Located just outside of Knoxville at the mouth of the Little Tennessee River is Loudon County, Tennessee, a gateway to one of the South’s favorite mountain ranges and a getaway with plenty of small-town charm. Loudon County goes by a few names—one of them is the Lakeway to the Smokies, a nod to the area’s surroundings, which are filled with sweeping mountain views, serene lakes, and coursing rivers.
CREDIT: BRIAN KOELLISH/GETTY IMAGES
Antiques Abound
Loudon County is home to the east Tennessee town of Lenoir City, itself a destination for travelers seeking a charming downtown stroll, a visit to a historic restaurant, or outdoor fun. In Lenoir City, visitors will find several spots to shop and stroll, including The Lacy and The Lacy General Store for browsing and antiquing and the nearby Markets on Broadway, which houses a co-op of artists and makers. Downtown Lenoir City is also included in the stretch known as U.S. 11 Antique Alley.
In the city of Loudon, visitors will find fun shops in the historic downtown area including The Shoppes on the Square and Past Tymes Antiques as well as the Stimpson Seashell Museum, which is home to one of the largest collections of shells in the world.
Adventure Awaits
Loudon County is not just an antiquing capital; outdoor adventure and activities on the water also abound. Take advantage of the views along the area’s lakes and rivers, then dive in. Fishing and boating are popular ways to explore the waters, and adventurous travelers also swim, water ski, canoe, and kayak the waterways. If you’d rather stay on land, check out the East Lakeshore Trail, a 31-mile trail system that lies along Tellico Lake and is recognized as a National Recreation Trail. (You can find a trail map here.)
Other must-visit spots in the area include the Tennessee Valley Winery, an award-winning winery and one of the oldest operating family-owned ones in the state. There’s also Sweetwater Valley Farm, a dairy farm and cheese factory where visitors can sample cheeses and catch a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes workings of the factory.
Before you head on to other adventures, make a stop at Tic-Toc Ice Cream Parlor on Grove Street in Loudon. Everyone looks forward to its opening day each March, which is an annual sign of spring signaling warm weather to come. For more information, and to plan a visit, check out visitloudoncounty.com.
People aren’t just vacationing here, East Tennessee has become a major area to relocate to! Coventry Direct, a company specializing in life insurance, analyzed over 2,600 55+ communities, assigning numerical values for factors like affordability, amenities, and security features. Out of that came an overall score for each community which Coventry used to determine the “top retirement communities” in the U.S with Tellico Village on Tellico Lake making the list!
Loudon is one small lake town to keep an eye on for a future vacation or forever home, read our blog post HERE about future plans for the proposal of a $40 million development on the Loudon waterfront also known as Watts Bar Lake that could include 270 new residential units, walking trails and commercial space.
TELLICO LAKE COMMUNITIES
Are you ready to start living the Lakefront Living lifestyle? CLICK HERE to see all available lake properties on Tellico Lake or contact us HERE to learn more about the other lake communities you should be considering, like Rarity Bay on Tellico Lake.
Original Article by Southern Living.
Reposted by Mike Hogan, Lakefront Living Realty, TN