23 Best & Fun Things to Do in Sweetwater, TN

In search of the best and fun things to do in Sweetwater, TN? Sweetwater is a beautiful city in Monroe and McMinn counties of Tennessee. 

Sweetwater houses the Craighead Caverns, which is the location of the Lost Sea, the largest underground Lake in the country. TravelMag in 2022 acknowledged the city as one of Tennessee’s Ten Most Beautiful Cities. 

History has it that the city’s name was derived from a settlers’ illustration of the area springs. Sweetwater was founded in the 1850s via the many lots sold by Isaac Lenoir, a politician and son of the founder of Lenoir City.

Sweetwater has lots of natural sites and excellent destinations that will interest any traveler. With a well-planned list of things to do in the city, you are sure to have a worthwhile trip.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Sweetwater, TN.

Things to Do in Sweetwater, TN

1. Sweetwater Antiques

The Sweetwater Antiques was created by combining two large antique malls. This place accommodates more than 35 merchants who sell different varieties of quality items.

Toys, transportation items, vanity items, primitive items, sewing artifacts, and other fascinating products are what you will find at this place.

To serve you well, many of these dealers move nationwide to collect the best products to sell. Take your time to browse the many items in this facility, which cover about 10,000 square feet, with every side of the place filled with antiques.

You can place an order online and have them brought right to your doorstep. All orders and queries are attended to within 24 hours. Antique shopping is no doubt one of the best things to do in Sweetwater, TN.

Address: 309 N Main St, Sweetwater, TN 37874, United States

2. The Lost Sea Adventure

Enjoy the natural beauty of Sweetwater by being part of this adventurous tour called the Lost Sea Adventure. It is one of the fun things to do in Sweetwater, TN.

The trip starts from the Craighead Caverns, a 3/4 mile journey on sloping routes. As you go on this trip, expert guides will provide you with all the information you need about the Lake and the caverns.

They also share with you what the inside of the caverns looks like and how the Rock formations developed over time.

Upon reaching the base of the Cave, you will have to enter a boat and go down the “The Lost Sea ” the largest underground Lake in America.

At the end of your tour, you might want to check out the Lost Villages, which have different gift stores, or you can stroll down a self-guided nature trail. The Lake tours are available daily.

Address: 140 Lost Sea Rd, Sweetwater, TN 37874, United States

3. Towns Toffee Company

If you are a fan of great Toffee, then do well to stop by the Towns Toffee Company. The company is owned and operated by a lady who produces traditional toffee in the central area of Sweetwater. 

Are you tired of eating toffee that contains corn syrup or artificial flavors? Then this company is the ideal place to visit around Sweetwater. 

Towns Toffee Company makes use of locally gotten ingredients to make homemade toffee. In addition, the products produced by the company are packed in fine boxes and bags.

You can try out their different varieties of toffee mix. They mix toffee with other products like chocolate, seasonal ingredients, and nuts.

You can also try out their favorite original milk chocolate toffee and compare it to their recent Oh My Crackers Coffee. 

Address: 1006 N Main St, Sweetwater, TN 37874, United States

4. Charles Hall Museum

One of the top things to do in Sweetwater, TN, is to visit the Charles Hall Museum and learn about Appalachian History.

The Museum is located outside Sweetwater. Visitors must drive a little further to get to the town of Tellico Plain, which is about 28 minutes from Sweetwater, TN. The Museum got its name from a local historian named Charles Hall, who started his career in this region.

Charles Hall was the mayor of Tellico Plains for 31 years. During his service, he gathered different historical artifacts currently housed in two buildings.

Upon visiting the Charles Hall Museum, you can see 8,000 artifacts comprising photographs and historical documents. Some artifacts are in the form of displays or archived for research purposes. 

Apart from pictures and papers, you will find old currency, telephones, equipment, guns, and many others in the Charles Hall Museum. 

Address: 229 Cherohala Skyway, Tellico Plains, TN 37385, United States

5. Sweetwater Flea Market

Go shopping at the Sweetwater Flea Market, which provides extraordinary gifts and souvenirs you can take home as memorabilia.

The Sweetwater Flea Market houses up to 800 booths, and many vendors have had their products stocked up there for years. 

All of these vendors ensure they provide visitors with only the best products. Also, the Flea market has brought numerous establishments selling fantastic items at reasonable prices. The Sweetwater Flea Market is in a climate-operated facility with four football fields.

