HOW TO GET TO EAST TENNESSEE
Anglers, Pine And Cast Away Lodge are located in Gray,Tennessee. Gray
is located in the Tri-Cities area of Kingsport, Johnson City and
Bristol. . All of the lodge's are located within 7 miles from the Tri
Cities airport. And 15 miles from the Bristol Speedway.
See area information below. Click on the Activity website links and
it will take you directly to the business website.
Getting Here By Road
Northeast Tennessee is within a day's drive of half the U.S.
population, making it an easy choice for your next vacation. So when
the family asks, “Are we there yet?” answer with a confident “Any
minute now.”
• Interstate access: I-81, I-26
• Primary Highway access: US 11E, 11W, 19, 19E, 19W, 23, 321,
421 and numerous State Routes.
• Tri-Cities Regional Airport, TN/VA: Providing daily
commercial flights to major hubs connecting to domestic and
international destinations.
• Five municipal airports strategically located in the region
offer charter service for the business community.
• Bus Lines: Greyhound
Getting Here By Air
Located approximately three miles from I-81, Tri-Cities Regional
Airport (TRI) is a full-service commercial airport that serves as a
gateway to East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Western North
Carolina, and parts of Kentucky. The airport offers nonstop service
to several major hubs, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Ft.
Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa Bay.
Tri-Cities Regional Airport, TN/VA
Phone: (423) 325-6000
Fax: (423) 325-6060
Website:
Driving Distances
City Distance Travel Time
Asheville, NC 65 miles 1 hour
Atlanta, GA 269 miles 4.5 hours
Chattanooga, TN 218 miles 3.5 hours
Charlotte, NC 157 miles 3.5 hours
Columbus, OH 445 miles 8 hours
Indianapolis, IN 440 miles 8 hours
Jacksonville, FL 500 miles 8.5 hours
Knoxville, TN 107 miles 1.5 hours
Lexington, KY 279 miles 4.5 hours
Memphis, TN 494 miles 9 hours
Nashville, TN 375 miles 5 hours
Washington, DC 410 miles 7 hours
THINGS TO DO IN THE AREA.
Boone lake is a 32 Mile long TVA lake, with 130 miles of shore line.
TVA Lowers the lake during the winter and the water is at its regular
level May 1st. You can swim, fish rent a pontoon boat. This is a
great lake for tubing, jetsking or spend the day exploring the lake.
Enjoy lunch or dinner and live entertainment at one of the local
marina's.
Boone Lake Level Information:
Boone Lake is a TVA lake. TVA lowers the water level in the winter
months and the level is back to full pool in the spring. Click on
this link to see what the water level will be during your stay.
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A Full Week of Kids Adventures:
Day One:
Start your day at Hands On! Regional Museum with interactive exhibits
Located one block from I-26. Hands On! Regional
Museum is a unique environment for children of all ages, designed to
make learning fun imagination is the only limitation. Programs and
activities in the arts, sciences, and humanities are offered daily.
Open: Tues.-Fri. 9am-5pm; Sat. 10am-5pm; Sun. 1-5pm. Mon. 9am-5pm
(Jun.-Aug. only). Closed holidays. Spend some time at the Fun
Expedition: Located 1 mile from I-26. Among the activities you'll
find at Fun Expedition is mini golf, batting cages, climbing wall,
laser tag arena, state of the art arcade gallery, indoor and outdoor
go-kart track, bumper cars, bowling, and toddler/soft play area. Our
all-you-care-to-eat Box Car Buffet boasts over 30 varieties of piping
hot pizzas made throughout the day in addition to a generous salad,
pasta and dessert selection. If your destination is FUN, then get on
board at Fun Expedition. Open Mon. - Thurs. 11am - 9 pm; Fri. & Sat.
10am - 11
Day Two:
Travel down I-26 to the Gray Fossil Site & Museum.
this is the worlds largest Miocene Fossil Site where you will
experience new species of fossils never seen before up to 5 million
years old. Watch the paleontologist dig for bones at the observation
area or join in the fun and dig for some in the kids dig area. Enjoy
a simple lunch at the fossil site or stop by one of the areas many
restaurants.
Day Three:
Visit Bristol Caverns is the largest in the Smokey Mountain Region.
