FunFest is the yearly summer event in Kingsport. There are lots of summer activities to do including concerts.
Visit the link above to find out what is going on. Concert tickets go fast so be sure to reseerve yours.
Warrior’s Path State Park is one of the areas most visited sites. People gather here for all kinds of activities including boating, fishing, picnicking, and more.
Location:
PO Box 5026
Hemlock Road
Kingsport , TN 37663
Office: 423-239-8531
Built in the 40’s the Allandale Mansion is a local tourist stop and is used for all types of special events.
Directions:
Kingsport:Take Stone Drive west. Allandale Mansion is 3.2 miles from I-26 interchange.
Bristol:Take I-81 South to Kingsport Exit 59 (I-26 E). Exit 1 (11W/Stone Drive exit). Turn left on to 11W South. Allandale is 3.2 miles on the right.
Johnson City:Take I-26 W to Kingsport Exit 1 (11W/Stone Drive exit). Turn left on to 11W South. Allandale is 3.2 miles on the right.
Virginia:Take I-26/Highway 23 South to Kingsport Exit 1 (11W/Stone Drive exit). Turn right on to 11W South. Allandale is 3.2 miles on the right.
Learn about how farm life was in the 1850’s by visiting a reallife working farm from the period.
Location:
Exchange Place
4812 Orebank Road
Kingsport, Tennessee 37664
423-288-6071
Built in 1802 Netherland Inn was first used as a boat yard and then as a stagecoach stop.
Now it is a museum.
Location:
2144 Netherland Inn Road
P.O.B. 293
Kingsport, TN 37660
Phone: (423) 335-5552 or (423) 246-7986
The Hammond House is the only remaining house in the Boatyard area that is period to the late 1800’s.
Location:
121 Shirley Street
P.O. Box 2114
Kingsport, TN 37662
423-245-5523
Bristol Caverns is a longtime attraction in Bristol. The caverns are spectacular and well worth the trip to see.
Directions:
From VA. I-81, take exit 3. Go to 6th traffic light and turn left onto Anderson Street. Anderson will become 421 South. Follow 421 South. When it becomes a four lane highway, turn left at traffic light onto state route 435 (Bristol Caverns Highway). Go 2.5 miles to caverns on left.
North bound traffic take exit 69 off of I-81. At end of ramp turn right onto 394E. Stay on 394E past Bristol Motor Speedway. Approximately 6 miles past speedway go straight through traffic light onto highway 435N also called Bristol Caverns Highway. We are located 2 1/2 miles on the left.
From 11E, take Bluff City / Blountville exit. Turn right onto 394 East. Go past Bristol Motor Speedway for 6 miles. Cross 421S and follow state route 435 (Bristol Caverns Highway). Go 2.5 miles to the caverns on the left.
There are a number of flea markets and other types of sales in Bristol but the one place that will stand out is the large flea market just outside of Bristol.
Just head towards Johnson City on highway 11-E and you will see it on the left.
4571 Hwy 11 E
Bluff City, Tennessee 37618
Another great cavern to see is the Appalachian Caverns. This cave has actual bats that you can see in their natural habitat.
There is also a lot of other history here, including some Civil War finds.
They also have a gem mine!
Located outside of Bristol but not too far away.
420 Cave Hill Road
Blountville, TN 37617
(423) 323-2337
Want to see real live dinosaur bones? You are close to the right place.
Gray, TN is the place to go and it not very far from Bristol.
1212 Suncrest Drive
Gray, TN 37615
Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium
Located just outside of Kingsport is Bays Mountain Park. It is within easy driving distance from Bristol.
There are wild animals to see, a museum, and also picnic facilities.
Directions from Bristol:
.On I-81 take Exit 57-B “Kingsport” onto I-26N(old I-181). Exit at Meadowview Parkway, Exit 3(old Exit 52). Turn left at the light at the bottom of the exit ramp. This road turns into Reservoir Rd. Continue on Reservoir Rd. for approximately 3 miles. Turn right onto Bays Mountain Park Rd. Stay to the left at the fork in road for the Park entrance.
Traders Village
Traders Village is a local indoor flea market located on 11w from Kingsport to Bristol. They have a variety of indoor shops and the Kingsport Times News even has consignments.
Gate City Flea Market
Located on the back street fo Gate City in the public parking lot is the Gate City flea market. Come by on Friday mornings for the best bargains around.
Weber City Flea Market
Located in the old tobacco warehouse there are usually quite a few bargains.
Just go to weber city and follow the sign.
A. P. Carter, Sarah Carter, and Maybelle Carter are given credit for the commercialization of country music. Now, they repay the public with music performaces by various groups at the Carter Fold.
Directions:
Traveling northbound on I-81 take the Kingsport exit onto I-26; follow I-26 until it ends. Take highway 23 north toward Gate City. There are green highway markers directing you to the Carter Fold. Follow the signs, turn right at the fourth traffic light onto highway 224. Take the first left onto highway 58 east (toward Bristol). Follow Highway 58 to Highway 709 and turn left in Hiltons. Follow Highway 709 to Highway 614, then turn right on Highway 614 to Mendota. This part of the road has been designated the A.P. Carter Highway. Follow this road for about three miles, when you’ll see the Fold on your left.
Coming from I-81 south, take Exit 1 (Bristol, Gate City exit). This will put you on Highway 58. Stay in the right lane to Gate City, then follow 58 to Hiltons (about 25 miles).
Turn right on Highway 709 at the store; follow Highway 709 to Highway 614, then turn right on Highway 614, the A.P. Carter Highway. Follow Highway 614 for three miles. You’ll see the Carter Fold on your left.
Called the 8th wonder of the world, Natural Tunnel was carved from the earth by erosion. It is so large than the railroad has used it for a tunnel for trains to pass through.
Now there are cabins and a campground being built.
LOCATION:
Natural Tunnel State Park is in Scott County, about 13 miles north of Gate City and 20 miles north of Kingsport, Tenn.. To get there, from I-81, take U.S. 23 North to Gate City (about 20 miles). The turn-off to the park is at mile marker 17.4 on Rt. 23. Take Natural Tunnel Parkway about one mile east to park entrance.
Outdoor play that is held throught the summer months. Located in Big Stone gap, VA.
Amphitheatre & Box Office
June Tolliver Playhouse
518 Clinton Avenue East
Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219
June Tolliver House & Folk Art Center
Another interesting site in Big Stone Gap, Va is the June Tolliver House. There are lots of antiques and other history here.
522 Clinton Avenue East
Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219