Hey Guys!
As most of you know by now, we do several long weekend trips every year and this year was no exception!
We did two long weekend trips shortly after returning home from our Italy trip.
The first one was to NC – just two weeks after returning from Italy and the second one was, this trip to Granville.
We have been to Granville a few times and I have written blog posts on the area here, here, here & here.
The small town of Granville, TN is only 1.5 hrs from our house so it makes for a perfect weekend getaway.
We left for Granville on a Fri afternoon around 3:30 pm and arrived to the Wildwood Resort & Marina around 5:00 pm.
After getting checked in, one of the employees chauffeured us to our room.
We had rented one of their vintage air streams.
We usually rent one of their cabins but this time we wanted to try something different.
The property offers six different air streams that you can rent…3 being vintage and 3 modern.
The air streams are all named after country music legends…we stayed in Emmy Lou.
Each of the air streams comes equipped with linens, a microwave, Keurig coffee maker and all the supplies you may need. They are all fully functional with heat and air, bathroom, water and TV with a DVD player.
Our air stream only had a full size bed….we are used to sleeping in a king size so we knew this would be an experience we wouldn’t soon forget!
The bathroom was tiny!
As small as the air streams may be, we never felt too cramped (besides the bed!) and spent most of our time outside by the fire.
More shots of the inside 
Right beside the air streams is the marina’s tiny village cabins.
There are six cedar-sided Village Cabins configured around a common fire pit. They are custom-built, 250 sq ft cozy tiny homes with shiplap walls, queen-size murphy beds, and 400 thread count bed linens and Belgian flax coverlets.
Also, very close by is the marina’s Saltbox lake homes…these are “tiny” modular chalets possessing all the latest in modern home design, both inside and out.
They are very nice and modern on the inside but they only have lake views ..they are not right beside the lake.
After getting settled in, we walked back to the check in area to eat at the restaurant.
Once we arrived to the restaurant, we were seated right away.
The marina has 3 options for food…the lakeside restaurant, the Holston Cabin Cafe and the Pontoon Eatery.
After looking over the menu, I decided to order the salmon and the hubby ordered the fish and chips.
Our food was very good and the service was great!
After dinner, we walked back to our air stream and started a fire.
The marina provided all the wood and fire starter.
We spent the rest of the evening sitting out by the fire.
Tip: Click here for all the things you can do at or near the marina
The next morning my husband walked to the marina and ordered us breakfast to go at the Holston Cabin Cafe.
The cafe is open for breakfast 5 days a week offering fresh scrambled eggs, bacon, breakfast sandwiches, yogurt parfait, handcrafted sourdough croissants, pastries and scones.
You’ll also find an assortment of delicious grab-and-go items for your picnic needs as well as warm soups and hot sandwiches.
My hubby ordered me a bacon, egg and cheese wrap and he ordered a breakfast sandwich for himself.
He also ordered one of their delicious homemade pastries.
We sat outside and enjoyed our yummy breakfast.
After eating breakfast, we walked to the marina’s boardwalk.
On the way, we passed the area where you could play bocci ball and horseshoes.
The boardwalk stretches out into the lake for over a quarter of a mile.
It’s said that this is Tennessee’s longest waterfront boardwalk.
It’s a great place for an early morning or evening stroll.
A shot of the two houseboats they rent out.
We loved walking the boardwalk…it was a great place just to relax.
At the end of the boardwalk you will find the sunset pavilion.
There are several chairs so you can sit and watch the sunset or just sit and listen to the sounds of nature. Often you’ll have the whole pavilion and the comfy chairs all to yourselves.
A shot of the marina from the boardwalk.
After walking along the boardwalk, we decided to walk around the marina for a while.
The property is super nice and they have really done a lot of work since the first time we were here.
Here’s a picture of the Lakeside Lodge
The lodge rooms feature queen beds, a large tiled bathroom and a small sitting area with a flat-screen TV as well as a covered porch furnished with Adirondack rocking chairs facing a picturesque view of the marina, lake, and surrounding Cumberland hills.
We loved all the fire pits that are scattered throughout the property.
This beautiful vine covered pergula is where they have live music every weekend.