Beautiful and majestic Bristol Caverns! Far below the earth's
surface, in the timeless beauty of Bristol Caverns, a strange and
exciting experience awaits you. Paved, well lighted walkways wind
through the vaulted chambers and along the banks of the ancient
Underground River that carved these remarkable caverns from the hard
core of the earth 200 to 400 million years ago. In the frontier days,
Indians used the Underground River as an attack and escape route in
their raids on settlers. Stealing into the area by way of the
Underground River and the caverns, they swooped down on unsuspecting
families, then disappeared as if swallowed up by the earth.
Day Four:
Enjoy the day at Wetlands Water Park in Jonesborough, Tennessee’s
oldest town. At Wetlands Water Park, they can scream their way down a
200-foot fiberglass flume. Lounge in the lazy river, take a dive down
a water slide and enjoy the kiddy-sized play areas with water
fountains and shaded swimming. Wetlands water park in Jonesboro.
Day Five:
When you have had your fill of sun and excitement on Boone Lake,
travel into downtown Jonesborough. Visit the International
Storytelling Center, with daily matinees. You won’t want to miss this
three-day storytelling extravaganza featuring compelling performances
by nationally-known tellers. Enjoy shopping in Jonesboro. Jonesboro
is 8 miles away and is the oldest town in Tennessee. Jonesboro has a
storytelling festival yearly at the story telling center. Take a
carriage ride around the town, enjoy unique shopping and treat the
kids at the local sweets shops.
Day Six:
Enjoy a trip to Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium. Originally a tract
of land bought to protect the source of Kingsport’s water supply,
Bays Mountain Park, at over 3,550 acres with a 44-acre lake in a
natural valley between two ridges and 27 miles of hiking trails. It
is one of the largest city-owned parks in the nation. Be sure to drop
by the Nature Center and view the exhibits and visit the various
wildlife habitats, including the famous wolves. There’s also a
planetarium and an observatory on the grounds. Located in beautiful
Kingsport, Tennessee, Farmstead Museum, and a spectacular Planetarium
Theater with a 40 foot diameter dome.
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Girlfriend Weekend:
Day One:
Begin your weekend of elegance by enjoying the beauty of the
Northeast Tennessee countryside. First, visit the family owned and
operated Countryside Vineyards in Blountville. Countryside Vineyards
& Winery is dedicated to extracting some of nature's most enticing
flavors and making them into award winning wines. The vineyard offers
tours and sampling to enhance your visit. Located just 1.5 mile from
I-81 exit #63. Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains,
Countryside Vineyards in Blountville, Tennessee ripens a rich harvest
of memorable flavors from the earth. Home to the several award-
winning wines recognized throughout the state of Tennessee and other
national competitions. Stop by for a free tour and taste of our award
winning wines. Open Mon.-Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 1-6pm. Call to confirm
hours. Closed Christmas Day and New Years Day. Limited hours all
other holidays. Phone:
Day Two:
Spend the day shopping! The Tri-Cities is a great place to shop with
newly remodeled malls, strip centers, several shopping centers, and
lots of antique stores. After a long day on your feet lugging bags
around, pamper yourself in Johnson City at the Body & Health Mind
Center, and indulge in their amazing menu of services. They have
several spa packages to choose from and you're sure to find one that
is perfect for you.
Day Three:
Head north to enchanting Abingdon, Virginia. Abingdon offers visitors
great places to visit and shop. Be sure to go shop at Dixie Pottery
where you can find interior decorations for your home.
Finally, take the night to enjoy a show at the famed Barter Theatre.
Barter Theatre: Barter Theatre began in 1933 with one man's idea to
have patrons pay with produce and has grown today into a year-round
theatre with more than 160,000 visitors each year. Famous Barter
Alumni include: Gregory Peck, Patricia Neal, and Wayne Knight. In
addition to being the state theatre of Virginia, Barter has launched
the careers of such celebrity performers as Wayne Knight, Gregory
Peck, Patricia Neal, and Ernest Borgnine. Barter offers a wide range
of performances including musicals, classics, comedies and dramas,
all of which you are sure to enjoy..
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Group Trips:
Bristol Motor Speedway:
Located 8 miles from I-81. Known as "The World's Fastest Half-Mile,"
BMS annually hosts two NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series
events. Bristol Dragway, better known as "Thunder Valley," hosts the
NHRA Drag Racing Series, its own Bracket Series program and its
popular street-legal racing series called Street Fights. Visitors
also can share in the spirit of the holiday season during “Speedway
in Lights” exhibit. Track tours available. Call for a complete
schedule of events and tour schedule. Office hours: Mon.-Fri. 9am-
5pm.
