We want to encourage Tennesseans to take a trip just down the road to some of the greatest places on earth that just happen to be right here in Tennessee

In the Tennessee Overhill, children can make believe in authentic historical settings while they enjoy fresh air, sunshine, and open spaces to run and play.

The Hiwassee River Rail Adventure’s 2008 Summer Excursions are underway in the mountains of southeastern Tennessee. Restored vintage trains carry passengers on the former Louisville & Nashville Railroad’s “Old Line."

Last year the Forest received over 2.5 million site visits.

Bears are opportunists by nature.

The first Ramp Tramp was held April 13, 1958 on Big Frog Mountain, with Tom Beckler and Letcher Goforth hauling food and supplies in a jeep while participants hiked up the mountain.

Take one tank of gas, one pretty summer day, and the whole family, to find out how much Fun per Gallon you can get out of your summer road trip.

The rich tradition of the Copper Basin has been captured in the Ducktown Basin Museum, located on the site of the old Burra Burra mine, Hwy. 68, about a mile off Hwy. 64 in Ducktown.

Polk County offers a wide variety of hunting and fishing opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast. From enticing a bass to strike a crank bait or placing a fly on top of a trophy trout to shooting doves or waiting for that 10-point buck to move from behind the brush pile, Polk County has it all -- even wild turkey, bear and boar.

The Hiwassee River offers scenic beauty, recreation and history.

It would be difficult to provide a detailed description of all the hiking trails in Polk County. Those listed below can be used as a guide to help you get acquainted with the area, but the best way to learn abut the Cherokee National Forest is to pick up a map at any of the ranger district offices and explore on your own.

While little remains of the original Cherokee towns, visitors can drive by these sites and visit several locations that share the Cherokee heritage.

Mountain scenery creates a spectacular backdrop as travelers follow scenic backroads and highways through southeast Tennessee where they can purchase slow cured hams, the only cheddar cheese made in Tennessee, apples, daylilies, award-winning muscadine wines, and more.

Southeast Tennessee is blessed with two scenic highways offering vistas that stretch as far as the eye can see. It’s worth taking some extra time to add them to your driving tour through the area, stopping to enjoy the historic attractions and small towns along the way.

Ron Huster, Assistant General Manager of the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, told members of the TriCities Business Association that the excursion train will extend its layover in the Copper Basin during the upcoming season.