Located just outside the city of Cleveland, the Cherokee National Forest stretches from Chattanooga to Bristol along the North Carolina border. This vast 640,000-acre National Forest, set in the Southern Appalachian mountain range, is home to trees, streams, more than 20,000 species of plants and animals, and the Ocoee River. Spend the day exploring, or stay overnight camping at the Chilhowee Recreation area, which is adjacent to a large freshwater lake, beach and picnic area. Cherokee National Forest offers a plethora of year-round outdoor recreational activities. Enjoy hiking, fishing, whitewater rafting, horseback riding and some of the most amazing scenic drives in the United States. In the fall, be sure to take a drive up U.S. Highway 64 into the mountains alongside the Ocoee River.
Cherokee National Forest
2800 N. Ocoee St.
Cleveland, TN 37312
423-476-9700
www.fs.fed.us
Discover the history of Cleveland at the Museum at Five Points. The museum showcases the history and culture of the Ocoee District of southeastern Tennessee by highlighting the adventures of its people. Visit the Living History exhibit and learn about the area's history from the time of the Cherokee Indians in 1758 to the present day. Sections of the exhibit include the Cherokee Indians, religion, agriculture, the railroad, industry, education and the Ocoee River. The museum also houses several local artifacts documenting the history of Cleveland, and some special collections, including a 19th-century American patterned glass collection. The Museum at Five Points is open daily from Tuesday through Saturday.
The Museum Center at Five Points
200 Inman St. East
Cleveland, TN 37311
423-339-5745
museumcenter.org
Take a self-guided walking tour of Cleveland's historic downtown district past early Victorian-era homes and antebellum churches. Self-guided tour maps are available at the Convention and Visitors Bureau on Keith Street, or at the Museum at Five Points. Historic sites along the tour include St. Luke's Episcopal Church, a Gothic structure steeped in local history and folklore; Regions Bank, the oldest continuously operating bank location in Tennessee; and The Spot, a unique restaurant constructed in the late 1800s. See the Cherokee Chieftain, a carving made from a tree along Parker Street in Johnston Park by acclaimed sculptor Peter Wolf Toth. Stop along the way for lunch or a snack at one of Cleveland's several downtown eateries, or pay a visit to an antique shop and find your own southeastern Tennessee treasure.
Self-Guided Historic Walking Tour
Cleveland Convention and Visitors Bureau
225 Keith St.
Cleveland, TN 37320
423-472-6587
clevelandchamber.com