Address: 121 Co. Road 308, Sweetwater, TN 37874, United States

6. Gardens of Sunshine Hollow

The Gardens of Sunshine Hollow is located in Athens, TN, and contains beautiful forests and gardens with a network of trails.

If you intend to visit the Gardens of Sunshine Hollow in a group of about 15 or more, make reservations between April and July.

This destination occupies a small part of the 160 acres of pristine Tennessee forest located in Great Valley. The Gardens has numerous perennials, such as cannas, dahlias, iris, and roses.

In addition, there are different shrubs and annuals planted on more than 20 acres of land. You can also purchase numerous species of Hosta and Daylilies in the Gardens of Sunshine Hollow.

This place is perfect for hosting your weddings, wedding receptions, and other occasions as well.

Address: 198 Co Rd 52, Athens, TN 37303, United States

7. Sweetwater Valley Farm

The Sweetwater Valley Farm is located in the rich-dairy Sweetwater Valley, amidst Loudon and Philadelphia, in Tennessee.

The Farm has grown tremendously due to the region’s arable lands. In addition, Sweetwater Valley farm is the property of a group of farms operating in this area.

Upon visiting this area, you might want to see the Sweetwater Valley Farm Store to sample their excellent cheeses. Also, you can learn how these cheeses were made before you test them.

The Sweetwater Valley Farm produces cheeses persistently between January till August. Ensure to check out the Farm at this time.

Address: Cheese Shop, 17988 W Lee Hwy building 1, Philadelphia, TN 37846, United States

8. WEE Farm

Among the best places to visit in Sweetwater, TN, is the WEE Farm, a family-owned and operated business chiefly dedicated to sustainability.

Heirloom plants and vegetables are refined in their commercial kitchen to be sold out fresh for people. The kitchen provides visitors with various food products, like pickles, confections, jams, jellies, refined bread, and others.

Apart from the commercial kitchen, the WEE Farm has a sawmill that it is dependent on. The mill is used for sawing lumber for various purposes, such as producing crafts and arts, wood and firewood, and farm supplies.

In addition, the WEE Farm refurbishes pallet wood, barn wood, and old lumber. It has a garden workshop, allowing the owners to construct meaningful items, such as wood crates, shadow boxes, picture frames, kitchen boards, and planters. They also build small furniture and birdhouses.

Address: 520 Anderson Rd, Sweetwater, TN 37874, United States

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9. Mayfield Dairy Farms

The historic Mayfield Dairy Farms is a 21-minute drive from Sweetwater, and the Farm is located in Athens, TN. This historic Farm began in 1910 when T.B. Mayfield, Jr purchased 45 Jersey Cows and supplied milk to his friends in Athens.

As the year passed, the Mayfield milk and ice cream establishment grew into a unique dairy brand in the country. And even as of now, this historic Farm has been dedicated to producing high-quality dairy products.

You can have a short tour of the Farm, including the operations involved in dairy production. The Farm has a gift shop where you can explore the many souvenirs. You can also purchase your favorite ice cream at the Farm’s ice cream store.

Address: 806 E Madison Ave, Athens, TN 37303, United States

10. Dogwood Lake Boutique and Home

 

Enjoy one of a kind shopping experience in Sweetwater, Tennessee, when you visit the Dogwood Lake Boutique and Home.

The boutique is also an ideal location to shop for gifts to bring home as souvenirs to your loved ones and friends.

Visitors can shop for various exciting products, such as jewelry, clothing, baby gifts, furnishings, home decor, gifts, and more.

You do not need to break the bank to visit this store, as all their goods are sold at affordable prices. The person in charge of the store is super friendly and welcoming and always available to assist you.

Address: 107 & 109 Morris St, Sweetwater, TN 37874, United States

11. Loch Low-Minn Scuba Diving Resort

Loch Low-Minn Scuba Diving Resort is perched in a discarded quarry lake renovated into a dive resort.

The main quarry was closed during the 1970s, and the entire area was not developed for two decades. In 1996, Rick and Stacy Low, enthusiastic scuba divers, arrived at the site and purchased the quarry, and started renovating it into a diving resort.

The dive resort was sold in 2014 by Lows to Alexander Smirnov, who started scuba operations again.

The 10-acre dive resort provides visitors with great diving and high-quality amenities. The waters are crystal clear for you to see the varieties of fish like catfish, bass, bluegills, and paddlefish.

