From hiking to sightseeing, swimming to wine tasting and so much more! We have prepared this guidebook especially for our guests and we hope you find it helpful. We have intentionally omitted operating hours on many of the listings as they change seasonally, however we have provided phone numbers. Hope you enjoy everything our area has to offer.
Attractions
Ruby Falls
Ruby Falls is a 145-foot high underground waterfall located within Lookout Mountain, near Chattanooga, TN. It is the PERFECT rainy day alternative because the cave is rain free however the rain outside makes the falls that much more spectacular! Weather inside the cave is a constant rain free, 60 degrees year round. (If you’re like me, you will want to wear a light jacket) The cave is well lit however they do offer evening “Lantern Tours” if interested. Reservations are required and tickets are sold online only. Offers Dog Boarding
(47 miles from the farm)
1720 South Scenic Hwy., Chattanooga, TN 37409
423-821-2544
Tennessee Aquarium
One of the most amazing aquariums you will ever visit! An excellent rainy day alternative. The aquarium is home to more than 12,000 animals representing almost 800 species. Due to Covid established capacity limits you will need to purchase timed-entry tickets online in advance. Great time for the whole family! (46 miles from the farm)
1 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
800-262-0695
Rock City
Rock City is an amazing adventure that’s worth the one hour drive! Located atop Lookout Mountain, Rock City is a true marvel of nature featuring massive ancient rock formations, gardens with over 400 native plant species, and breathtaking “See 7 States” panoramic views. Take an unforgettable journey along the Enchanted Trail where each step reveals natural beauty and wonders along the woodland path. Experience the magic of Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village. A true treasure for guests of all ages. Rock City is in the same vicinity as Ruby Falls and combo tickets are available. Timed-entry reservations are required for all admissions so be sure to get your tickets in advance.
(49 miles from the farm)
1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mtn., GA 30705
706-820-2531
Doctor / Hospital / Pharmacy
Bradley-Polk Walk-in Clinic
The Bradley-Polk Walk-in Clinic is the local doc in a box with generally quick service. (3 miles from the farm)
119 White Water Drive, Ocoee, TN 37361
423-299-9435
First Care Family Pharmacy
Closest Pharmacy and located directly adjacent to the Bradley-Polk Walk-in Clinic. Helpful and friendly staff. (3 miles from the farm)
186 Creekside Drive, Ocoee, TN 37361
423-299-9029
Tennova Healthcare – Cleveland
Closest hospital with emergency room. (10 miles from the farm)
2305 NW Chambliss Avenue, Cleveland, TN 37311
423-559-6000
Walgreens
Closest 24 hour pharmacy (10 miles from the farm)
35 25th NW, Cleveland, TN 37311
423-614-4810
Dog Boarding
Ocoee River Dog Daycare and Resort
Ocoee River Dog Daycare and Resort offers our guests a great alternative to boarding your pet at home. Due to numerous reasons we strictly adhere to a NO PET policy here on our farm, however we offer this up as an option to vacation with us and still have your pet close by. Think of it as a vacation for your pet as well! Ocoee Doggy Daycare is a locally owned and operated, kennel-free, dog play and boarding facility catering to the Ocoee River rafting and kayaking community. They keep their overnight dog boarding to a maximum of 15 dogs to reduce stress on the dogs and ensure they get the best care possible so be sure to book ahead of time as they do run out of space. (2 miles from the farm)
277 Reynolds Bridge Road, Benton, TN 37307
423-299-9620
Family Fun
Apple Valley Orchard
An apple a day keeps the doctors away”. Wide variety in the store of apples and don’t forget the cider. Baked goods also. Enjoy a tour but don’t pick the apples!
(10 miles from the farm)
351 Weese Road, Cleveland, TN 37323
423-472-3044
Chilhowee Gliderport
Yes, you can ride in a glider! Enjoy the thrill of a motherless flight.
