Location: Gray
Top Things to do in Gray
- 1. Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium
- 2. Gray Fossil Museum
- 3. Rocky Mount Museum
- 4. Tweetsie Trail
- 5. Tennessee Hills Distillery
- 6. International Storytelling Center
- 7. Warriors' Path State Park
- 8. Countryside Vineyards & Winery
- 9. East Tennessee State University and General Shale Natural History Museum
- 10. Yee Haw Brewing Co.
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What to do and see in Gray, United States: The Best Places and Tips
Gray is a census-designated place (CDP) in Washington County, Tennessee, United States and a rural suburb of Johnson City. It is part of the Johnson City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area – commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region. The population was 1,222 at the 2010 census.
Restaurants in Gray
1. Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 468 reviews
Reviewed By becca970003 - Gate City, Virginia
There are many hiking trails to explore. The planetarium is relaxing and educational. Kids and grownups seem to like the animal exhibits. I haven't tried the adventure course, but I look forward to it. This is a place you can visit over and over and not tire of it.
2. Gray Fossil Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 102 reviews
Reviewed By colfal8 - Jonesborough, Tennessee, United States
This museum is located at an active dig site. There is an upstairs lab with scientists trying to recreate the skeletons with bone fragments but they were working too far away from the windows to see what was going on. The downstairs museum area was Very small, interactive with reading so not too interesting for young children. My teens did ok.
3. Rocky Mount Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 48 reviews
Reviewed By PaulyPauly2014 - Knoxville, Tennessee
Great little museum and grounds! The main house, cooking area and pioneer style living was enjoyable and was a family friendly afternoon. Very informative and knowledgeable about tennessee and the first capital! We brought our lunch and ate outside in the picnic area!
4. Tweetsie Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 138 reviews
Reviewed By Gigitotwo - Jonesborough, Tennessee
It is wonderful to walk on this mostly flat terrain and see people of all ages, shapes, and size taking advantage of this trail. It is well kept and has a covered pavilion thanks to the local Rotary Club for rest or picnic. Many bicycles and many more on foot. Even has mile markers to help with one's exercise progress. Friendly and even patrolled by the city bicycle police.
5. Tennessee Hills Distillery
Overall Ratings
5 based on 72 reviews
Tennessee Hills Distillery is the dream and vision of our founder, Stephen Callahan. The distillery is located in Jonesborough, Tennessee's oldest town, and housed in the very historic Salt House building which was constructed in the1840s and used to store salt during the Civil War era. The building has gone through a very rigorous renovation process and provides the perfect venue for any tourist visiting Jonesborough. While at the distillery, visitors have the opportunity to witness every aspect of our liquor making process such as mashing/fermenting to the final distillation in our hand-made copper stills that were built by the fellas at Tennessee Hills Distillery, as well as our bottling and packaging processes. The facility also provides a tasting bar that will allow our customers and tourist to experience and purchase all of our Tennessee Hills products.
Reviewed By RonCentralCA - Capitola, California
This is the far east outpost on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail (Tennessee's comparable to Kentucky's Bourbon Trail). Since Tennessee lifted large-scale prohibition era taxation, this spot is one of several new distilleries in Tennessee which have sprouted up recently. If you're looking for moonshine, this...MoreThanks for the review!
6. International Storytelling Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 125 reviews
In our age of fast-moving technology, it seems unlikely that thousands of audience members could spend a weekend mesmerized by the voices of storytellers. But that's exactly what happens in Jonesborough every year, starting the first Friday in October and running through the weekend. The National Storytelling Festival began in 1973 when 60 people came to hear a few Appalachian tales from the back of a hay wagon parked beside the town courthouse. In the decades since, those 60 people have grown to 10,000, and the hay wagon has been replaced by large, circus-like tents raised throughout the town. Those first mountain tales are supplemented now with stories from around the globe, spiked with the flair of poetry, blues, ballads and banjo. The Festival encompasses a wealth of cultures, traditions and styles- a world of stories within one small, historic town.
