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11 Must-See Romantic Things to Do in East Tennessee

A sunset bathes the property and our Percheron draft horses
A sunset bathes the property and our Percheron draft horses

East Tennessee is beautiful year-round with its scenic drives, amazing lookouts, great foods, and amazing cities. And if you’re planning a romantic getaway, you want to know the best that East Tennessee has to offer. 

If you’re looking for a laid-back and romantic time with your sweetie, we’ve got you covered with these romantic things to do in East Tennessee.

11 Romantic Things to Do in East Tennessee

  1. Sweetwater Valley Farm
    Nothing says ‘romance’ like a farm tour. 😉 But seriously, Sweetwater offers great “cow to cheese” tours and then has award-winning cheddar samples. Signature cheeses are available to take home. Yum.
  2. A Day on the Lake
    You can plan to spend the day on beautiful Watts Bar lake, with lots to explore. This 72 mile lake system is great for boating, canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and more. 
  3. State and National Parks
    East Tennessee is a treasure trove of state and national park systems with great trails, picnic areas, beautiful wildlife areas. Check out Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Frozen Head State Park, and Fort Loudon State Park.
  4. The Lost Sea
    Start out this underground adventure in Craig’s Head Cavern and ends with America’s largest underground lake. 
  5. Tours
    Whether you like driving tours to see new scenery, like historic sites, a civil war tour, the Appalachian Quilt Trail, or you just like to learn something during an outings, a tour night just be for you!
  6. Leaf Watching
    The Smokies and East TN are known for their leaf-watching each fall, and with good reason. You can explore the Cherohala Skyway or simply go for a walk in October! 
  7. TN Valley Winery
    Moonshine may be all the rage in East Tennessee, but a winery still says classic romance. 
  8. Knoxville
    There is so much to see and do in Knoxville, from the World’s Fair Park to a riverboat cruise. Check out this post on our favorite romantic things to do in Knoxville TN!
  9. Chattanooga
    Chattanooga also has great things to explore like the world-class aquarium and a new rock climbing facility. Check out this post on our favorite romantic things to do in Chattanooga TN!
  10. Tri-Cities
    The Tri Cities encompasses Bristol, Johnson City, and Kingsport. It’s more than just the raceway – there are caverns and breweries, just to name a few! 
  11. Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville
    Not to leave these classic destinations off the list, these cities located at the gateway of Smoky Mountain National Park have shows, amusement parks, walking tours, artisan villages, and more. We love day trips here!

When it’s all said and done, there is no end to the great places to visit in East Tennessee. These romantic destinations are all wonderful and all one of kind. If you are being intentional with your time together, you will have a great romantic trip no matter where you end up.

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Want to experience East Tennessee to the fullest?

Grab your copy of our 25 Things to Do in East Tennessee, where you’ll get great info on events, drives, trails, and more. Request your copy here.

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To put a cherry on the top of your time together, we invite you to stay with us at the Whitestone Country Inn. With beautiful grounds, great romantic dining options, and recreation on site, we hope you’ll make us a stopover on your East Tennessee romantic getaway.