(8 miles from the farm)
8261 US-411 Benton, TN 37307
423-338-2000
Ocoee Horseride
If your looking for some serious trail riding look no further than Ocoee Horseride! They offer a National Forest Ride (ages 8 and up) that will last between 4-5 hours. You will encounter mountainous terrain with lots of hills and multiple river crossings. You will be asked to pack your own midday lunch. If you’re not feeling quite that adventurous they also offer a 1 Hour Trail Ride (ages 6 and up) through the woods on their farm. (9 miles from the farm)
515 Old Bacon Rd NE, Charleston, TN 37310
423-432-2376
Ocoee Ziplines
Adventurous zip lining through the Cherokee National Forrest. Enjoy the view from the tree top towers. (17 miles from the farm)
4599 Hwy 64 Copperhill, TN 37317
888-723-8663
Fishing-Bait, Tackle, Gear
Cottons Place
Cottons Place hometown convenience store is right around the corner and a great place to grab some live bait. Left out of our driveway and then left at stop sign. Directly across the street at the next stop you come to. You’ll see the old John Deere tractor sitting by the road. Crickets, minnows, worms. They can also get you hooked up with hunting and fishing license.
(2.5 miles from the farm)
6103 US-411, Benton, TN 37307
423-375-5027
Starr Mountain Outfitters
For the outdoor Junkie. All the outdoor gear you need to enjoy your time in the mountains and along the rivers. (15 miles from the farm)
601 Tennessee Avenue, Etowah, TN 37331
423-781-7695
Food Scene
The Bakery On Main touts themselves as the “Hometown bakery with all the extras!” They offer a wide range of baked goods but they are also widely known for their excellent deli and sub sandwiches as well as their take-out family casseroles. The subs are HUGE and can easily be shared by two people. One of our favorite things to do as a family is to grab a couple subs from the bakery, hike Benton Falls, and eat our delicious food at the foot of the falls. They do have a few tables for dining in but the majority of their business is carry out.
(3 miles from the farm)
6232 US -411, Benton TN 37307
423-599-0656
Just a GREAT PLACE and GREAT ATMOSPHERE!! Located about an hours drive away we consider this one well worth it! For starters the drive is gorgeous! Just about the entire route hugs the Ocoee River gorge. It is located in the Copper Basin region which is dripping with history including that of the copper mining days. Be sure to allow time to stroll the very “artsy, craftsy” shops of the historic Riverwalk. Reservations are ALWAYS recommended, especially if you want to sit out above the river. The portions are massive so go hungry!
(31 miles from the farm)
100 Blue Ridge Drive, Suite 100, McCaysville, GA 30555
706-400-6660
The Bus Bar and Grill in located on the grounds of Adventures Unlimited right here in Ocoee. They offer indoor and outdoor dining with made to order burgers, wings, pizzas, salads, and more! My personal favorite are their nachos with added ground beef and jalapeños. Yum! They have a full bar, Happy Hour, and live local music on weekends. And YES, they actually serve out the side of a bus. (3 miles from the farm)
522 US-64, Ocoee, TN 37361
423-338-4325
Cajun Lady Seafood offers great seafood in the most unexpected of places; right here in Ocoee! Who said you have to go to the beach for good seafood?! They offer take-out but also have full service sit down dining. Nothing fancy; come as you are and enjoy the food. (4 miles from the farm)
3720 US-411, Ocoee, TN 37361
423-435-3581
Gg’s is a local favorite that we can personally recommend. The food is fantastic and the owners are awesome! Better yet, they are right around the corner.
(2 miles from the farm)
4877 US-411, Cleveland, TN 37323
423-3338-8513
A nice little Italian food eatery which offers dine-in and take out. Dine-in wait times can be long in the summer and some have suggested that while the food is great, the service is “so-so”. Everyone agrees that they have great pizza and it is a popular take-out among locals in the area. (5 miles from the farm)
1603 US-64, Benton, TN 37307
423-338-7299
Hardee’s. Time to make the biscuits!
(3 miles from the farm)
4083 US-411, Ocoee, TN 37361
423-338-4083
Decent Mexican food right here in Ocoee. The people are friendly and the service is good. They offer dine-in and take-out with typically no wait.
