Location: Spencer
Top Things to do in Spencer
The 10 Best Things to Do in Spencer, United States
Spencer is a town in Van Buren County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,601 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Van Buren County.
Restaurants in Spencer
1. Rock Island State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 228 reviews
Reviewed By Ann M - McMinnville, Tennessee
I went last weekend to experience Big Falls during a major Freeze. If you go down Powerhouse road to the north side of the river, you can park right next to a great overlook, get out and take a hike, or just take a picture...MoreWe are glad you are taking in the beauty of the Park at different times of year! Thanks for sharing your tips with future visitors and we look forward to seeing you in the spring.
2. Fall Creek Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 582 reviews
Fall Creek Falls, at 256 feet, is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States. Other waterfalls within the park include Piney Falls, Cane Creek Falls and Cane Creek Cascades.
Reviewed By LKRJHolland - Jackson, Tennessee
This was one of many stops on our trip in middle TN. It was probably my least favorite, although very beautiful, it was also really crowded! It is a short hike to the overlook where we had to wait our turn to see the falls. We did not walk the trail at fall creek falls because of all the people and the amount of people smoking in this area. We did move on to Piney falls. The overlook is a short climb down and the bridge was fun. This park is worth a trip and I would recommend going during a weekday, maybe it won't be as crowded. We had a hard time even finding parking in the parking areas for the falls.
3. Fall Creek Falls State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 101 reviews
Reviewed By Paul S - Marion
Fall Creek Falls state park is the largest and most visited state park in Tennessee, and the various falls in protected by the park (Fall Creek, Piney, Cane Creek) rival any found in the Smokies to the east. Fall Creek Falls, in fact, is one...MoreThanks for the great description of Fall Creek Falls and your recommendations for fun at the park! We hope you visit us again in the future. We are proud to rival the Smokies!
4. Cumberland Caverns
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 333 reviews
Tennessee's largest show cave and a U.S. National Natural Landmark; Cumberland Caverns displays some of the largest underground rooms and most spectacular formations in America. The daily scenic walking tour is offered year-round, from 9:00 to 5:00. Our Underground Ballroom seats 400 and can be reserved for banquets, weddings, birthday parties and corporate events. Discover adventure on one of our daytime or overnight spelunking adventure trips into untamed portions of the caverns.
Reviewed By ChicagoNight - East Wareham
Very well guided and informative tour. An easy walk for most other than the stairs at the halfway point if you are elderly however they have a bench at the base of the stairs where you can sit and wait for your group to come back down and continue the tour. I was amazed at the size of the cave once you got inside. The concert hall and chandelier were pretty cool. I would like to go back for a concert and more in depth tour. I would highly recommend this tour to everyone.
5. Happy Yaker
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2 reviews
We have three beautiful cottages and kayak rentals located on the doorstep of Rock Island State Park. Our accommodations are closest to all the water falls. Twin Falls and The Caney Fork River Gorge are at the end of our street. Cottages rent year round. Kayaks and SUP boards are available during the summer. There are 4 very nice restaurants less than a half mile from us. Rock Island Market, Cottens Marina, and Smoke & Bricks. Foglight Foodhouse is 500 ft. from our front door!
Reviewed By Boropeeps
Our family went for a get away Fall Creek Falls State park. We happened upon the Happy Yaker and decided to try it. John and Leighsa were awesome! They were so friendly, kind and helpful. They have both single and double kayaks to rent. They were clean and well maintained. John brought us to a beautiful location in Rock Island State park to launch and showed us where to go. The waterfalls were beautiful! The prices were reasonable. They also have cabins to rent that looked cute on the outside but we did not stay there. I highly recommend them!!
6. Piney Creek Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By jmpncsu - Raleigh, North Carolina
Piney Falls State Natural Area is a protected area near Grandview, just north of Spring City. (Note that Piney Creek Falls is a different waterfall, located in Fall Creek Falls State Park near Pikeville.) The protected area preserves a stretch of Little Piney Creek with two significant waterfalls. The trail starts at the parking lot and in about a half-mile, there is a split. Right goes to the top of Upper Piney Falls. It's possible to rock-hop the creek and loop around to the base, but the water level was too high when we visited. A slip off an 80-foot waterfall would not end well. So instead, we went left at the intersection and in a short ways came to another split (with a sign). To the left, leads down to the top of Lower Piney Falls. It's a 40-foot waterfall, but there's no good way to see it from the top. My wife and I explored a bit, but couldn't find any way to get down to the base - the surrounding cliffs were just too steep. I think you would need ropes to get down. Back at the second split, we went right and followed the creek upstream to the base of Upper Piney Falls. This 80-foot waterfall is very impressive. You can walk behind the waterfall and meet up with the trail that came down from the base. It was really wet with spray so we didn't bother. I'd like to return and try to get to the base of Lower Piney Falls, but even without doing that, this is a great spot for a short hike (total distance is about 2 miles) to see two nice waterfalls.
7. Isha USA
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 101 reviews
The Isha Institute of Inner-sciences is a breathtaking Upper Cumberland retreat offering stress-relief, wellness retreats and outdoor recreation just 45 minutes northwest of Chattanooga and 2hrs southeast of Nashville. The center is a world-class yoga center featuring programs in classical hatha yoga, holistic Ayurvedic rejuvenation, and meditation classes from beginner to advanced levels. Tours are available daily, which include light hikes to one of many beautiful bluff vistas or valley waterfalls and a visit inside the 'Mahima' dome. At 39,000 sq ft, Mahima is the largest meditation hall in the western hemisphere. Longer visits include overnight lodging, delicious vegetarian buffet meals, and even cooking classes so you can bring home some of your favorite recipes! There are also opportunities for self-guided hikes and mountain biking on forested trails winding throughout Isha's nearly 1400 acres. Isha Institute yoga center is a non-alcoholic, non-smoking, drug-free campus, offering vegetarian meals (meat-free facility). For over 30 years, Isha Foundation has offered the immense benefits of classical yoga and meditation to over 7 million people around the globe.