Here’s a shot of one of the two waterfront cabins. on the property…We usually rent the cabins but we wanted to try something different this time.
And here’s a shot of the new Lakeside Inn.
The Inn offers 14 cozy waterfront or mountainside accommodations. The two-story Inn with covered porches sits right on the water’s edge and has breathtaking views in every direction.
Tip: The marina just finished the Periwinkle Trailhead. It’s a 6 mile r/trip moderate hike. However, you can ride the Wildwood Express bus back to the Marina if you don’t want to hike back.
Here’s a shot of the front of the main building at the marina…this is where you check in. It’s also where the restaurant is located.
They also have a food truck called the Pontoon.
The food truck feature sandwiches like smoked pulled pork, brisket grilled cheese, and blackberry chicken salad.
A shot of the restaurant’s deck that you can have dinner or just sit and relax.
We decided to pull up a chair and just chill for a while.
After relaxing for a while, we headed back towards our air stream.
Near the air streams, you will find the Village cabins in the woods and the small “lakeside homes”.
Tip: The marina is in the process of building a spa near the airstreams.
After walking around the property for a while, we decided to head a mile down the road to the small town of Granville.
Granville is often referred to as Tennessee’s Mayberry town…..it’s truly like stepping back in time.
You will be amazed by the 1880’s award-winning T.B. Sutton General Store, where you can browse historical artifacts, purchase handmade items, and enjoy delicious country cooking.
The town is always hosting events.
Every Oct, they host a fall event called a Scarecrow Festival.
The town features tons of scarecrows and other characters that are scattered throughout the town.
There are also vendors set up and for $7 you can tour the town’s historic buildings and museums.
Once we parked, we headed to Sutton’s General store to have lunch.
The two story general store was built in the 1800’s and has continuously served the families of the area.
In 2017, Country Living Magazine listed this store as one of the thirteen most charming country stores and Southern Living Magazine recommended Sutton General Store as the number one store to visit during the summer of 2018.
The general store has been listed on the National Register of Historic places 
There are a few tables to eat at near the counter where you order.
They didn’t have many options because the restaurant was closed. It serves “country cooking” but the soda fountain area only serves burgers, hotdogs and sandwiches.
Since the restaurant was closed, we ordered a burger.
We sat in the dining room area for the restaurant.
There was a picture hanging on the wall of Harold & Beverly Sutton.
The Sutton’s purchased the general store in July, 2000 after coming to the town for it’s annual heritage day celebration.
What’s crazy about this story is that Harold & Beverly were not kin to any of the Sutton’s who owned the store. They fell in love with the old, dilapidated building because Harold’s dad was also named Ben Sutton.
So, they decided to purchase the building and all of it’s contents.
The store was nearly in ruins and almost un-restorable but after months of restoration work, the store re-opened once again on May 26, 2001.
Read the history of the store here
After we ate, we headed upstairs to check out the local made goods that were for sale.
A display of casket parts that were found in the building and date back to the 1800’s.
A shot of the store from the second floor.
After walking around the store for a while, we headed outside to walk around the town.
A shot of some of the scarecrows and other characters that were scattered throughout the town.
For just $7, you can tour the town’s buildings and museums.
There is so much to see and the residents really take pride in their small town.
There are approx. 200 volunteers in Granville and only 10 of them get paid.
Some of the buildings you can go into are an old post office, barber shop, an old bank from 1931, an old church, I Love Lucy museum, the Sutton homestead and much more.
The Lucy Museum opened in 2020 and even had Keith Thibodeaux, who played Little Ricky on the original I Love Lucy show, at the grand opening!
Granville also has their own bed and breakfast where you can rent single rooms from $95 a night to an entire house from $175 a night.
There’s also another place you can stay called Clover Lake Cottage.
It’s a fully renovated cottage that was built in 1910. The cottage has lake views and the inside is beautiful!
However, it is expensive and requires a 2 night minimum stay.
You can book here.
As we were walking around the town, we spotted this cute little scarecrow display that my hubby just had to have his picture in front of. 😉
The town also has a Pioneer Village and Car museum.
Tip: The town also hosts car shows…click here for more.
Inside the Pioneer village you will find all kinds of historic buildings, vendors, vehicles, people recreating how things were done back then and more.