(3 miles from the farm)
4133 US-411, Ocoee, TN 37361
423-338-3983
McDonalds. What else is there to say? We have one! (3 miles from there farm)
178 US-64, Ocoee, TN 37361
423-338-9077
If you’re willing to take a short drive to try something off the beaten path then we recommend Michael’s. Straight down 411 to Etowah. Not a mom and pop but also not national chain, they offer a wide selection of popular menu items. They have everything from wings, to burgers, to steaks, chicken, amazing salads, and more! Reasonably priced, hearty portions so go hungry! (17 miles from the farm)
862 N Tennessee Ave, Etowah, TN 37331
423-263-2603
A locals favorite, the Ocoee Dam Deli & Diner, commonly referred to as “The Dam Deli”, is SO much more than just a deli! They offer a full menu of great food in a casual dining environment. It is a full service sit down restaurant with a fun atmosphere. Friday nights is all you can eat catfish! They also offer take out (not including AYCE) which we recommend that you call in in advance.
(4 miles from the farm)
1223 US Hwy 64, Ocoee, TN 37361
423-338-8184
Looking for an excuse to travel to Ducktown? We’ve got one for you! Try out Rod’s Rockin Rolls serving up some Southeast Asian Cuisine. A wide assortment of amazing spring rolls among other fabulous foods. Also offering Seafood Baskets. Plan on about a 40 minute beautiful drive out.
(29 miles from the farm)
327 Main Street, Ducktown, TN 37317
423-761-5000
Sonic Drive-In; when your milkshake craving hits. (3 miles from the farm)
6284 US-411, Benton, TN 37307
423-338-6600
If Subway is what suits your fancy we have one but to be honest they have been struggling to find employees since the pandemic so their hours have been sporadic and the wait can be long depending on when you hit it.
(6 miles from the farm)
1701 US-64, Benton, TN 37307
423-299-9085
Golf
Offering a 9 hole public golf course in historic Copperhill, TN. (25 miles)
5765 US-64, Copperhill, TN 37317
423-496-3579
Grocery
When you need a full size grocer, but not a Super Walmart, we recommend Food City. A little further than the local grocer; a lot nicer.
(13 miles from the farm)
2310 SE McGrady Drive, Cleveland, TN 37323
423-339-5450
Covid cost our little town of Benton its only grocery store however, Ocoee still offers Fresh N’ Low close by. It is a relatively small grocery store but will offer most of your basic needs. They also offer an assortment of hot foods in their deli. The fried chicken and chicken fingers are a favorite at our house. During warm weather they also offer carry-out pork chops and steaks on designated days. These are purchased as a meal, usually with baked potatoes and are quite good. Beware of two things: 1) Being a lower volume store I have found that I need to pay particular attention to expiration dates or risk returning home with expired food. 2) They are a “cost plus” store which basically means they tack an additional charge onto your final total. For this reason we recommend it for smaller shopping trips. (3 miles from the farm)
116 White Water Drive, Ocoee, TN 37361
423-338-9356
Walmart Supercenter
It’s Walmart. Enough said. (13 miles from the farm)
2300 Treasury Drive SE, Cleveland, TN 37323
423-472-9660
Hiking
Benton Falls
Great three mile round trip hike with a beautiful waterfall at the bottom. Appropriate for all skill levels including young kids but do be advised that there is a steep staircase to descend just before you get to the falls. Benton gazebo is a nice picnic spot along the drive with a view of the whole valley. Worth stopping at the overlooks along the way. You will need $3 cash to park at the trailhead.
(9.5 miles from the farm)
Your NAV can pull the trail head up by searching:
Benton Falls Hiking Trail St
Gee Creek
Gee Creek Hiking Trail is a waterfall hike with a swimming hole at the bottom. Two mile round trip hike. Shorter but harder than Benton Falls.
(14 miles from the farm)
Your NAV will get you to the trail head by navigating to:
Gee Creek Hiking Trail
Hiwassee Ocoee State Park
Many different hikes from beginner to advanced. Waterfalls, rivers, shooting range, festivals and events. Check their website for special events.
(9 miles from farm)
Park Office/Visitors Center:
404 Spring Creek Road, Delano, TN 37325
423-263-0050
tnstateparks.com
Ranger Station
The Ocoee Ranger Station/Cherokee National Forest
Providing a wealth of information on their website and in office.
