Life in Grundy County, Tennessee

Two thousand feet up on the South Cumberland Plateau, Grundy County runs at its own speed. Nine small towns, three state parks, dozens of waterfalls, and neighbors who wave. Long-stay campers here trade traffic and noise for bluff views, cool summer evenings, and a fire ring that's theirs for the season. It's mountain living without the price of a mountain house.

• Scenic escapes — Fiery Gizzard, Savage Gulf and Foster Falls minutes away

• Friendly neighbors — small-town Tennessee, Swiss roots, Southern hospitality

• Cooler air — five to eight degrees below Nashville or Chattanooga all summer

• Affordable living — month to month, no contract, no second mortgage

Explore Tracy City, TN

Two miles from your site, Tracy City is a coal-and-railroad town that's kept its main street. Dutch Maid Bakery has been open since 1902, Flurys still sells meat over the counter, and the Mountain Goat Trail runs right through. Everything a long stay needs is close:

• Local eats & shops — Dutch Maid Bakery, Rosie's, Flurys, the Olde House Shoppe

• Music & culture — The Caverns in Pelham, 13 miles, shows above and below ground

• Small-town essentials — groceries, gas, hardware, pharmacy, vet, all within 15 minutes

• Day trips — Nashville, Chattanooga and Huntsville under two hours each way