This cool Tennessee cave is permanently 58 degrees—even on hot summer days, providing respite from the blazing summer sun (and education, to boot!) Read more. Mary Catherine Scott – Southern Living Photo: Dsdugan / Wikimedia Commons
Staying Cool at Raccoon Mountain Caverns Read More »
Join host Melea Hames as she sits down with Brad Collett, Executive Director of the Tennessee RiverLine – the bold initiative transforming all 652 miles of the Tennessee River into North America’s next great regional trail system. From new kayak fleets launching across North Alabama to a $750,000 partnership with the University of North Alabama,
Unexpected Adventures in North Alabama Podcast Features Tennessee RiverLine Read More »
Known as Putnam County’s “mountain town” and often described as “where the hilltops kiss the sky,” Monterey, Tennessee, is located on the Cumberland Plateau between Nashville and Knoxville on Interstate 40, and is an ideal outdoor destination, rich with railroad history, scenic landscapes, and unique eateries, shops and attractions. Learn more. Town of Monterey, TN
Explore Monterey, Tennessee, “Where the Hilltops Kiss the Sky” Read More »
From a legacy of deep cultural significance to Native Americans and opening up the state’s hinterlands to European exploration to spurring settlement at places like Nashville, Chattanooga and Memphis, rivers are deeply intertwined in Tennessee’s history. These rivers and streams aren’t just beautiful flourishes to the state’s landscape. They are sites for recreation and a
Tennessee Aquarium Celebrates Rivers That Continue to Shape Tennessee & America Read More »
Georgia’s new Chickamauga Battlefield Connector Trail recently opened, creating a 2.2-mile multi-use path that links downtown Chickamauga to Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park. The trail improves safe access for walking, running, and biking, connects people to both natural and historic spaces, and supports nearby local businesses. Read more. Trust for Public Land Photo: J.
Chickamauga Battlefield Connector Trail Opens Read More »
The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee is advancing conservation at scale, from collaborative leadership across the Appalachians and science-based planning for the Duck River to prescribed fire on the landscape and policy efforts that support land, water and wildlife. Explore these stories and more in the Summer 2026 issue of Tennessee Field Notes. The Nature Conservancy
Field Notes from The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee Read More »
Spotlight: Southeast Despite many challenges in an ever-changing landscape, the famous “wild” ponies of Virginia’s Grayson Highlands State Park persevere. Famous for its mountain balds — high-elevation, rolling peaks covered in shrubs and grass — the park also offers stunning alpine views, scenic overlooks, historic cabins, dazzling waterfalls and miles of hiking trails from easy
The Feral Ponies of Grayson Highlands Read More »
The 2025 Tennessee Biodiversity Summit brought together hundreds of conservation professionals, researchers, educators, students, wildlife enthusiasts, and conservation partners from 12 states across the United States to celebrate Tennessee’s incredible biodiversity and habitats. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency hopes to continue to build on that momentum as they plan a second Biodiversity Summit for October
The Second Annual Tennessee Biodiversity Summit Planned for October 21, 2026. Read More »
Tennessee State Parks officials are inviting the public to participate in the transformation of a significant portion of McDonald Farm in Hamilton County to a new state park. Community members and park supporters are encouraged to attend an open house designed to gather public input for the park’s master plan anytime between 5 p.m. and
Public Input Sought on Transformation of McDonald Farm to New State Park Read More »
The 652-mile stretch of the Tennessee River is lined not only with scenic natural landscapes and fascinating wildlife, but also diverse, charming, and historic communities eager to welcome travelers as they have for centuries. Each mile provides a new adventure, from quiet escapes to riverside campgrounds, resorts, parks, and wildlife refuges, to breathtaking museums, Civil
Explore Tennessee RiverTowns Read More »