Reviewed By GenghisKhan - Jonesborough, TN
I love Storytelling, but I don't love crowds. In Jonesborough, I have the opportunity to see world-class storytellers in a small auditorium, with no crowds. Tellers-in-Residence perform Tuesday through Saturday every week. Remember to wear a sweater -- they keep the place frosty!
7. Warriors' Path State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 258 reviews
Reviewed By Michelle R - Asheville, North Carolina
We stayed Tuesday through Friday the first week in October and loved it. We choose campsite #27 in the mail loop which had the disadvantage of being across from the dump station and the advantage of having a private patio space with no one else on that side. The dump station proximity wasn't an issue - only three or four people came by each morning and never experienced any smells. Across from that was a lovely meadow with a community camp fire area where we saw deer.
Even if we hadn't been down at the end, I noticed that all the other campers, which I'd say the park was about half full, were extremely quiet. Facilities looked nice, but I never actually went in. Camp Host was especially nice, bringing us firewood the first evening as the closet where it is stored was locked when we first arrived. Looks like he is building a beautiful natural wood bench by the campstore.
Lots are mostly shaded and many are super small or right on the road, so take care when making reservations to pay attention to the pictures and descriptions. The loops highest point is the smaller numbered campsites, and the sites and roads terrace down the hill. The best part was being right above the reservoir. There was a trailhead right by our campsite that went down to a small secluded beach. Clear water for wading, a lovely tree for sitting over the water and I couldn't believe it - not a single bug bite all morning we enjoyed it.
All the campsites I saw had both a grill, picnic table and firepit BUT I'm thinking some don't. Again, take care when making reservations and even call ahead. If you have children and want to see the playground I recommend the inner sites but not on that top road - those are super small and literally you'll be right on the road. You are better following the loop around and taking the ones on the left as you go back out. Most of the sites are reasonably level but it's an older park with cracked pavement. I didn't see anything horrible but if you didn't do your homework I can see where you could get a site you'd be really unhappy with. Sites are close together but many are dug into berms to try to offer some sense of semi-private space and many on the outer edges seem to be created with some thought to their angles that offer campfires that are not next to your neighbor.
The perfect campsite? Well, of course there is no such thing, but I'd recommend #34 if you can fit and if you'd like a private awning and a chance to see the reservoir (so much foliage it would have to be fall or winter) while sitting under it. The table for that one is down a few steps so not handicap friendly.
Hope you enjoy your trip as much as we did!
8. Countryside Vineyards & Winery
Overall Ratings
4 based on 28 reviews
Reviewed By Rita G - Augusta, Georgia, United States
The winery was very accommodating to our group of about 100+. We came in two shifts and there were several wine tasting stations set up as well as cheese and cracker trays. The wine was very good. Only problem was the bottle of Autumn Harvest that I purchased leaked in the back of my car. :-( I noticed it when I got back to the hotel. I did not think wine was supposed to leak of it was corked properly. I did enjoy what was left of the wine when I got home. Quite tasty! Might want to check any bottles for air bubbles before you make a purchase!
9. East Tennessee State University and General Shale Natural History Museum
Overall Ratings
5 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By drmomaa - Asheville, North Carolina
This was a very pleasant surprise! The museum is filled with reconstructed dinosaurs (real) and many, many fossils which have been found in the area adjacent to the museum. Apparently, this site was a "gathering place" for dinosaurs who became trapped and are now being excavated. The dig is an active one, where visitors can - on certain occasions - participate in the dig. Very informative guides and exhibits, as well as some "hands on" items for the children. Admission price is minimal, with discounts for seniors and veterans. Fascinating place!
10. Yee Haw Brewing Co.
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 123 reviews
Reviewed By Brent D
YeeHaw is hands down my favorite craft brew location. Love the environment, the staff is very knowledgeable-nice-helpful, and the craft brews are top notch! YeeHaw eighty, winter ale, and Velvet Charmer are my favorite.
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