Discover the Healing Power of a Smoky Mountains Nature Retreat

By Kathleen Walls She Buys Travel

Updated May 13, 2026 5:44 PM

Once I set foot in the Smoky Mountains, something in me loosened. Whether I was hiking a trail that curved through tree‑lined hills or paddling a fast‑moving mountain stream, I could feel the stress of everyday life slipping away, replaced by a steadier rhythm that seemed to rise from the mountains settled by those early Scotch-Irish settlers who brought with them the knowledge of herbs, folk medicine and the healing power of nature.

From Maryville and Townsend, known as the "Peaceful Side of the Smokies," to Cookeville in the Upper Cumberland Region, the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee invite you to slow down, breathe deeper and reconnect with the natural world.

What Makes a Smoky Mountains Getaway so Restorative

Get back to nature with kayaking, hiking and scenic drives through the Great Smoky Mountains.
Experience cultural healing traditions of the Smokies rooted in the region, herbal remedies, sound baths and soothing spa treatments.
Explore small mountain towns and savor local Appalachian cuisine, from down‑home comfort food to modern mountain flavors.

Editor’s note: The writer was hosted.

Townsend

Author greets Bigfoot at Little Arrow Outdoor Resort. Photo credit: Kathleen Walls

As Erin Bell, our Mint Julep van driver, skillfully winds us through the mountain roads into Townsend, Tennessee, known as "The Peaceful Side of the Smokies," I can't help staring out the window in awe. Tiny white blossoms, bright yellow wildflowers and the occasional pop of purple line the roadside. Trees in every shade of green climb the mountainsides and puffy white cumulus clouds drift across a deep blue sky, casting moving shadows that turn the Smokies into a living mosaic.

The mountains are calling, and Townsend is exactly where you want to answer. Known as "The Gateway to Cades Cove," this peaceful corner of the Great Smoky Mountains hosts beloved festivals like Grits & Grain in November and the Smoky Mountain Bigfoot Festival each May.

Little Arrow Outdoor Resortserved as home base for exploring the Townsend area. It offers choices from glamping tents and tiny homes to cabins and an RV park. With a pool, hot tub, coffee lounge and hiking trails along the Little River, it's a perfect blend of comfort and wilderness. My tiny house, complete with a full‑size refrigerator, central heat and a comfy bed, made the ideal launching point for days of adventure.
Cades Cove, inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is one of the best preserved glimpses of early Appalachian life. From one of the oldest cabins in the Smokies to the last homestead before the park was established, the history here is real. Drive the scenic Loop Road and keep your eyes open for deer, wild turkeys and maybe a black bear.
Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center brings remote mountain life into focus. One of the most fascinating exhibits is the moonshine still, which explains how mountain families once crafted their famous "white lightning."
Little River Railroad & Lumber Company Museumshows that Townsend's roots run deep in logging and rail history. The museum preserves that story with artifacts like the Shay Engine No. 2147 and a charming little steam engine that are reminders of the industry that shaped the region.
Great Smoky Mountains Tremont Institute, once a logging town, is now a non-profit residential environmental education center. They offer camps and programs for all ages. President and CEO Catey McClary led us to Girl Scout Island and shared the remarkable story of how a group of Girl Scouts saved the island from logging nearly a century ago.
Needlepoint with Kelsey Nelson with Canvas Queen Needlepointat the Little Arrow pavilion, was a relaxing, creative break surrounded by mountain air.
Company Distilling Whiskeyis a must‑stop for lunch and a taste of Tennessee spirits. Founded by Jeff Arnett, the 2017 Master Distiller of the Year, Company Distilling offers excellent bourbons and rye. My Pepperoni Flatbread was spot‑on.
Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistrois the place for upscale Appalachian dining. Executive Chef Jeff Carter who was featured in Cityview Magazine's Top Chefs 2025 crafts farm‑to‑table dishes that shine. My Shrimp and Crawfish Grits were unforgettable. And if you're feeling adventurous, order The Man in Black cocktail.

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SheBuysTravel Tip:Little Arrow Nature Trail is a .8-mile loop hike to see"Bigfoot Burt,"a 40‑foot‑long, 15‑foot‑high wooden Bigfoot sculpture perched at the top of the trail. He's worth the climb.

Maryville

Maryville is the kind of town that feels both lively and laid‑back, a cross between a Hallmark town and Smoky Mountain adventures. Just minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it's a gateway to scenic drives, hiking trails, and river views with a walkable downtown filled with local shops, craft breweries and restaurants. Maryville makes an ideal base for exploring the "Peaceful Side of the Smokies."

RT Lodge

The rear of the main lodge looking out on the patio and garden. Photo credit: Kathleen Walls

RT Lodge, our home for a night, has quite a history. Susan Wiley Cooper Walker moved to Maryville to be near her sister on the Maryville College campus. She persuaded the College to let her build a classical revival 26‑room residence as long as she willed it to the school. She died in 1950 and the home served as the President's residence and later the Morningside Inn.

Ruby Tuesday, Inc. acquired the property in 1997 and restored it for a corporate retreat. In 2021, a local investment group purchased the lodge to preserve it as RT Lodge. Today, the property includes three lodging buildings, two other buildings and event spaces. Guest rooms blend Scotch‑Irish heritage with modern comforts. The Main House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

SheBuysTravel Tip:Be sure to see the beautiful gardens, fountain and firepits.Some of Mrs. Walker's original shrubs, garden paths and stonework remain.

