Analog Travel and Craft-cations in Tennessee

Low-tech, skill-based experiences to fully immerse and mentally reset

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Discover additional craft-cations at this reel from @TNvacation

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 23, 2026) – As travelers increasingly embrace experiential travel and slower-paced getaways, Tennessee stands out as an analog travel treasure trove, inviting visitors to unplug from their screens and reconnect through hands-on experiences that leave a lasting impression. Whether learning traditional Appalachian crafts in the Great Smoky Mountains or embarking on a multi-day kayaking adventure along the Mississippi River, visitors will find immersive opportunities to learn new skills, engage with local culture and create souvenirs rooted in personal expression.

Craft-cations and Art Workshops:

Canvas Queen Needlepoint takes the meditative art of needlepointing to the next level. In addition to beginner-level workshops and decorative classes, they offer “Stitch Retreats” in the Smoky Mountains. Located at the charming and historic RT Lodge, guests are invited to leave the world behind for a weekend and stitch to their heart’s content. Open-play Mahjong tournaments are also held at their brick-and-mortar store in Knoxville.

Historical hobby classes are taught throughout the year at Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park in Byrdstown. Connect to Tennessee’s heritage through blacksmithing, basket-weaving, butter-churning, and nature journaling workshops. In addition, the park provides further glimpses of days gone by through a preserved log cabin and the surrounding scenic beauty.

Persevering traditional Appalachian methods, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is a nationally recognized arts campus in Gatlinburg, seated at the gateway of the Great Smoky Mountains. Experiment with natural dyeing, woodturning, printmaking, silk painting, and vessel sculpting—just scratching the surface of the creative possibilities. With over 200 creative experiences offered each year-- workshop mediums and lengths vary, but the goal of enriching lives through art remains the same.

Give creativity texture at Tuft-It!, a vibrant rug-making studio in Goodlettsville. Design a personalized rug and watch it come to life with guided instruction along the way. Crafters can choose between a small rug or a large rug workshop and leave with two things: a sense of accomplishment and a sensory keepsake.

Visitors to Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum can add a hands-on Hatch Show Print Tour, where they can learn about the letterpress print shop’s nearly 150-year history, get a behind-the-scenes look at the show-poster creation process and handprint their own souvenir letterpress poster. Longer workshops or “block parties” walk through the techniques of relief printing an image, using a wide selection of hand-carved printing blocks and layering elements.

Mudslingers Ceramics School and Pottery Studio in Huntingdon is a bucket-list stop for relaxing craft-cations, offering wheel-throwing workshops, Japanese Raku firing lessons or multi-week pottery courses for all skill levels. Expert instructors provide all the tools, clay, and guidance needed to create your own handmade piece, which you can personalize at the glaze bar before it's fired and ready to take home.

Nature Immersion Opportunities:

Up a creek without a paddle? No longer the case. Learn hands-on survival skills and how to safely enjoy nature at the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute in Erwin. In addition to gaining a wealth of wilderness expertise, support local businesses and rafters opening for the first time since Hurricane Helene through half-day beginner classes to multi-day adventures in the Appalachian Mountains. Unplug in the stunning wilderness of the Nolichucky River and hike away with an impressive skillset in kayaking, canoeing, backpacking, wilderness medicine and more.

The French Broad Outpost Ranch takes visitors on a captivating ranching experience from start to finish in Del Rio. Opportunities include learning to cattle-drive from a horse’s back, discovering the serious art of square dancing, trail riding and white-water rafting. The perfect reset from the modern world is found on horseback (followed by supper on a mountain top).

Southall Farm & Inn in Franklin invites travelers to immerse themselves in hands-on farm experiences that bring the property's working landscape to life. Guests can suit up alongside Southall's beekeeper for a guided tour of the apiaries, open a live hive, learn the art of beekeeping, and taste award-winning honey straight from the comb. Those looking to cast a line can enjoy a beginner-friendly fly-fishing lesson covering casting techniques, fly selection, and catching fish in the property's stocked lake, with all equipment provided.

Birding at Reelfoot Lake State Park provides wildlife enthusiasts with an opportunity to add up to 280 bird species to their life list. As the designated Eagle Capital of Tennessee, January and February turn the ecological escape into a renowned birdwatching destination. With guided birding canoe floats and boat tours offered throughout the year, observers can leave the digital world behind to explore the diverse open-water habitats and their magnificent, feathered tenants. Tennessee is a birdwatcher's paradise. Download the Guide to Birding in Tennessee.

