Tennessee Time
Loved by music aficionados and whiskey connoisseurs alike, Tennessee is also a place to indulge in some of America’s most incredible wellness experiences.
Home of Jack Daniels and the country’s most visited national park, the southeastern state of Tennessee deserves to be front and centre of any trip to the US. This land of scenic valleys and cascading waterfalls is also synonymous with country music. Indeed, to say the state capital Nashville has a place in musical history is the king of all understatements, with legends including Dolly Parton, Jonny Cash, and more recently Taylor Swift all forging stellar careers in the city’s storied studios. And, speaking of The King, some 600,000 Elvis fans make the pilgrimage each year to Graceland in Memphis to walk in the footsteps of rock ‘n’ roll’s ultimate icon.
But not only does Tennessee have it all to see and do, it also has incredible places to unplug and rewind. The state is home to a rich selection of wellness getaways, spa treatments, yoga and glamping opportunities. So, once you’ve seen the sights, treat yourself, relax and disconnect from life’s to-do-list with these serene experiences.
Blackberry Mountain, Walland
© Ingalls Photography
Tucked away in the Great Smoky Mountains, centre mind, body and soul through the many wellness experiences Blackberry Mountain offers. Take time for a yoga or forest bathing session, grounding treatments, sound bathing and personal training. Relax at the spa to replenish your body with fitness classes, weightless compression and red-light therapy in the Recovery Lab. There is everything from body therapies and sculpting treatments that increase circulation, to intense exfoliation therapies designed to improve lymphatic flow. You’ll leave Blackberry Mountain rejuvenated and already planning your next visit.
blackberrymountain.com/wellness
Oak Haven Resort & Spa, Sevierville
In the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Oak Haven Resort & Spa is home to an award-winning spa guaranteed to totally refresh and restore. Whether you’re getting a tension-releasing warm salt-stone massage, enjoying a rejuvenating facial or indulging in a romantic couples’ spa day, you’ll come away from Oak Haven feeling ready for whatever life throws your way. A manicure or pedicure is fine. But you can take things to another level with Oak Haven’s Ice Cream Nail Treatment, which includes a two-scoop deluxe ice cream sundae with your pedicure.
oakhavenresort.com/spa
Seven Springs Holistic Retreat, Maryville
A family-owned and run spot in the Chilhowee Mountains, Seven Springs Holistic Retreat seamlessly blends luxury with wellness offerings, including private residential yurts, organic vegan meals and an array of yoga-centric experiences and activities. Nightly gatherings around the property’s fire bring each day to a fitting close. The guided Seven Springs Nature & Plant Walk takes guests on a fascinating trip to learn more about the area’s incredible biodiversity.
sevenspringsretreats.com
RT Lodge, Maryville
Tucked away in the lush woods of Maryville, the quiet side of the Great Smoky Mountains, RT Lodge provides spectacular natural settings and a variety of elegant, comfortable spaces. Welcome to your home away from home. Enjoy a chef-curated meal with the freshest ingredient sources from local farms. Savour favourites like buttermilk ranch-fried chicken, homemade bread, pickles and charcuterie. After dinner, enjoy coffee and complimentary afters around the fire pit, all the while surrounded by gorgeous landscapes and the tranquil sounds of Maryville College Woods.
rtlodge.com
Windy Hill Farm & Preserve, Loudon
The healing powers of the great outdoors are in full effect at Windy Hill Farm & Preserve in Loudon, the perfect getaway to be immersed in the great outdoors.
This all-inclusive resort and hunting lodge situated on the banks of the Tennessee River boasts over 650 acres of pristine countryside, beckoning guests to take advantage of forest bathing opportunities, garden and orchard walks, mountain biking, waterfall hikes and more. On a guided Wine Hike, the team at Windy Hills have created a unique wine-tasting experience, where you’ll explore a variety of wine and food pairings while exploring scenic hiking trails.
tnvacation.com/local/loudon-windy-hill-farm-and-preserve
Bolt Farm Treehouse, Whitwell
Set on 55 acres on a mountainside in Whitwell, Bolt Farm Treehouse is an adults-only escape that focuses on forming deeper connections with your loved ones. Through massages, yoga classes, outdoor adventure and exquisite culinary offerings, Bolt Farm will help you and your partner find a balance between a healthy body and peaceful mind. Bolt Farm’s treetop accommodation offers sweeping views from private terraces, romantic canopy beds and hot tubs.