Reviewed By cb0urassa - San Francisco, California
I had the pleasure of experiencing Ayur Rasayana at the Isha Rejuvenation center in McMinnville which is a 2 1/2 day residential program focused on wellbeing. The program included mediation practices, massage therapies, delicious wholesome foods and communing with nature. It was an intense yet peaceful and relaxing program conducted in a beautiful setting. At the end of the program I felt re-energized, which lasted days after I returned home. I was taught easy to follow yoga/mediation practices that I could take home with me and continue to practice on my own. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to restart their health, looking to start a yoga/mediation practice for wellbeing or looking to deepen any yoga practices they might have.
8. Rock Island Depot
Overall Ratings
3 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By TryppAdams - Minneapolis, Minnesota
I happened on this old train depot while headed to the state park. It's small, cute and now houses an antique store. Worth a quick stop if you like train depots or are a photographer.
9. Canopy Challenge Course at Fall Creek Falls State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Join us in the trees for 2.5-Hours of zip-riding, heart-pounding, bridge-crossing, breath-taking, tree-climbing, eco-friendly, unforgettable family fun! The aerial adventure park at Fall Creek Falls includes a Treetop Obstacle Course with 70+ aerial obstacles and a series of vertical climbs. The course is broken down into 6 routes of varying difficulty, providing options for adventurers 4 years and older. The course is designed to be family-friendly with a black route that will challenged even the most accomplished athletes and a yellow course designed for children as young as 4 years of age. Walk-ins are welcome although advance reservations are highly recommended.
Reviewed By Nicole S - Saint Louis, Missouri
My husband and children attended this adventure and we were shocked with the lack of professionalism from the moment we stepped up to the counter. It was obvious they didn't want 6 more on the course...not sure why because it wasn't crowded, except the fact it was July 4th and several wanted out of there to watch the fireworks.... This business was ran more like a camp with counselors and not necessarily a business. The only reason I am giving it a 2 is because the crew out on the course was at least friendly and a little bit helpful.
First of all, they give you 15 mins for your equipment and to give you information...it took us over a half an hour to get our own equipment on (we had no idea what we were doing and have never had to do that ourselves) The young girl checked us and I looked at my husband and made a comment about it being a bit of a liability to go over the equipment so nonchalantly. I didn't understand why we didn't have more help with the equipment...one girl was checking to make sure we put the equipment on correctly and there were two of her coworkers sitting behind the check-in counter that literally had their heads on their fists starring at our group while she instructed us. Had they gotten off their butts to offer her assistance we would have been out of there way earlier. And they could have gone on making their nightly plans.
Once you leave the front desk equipment area, you go to "ground school." While the kid didn't do a bad job, the information was quite overwhelming and again needed assistance...
After passing ground school, you are released to begin your courses ranging from easy to moderate to difficult to extremely difficult. I'm not 100% sure how they gauge the level of difficulty, since there were a few events more difficult on some obstacles than others...but it was a pretty good experience, especially with my kids.
As we were going through the course, it was apparent that we had several guides in the field with us because you could hear them chattering. I was surprised they weren't on various platforms encouraging you through the harder course. It sounds like the experience was much different with Shane on the other side on the junior course. He seemed engaged more with the kids. I was shocked that guides on the more difficult side seemed to be bothered by participants and they were not on the different platforms encouraging people to keep pushing or giving tips on how to conquer the event. Yes, if you yelled, they would help...but seriously?
To me, the idea of this afternoon spent with our family was great. After reading the info online and seeing the possibility of team building opportunities and conquering the fears or digging deep within to push yourself sounded great to all of us. However this was not the place for that! After experiencing the lack of engagement by the workers and paying a hefty price, I'm not sure how this place has gotten such great reviews, unless they are reviewing it themselves!
It was an expensive deal and to not get a welcoming feeling nor the level of engagement was a shock to me! No one offered to take pictures or capture the moment for any of us...truly ran by a bunch of unhappy kids that feel they have to work. Absolutely pathetic! Had it only been me and my husband, we would have left when we walked up and the young girl rolled her eyes and looked at the other worker behind the counter when I asked if there was still enough time/room to go (we were there at 2:35 for a 3:00 start)....I mean it was money coming in and security for your job....even though it was Fourth of July!
10. Baker Mountain Farm
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2 reviews
We are Educational Farm encouraging a world of outdoor imagination and fun. We offer a petting farm, 50 foot slide, mini zip line and other fun outdoor games. We also have homegrown apples, pumpkins, cider, jams, honey, homemade goodies, full concessions, and so much more. Check out our website for hours of operation and Seasonal activities. Book your next party/event or field trip with us.
Reviewed By masuperior - Cookeville
My adult daughter and I visited the farm to buy some apples. She is physically handicapped and when we arrived it was difficult to maneuver the wheelchair. Staff at the farm immediately came to our rescue with a Gator vehicle and transported her to the...MoreSo glad you enjoyed your visit. Every guest is important to us here at the farm and we want you to feel like part of our extended family. We look forward to your return.
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