You will be able to see artifacts in hidden areas beneath the Lake. Their staff is readily available to assist you in having a pleasurable time here.

Address: 116 Co Rd 420, Athens, TN 37303, United States

12. Blooms, Bluegrass, & BBQ Festival

 

Blooms, Bluegrass, & BBQ Festival is celebrated in downtown Sweetwater annually. The festival allows visitors to enjoy the best bluegrass music and barbecue. Attending this festival is one of the fun things to do in Sweetwater, TN.

The event is open to everyone, including the children. There are plenty of activities for the children, a kid’s zone, and carnival attractions. 

If you have musical talent, the festival features a Picker’s Corner Program where visitors can display their musical talents.

The festival is usually held in May, and you can schedule your vacation to Sweetwater around this time to partake in this lovely festival.

Address: Downtown, Sweetwater, United States

13. Tsali Notch Vineyard

The Vineyard provides people with unique wines produced from muscadine grapes. The grape has a nickname known as “America Wild Grape ” with a robust flavor that befits its nickname.

In addition, another unique quality of the muscadine grape is that it contains incredible amounts of antioxidant resveratrol. 

The Vineyard is made up of 25 acres out of a 202-acre property, with an elevation of about 1,150 feet coupled with great mountain views.

When you visit the Vineyard, you can see its large party barn and a tasting room built out of a log building. Moreover, a restored 19th-century two-room farmhouse and the Jackson Lounge make up the leading sites for parties in the Vineyard.

You can be part of the harvest season, which occurs between September to October, and you can collect muscadine grapes to produce your wines and juice.

The Vineyard holds the National Muscadine Festival to commemorate “America’s Wild Grape.” The festival is held in late September. 

The Tsali Notch Vineyard is in Madisonville, TN, a 13 minutes drive from Sweetwater.

Address: 162 Harrison Rd, Madisonville, TN 37354, United States

14. Buddy’s Bar-B-Q

Buddy’s Bar-B-Q was established in 1972 by Buddy Smothers and his Wife Muriel. The barbecue restaurant is located in Kingston Pike, West Knoxville, Tennessee. 

Buddy’s Bar-B-Q has grown into establishing 19 branches across Tennessee together with a Bearden Banquet Hall and traditional Culinary services.

You should stop by this location in Athens and enjoy a delicious meal with loved ones and friends. Stop by if you look forward to enjoying the best barbecue experience in East Tennessee.

The Bar-B-Q restaurant is so welcoming. They treat you as family and cater to your food needs. Ensure to stop by and enjoy their great selection of delicious meals, which are affordable when you visit.

Address: 1104 US-321, Lenoir City, TN 37771, United States

15. Sweetwater Flower Shop

The Sweetwater Flower Shop is situated in the downtown area of Sweetwater. It is well known for its outstanding and excellent customer service enjoyed by the region and the nation.

The store has witnessed tremendous growth and expansion in providing quality services and products over the years. The shop was initially famous in the 1920s for its fresh-cut flowers and arrangements.

It offers continually growing self-stunning boutique gifts, seasonal products, fabulous jewelry, art, accessories, women’s clothing, self-florals, and others.

The shop also has custom exterior and interior silks, seasonal decorating, and graveside pieces.

Address: 120 W North St #2626, Sweetwater, TN 37874, United States

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16. Duck Park

The Duck Park is an excellent location to check out when you visit Sweetwater, TN. The Park is usually quiet most times and not crowded, making it an idyllic spot to enjoy solitude.

The park is quite popular due to its impressive landscape and relaxing natural scenery. It also has paved trails and a bridge where visitors can view the ducks closely.

A walk along Duck Park is a perfect way to explore it and its natural environment. It is a great place to go picnicking with families and friends. Plenty of shades are around, and there is a food dispenser where you can put coins to get food to feed the ducks.

Address: 410 Old Hwy 68, Sweetwater, TN 37874, United States

17. Bobby Todd Antiques

If you are searching for a place to shop for antique items, one of the best places to visit in Sweetwater, TN, is Bobby Todd Antiques. 

Bobby Todd Antiques is a beautiful antique and gift shop offering great products ranging from American antiques, old items, furniture, paintings, and European antiques, sold at reasonable prices.

Items selection in the store is well-curated and displayed so visitors can easily browse through what they have.

They have a super friendly, knowledgeable staff who are always open to assist. The perfect time to check out this antique shop is October to December.

