Monroe County Itineraries

Start your day with a latte and pastry at Sweetwater’s coffee shop Cup Runneth Over, then spend the morning exploring Sweetwater’s robust art scene via original murals like Whitney Herrington’s ode to the town’s legacy and Jenny Ustick’s women’s suffrage mural, paying homage to former Tennessee State Senator Harry T. Burn who once practiced law in Sweetwater. Tucked away one block off Main Street is Kim Radford’s “This Girl Can” mural, and a few blocks down is the Duck Park, where you’ll find a geometric paradise designed by artists Atalie Gagnet and Chase Melendez on the greenway beneath one of the bridge trestles and overseen by a raft of curious ducks.

Sweetwater’s most famous attraction is the Lost Sea, the country’s largest underground lake, where you can take a boat ride on the crystal blue placid water. It has been a popular place to visit for over 20,000 years (though that first visitor was a prehistoric jaguar). Only accessible by guided tour, the experience includes a near-mile loop down and back that takes you past mineral formations with needlelike crystals. At the lake, you’ll board a glass-bottom boat, from which you can see the blind cave trout washed in from upriver streams. Many parts of the trail are slippery and steep, so those with mobility issues will find the tour challenging. Wear sturdy shoes and a jacket as the cave is a temperate 58°F year-round. Tickets are available to purchase on their website.

Tsali Notch Vineyard has become an all-day destination not only for locals, but residents of Knoxville, Chattanooga, and other nearby cities. This Monroe County vineyard offers tours and tastings, and its shop sells cheeses and other accoutrements that make for the perfect afternoon picnic. Named for a Cherokee leader who hailed from the area, Tsali Notch grows six kinds of muscadine grapes used to make its red and white wines. During the harvest season of September and October, visitors can pick grapes for their own juice, jelly, and winemaking. Throughout the year, the winery hosts food trucks and live music, as well as rents out its various venues for private events and weddings.

Sweetwater prides itself on having “the sweetest street in Tennessee,” and you’ll quickly understand how it got its moniker as you shop the mostly women-owned businesses like the Lily Pad Boutique, Relaxed & Refined Menswear, and Sweetwater General. For dining, The Lazy Beagle is Sweetwater’s newest restaurant and a popular dinner spot. Occupying the former town bar in a building first constructed in the early-1900s, the Beagle is a gastropub with main dishes like steak and Mahi Mahi. If you’re looking for a sweet treat, Sweetwater Creamery has ice cream, crème brûlée, and other decadent desserts. If you’re not ready to head to bed just yet, Sweetwater Taps is open late and has a variety of Tennessee and other regional beers on tap in the garden in addition to rotating food trucks.

The best place to start your day is at Donna's Old Town Cafe in downtown for some breakfast. You can also visit the historic courthouse and war memorials across the street. If you need to walk off breakfast, Houston Park is a brief walk from main street. Don’t forget to check out the murals across downtown and do some shopping. A short drive away is Benton's Smoky Mountain Country Hams which preserves the traditional way of making dry cured ham. Their store is open to the public but they do not offer tours. Nearby is the Shops of Monroe. While on Highway 411, head south for 15 minutes to relax at Kefauver Park. Once you start winding down for the day, head back to Madisonville for some dinner (or to sound like a local, call it supper). If you return to downtown, enjoy a meal at The Patio. There are also restaurants along Highway 411 including Berts, Sol Azteca, and The Lamppost.

Along the shores of Tellico Lake are a pair of historic landmarks which tell two sides of local history. First is Fort Loudoun State Historic Park. Originally built by the British in the 1750s, what you see today is a modern reconstruction of Fort Loudoun. Artifacts from the original fort are on display in the visitor center. On certain weekends, reenactors bring the fort to life with demonstrations of how the fort was operated, including how 18th century firearms were shot. Five minutes down the road is the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum which chronicles the life of Sequoyah, the creator of the Cherokee syllabary which was one of the first writing systems for an indigenous language. Just outside the museum is a burial mound which is the final resting place of 191 Cherokee people who lived in Chota and Tanasi. Memorials to those towns are 20 minutes up the road.

Monroe County may be landlocked but our lakes are great places to enjoy water sports with Tellico Lake in Vonore being the most accessible. Here you can enjoy any of your favorite water sports including boating, jet skiing, paddleboarding, wakesurfing, and wakeboarding. Tellico Marina is located in a cove on the lake and has everything you need for a day on the lake: docks and launch ramps, a supply store, restrooms, showers, and mechanics. Also check out The Mudpuppy for a meal after a long day on the water. It is part of Cherokee Outdoor Resort which has a marina, cabin rentals, and boat rentals. Both marinas are located along or near Highway 411. The lake is part of the 11-mile Tellico Blueway and connects to the Little Tennessee River. Before you take to the water, make sure you understand boat safety. A Boating Education Certificate is required for anyone born after January 1989.

The Cherohala Skyway, which begins in Tellico Plains and unfurls along 43 miles of winding road into North Carolina, has multiple turnouts and scenic viewpoints within the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests. For cyclists, the area is also home to Cherohala Skyway Challenge, a 59-mile bike route that climbs a staggering 7,400 feet. Before you start the journey, spend some time in Tellico Plains which boasts several small independent shops like Wren Rock Mercantile, The Bookshelf, and the Born Again Gypsy Boutique. Also check out the Charles Hall Museum and Heritage Center which preserves the Native American and Appalachian history of the area through artifacts, exhibits, and memorabilia. Dining options include Tellico Grains Bakery, Tellico Beach Drive-In, and Peach Street Grill. Many of the businesses are closed on Sundays and Mondays.

For all our visitors looking for outdoor adventures, the Cherokee National Forest is the place to go. It is the only National Forest in Tennessee and provides spaces for just about every outdoor activity you can imagine including fishing, hiking, biking, stargazing, birdwatching, and even gold panning! Indian Boundary Lake is a popular spot for visitors. The lake and surrounding forest include campgrounds, hiking trails, a fishing pier, boat launches, and a beach. Cherokee National Forest is home to a wide variety of species including black bears, coyotes, foxes, river otters, raccoons, skunks, and white-tailed deer. You can also find several species of birds and reptiles. Please be mindful when around the animals as the forest is their home and their space must be respected. The local Forest Service office is at 250 Ranger Station Road, Tellico Plains and is open Monday to Friday from 08:00 AM to 04:30 PM.