Two Kingsport attractions receive state and national recognition
Ready for spring? Do you want to start your 2017 out with a great outdoors experience? Check out a few of the hikes that were featured in The Tennessean, with one from our very own Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium. These hikes are included in the list of hikes everyone should take in 2017!
- Bays Mountain Tower Loop, Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium, Level: Easy; Family friendly hike of 2.3 miles with lakeside scenery and the beauty of Bays Mountain backdrop.
- The Honey Creek Loop, Big South Fork National Area & Recreation, Level: Very Difficult; You’ll need an adventurous side and some experience for this 5.6 mile hike.
- Fall Creek Falls Trail, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Level: Moderate; Hike this 3 mile round trip hike and be rewarded with a 256-foot freestanding waterfall!
If you’re not ready to travel far to hike, Bays Mountain has over 32 miles of hiking trails of all levels of difficulty. You can pick up a details hiking trail map at the park’s nature center. Rob Cole, park manager, suggested a few tips for those hitting the trails.
“Be sure to take your map. It will come in handy if you’re not sure where your trail is heading. Take drinking water and a cell phone with you. If you happen to get lost, you can always call the nature center. And please remember, Bays Mountain is a nature preserve so respect the environment and stay on the designated trail.”
For more information and to check out a trail map, please visit www.baysmountain.com.
To view the rest of the recommended Tennessee hikes, visit www.tennessean.com
Most people think of swimming as a summer activity, but not here in Kingsport! With the Kingsport Aquatic Center open year round, swimmers and splashers can swim or slide inside when it’s snowing outside.
The Kingsport Aquatic Center was recently featured in a national travel article on MSN. The article featured one indoor pool in all 50 states to help ease the winter chill. With three indoor pools, swimmers enjoy water aerobics classes, water therapy classes or add laps toward their own centennial swim challenge of swimming 100 miles in 2017.
The centennial swim challenge is for swimmers to swim 100 miles in 2017. Swimmers can register at the aquatic center. At the end of 2017, all 100 mile swimmers will get a free t-shirt and be invited to the 100 mile swim party.
The aquatic center is located in Kingsport’s Meadowview district at the base of iconic Bays Mountain, the center provides area residents and visitors with the best in health, fitness and recreation features in a safety-focused environment. For more information, visit www.swimkingsport.com, the Kingsport Aquatic Center Facebook page or call 423-343-9758.