Address: 305 N Main St, Sweetwater, TN 37874, United States

18. Sweetwater Heritage Museum

If you are a history enthusiast, one of the perfect ways to experience the city of Sweetwater, TN, is to check out the Sweetwater Heritage Museum.

The Museum is open to the public and anyone who wants to explore the city’s local history. Despite being a little museum, it still houses a large selection of artifacts and photographs that narrates the history of Sweetwater.

While there, you can get an elaborate underdog of the industrial and agricultural history in Sweetwater, TN, via their memorabilia collections.

To enjoy all of these offerings, do well to stop by during your visit to the city. Admission to the Museum is free for everyone. 

Address: N And High Streets, Sweetwater, TN 37874, United States

19. Vintage Aircraft at the Swift Museum

The Swift Museum is located at McMinn County Airport. At the Museum, visitors can see various displays of Swift aircraft.

If you are an aviation fan, this Museum should be a must-see while on tour in Sweetwater, TN. The Museum has the first Swift prototype and the improved Swift airplanes manufactured between 1947 to 1951.

In addition, you will also be able to see on display two T-35 Buckaroo USAF trainers, which were tested around the 1950s by the Airforce. The Saudi Arabian Air Force presented one of the T-35s, an armed model, to the Museum. 

For a better tour around the facility, visitors are provided with informative and friendly guides. Admission to the Museum is free for everyone.

Address: 517 New Hwy 68, Sweetwater, TN 37874, United States

20. Architectural and Historical excursion

The many historical landmarks in the Sweetwater are enough reasons for visitors to go on a self-guided historical trip.

The Sweetwater Train Park housed in Circle Park is part of the many fascinating historical landmarks in Sweetwater, TN. The train once plowed the Southern Railway. 

You can check out the Overhill Markers and Civil War Trails, which narrates the fascinating war and farming history of Sweetwater.

The Lily Pad on Main Street is another exciting place to look out for during your tour. The building was once called the Thomas-Hill Department Store and also served as a bank. However, it is currently used as a boutique. 

Inside the J.T. McKinney Dry Goods is an antique elevator that you should also check out. Another place to visit is the Carriage House. There are many historical landmarks spread across the city that you can explore during your historical tour.

Address: Sweetwater, Tennessee, United States

21. Shop the World Gifts

Shop the World Gifts is a gift shop that fights global poverty, trafficking, and child labor by connecting people with the works of skilled local artisans. 

Their goods are obtained via missionaries and different fair trade enterprises, from the biggest to small ones. The physical store, currently situated in Sweetwater, was opened again in 2020.

 There are many unique items to shop for from different parts of the world, including Uganda, Peru, and Israel. You can find clothing items, scarves, ornaments, jewelry, nativity sets, and many others.

Address: 603 N Main St, Sweetwater, TN 37874, United States

22. McMinn County Living Heritage Museum

If you are a historian or history lover, you can learn about the rich and wild history of Southeast Tennessee by visiting the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum situated in Athens. 

When you visit, you will be exposed to 30 permanent exhibits which tell the story of the people of Cherokee and the original settlers, coupled with the life activities here all through 1940.

Apart from the permanent exhibits here, the Museum also features rotating exhibits throughout the year. The McMinn County Living Heritage Museum holds its annual quilt show during the fall season.

In springtime, it holds its yearly hooked rug show and hook-in. The Museum also has a theater, patio, and a rain garden that stores rainwater and then filters it.

Address: 522 W Madison Ave, Athens, TN 37303, United States

23. S.A.L.T. Body Spa

You can’t be wondering what to do in Sweetwater, TN, when you haven’t visited S.A.L.T Body Spa. Enjoy the best of wellness and pampering services when you visit this beach-inspired spa center in the historic district of Sweetwater, TN. 

S.AL.T Body Spa is open all year round, providing the best spa experience to its clients. Their services are top-notch, all thanks to their friendly and well-experienced staff.

All their services are geared towards rejuvenating the mind and body to work effectively. They include body massage treatments, facial services, lash extensions, relaxing foot soaks, hydrotherapy, and sugar scrubs.

Address: 302 E Walnut St, Sweetwater, TN 37874, United States

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Plan Your Trip to Sweetwater

The beautiful city of Sweetwater has many fine attractions to provide tourists with the best vacation experience. Regardless of your interests, this destination has got you covered.

Ensure you visit with your friends and family. A memorable time awaits you!