The 640,000-acre Cherokee National Forest provides one of the world’s most natural diverse areas while the famed Appalachian Trail lies minutes east of the city. Additional outdoor opportunities include whitewater rafting on the nearby Nolichucky River or golf at one of our six public golf courses.
If you’re looking for outdoor gear Bass Pro Shops (Bristol, Tenn.) at The Pinnacle at Exit 74 has what you need. The 105,000-square foot hand-crafted store reflects the uniqueness of East Tennessee and welcomes visitors with a unique water feature in front of the store, as well as hand painted murals, an aquarium and Uncle Bucks Fish Bowl and Grill, a restaurant and bowling alley. Dick’s Sporting Goods, Marshall’s, Belk and 50+ other retail stores and 10+ restaurants are also open at The Pinnacle.
Mountain Sports, Ltd., a family-owned outdoor adventure store located in Bristol, Va. since 1981, also has plenty of gear. One of the region’s largest outdoor outfitter, Mountain Sports offers only the highest quality, dependable, and functional equipment, outerwear and classic clothing. Also, in downtown Bristol TN/VA, there’s TRISUP (Tri-Cities Stand Up Paddleboard Company), where you can learn to walk on water (so to speak)!