Wednesday in the Woods, hosted by The Restorative Willow, is a nature-based wellness experience that invites guests to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and enjoy the calming benefits of the outdoors at Middle Fork Bottoms and the Union University Trails. These gatherings feature restorative activities such as guided mindfulness, relaxation practices, creative experiences, and opportunities to connect with others while exploring the beauty of Jackson’s natural spaces.

Mississippi River Expeditions offers a top-notch custom-guided adventure on the Mississippi River from Memphis. Guests can experience remote wilderness locations in the outfitter's big Voyageur canoes and camp under the stars on river islands. They offer complete packaging: outfitting, guiding, cooking, and shuttling. All you have to do is arrive with your personal items and be prepared to paddle; no previous experience is necessary.

Culinary Experiences:

Experience double-artisan-trouble at Pretentious Glass Co., a one-of-a-kind glass studio and brewery in Knoxville. Get in the hot shop with the seasoned staff of craftspeople and learn the art of glassblowing. After you’ve made your own drinking glass, sample experimental, in-house brews next door at Pretentious Beer Co. Find an entirely new appreciation for glassware in a way that requires you to sit back and savor the possibilities.

Become a sommelier of serenity at Crown Winery’s creekside location in Leiper’s Fork. Here, guests kick off their shoes, wade barefoot into the creek, and sip award-winning wines by the glass, flight, or bottle. On summer evenings, acoustic musicians serenade from the creek banks, creating a laid-back experience that perfectly captures the art of slowing down. Savor a self-guided tasting or hone your palate through a staff-led experience at the indoor bar.

The Mad Herbalist is a blending lab, tea lounge and eatery in Clarksville. Patrons are given the creative freedom to invent their own bath and body products-- complete with a uniquely blended scent and product tag. While the concoction is finalized, the dining begins. Delicious bites and freshly brewed teas are served simultaneously in the whimsical cabin space.

Muddy’s Bake Shop is a Memphis staple for scratch-made sweets and warm, neighborly vibes-- and they love sharing their baking know-how. Their hands-on classes might have you whipping up oatmeal cream pies from scratch, perfecting your piping skills in an open studio cookie-decorating session or mastering the art of a southern heirloom: the flaky buttermilk biscuit. You’ll leave with new skills, a box of treats you made yourself, and probably a little powdered sugar on your shirt.

Beloved Hobby Stores:

Aunt Bee’s Farmhouse Quilt Shop and Bakery in Granville is a fabric lover’s dream. Adjacent to the Tennessee Quilt & Textile Museum, the shop is not only a fantastic collection of patterns, materials and baked goods-- it’s also rife with expertise. Quilt classes are offered weekly, featuring beginner lessons to intricate designs, as well as barn quilts and basket weaving. For an added analog bonus, stroll the charming streets of Historic Granville and take a step back in time.

The Plant Shop is a locally owned boutique plant nursery offering a curated selection of houseplants, gardening essentials, and expert guidance for plant lovers of every experience level. Beyond shopping, it's a welcoming space that regularly hosts hands-on workshops, plant bingo, educational classes, breathwork sessions, and other creative events in Jackson.

As home to seven genres of music, Tennessee has no shortage of famous and hidden-gem record stores. Goner Records has been supplying Memphis with underappreciated music since 1993. Vinyl and a plethora of other unique interests collide at Third Eye Curiosities in Jackson. For a vintage music treasure hunt, Analog Your Life in Donelson is the spot. Third Man Records in Nashville offers a 1947 Voice-O-Graph recording booth that captures up to two minutes of audio and creates a phonograph disc with the sound. Johnson City’s eccentric neighborhood shop, Back Door Records, sells everyone’s favorite jams.

About Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) is dedicated to driving economic growth and tourism in all 95 counties. TDTD’s global marketing efforts increase visitation to Tennessee, which boosts tax revenue, creates jobs and attracts new investment across the state. Tennessee is a global destination of choice offering visitors world-class music, live entertainment, family-friendly experiences, charming communities, innovative and classic culinary creations, renowned scenic beauty and outdoor adventure—all centered at the crossroads of rich history and unrivaled hospitality. Vacations “sound perfect” in Tennessee. Visit TNVacation.com and follow @TNVacation on social media for travel inspiration.

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Media Contacts:

Amanda Murphy
amanda.murphy@TN.gov

Jill Kilgore
jill.kilgore@TN.gov

Chelsea Trott
chelsea.trott@TN.gov

Shelby McAuley
shelby.mcauley@TN.gov