Loudon County, Tennessee - Lakeway to the Smokies
By Valinda Almeida
Blessed with an abundance of waterways, eastern Tennessee's Loudon
County is known for its spectacular boating and fishing. Set in the foothills of
the Smoky Mountains, the county's Highway 321is the scenic route from I-75
to Smoky Mountain National Park. You'll drive through miles and miles of
winding
ribbons of road framed by farms with grazing herds of cows and horses.
Agritourism in the area includes a farm that creates award-winning cheddars
and a winery that has been in business for approximately 18 years
and has won many medals. Both the winery and the cheese farm host
festivals. Another big event is theannual Arts and Crafts Festival, held every
June.Boasting several top quality courses with breathtaking views, Loudon
County is a golf haven. Antiquing isalso popular here.
Outdoor adventures
Boating and golfing are two top activities. Fort Loudon Marina, located at the
junction of three waterways in Lenoir City, rents out 10-passenger pontoon
boats, fishing boats, jet skis, and a party boat with a barbecue grill onboard.
For those who enjoy fly fishing or wish to learn the sport, check out Soggy
Bottom Outfitters in Lenoir City. Owner Ken Long, who has been fishing East
Tennessee waters for more than 25 years, isone of the few select guides
endorsed by Orvis. On a brief boating excursion with Ken and his wife Anita,
we caught and released a bream bluegill with one of Ken's intricate, colorful
flies. Trips are normally half-day or full-day; we took an abbreviated
outing due to our tight schedule. The Longs, who have two young children,
believe women are well-suited to the patience of fly fishing.
Loudon County, with eight courses and two more near completion, is
developing into a golfer's paradise. The 430-acre Landmark Golf Club at
Avalon, site of custom homes, villas and condos, was designed by renowned
architect Joe Lee and is open to the public. Rarity Bay on Tellico Lake has an
18-hole course designed by D. J. DeVictor and Peter Langham, as well as
water sports, tennis, an equestrian center and views of the Great Smoky
Mountains. Named one of "America's Top 100 Golf Communities" by Travel
and Leisure Golf Magazine, golfers who don't live at Rarity Bay, a 960-acre
peninsula, can play the course if they rent a condo there. The newest resort
course is the Tennessee National, designed by Greg Norman. Still under
construction, the 1,400-acre waterfront property invites guests to a Discovery
Getaway for $199. This weekday price includes two nights' lodging, dinner for
two in one of Knoxville's finest restaurants, VIP tour of the golf course and real
estate, and special pre-grand opening pricing of homesites.
Dining
Whether you're hankering for seafood, steak, Italian fare, Mexican dishes,
pastries, hand-crafte dcheese or locally made wine, you're sure to find it here.
Our first dinner was at the sophisticated Buttercup Restaurant in Lenoir City,
which specializes in New England delicacies. We started with seafood
chowder and then ordered the seafood delight, consisting of shrimp, scallop,
crab cake, crab fingers and haddock. At Calhoun's at the Fort Loudon Marina,
with seating on covered decks facing the dock, we continued the seafood
theme with char-grilled shrimp on a skewer over rice and hearty beans. Steak
and ribs are also on the menu. We threw pieces of our left-over rolls
overboard to watch the ducks and fish grab the morsels. It's a Calhoun
tradition!
Before a boat trip at Fort Loudon Marina we swooped up a picnic lunch at
Sweet Temptations Bakery, a small, cheerful jewel in Lenoir City that sells
awesomely delicious sandwiches and salads, not to mention wedding cakes.
At Altruda's, the owner piqued our interest with descriptions of newly-designed
eggplant and chicken entrees, but we had our heart set on Vitello Parmigiana,
a veal cutlet served with pasta, salad bowl and homemade garlic rolls. For
lunch at the El Dorado, we selected the chili relleno and enchilada platter with
refried beans, rice, sour cream and guacamole. During a walking tour of the
city of Loudon we stopped for a refreshing respite at the old-fashioned Tic-Toc
Ice Cream Parlor on Grove Street.
Not to be missed is the 1,000-acre Sweetwater Valley Cheese Farm on W.
Lee Highway between the towns of Loudon and Philadelphia.
John Harrison, a sixth generation Loudon County farmer, takes pride in
perfecting his hand-crafted cheeses, including Tennessee Aged, Mountain
White and Volunteer Jack, a creamy version of Monterey. He also enjoys giving
free walking tours of the state-of-the-art, 24-hour operational farm where he
lives with his wife, five children and 2,000 animals Gosh, you'd think we did
nothing but eat during this trip! Well, how about some wine to go with all that
great food? The Tennessee Valley Winery, which has won 800 medals,
grows some of its grapes on the winery property on Hotchkiss Valley Road, off
Exit 76 of I-75, and the bulk in vineyards 10 miles away. Owned and operated
by the Reed family,the winery currently makes and bottles nine whites and 11
reds and fruit wines. Tennessee Valley Winery sponsors wine parties and
festivals throughout the year and carries Sweetwater Valley cheeses. How's
that for a winning combination?
