I grew up around the Tri-Cities area, and I left for six years or so for my undergraduate studies and my first job. My friends and I always complained that there was nothing to do here. But being back for almost two years now as an adult I’ve sought out interesting experiences with more vigor, and let me tell you, there is plenty to do. In fact, most nights I find that my hardest dilemma is picking which place to go.

Outdoors

Within an hour’s drive we’ve got an outdoor lover’s dream in the Holston, Nolichucky and French Broad Rivers; Buffalo, Bays and Roan Mountains; Warrior’s Path State Park; Laurel Falls, Twisted Falls, Natural Tunnel, Big Rock; Virginia Creeper Trail, the Appalachian Trail and the list goes on and on.

Contact groups like A.P.E. (Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts) or your own ETSU Outdoor club to find out about more opportunities to get out in the great outdoors.

Sports

Tri-Cities sports venues are endless. Whether you’re looking to get active or if you just enjoy observing sports. You can get involved in ETSU sports and intramural sports, Kingsport Mets, Johnson City Cardinals, Little City Roller Girls in Johnson City, local Ultimate frisbee leagues, Bristol Races, Kingsport Speedway for drag races, bowling leagues and hunting.

Handcrafted Beers

Depot Street Brewery in Jonesborough, Highland Brewing Company in Asheville and the myriad local brewers’ clubs add beer to the list of alcoholic beverages that mountain people are really good at making.

Local Bands

A new scene has emerged in the Tri-Cities over the last five years that’s connected up to the top levels of indie folk, folklore and more. The bluegrass scene has been big for years but bands like Folk Soul Revival, Johnson’s Crossroads and others add an artistic sensibility and a rebellious, rowdy punk attitude to a classic regional sound.

Out-of-town bands in this scene like Holy Ghost Tent Revival, New Familiars and Paleface, routinely make it through to Johnson City and Bristol because they see it as a mecca for the authentic spirit they’re tapping into with their sound.

Festivals

You can catch great bands like these at Bristol’s Rhythm and Roots Reunion, Blue Plum here in Johnson City, Clinch Mountain Music Fest, Merlefest, Holston River Rally, Kingsport’s Twilight Alive, Bluegrass and Broad concert series and Racks by the Tracks.

Venues

For great listening rooms to catch original and challenging music, you have the Down Home and Acoustic Coffeehouse in Johnson City, the Bus Pit in Kingsport, and Machiavelli’s, JJ’s Coffeehouse and the Paramount Theatre in Bristol. And most nights in Asheville you have 10 or more rooms with great live music.

If it’s just a rowdy bar night you’re after, hit Capone’s, Numan’s, Hog Wild, O’Mainnin’s, Lakeview Marina, Tipton Street Pub, Woodstone Deli or Breaking Traditions.

Spiritual

This is probably the least of your worries (um, unless you’re something besides Protestant Christian).

There are tons of churches everywhere, but perhaps the best I could recommend for uncommitted spiritual seekers is the Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, just off Eastern Star Road, Exit 10 on I-26 between Johnson City and Kingsport.

HVUUC takes wisdom and literature from Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism among other major world religions and philosophies to present a full picture of the major spiritual realms, in a very open, accepting way.

There are routine academic and intellectual speakers there, as well as local artisans and musicians. It is also the most gay-friendly faith center in the area.

Whatever it is you’re looking for, you can find something to do here if you just look a little closer.

One Web site that does a thorough job to help really chronicle what’s happening around our area is GoTriCities.com. Also, your local NPR affiliate WETS-FM, and this paper itself are all great sources of ideas for what you can get into.

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