Rocky Mount Living History Museum:
Located 4 miles from I-26 on Highway 11-E. The First Capitol of the
Southwest Territory (1790-1792), now a Living History Museum.
Interpreters invite you to become a guest of the Cobb family in 1791
and experience everyday life on American's first frontier. Open Mar. -
Mid Dec. (first and second Fri. and Sat. in December). Tues.-Sat.
11a.m.-5 p.m. other times by appointment. Closed Labor Day,
Thanksgiving Day.
Sonny's Marina Boat Rentals:
Located off Highway 36. One mile behind Zak's Furniture. Full-service
marina, mechanics, ship store, gift shop, parts department, boat
rentals and full service restaurant with live music during the summer
months on site. Open seasonal April - Nov. 9am-6pm daily.
Warriors' Path State Park:
Located 2 miles off I-81. Warriors' Path State Park was named for the
park's proximity to the ancient war and trading path used by the
Cherokee. Since that time, the parkland has known a long history of
travelers, and is still a pathway for modern-day outdoor enthusiasts.
Park features hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, bike trails,
boating, water skiing, fishing, boat ramps, 18 hole golf course,
playground, swimming pool, 22 hole disc golf course and pets welcome.
Fishing boats, paddle boats, and canoes rentals available. Open year
round.
Netherland Inn And Boatyard: The Netherland Inn is the nation's only
registered historical site which was both a stage stop and a
boatyard. The restored Netherland Inn and section of the Old Boatyard
are a great place to visit and learn the history of the region.
Appalachian Ghost Walks: cordially invites you and your family,
friends, co-workers, or tour group to join us as we explore the
history and mystery of our mountain heritage. Our lantern-lit tours
bring our region's Cherokee Indian, Frontier, Revolutionary and Civil
War History to life for all ages.
Winged Deer Park:
Located 4 miles from I-26. 200-acre municipal park. Featuring .5-mile
flat walking/jogging track and a 1.5-mile paved lighted nature trail
in the wooded section of the park. Handicap accessible fishing along
our lighted boardwalk on the lakefront. Multi-use picnic tables,
playground area, batting cage, sand volleyball courts, historical
section featuring the Robert Young Cabin, Massengill Monument and
Quillen Historical Tree Museum, grass amphitheatre, and a 9-hole disc
golf course. Open to the public daily
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An Entire Week of Outdoor Adventure:
Day One:
To start your adventure trip, head to Blountville to explore the
Appalachian Caverns. These caverns have served as a hide out for
Indians, Civil War soldiers, and moonshiners over the years and you
can discover why by taking the 3 and half hour "Wild Trip" through
the underdeveloped parts of the cave. The caverns are also home to
several species of bats including the endangered Grey Bat.
Appalachian Caverns.
here you will take a one hour guided tour savoring the breathtaking
beauty the labyrinth of corridors and rooms have to offer. Almost one
mile of walkways, some winding through great rooms with ceilings
reaching an impressive height of 135 feet, provide a full hour of
excitement and adventure
Day Two:
Hop on I-81 and head north to Abingdon, Va. to the Creeper Trail.
The Virginia Creeper Trail, which was formerly a railroad, offers
35 miles of scenic and serene biking, hiking, or horseback riding and
is a great way to spend the afternoon. The Virginia Creeper Trail
stretches 35 miles from Abingdon Virginia thru Damascus Virginia to
the NC State Line near Whitetop Virginia. The Virginia Creeper Trail
is open to hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The former
rail bed passes through the back country of Southwest Virginia. The
Virginia Creeper Trail is rich in beauty and regional history. This
is a biking adventure that you and your friends will talk about for a
long time.
Day Three:
Take an exciting rafting trip down the Nolichucky through the deepest
gorge in the Eastern United States with Cherokee Adventures or
Mountain Adventure Guides/USA Raft. You will experience class II-IV
rapids as you wind through the steep cliffs and towering forests.
Those who want more of a challenge can opt for an individual duck if
the water levels permit. Cherokee Adventures Whitewater Rafting
Located 1.4 miles from I-26. Our specialty is the scenic Nolichucky
River. The Nolichucky, winding through both North Carolina and
Tennessee, offers a variety of whitewater rapids (guided class III
and IV) that cut their way through a beautiful 3000' gorge. We don't
just do whitewater rafting trips: we also offer Funyaks, riverside
camping, mountain-biking tours, ropes courses, family fun, Full
service restaurant and hot showers. No experience needed. Operating:
Mar.-Oct.