Lodging
Loudon County has a variety of lodging options, ranging from luxury inns to a
bed and breakfast that shelters horses as well as humans to budget hotels. A
favorite is the 360-acre New England-style Whitestone Country Inn on the
shores of Watts Bar Lake. Situated on Paint Rock Road off I-75 (Exit 72), this
AAA four-diamond gem boasts 20 luxury rooms and suites, each one lavishly
appointed with spa tub, fireplace, refrigerator and TV/VCR. We were fortunate
to be given the Meadowlark Suite, a sunny retreat with a porch, a full kitchen
with dishes, a Jacuzzi, plus a separate spa bath tub and spectacular decor
highlighted with sunflowers. A scrumptious breakfast of bacon, scrambled
eggs, hash browns, Danish, orange juice and coffee was delivered in
a picnic basket complete with linen napkins and silverware.
For visitors who are traveling with horses or those who just seek peace and
solitude, the recently opened 19-acre Berry Sweet Bed & Breakfast offers three
guest rooms, all with private baths. The pasture-filled property, on Antioch
Road W in Lenoir City close to I-75 and Highway 321, is criss-crossed with
strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, blueberry and grape plants, as well as many
exotic flora species. Currently there are two comfortable 12-by-12 foot stalls for
horses, with plans for two more stalls. Boarding is $10 per night per horse
with proof of health certification from a veterinarian. We arrived horse-less and
stayed in the romantic Strawberry Suite. This over-sized room on the main
floor, which goes for $125 per night double occupancy, has a two-person
Jacuzzi, king size bed, in-room fridge and large two-sink vanity with separate
bath. Additional amenities include a great room with a wood burning fireplace,
a quiet sun room for reading, a game room with pool table, a complete
breakfast, afternoon snacks and evening dessert.
For those who prefer the familiar, Hampton Inn on Highway 321 in Lenoir City
is a good choice. It offers microwaves and fridges in the room and a free
continental breakfast. Guests can get room service from Aubrey's, the
excellent restaurant next door, which features steaks, ribs, seafood, pasta,
burgers and sandwiches. Hotel guests who show their room key receive a
free dessert. We walked next door for dinner and ordered the 16 ounce
Hawaiian ribeye. The fare came quickly and was cooked to perfection.
There was so much food we took half of it back to the Hampton, put it in the
fridge and microwaved it for a meal the next day.
Getting to Loudon
Loudon County is west of McGhee Tyson Airport, outside of Knoxville in
eastern Tennessee. I-75 intersects the county.
For more information:
Contact Loudon County at 1-888-568-3662 (toll free) or
www.visitloudoncounty.com.
By Valinda Almeida
Blessed with an abundance of waterways, eastern Tennessee's Loudon
County is known for its spectacular boating and fishing. Set in the foothills of
the Smoky Mountains, the county's Highway 321is the scenic route from I-75
to Smoky Mountain National Park. You'll drive through miles and miles of
winding
ribbons of road framed by farms with grazing herds of cows and horses.
Agritourism in the area includes a farm that creates award-winning cheddars
and a winery that has been in business for approximately 18 years
and has won many medals. Both the winery and the cheese farm host
festivals. Another big event is theannual Arts and Crafts Festival, held every
June.Boasting several top quality courses with breathtaking views, Loudon
County is a golf haven. Antiquing isalso popular here.
Outdoor adventures
Boating and golfing are two top activities. Fort Loudon Marina, located at the
junction of three waterways in Lenoir City, rents out 10-passenger pontoon
boats, fishing boats, jet skis, and a party boat with a barbecue grill onboard.
For those who enjoy fly fishing or wish to learn the sport, check out Soggy
Bottom Outfitters in Lenoir City. Owner Ken Long, who has been fishing East
Tennessee waters for more than 25 years, isone of the few select guides
endorsed by Orvis. On a brief boating excursion with Ken and his wife Anita,
we caught and released a bream bluegill with one of Ken's intricate, colorful
flies. Trips are normally half-day or full-day; we took an abbreviated
outing due to our tight schedule. The Longs, who have two young children,
believe women are well-suited to the patience of fly fishing.
Loudon County, with eight courses and two more near completion, is
developing into a golfer's paradise. The 430-acre Landmark Golf Club at
Avalon, site of custom homes, villas and condos, was designed by renowned
architect Joe Lee and is open to the public. Rarity Bay on Tellico Lake has an
18-hole course designed by D. J. DeVictor and Peter Langham, as well as
water sports, tennis, an equestrian center and views of the Great Smoky
Mountains. Named one of "America's Top 100 Golf Communities" by Travel
and Leisure Golf Magazine, golfers who don't live at Rarity Bay, a 960-acre
peninsula, can play the course if they rent a condo there. The newest resort
course is the Tennessee National, designed by Greg Norman. Still under
construction, the 1,400-acre waterfront property invites guests to a Discovery
Getaway for $199. This weekday price includes two nights' lodging, dinner for
two in one of Knoxville's finest restaurants, VIP tour of the golf course and real
estate, and special pre-grand opening pricing of homesites.
