Townsend

Tennessee is full of small towns, and each of them is populated by friendly people who practice Southern hospitality. You're bound to be greeted with a smile and a nod — perhaps even a kind conversation or two — wherever you go, but Townsend, Tennessee, was named one of the best small-town vacation spots in the United States just this year. It's on the eastern edge of the Volunteer State, and its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains and other local tourist attractions makes it ideal for singles and families alike. Townsend, Tennessee is known as the "Peaceful Side of the Smokies" and the "Gateway to Cades Cove".

As you might expect, the mountain community is located right at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Townsend does not have any cute shops or museums, but it does have some of the most beautiful views and vistas in the state. The town is perfectly situated for hiking all year, and if you visit in the spring, you might just catch a glimpse of the expansive wildflower fields that bloom with the rain. The area may be less visited than its sister cities of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, but the plant and wildlife diversity in the area, combined with jaw-dropping mountain views, is far preferable to chain stores and souvenir shops.