Day Four:
Dress a little warmer before you reach the breathtaking views from
Roan Mountain. At 6,285 ft., Roan Mountain is one of the area’s
tallest mountains and offers spectacular panoramic views of the
surrounding peaks and valleys. While atop Roan Mountain State Park be
sure to walk through the beautiful Rhododendron gardens that are at
peak bloom in late June. Before you leave Roan Mountain, drive to
nearby Elk River Falls for a swim and a view of one of the areas most
powerful falls. Roan Mountain State Park Located 20 miles off I-26.
6,285 ft. elev. and the "world's largest natural stand of
Rhododendron gardens" picnic tables, charcoal grills , playground,,
pets welcome, fishing, swimming pool, and tennis.
Day Five:
Take a break from all your adventures and chill out on the water. On
Boone Lake you can fish, Rent jet skis, Personal Water Craft Jet Ski
Rentals. Rent a boat from Sonny's Lakeview Marinas, or just soak
up the sun. Be sure to hit up some of the waterfront cafes and bars
for some food, drinks, and live music. Spend the day fishing on Boone
Lake Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency Fishing Regulations: Non-
resident licenses: Junior (ages 13-15) $9.00; Adult (no trout) 3-Day
$16.50; 10-Day $25.50; or Annual (no trout) $41.00; Adult All fish
including trout: 3-Day $33.50; 10-Day $50.50; or Annual $81.00; No
licenses needed for children under 12 years of age. Fishing license
can be purchased at Kenny’s bait shop, or Wal-Mart sporting goods
dept.
Day Six:
AVT & Motorcross: Muddy Creek Moto Cross
Muddy Creek Raceway is a 14 year old facility that got its start as a
practice track on Sunday afternoons. The rider's numbers got so
great that the idea of scoring came into play. The rest is history.
Muddy Creek Raceway was rated by Motocross Action as one of the top 3
tracks in the United States. The only fault they could find with the
track was that it was not located next to their office!
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Guys Golf Weekend:
Want to get in more golfing while your here...Northeast Tennessee
offers beautiful championship quality golf courses. For an
unforgettable round of golf try one of the following courses:
Tri-Cities Golf Club :
Located 3.4 miles from I-81, exit 69. Tri-Cities Golf Club has been a
key venue for public golf for over 30 years. We offer the best value
for golf in the region providing 27 holes with a variety of
conditions. With our convenient and easy to get to location, you can
be here in minutes from Bristol, Johnson City, Elizabethton or
Kingsport. You will use every club in your bag when you decide to
play all 27 holes. If you are a local golfer who has not played here,
or are in town for a race, vacation, or just passing through, stop by
for a great golfing experience. We look forward to seeing you!
Cattails at Meadow View: Cattails at Meadow View, a Denis Griffiths
design, originally opened in 1998 and has quickly become recognized
as one of the top golf courses in a Tennessee region that was
recently named the second best golf city in America by Golf Digest
magazine.
Graysburg Hills Golf Course:
Located 5 miles from I-81. Graysburg Hill's 27 hole family owned and
operated course opened for play in 1978. Rees Jones designed the
Knobs and Fodderstack Nines. The Chimney Top Nine was designed by
Edward Lawrence Packard and opened for play in 1994. Nestled in the
foothills of one of east Tennessee's most scenic regions. The course
is highly respected for its grooming and maintenance standards,
friendly atmosphere and reasonable rates. No pretension here, just
great golf at an affordable price. 4 Star Rating Places to Play Guide
published by GOLF DIGEST MAGAZINE. Tee times required. Pro shop,
snack shop, golf club rentals, practice facilities and putting green.
Golf packages and lessons available. Open year round. Chimney Top
Nine offers home sites from beautifully wooded lots to panoramic
views of the mountains and the golf course.
RESTAURANTS
Casual Dining:
Cracker Barrel - Golden Corral - Reflections - Outback Steakhouse -
Olive Garden - Red Lobster - House Of Ribs -
Blue Pear Grille - Sushi Blues - Logan's Road House - Cottie Brown's
Pizza - El Matador- Amigos Mexican - Rocky River Grill -
Motto Japan - Chedders - Stir Fry Asian
Fine Dining:
Pacific Cafe - Hemingways Piano Bar - Peerless Steakhouse- Galloways
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