You will also see an old cabin
The cabin was built in 1820 and served as the homestead’s kitchen.
In 1890, Amanda and Samuel Sampson Carver purchased the property. They used the logs from the kitchen structure to rebuild the cabin in a new location on the farm.
This cabin has been home to several families with as many as two adults and two children living in these quarters. The cabin was torn down, logs numbered and rebuilt in Pioneer Village in 2012.
There are several other smaller cabins in the village as well.
We toured the old Sutton homestead while we were there 
After spending about 4 hours walking around the town, we spent some time driving around the nearby towns.
One of those towns was Gainesboro.
Gainesboro is approx. 20 mins from Granville and has a cute little square that offers several shops and restaurants.
After driving around for a while, we headed back to the Wildwood Resort for dinner.
We decided to just grab a quick bite to eat from the food truck.
I ordered the portabella mushroom sandwich and the hubby ordered the pulled pork sandwich.
The food was really good even though I wasn’t expecting much since it was off of a food truck.
After we ate, we sat on the nearby deck and witnessed the most incredible sunset!
Every time we have stayed here, we have witnessed beautiful sunsets.
We decided to walk the boardwalk and enjoy the sunset and views.
After spending some time on the boardwalk, we headed back to our airstream and sat out by the fire until we called it a night.
The next morning, we woke up early and headed to the boardwalk to sit and relax while drinking our coffee.
It was so quite and peaceful.
Shots of the Marina from the boardwalk.
After finishing our first cup of coffee, we headed back to the air stream.
A shot of the Air stream “village”
My hubby walked to the Holston Cabin Cafe and ordered breakfast.
Once again, we sat outside by the fire and enjoyed our breakfast before we had to check out.
After breakfast, we checked out and headed to the nearby Burgess Falls State Park.
The drive takes approx. 40 mins from the Wildwood Resort & Marina.
Burgess Falls is a 217-acre natural area that has waterfalls, sheer bluffs, narrow ridges, and diverse forest communities. It was named for Tom Burgess.
The Burgess family provided settlers with meal and cut lumber from their grist mill and lumber mill on Falling Water River above the falls.
We have been to Burgess Falls a few times but it had been a while since we last visited.
Click here for hiking trails in this area
Before starting our hike, we decided to have a picnic lunch under the nearby pavilion.
After lunch, we hiked the nearby trail to Burgess Falls.
There are 4 waterfalls on this trail…the highest being 136 ft in height.
The first falls is considered a 20 ft cascade falls and is at the start of the trailhead.
The trail is a moderate trail and has many steps along the way….it’s gorgeous during the fall season!
The old flume suspension bridge that is obviously no longer in use.
The flume carried water from the dam at the upper parking lot to a powerhouse below the big falls.
This is also where the second 30 ft “falls” is located.
Be sure to bring plenty of water on this hike and wear good shoes…there are lots of exposed roots on the trail!
A couple of shots of the trail
After a short walk, we came to the 3rd falls which has an 80 ft drop.
As we continued a long the trail, we came to the tallest falls on the trail.
Burgess Falls is 136 ft in height and is beautiful!
Once we reached the overlook to the falls, we decided to continue along the trail that takes you to the top of the falls.
A few years ago, the park had stairs that you could take to the bottom of the falls but they became unsafe so the park removed them.
The views from the top of the falls are beautiful and I highly recommend you continue your hike to this area.
The fall colors were really starting to peak.
We couldn’t miss having our picture made in front of this small stream and the beautiful fall colors.
After spending a few minutes at the bottom, we headed back up the stairs.
We ended up walking the service road back to the parking lot.
After getting back to our car, we headed to another nearby trail called Window Cliff’s State Natural Area.
Window Cliffs is approx 15 mins from Burgess Falls.
It’s a 275-acre state natural area designated in 2014.
Once we arrived and saw that the hike was 5.5 mi round trip, we decided not to hike it.
The park closed the gate at sunset and we didn’t feel we would have enough time.
So, we left and headed home.
Read reviews about this hike here
Click here for more hikes in this area
Thanks for reading!
Stay tuned for my next post on the Bernheim Forest.