Spring Break Without the Crowds

Last year for Spring Break we decided at the last minute to return to a resort we had stayed at a few years ago over Thanksgiving.  We spent a fun and relaxing week there.  It is just outside Crossville, TN.  It is a tourist area centered around lakes and golf courses.  Of course, summer is the high tourist time so not everything was available during our visit, but we found plenty to keep us busy.  At least as busy as we wanted to be.  We tend to enjoy low-key vacations where we can just hang out and spend time together.  Our resort had an indoor swimming pool which is always a requirement for my daughter, she loves swimming and would be happy if she could spend the entire time in the pool.  My son plays football and soccer, so when we are on vacation, he likes to work-out to keep in shape.  There was a excercise center at our resort, so that made it easy for him to get his work-outs in during vacation.

We invited our best friends to come along for the fun, they were only able to come for a few days but we tried to make the most of the time they were there.  He likes to golf, so he and my son checked out one of the 12 courses found around Crossville.  My son had never been golfing before, so it was a new experience for him.  He is used to things being easy for him because he is so athletic, but golfing did not come easy for him.  Not all of the courses were open during spring break, but there were several that were available.  Same thing with the mini golf/family entertainment places, some were closed but we went to one called Chuckles Fun Center.  It had a go-kart track and 18-hole mini golf course outside, laser tag, arcade, restaurant and party rooms inside.

They offered a variety of ways to enjoy the attractions, pay by attraction or multi-attraction tickets, each person can choose which attractions they want to play.

Of course, us girls had to get in a little shopping while we were there, so we went to Crossville Outlet Center.  It is not a huge outlet mall, but it offers a good variety of stores such as VF Outlet, Tools & More, Kitchen Collection, Dress Barn, Rack Room Shoes, Picture Perfect, etc…  There is a Model Railroad Exhibit by Crossville Model Railroad Club in the mall.  It is free, but they do take donations to keep it open.  We enjoyed looking through it on our last visit, but missed it this time as it is only open for a few hours each day.  My daughter was too old this time, but the last time we were there, she played in a fun bounce house.  We got my daughter’s Easter dress, 2 pairs of sandals for her, flip flops for me, and a few other items getting ready for the warm weather.  We also had fun looking through a store called Second Chance which is a resale shop.  After our afternoon spent finding some deals, we had to treat ourselves to happy hour at Sonic for some yummy drinks.

We went exploring some on our last day there, we drove around and through the Cumberland Mountain State Park.  It offers a lot including 37 rustic cabins, 147 campsites, swimming pool, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, golf course, fishing, paddleboating, and hiking trails.  It was very beautiful and historic, and there were a lot of people camping, hiking, playing and having picnics.  The weather was nice while we were there, a little chilly, but nothing a jacket couldn’t take care of.

Like I said at the beginning, we like a pretty laid back vacation, so this is about all we did on this visit, but there is a lot more that could be done in the Crossville area.  There is a movie theater, museum, local theatre productions, restaurants and a large variety of stores.  I like being able to enjoy ourselves without having to wait in long lines or fight the crowds.  If you are looking for a new place to explore, whether you enjoy the great outdoors, shopping, or just hanging out, Crossville might be worth a second look.  We have made the 6 hour drive twice now, which by itself is a beautiful adventure.

Have a favorite vacation spot?  Tips to miss the crowds?  Leave a comment below and let me know.

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