Dining
Whether you're hankering for seafood, steak, Italian fare, Mexican dishes,
pastries, hand-crafte dcheese or locally made wine, you're sure to find it here.
Our first dinner was at the sophisticated Buttercup Restaurant in Lenoir City,
which specializes in New England delicacies. We started with seafood
chowder and then ordered the seafood delight, consisting of shrimp, scallop,
crab cake, crab fingers and haddock. At Calhoun's at the Fort Loudon Marina,
with seating on covered decks facing the dock, we continued the seafood
theme with char-grilled shrimp on a skewer over rice and hearty beans. Steak
and ribs are also on the menu. We threw pieces of our left-over rolls
overboard to watch the ducks and fish grab the morsels. It's a Calhoun
tradition!
Before a boat trip at Fort Loudon Marina we swooped up a picnic lunch at
Sweet Temptations Bakery, a small, cheerful jewel in Lenoir City that sells
awesomely delicious sandwiches and salads, not to mention wedding cakes.
At Altruda's, the owner piqued our interest with descriptions of newly-designed
eggplant and chicken entrees, but we had our heart set on Vitello Parmigiana,
a veal cutlet served with pasta, salad bowl and homemade garlic rolls. For
lunch at the El Dorado, we selected the chili relleno and enchilada platter with
refried beans, rice, sour cream and guacamole. During a walking tour of the
city of Loudon we stopped for a refreshing respite at the old-fashioned Tic-Toc
Ice Cream Parlor on Grove Street.
Not to be missed is the 1,000-acre Sweetwater Valley Cheese Farm on W.
Lee Highway between the towns of Loudon and Philadelphia.
John Harrison, a sixth generation Loudon County farmer, takes pride in
perfecting his hand-crafted cheeses, including Tennessee Aged, Mountain
White and Volunteer Jack, a creamy version of Monterey. He also enjoys giving
free walking tours of the state-of-the-art, 24-hour operational farm where he
lives with his wife, five children and 2,000 animals Gosh, you'd think we did
nothing but eat during this trip! Well, how about some wine to go with all that
great food? The Tennessee Valley Winery, which has won 800 medals,
grows some of its grapes on the winery property on Hotchkiss Valley Road, off
Exit 76 of I-75, and the bulk in vineyards 10 miles away. Owned and operated
by the Reed family,the winery currently makes and bottles nine whites and 11
reds and fruit wines. Tennessee Valley Winery sponsors wine parties and
festivals throughout the year and carries Sweetwater Valley cheeses. How's
that for a winning combination?
Lodging
Loudon County has a variety of lodging options, ranging from luxury inns to a
bed and breakfast that shelters horses as well as humans to budget hotels. A
favorite is the 360-acre New England-style Whitestone Country Inn on the
shores of Watts Bar Lake. Situated on Paint Rock Road off I-75 (Exit 72), this
AAA four-diamond gem boasts 20 luxury rooms and suites, each one lavishly
appointed with spa tub, fireplace, refrigerator and TV/VCR. We were fortunate
to be given the Meadowlark Suite, a sunny retreat with a porch, a full kitchen
with dishes, a Jacuzzi, plus a separate spa bath tub and spectacular decor
highlighted with sunflowers. A scrumptious breakfast of bacon, scrambled
eggs, hash browns, Danish, orange juice and coffee was delivered in
a picnic basket complete with linen napkins and silverware.
For visitors who are traveling with horses or those who just seek peace and
solitude, the recently opened 19-acre Berry Sweet Bed & Breakfast offers three
guest rooms, all with private baths. The pasture-filled property, on Antioch
Road W in Lenoir City close to I-75 and Highway 321, is criss-crossed with
strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, blueberry and grape plants, as well as many
exotic flora species. Currently there are two comfortable 12-by-12 foot stalls for
horses, with plans for two more stalls. Boarding is $10 per night per horse
with proof of health certification from a veterinarian. We arrived horse-less and
stayed in the romantic Strawberry Suite. This over-sized room on the main
floor, which goes for $125 per night double occupancy, has a two-person
Jacuzzi, king size bed, in-room fridge and large two-sink vanity with separate
bath. Additional amenities include a great room with a wood burning fireplace,
a quiet sun room for reading, a game room with pool table, a complete
breakfast, afternoon snacks and evening dessert.
For those who prefer the familiar, Hampton Inn on Highway 321 in Lenoir City
is a good choice. It offers microwaves and fridges in the room and a free
continental breakfast. Guests can get room service from Aubrey's, the
excellent restaurant next door, which features steaks, ribs, seafood, pasta,
burgers and sandwiches. Hotel guests who show their room key receive a
free dessert. We walked next door for dinner and ordered the 16 ounce
Hawaiian ribeye. The fare came quickly and was cooked to perfection.
There was so much food we took half of it back to the Hampton, put it in the
fridge and microwaved it for a meal the next day.
Getting to Loudon
Loudon County is west of McGhee Tyson Airport, outside of Knoxville in
eastern Tennessee. I-75 intersects the county.
For more information:
Contact Loudon County at 1-888-568-3662 (toll free) or
www.visitloudoncounty.com.
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