boltfarmtreehouse.com
Evins Mill Resort & Retreat, Smithville
© Jeff Adkins
Just an hour from Nashville – but a world away. Surrounded by wooded bluffs, dense forest and soothing streams, Evins Mill Resort & Retreat in Smithville partners with practitioners to host workshops including yoga, wellness, professional development, meditation, recovery and spiritual growth. Evins Mill offers easy access to one of Tennessee’s natural wonders – the picture-perfect Carmac Falls, where you can swim beneath the gentle cascades. evinsmill.com
The Silos at Promise Manor, Lynchburg
© Stacy Preston Photography
Stay in “Dolly” or “Duke”, the converted sixty-year-old grain bins! The Silos at Promise Manor are a one-of- a-kind experience located in the heart of beautiful Lynchburg, Tennessee. Become immersed in the landscape of this sixteen-acre expanse by enjoying the fresh vegetable garden, the floral garden, farm-fresh eggs and much more. Take the time to slow down and absorb the beauty of agriculture and farming while only being just over a mile from Historic Downtown Lynchburg. Be sure to visit Jack Daniel’s Distillery for a sip of the world- famous Tennessee Whiskey.
promisemanor.com/thesilos
ISHA Institute of Inner Sciences, McMinnville
The ISHA Institute of Inner-Sciences is committed to getting to the heart of the matter and uncovering your inner well-being. Located just a short drive from Chattanooga, ISHA offers campus tours daily from 10:30am to 5pm, that include light hikes to a beautiful bluff vista and seasonal waterfalls, rejuvenating time spent in an energised meditation space and a visit to Mahima, the largest yoga and meditation hall in the western hemisphere. If you would like to enjoy an overnight stay, ISHA offers cabins, studios and deluxe studios complete with two vegetarian meals and a snack each day.
tnvacation.com/local/mcminnville-isha- institute-inner-sciences
Southall, Franklin
© Southall
Set amidst 325 acres of rolling hills, Southall in Franklin makes you feel better almost instantly upon arrival. The luxury resort, newly opened in 2022, offers personal training, yoga, meditation, sound and forest bathing, tea ceremonies, massages, facials and more. It’s a wellness wonderland, to say the least. The Zen for Men experiences include deep tissue massages to personalised wellness therapies as well as woodworking classes, hilltop yoga and trail runs.
https://southalltn.com
The Joseph, Nashville
© Jim Kruger
High above the busy streets of downtown Nashville, discover The Rose, a haven of luxury located within the luxe Joseph hotel. The sky’s the limit here for wellness seekers, with offerings that include Botanical CBD massages, grounding stone massages, reflexology, deep tissue and maternity massages, in addition to Biologique Recherche Seconde Peau 3D Facials, hot oil body wraps, manicures and pedicures. The Rose’s Experience Showers – the only such showers in Nashville – offer a multi-sensory journey, immersing guests in a warm island storm, or cool mountain raindrops.
Feathers Spa at The Peabody Hotel, Memphis
Memphis may be known for its dynamic music and culinary scenes, but unparalleled wellness is within reach in this famed city as well. Feathers Spa at The Peabody Hotel takes relaxation seriously. Here, you’ll choose from massages, body wraps, facials and facial enhancements, all performed masterfully by expert staff. Don’t miss the chance to experience Feathers’ Vichy Shower Bed, complete with steam massage, chromo light therapy and aromatherapy that creates a multi-sensory hydrotherapy. peabodymemphis.com/feathers-spa
Stillwaters Farm, Henderson
Enjoy the serene acres of Stillwaters Farm with a boutique farm stay while in Henderson. The cottage includes spacious living areas furnished with antiques, an eat-in kitchen, outdoor lounging area, free critter tour and more. You can also stay in an Airstream glamper. Soak up the sounds of quiet farm life and be sure to shop from the Silo farm store for artisan products handcrafted on the farm, like soaps, bath & body, lip balms, soy candles, photography and art.
tnvacation.com/local/henderson-stillwaters-farm
Coming Soon
Keep an eye on what’s being crafted in Tennessee at Coffee Ridge Resort, a 300-acre property with forests, ponds and waterfalls. The resort opening 2024 will offer a spa, upscale dining, luxury accommodations and experiences from helicopter excursions to horse riding. coffeeridge.com