing at Byrd Lake, and one of the Bear Trace golf courses designed by legendary pro Jack Nicklaus. There’s another Bear Trace course at Harrison Bay State Park, along with 40 miles of Chickamauga Lake shoreline, wooded picnic areas and a full marina. The latter park is in Hamilton County around the southernmost part of East Tennessee.
From Hamilton County, if you head around 2 1/2 hours back up the state slightly to the northeast, you'll find Frozen Head State Park in Wartburg, which has extensive hiking trails, mountain views and campsites within some 24,000 acres. Then, drive 12 minutes southwest to reach the Obed Wild and Scenic River where you can paddle the rapids (Some waves rise 10 feet!), climb the surrounding cliffs or just stick to short, easy trails.
Once you’ve had your fill of outdoor adventures in the region, including exploring why Crossville is the “Golf Capital of Tennessee,” you may want to check out the area’s other attractions. You can dive into music, local culture and even gain some deeper insight into the history of communities in East and Middle Tennessee.
McMinnville is the middle point between Nashville and Chattanooga, and according to VisitMcMinnville.com, "a place where hospitality, adventure, and beauty intersect." You can explore the arts, head to family-friendly entertainment spots, check out local restaurants and more across Warren County. MainStreetMcMinnville.org is another good site for discovering the city's Main Street Live! concert series, Farm to Table event, local shops and other things to see and do. At some point, head outside the heart of the city to experience the natural wonder that is Cumberland Caverns.
About 1 1/2 hours to the northeast of McMinnville in Jamestown, you'll find Highland Manor Winery, which holds the distinction of "Tennessee's Oldest Winery." While in Jamestown, you might check out Pickett CCC Memorial State Park – which has all the typical recreation offerings we mentioned earlier – but also less strenuous educational and historical programs enjoyed by all ages here in Fentress County.
With influences from Nashville and Memphis, the music scene in the Upper Cumberland Plateau is incredible and growing. The Historic Palace Theatre in Crossville is a fully-restored community auditorium that hosts country, blues, jazz and other music concerts. But don't limit your discovery of Crossville and Cumberland County to just the music scene. There are plenty of other entertainment venues, events, shops and unique eateries here.
Speaking of historic sites, there are several East Tennessee state parks that focus more on education and history than recreation (arguably even more so than Pickett in Jamestown). For a deep dive into the mid-1700s, head to Fort Loudoun State Historic Park in Vonore (Monroe County). Bordering southeast Tennessee and northern Georgia, Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park features programs and presentations on Civil War-era battles. And opened in 2015, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park has facilities, equipment and artifacts from the namesake program that developed atomic weapons during World War II.
Middle and East Tennessee represent a very large portion of the state with more sites, sounds and things to do than we could ever cover here. But we hope we've provided at least a solid overview for you, whether you're a visitor or new resident in Tennessee. From the diverse mix of southeast Tennessee events in Monroe County, to music and nightlife in Middle Tennessee's Rutherford County, the history and recreation of White County, Pelham's spectacular The Caverns in Grundy County and all areas in-between and just beyond ... it's all waiting for you here in our home state of Tennessee. Come explore for yourself!
Sources: McMinnvilleTn.gov; VisitMcMinnvilleTn.com; MainStreetMcMinnville.org; JamestownTn.gov; ExploreCrossville.com; VisitMonroeTn.com; VisitRutherfordTn.com; WhiteCountyTn.gov; SoutheastTennessee.com; TnStateParks.com; StateParks.com; Nps.gov; BestThingsTn.com; NationalParks.org; En.Wikipedia.org; OutdoorChattanooga.com; TennesseeRiverValleyGeotourism.org; MyGolfVacation.com