Fox HollowTownsend, TennesseeBook your stay

Beyond the cabin

The Townsend we
come back for.

The rides, walks, river stops, back roads, and meals that shape our own weekends at Fox Hollow—plus the classics worth making time for.

Start here

01 · Eat & drink02 · Take the long way03 · Get moving
01

Our table rotation

Where we eat
and why.

Not one ranked list—just the right answer for the kind of meal the day calls for.

With the kids

Peaceful Side Social

Easygoing, genuinely good, and our first answer when the whole family needs a meal everyone will enjoy.

Date night

Dancing Bear

The cannot-miss special-occasion table in Townsend. Make a reservation and let dinner be the plan.

Worth the drive

The Walnut Kitchen

A longer trip into Maryville, but a very good one when the group wants a polished dinner beyond Townsend.

Riverside hang

Company Distilling

A riverside beer garden and a new playground for the kids. Amico—from Maryville restaurant Amici—handles the Italian-inspired food menu on site.

Patio + music

Townsend Abbey

A relaxed river stop we keep coming back to, especially when there is live music on the calendar.

Old-school Townsend

Parkway Grocery

The Gulf-station hot dog is not fancy. That is exactly the point—and exactly why it belongs on this list.

Wild card

East Cuisine Cafe

The change-of-pace option that always seems to hit the spot when nobody wants another round of burgers or barbecue.

Coffee rotation

Dancing Bean + Towns End

We rotate between the two. Pick whichever fits the day, then give the other one tomorrow morning.

After the ride

Burger Master

Ice cream after Vee Hollow or a full day in the national park. No debate required.

02

Scenic detours

Take the road
that takes longer.

The best sightseeing near Townsend often happens between the pins on the map: a curvy back road, a quiet trailhead, or the last light across the Foothills Parkway.

Sunrise or sunset

Foothills Parkway

The light is the reason to go. Pick a clear morning or evening, leave more time than the mileage suggests, and pull over when the layers of mountain ridges start doing their thing.

Drive · hike · gravel bike

Old Cades Cove Road + Rich Mountain Road

From Townsend, follow the road past Tuckaleechee Caverns and through Dry Valley to the park boundary. The small lot there serves the Ace Gap and Rich Mountain trailheads, on opposite sides of the road. Beyond the gate, gravel Rich Mountain Road continues toward Cades Cove. When it is seasonally closed to vehicles, it remains open to hikers and bikes; when open to cars, traffic runs one-way out of Cades Cove, so check the road status before riding.

A separate trail day

Schoolhouse Gap

Schoolhouse Gap is a different outing: its trailhead is on Laurel Creek Road, 3.9 miles from the Townsend Wye on the way into Cades Cove. The wide, mostly gentle former roadbed makes an approachable hike and connects with more varied hiking trails.

The classic park day

Cades Cove

Go early or late, bring binoculars, and let the historic buildings, valley views, and wildlife stops set the pace. Give the 11-mile loop plenty of room rather than squeezing it between two timed plans.

03

Ride · walk · water

Move first.
Then slow down.

Townsend works especially well for an active day because the good stuff starts close to town—and everyone can choose a different pace.

Road + gravel bike

Roads worth riding

Townsend is a terrific base for road and gravel riding: quiet back roads, long climbs, and routes that can be as relaxed or ambitious as the group wants. The roads around town make it easy to build a real workout without spending the day on a busy highway.

Walk from the cabin

The Stonegate loop

The neighborhood itself makes a beautiful, challenging walk. Expect hills, quiet roads, and a real chance of spotting wildlife. Stay on the roads, give the neighbors their space, and count the climb as part of the outing.

Float, paddle, wade

The Little River

A Townsend day is better when you get in the water. Float with a local outfitter, bring a kayak, or find a calm edge and wade in. Water shoes, towels, and a dry bag make every version easier.

The classic, timed well

Cades Cove by bike

Cades Cove earns its place on the list, especially on a vehicle-free morning. The loop is 11 miles and best enjoyed without rushing. Check the current National Park Service schedule and conditions before setting out.

For the adventurer

Vee Hollow

Fourteen miles of purpose-built mountain-bike trail tuck into the hills behind town. The entry area across the pedestrian bridge is friendly for younger riders, while the upper trails give more experienced riders plenty to work with.

Stay close to it all

Make Fox Hollow
your home base.

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