3375-3399 US-64, Benton, TN 37307 (9.5 miles from the farm)
423-338-3300
fs.usda.gov/cherokee
Public Swimming Areas
Parksville Beach
Local public swimming “beach” located on the shore of Ocoee Lake. Located down US-64, a bit closer than Mac Point. (8 miles from farm)
2624-2708 US-64, Ocoee, TN 37307
250-248-6300
Mac Point Beach Recreation Area
Local public swimming “beach” on the shore of Ocoee Lake. Just down US-64, about a 20 minute drive from us. (11 miles from the farm)
Town/County Information
Benton, a small town in Tennessee, was founded in 1840 and incorporated in 1915. It has an estimated (2020) population of 1,532 and a total area of 2.3 square miles. It is the county seat of Polk County, created on November 28, 1839 after the final removal of most of the Cherokee from the region that year. Most of the county is mountainous, including Big Frog Mountain which constitutes part of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains among the southern Appalachian Mountains. Polk County is home to 3 rivers: Ocoee, Hiwassee, and Conasauga. The Ocoee River was the site of whitewater slalom events in the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympic Games and is vital to one of the county’s major industries, whitewater rafting. The calmer Hiawassee River, a tributary of the Tennessee River, is also used for rafting and tubing. The Conasauga River, the only river in Tennessee that is not part of the Mississippi River Basin, is located in southwestern Polk County.
Vineyards, Wineries, and Breweries
Buck Bald Brewing
Once an old service station turned into Small family owned brewery.
(21 miles from the farm)
160 Ocoee St. Copperhill, TN 37317
706-431-7141
Copperhill Brewery
Casual and relaxed atmosphere. Enjoy the scenic drive along the Ocoee river on the way to the quaint town of Copperhill. (21 miles from the farm)
105 Ocoee St. Copperhill TN, 37317
423-548-3030
Savannah Oaks Winery
Cool place. Local wines (mainly muscadine, blackberry, blueberry and such) Wine tasting, cheeses, amish butter, crafts. Near the Delano Menonite Market. (10 miles from the farm)
1817 Delano Rd Delano, TN 37325
423-263-1513
Morris Vineyard
From the ground to the cup. Locally grown and harvested. Wine tasting!
(8 miles from the farm)
346 Union grove Rd NE, Charleston, TN 37310
423-479-7311
Odom Springs Vineyards
This is Appalachian Wine Country and although this one is a bit of a drive we’re including it here as it came highly recommended by a recent guest of ours. Currently offering 9 of their own wines for tastings. These wines are made by hand from the grapes they grow themselves in their own vineyards. Also offering wine flights. Check out their web site for details. (53 miles from the farm)
637 Odom Road, Blairsville, GA 30512
706-745-3094
Whitewater Rafting
Adventures Unlimited
Classic middle or Full river trip? Which ever you choose your are sure to make great memories with Adventures Unlimited! (2 miles from the farm)
522 US-64, Ocoee, TN 37361
800-662-0667
423-338-4325
Bigfoot Outfitters
Professionally guided trips down the Ocoee and also lower Ocoee river floating. Enjoy some outdoor activities on site as well! (2 miles)
702 Welcome Valley Road, Benton,TN 37307
423-225-5000
bigfootoutfitters.com
Big Frog Expeditions
Our TOP recommendation for white water rafting! The office manager and lead guide are personal friends of ours and they will absolutely take care of you! So close you could walk! (1.5 miles from the farm)
1278 Welcome Valley Road, Benton, TN 37307
877-776-2633
Cherokee Rafting
One of the top preferred and most respected white water rating companies in the country, Cherokee Rafting has been offering exhilarating trips on the Ocoee since1978! (4 miles from the farm)
869 US-64, Ocoee, TN 37361
High Country Adventures
Family owned and operated for over 45 years! Don’t forget to bring the whole family out for this whitewater rafting experience! (2 miles from the farm)
430 Hwy 64 East, Ocoee, TN 37361
423-338-8634
Outdoor Adventure Rafting
Commonly referred to as OAR, this outfitter offers up Adventure! Choose from whitewater rafting trips, river tubing trips or trying your hand at scaling their Adventure Alpine Tower! (2 miles from the farm)
629 Welcome Valley Rd Benton , Tn 37307
423-338-5746
Quest Expeditions
Take the bus! Ride along and listen to an entertaining history lesson on the way up the river before you come down it in a much more exhilarating fashion! Completed with a safety orientation of what to expect on the trip. Don’t forget to get some grub, which we can personally recommend, at the Apricot Place Cafe located onsite. Seasonal ice cream shop. (2 miles from the farm)
281 US-64 Ocoee, TN 37361
800-277-4537