The weather might not feel like autumn yet... yeah, we’re still salty about that... but fall break will be here faster than you can say ‘Chattanooga’ – three times fast.
For those of you still needing to pencil it into your planners – Hamilton County school’s break is Oct. 7-12 and UTC’s is Oct. 14 + 15.
So, to get the most out of your coveted time off, we created a list of seven outdoor activities – both near + far – that will let you feel the freedom of the world around you (before you have to go back to the confines of your educational institutions).
For those with a shorter time to explore (under 3 hours away):
Feel the wind zipline by you
Ocoee Ziplines and Canopy Tour, Copperhill, TN
- 1 hr. away
- Cost: $77/person
Zip high above the treetops and bridges along the edge of the Cherokee National Forest. Bonus: Have a need for MORE speed? Book a combo trip + add white water rafting or mountain biking to your adventure.
Chase a waterfall
Cummins Falls State Park, Cookeville, TN
- 2 hrs. away
- Cost: Free
Make the quick and easy hike to Tennessee’s eighth largest waterfall (75 ft.) before walking the streets of this quaint + historic town. Pro-Tip: It is a rugged 1+ mile trek to the gorge, so be sure to wear sturdy shoes.
Click the button below for five more outdoor outings to break away to.
Pitch a tent
Indian Boundary Campground, Vonore, TN
- 2 hrs. away
- Cost: $20/night
Visit this 87-site campground for spectacular mountain views + glimpses of wildlife (over 20,000 species of plants + animals). Take a 3.2-mile hike or bike around the lake, layout on the swim beach, and grill up some grub at the picnic pavilion. Bonus: The site offers modern restrooms for extra comfort when being one with nature.
Bike through the mountains
Oak Mountain State Park, Birmingham, Ala.
- 2.5 hrs. away
- Cost: Free
Oak Mountain State Park (which looks gorgeous in the fall, might we add) is a popular location for mountain biking with more than 50 miles of trails. Bonus: Make it an overnight stay with one of their several camping options + enjoy their other activities including horseback riding, a BMX track, flipside cable watersports, an 18-hole championship golf course, + more.
For those who are in it for the long haul (over 3 hours away):
Forage for your own food in the AVL wilderness
No Taste Like Home, Asheville, N.C.
- 3.5 hrs. away
- Cost: $75/adult, $35/child
A 3-hour tour will take you into nature with guided foraging, cooking demos + a DIY snack/dinner with your findings.
Fly like a butterfly (without getting stung by a bee)
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Belmont, N.C.
- ~5 hrs. away
- Cost: $3 + garden admission
Visit the 380-acre garden’s butterfly exhibit and learn about their journey from caterpillars.
Coast down the South Carolina coast
Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve, Edisto Island, S.C.
- ~ 6.5 hrs. Away
- Cost: Free (closed Tuesdays)
Explore 3,363 acres of this wildlife management area, which is located adjacent to Atlantic Ocean waters. It’s also within the boundary of the ACE Basin Focus Area — one of the largest remaining mostly undeveloped wetland ecosystems along the Atlantic coast – which is home to loggerhead sea turtles, least terns, and neotropical songbirds like the painted bunting and summer tanager.
