Why This Tennessee Town is the Perfect Outdoors Destination
Challenge your buddies on four championship disc golf courses or enjoy stunning East Tennessee mountain views on a weekend getaway to Morristown.
After you’re worn out from a day of disc golfing, kick back with a cold craft brew or take a few selfies in one of the most picturesque downtowns in the Southeast. Morristown isn’t far from the Great Smoky Mountains, but you can fish, camp or bike in the woods without the national park’s stifling crowds.
You can fling a disc on a golf course or four.
Morristown is Tennessee’s disc golf capital, with four championship courses to match every skill level. You can spend the whole weekend just playing disc golf! The Tennessee State Disc Golf Championship awarded thousands of dollars in prizes in June 2021.
Even if you’re a pretty good disc golfer, Cherokee Park Disc Golf Course’s 18-hole, 7,255-foot, par-62 course will be a challenge with its open and wooded holes and elevation changes. Some holes are adjacent to major drop-offs, creating an extra challenge. Distances are posted at every hole.
Panther Creek Disc Golf Course is also a must-visit. Located at beautiful Panther Creek State Park, this professionally designed 18-hole, championship-level course features DISCatcher Pro targets, concrete tees and many par-5 and par-4 holes. Course length is 9,600 feet, with 43 holes over 400 feet.
Rotary Disc Golf Course in Frank Lorino Park is a mix of wooded and open holes in a moderately hilly area. Course length is 6,540 feet. And the Morristown Kiwanis Disc Golf Course at Wayne Hansard Park has a practice basket, bathrooms, vending machines and a nicely wooded course, which makes it a favorite for players. Technical shots are required throughout in a mix of left and right fairways.
Morristown is perfect if you like to bike, skate and climb.
Morristown has more than a dozen parks for you to enjoy during your stay. Frank Lorino Park has horseshoe pits, a fast quarter-mile BMX track, beginner bike track and skate park. Looking for a climbing wall? Fred Miller Park has one, as well as a playground and amphitheater events. At Fulton-Hill, you can see sweeping views of the city and towering colonnades. If you brought your furry friend with you, dogs can run off-leash at Morristown Dog Park-Jaycee Field and Wayne Hansard Park.
Six miles west of Morristown, Panther Creek State Park is on the Cherokee Reservoir in the Holston River Valley. Hikers have great views of Cherokee Lake and the Cumberland Mountains from various points along 30 miles of trails. Spend a relaxing weekend boating, mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing or fishing.
Morristown is great for off-road enthusiasts, too.
Test your endurance at one of four off-road annual events organized by Dirty Bird Events at Panther Creek State Park – the Wildcat Mountain Bike Race, Motus Panther Creek Trail Run, Motus Panther Creek Triathlon and Dirt Circuit trail run.
You can stare down a zebra from your car. Really.
Now this is one the whole family will love. Pile them all into the car for the four-mile drive-thru Briarwood Ranch Safari in Bybee, where animals from six continents roam free. Tractor-pulled wagon rides are available, too.
You can land a huge striper in Cherokee Lake.
The Morristown area is also a top spot if you love to fish. Cherokee Lake is a great spot for anglers. If you’re looking for a guided experience, Captain Jay Girardot has been fishing for striper in Cherokee Lake for more than a decade. His Striper Guide Service will take you out for full- or half-day fishing trips.
Don’t forget to explore downtown when you need a break.
Following massive flooding in 1962, Morristown remade its downtown area into a unique attraction with an “overhead sidewalk” featuring elevated walkways that link second-floor businesses. The Rose Center for the Arts is in a Victorian schoolhouse on the north side, and Downtown Green and the Farmers Market pavilion border the south. The historic district has a mix of attractions and plenty of charming places to shop, including Backstage Gifts, Rowena’s on Main and the Nest Antiques. If you’re looking for a bite to eat try Little Dutch Restaurant, which has been in business since 1939. If you need some caffeine or a pastry, stop in 60 Beans Coffee Shop.
At 1907 Brewing Company at 103 W. Main St., you can sip savory craft beers, ciders and sodas in Hamblen County’s first taproom and brewery, located in a century-old building in the historic downtown district. The schedule of draft beers rotates constantly, so you’ll have a new taste experience each time you go.