From peaceful wildlife sanctuaries and sites of profound historical significance, Meigs County, Tennessee is a place that stirs the soul. Read this guide to learn everything you need to know about visiting “the Shoreline County!”

Located just 45 minutes northwest of Chattanooga, Sequatchie County, and Dunlap, Tennessee is full of history, charm, and outdoor activities. This recently designed map of Dunlap, Tennessee has us planning our next day trip!

Pigeon Mountain, located just west of LaFayette, Georgia, is essentially an arm of Lookout Mountain. It stretches for about ten miles northeast of its divergence from the east side of Lookout Mountain, and is largely contained within the 20,657-acre state-owned Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The mountain reaches an elevation of around 2,330 feet at its highest point, and overlooks the pastoral V-shaped McLemore Cove, which lies between it and Lookout Mountain.

Russell Cave, carved by underground erosion through a layer of limestone, is considered the oldest rock shelter regularly inhabited in the eastern U.S., and has provided evidence of human use over thousands of years, beginning with Paleolithic spear points used for hunting mastodons, sloths, and bison.

Many visitors to the Hiwassee Refuge include a stop at the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park, which, in addition to the history-oriented features, provides a roofed overlook on a high bluff above the Tennessee River.

One of the South Cumberland region’s lesser-known outdoor recreation opportunities is Franklin State Forest, which straddles the border of Marion and Franklin Counties about 45 miles west of Chattanooga. Originally named Franklin-Marion State Forest, today it’s commonly referred to simply as Franklin Forest, and following a couple of additions in recent years, now covers around 8,800 acres.

If you’re looking for a place to enjoy the outdoors relatively close to home, Chickamauga Battlefield, located in North Georgia and about 10 miles south of downtown Chattanooga, may be a good option for a quiet and fairly easy hike, as well as other forms of outdoor recreation.

Located off the beaten path in the southwest corner of Bradley County and just a few miles from Apison, Red Clay State Historic Park offers an opportunity to learn about the region’s Native American history while providing a peaceful setting in which to experience nature.

Fall Creek Falls State Park, located on the Cumberland Plateau about 75 miles north of Chattanooga, is one of Tennessee’s largest and most visited state parks.