The Carriage Houseat RT Lodge is the spa with seven serene treatment rooms offering massages, facials and body treatments. I was scheduled for a treatment but missed it because of a delayed flight.
I made it in time to do an interesting yoga class with Mountain Challenge. Lauren Huffstetler, a senior at Maryville College studying Outdoor Studies and Tourism, Hospitality & Regional Identity and Design led our Yoga class in the mostly glass-walled Meeting Room.
A Hike in Maryville College Woods, led by Jackie Eul, Program Director at Mountain Challenge, felt like stepping into a tranquil retreat with wildlife and beautiful plants and trees all around. There's even a nine-course Frisbee Disk Golf course.
Executive Chef Trevor Stockton met us at the Restaurant at RT Lodge and told us how they make almost everything in-house and were recognized by Michelin Guide American South as a Recommended Restaurant. We sampled some snacks including the roast Oysters and Charcuterie Board. My Pan Roasted Chicken Breast was delicious.

SheBuysTravel Tip:Take time to explore the J. Danworth Mercantile and the many shops, restaurants, the fountain, several pedestrian bridges and especially the historical theater on Broadway, The Capital, near the Butterfly Pocket Park.

Cookeville

Cookeville has an easygoing Upper Cumberland charm blending good food, arts, and outdoor access, and small enough to feel friendly. Midway between Nashville and Knoxville, I love its historic downtown and nearby waterfalls, lakes and state parks. I enjoyed exploring its boutiques housed in historic buildings.

Synergy Herbal Works feels like a living apothecary, with over 400 organic and wild crafted botanicals lining the shelves. From loose‑leaf teas to handcrafted tinctures and salves, everything blends folk remedies with modern wellness. Sherri Stickler even guided us through an Herbal Tea Blending session.
The 1909 Cookeville Depot for the Tennessee Central Railway, now on the National Register of Historic Places. shows how deeply the railroad shaped the region. Out front sits a 1913 Baldwin ten‑wheeler steam engine and two cabooses, and inside I saw old photos and clippings that tell the town's railway story.
Art spills across the Westside District. At The Silver Fern, I browsed paintings in the Fiddlehead Gallery along with handmade jewelry, crafts, teas and herbal tinctures. Murals brighten the streets too-my favorites were Coming Up Roses, a wall of vivid blooms, Our Protectors honoring firefighters and Downtown, a near‑photographic scene of early 1900s life.
For dining, Fire & Vine's rooftop bar is a must. It's upscale but relaxed, with a retractable roof and standout small plates. The caramel‑coated bacon stole my heart, and the pork chop was the thickest I've ever seen.
World Foods serves massive pizzas and an authentic gyro wrap. Beware, those pizzas are huge and stuffed.
The Putnam Room is upscale dining with lots of choices. It offers refined comfort dishes like Sweet Chili Shrimp over Dirty Rice, Baked Mac & Cheese and the lightest house‑made focaccia imaginable.
To end the night, the 1854 Cocktail Bar and Lounge delivers full speakeasy charm. You enter a "secret" door in a historic building on Cookeville's square and step into a cozy room of soft sofas and warm lamplight. You can order a crafted cocktail or mocktail. All the drinks have imaginative names. My Mary Pickford was perfect. If you're wondering about the name, 1854 was the year Putnam County was founded.

A Glamping Adventure

Fern Gully, a beautiful tree tent was my home away from home. Photo credit: Kathleen Walls

My home away from home at Your Glamping Adventure is Fern Gully, a tree tent with all the "glam" comforts, central heat, a full bathroom and the cozy feeling of being tucked into the woods without giving up any creature comforts.

Next morning we met at a cleared section called Five Meadows Farm for something completely new to me: a Sound Bath. It blended gentle yoga, led by Diane Neal of Sunjoy Yoga, with the soothing tones of crystal bowls, gongs, guitar and the natural soundtrack of birds around us. After a few stretches, we lay back and let the layers of sound wash over us, equal parts nature retreat and magical experience.

Kayak the Caney Fork River

After kayaking up river, crossing and wading the rapids, I finally reach Burgess Falls. Photo credit: Kathleen Walls

If you’re up for adventure, kayak the Caney Fork River to Burgess Falls with Canoe the Caney. Burgess Falls is a cascade waterfall on the Falling Water River within the Burgess Falls State Park near Cookeville, drops 136 feet into a dramatic limestone gorge framed by steep rock walls.

We chose the Hidden Falls Trip in tandem kayaks. Normally you can paddle right up to the falls, but with low water we had to beach the kayak and hike upriver, crossing back and forth through fast‑moving water. Our guide, Bill, was so helpful. It's rugged, a little wild, and absolutely worth it for the view.

SheBuysTravel:Wear sturdy water shoes and grab a fallen branch for a makeshift walking stick when you step out of the kayak. The rocks are slick and the current is strong, and both will help you keep your balance.

FAQ

What are the safest and most scenic places to stay?

I felt very comfortable and safe at these places because they were well maintained and managed.

What outdoor activities are beginner‑friendly and not too rugged?

Each of these are not too rugged with the exception of kayaking to Burgess Falls because of the low water.

Where can I find wellness experiences like yoga, spas, herbal shops, or creative workshops?

These are enjoyable wellness experiences: Sound baths and gentle yoga in Cookeville, a treatment at the Carriage House Spa at RT Lodge, herbal tea blending at Synergy Herbal Works and the Needlepoint workshops at Little Arrow.

What are the best local restaurants and distilleries for a girls' trip?

These places were very satisfying: Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro and Company Distilling Whiskey in Townsend, The Restaurant at RT Lodge in Maryville, Fire & Vine, The Putnam Room and The 1854 Cocktail Bar in Cookeville.

What small‑town experiences are worth adding to the itinerary?

I love festivals and am interested in history and nature so these kind of places are my first choices.

The post Discover the Healing Power of a Smoky Mountains Nature Retreat appeared first on She Buys Travel.

She Buys Travel

This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 5:21 PM.