Townsend, TN

Known as the peaceful side of the Smokies, Townsend is a quiet mountain community in Blount County that offers easy access to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cades Cove. Life here revolves around the outdoors and the clear waters of the Little River, where locals spend warm days tubing, kayaking, and fly fishing. Paved greenways wind through Tuckaleechee Cove, and places like the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center keep the area's rich Appalachian history alive. It is a scenic, close-knit spot for anyone who wants mountain living without the heavy tourist traffic found in neighboring resort towns.