This program was made possible by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.

This project is funded by Putnam County with support from a grant provided by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

In the heart of Tennessee.

There's a little slice of heaven you've just got to see.

[♪dramatic music♪] Oh, man.

Wish you were here.

I'm Shan Stout, your guide as we explore cozy stays, nostalgic treats, creative corners, and the scenic beauty that makes this part of Middle Tennessee so very special.

Each stop on today's journey celebrates the people and places that bring these moments to life through simple pleasures, shared adventures, and unique stays.

Before we check in with our Wish You Were Here field correspondents, let's begin today's adventure at a cozy farm stay where friendly donkeys greet you with at the fence and the furry friendships you make grow lifetime memories.

Tucked away in the rolling hills of Sparta, Tennessee, Donk's Retreat is more than just a place to stay.

It's a farm side escape where charm comes with four hooves and a friendly nuzzle.

Here, a cozy, tiny home sits among open pastures.

And the stars of the show, of course, are the donkeys who greet you like old friends.

Always ready for a scratch behind the ears or a quiet moment at the fence.

Let's take a moment to explore what makes Donk's retreat such a special one of a kind stay in the heart of Sparta, Tennessee.

[♪lively music♪] If you're the type of person who likes to getaway for some peace and quiet, and you also enjoy being around furry friends, well, we have a place for you.

There's a quiet, tiny farmhouse waiting for you in Sparta, Tennessee with a group of furry friends that can't wait to meet you.

And they can't wait for you to feed them some delicious animal crackers either.

I'm here today in a beautiful location, and I have owners, Betsy and David Medley.

Welcome to Donk's Retreat.

I'm so excited to be here.

This is not only a beautiful farm, but this is a very unique lodging experience.

And it's one of those things.

And I'm sure our viewers are curious, what is your origin story?

So our origin story is we are both retired first responders, and what we have learned throughout our careers is the importance of peace in one's lives.

Those are important occupations that you had, but very, very stressful.

So I can see the need for peace in retirement.

So you've earned it.

So thank you.

And so we have just wanted to create a place and just be at peace.

And so far, everyone that has come here has told us that they just feel a certain peace here, which is truly our reward.

Well, I. Can feel it.

Thank you, thank you.

And so when we moved out here, we we wanted animals and we decided on a donkey because they are so stoic and they have a cross on their back, which we absolutely love.

And so I got to researching and I found a tiny home in Winchester, Tennessee, and found that they will create your vision, basically.

So we met with this wonderful couple and we told them what we wanted.

And two months later, our beautiful tiny home was ready, decorated to the hilt.

It was more than we could have ever dreamed of.

It you know, we thought, okay, this would be really cute, but no, this has turned out to be such a blessing to us.

When the visitors first arrived what What is the first thing they can expect?

So, you know, they're they're coming here.

They of course, know the donkeys are going to be here.

But you know, what do you want them to know?

Well, the donkeys will usually greet them.

Which was our case when we arrived.

Yes.

So the donkeys are well aware.

Yes.

The donkeys will line up, because they know that inside is complimentary animal crackers.

And their favorite snack.

Yes, they love animal crackers.

So the first thing people.

Can expect is a beautiful greeting from our sweet little donkeys.

We love watching people learn all about the donkeys, and then we will take them out into the pasture with us when we're with them, if they want to go and they'll say, now wait a minute, is that Harvey?

Is that Blossum?

Because you can tell that they are actually enjoying learning about the donkeys.

Okay, now, once we've visited with the donkeys, your visitors can do other things.

Behind us here is a beautiful pond.

So tell us about what you have going on there.

There are koi fish, which originally we put 18 koi fish in the pond and about two months after that they disappeared and we thought they were gone.

Yes, but about a month after that they reappeared and there were probably hundreds of little baby koi fish.

Yes.

So I don't really know how many koi fish are in the pond now.

More than 18.

A lot.

Now, is there anything that visitors don't expect when they get here that they're surprised by?

I think one of the things that visitors are surprised by is Northfield Vineyards, and that is truly directly across the street.

We do leave guests with a complimentary coupon for our glass of wine, a glass of cider or jams and jellies or whatever you would like from Northfield.

This has been a beautiful day already.

Thank you for letting us spend the afternoon with you.

We'd like to take a look inside, and you're going to want to plan your stay to Donk's Retreat in Sparta, Tennessee, ASAP.

Come on out to Donk's retreat in Sparta, Tennessee and meet these fun furry friends for yourself and enjoy the peace and quiet down by the pond.

Maybe with a nice hot cup of coffee sitting on the dock.

We bet you'll come away in a much more relaxed mood than when you get there.

[♪♪] Nestled in historic downtown Monterey, the Tennessee Central Soda Shop is a sweet slice of nostalgia you won't find just anywhere else.

Vintage decor, retro details, and the hum of a simpler time welcomes you in where handcrafted sodas, thick milkshakes and old fashioned favorites bring generations together.

Whether you're sharing a float with friends, savoring every sip of a perfectly mixed treat, or simply taking in the atmosphere, the Soda Shop invites you to slow down and enjoy a taste of tradition with friends and family.

Let's meet up with field correspondent Jason Grider to see what makes this beloved spot a timeless favorite for locals and visitors alike.

[♪♪] Just behind the Monterey Depot Museum in downtown Monterey, Tennessee, there's a great place to stop in and enjoy some delicious treats.

The Tennessee Central Soda Shop is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth while providing the feel of an old fashioned soda shop.

It's also a great place to grab some lunch if you're looking for more than just a sweet treat.

Well, summer's here, and that means everybody loves ice cream, and we are here with Robert McLellan with the Tennessee Central Soda Shop.

Robert, thanks for having us here in Monterey today, man.

We appreciate it.

Well, thank you for coming.

How did this come to be?

I live in Monterey, so I've seen this building come back to life.

I know it had to be a labor of love for you.

Well, it started right across the street.

My son was visiting from Calgary and we were having some Mexican food.

And we looked at this rundown old what used to be a gas station, and started imagining what it could be.

Little did I know it would become this this massive undertaking to try to bring this building, this iconic looking building, back in the town of Monterey.

It's so neat looking, and you've done such a great job with it.

We wanted a place where people could gather.

We just opened our patio for for the summer.

It's it's interesting to see the building and to get the comments back that we're bringing it back to life.

Now, were you in the ice cream soda shop business before or is this new to you?

Oh, no.

So I run nonprofits, and I used to be in the entertainment industry, and like a lot of kids, I started out in restaurants.

My son was actually in the restaurant person, so he did a lot of the design things.

So, yeah, so it started out with a bigger vision, and this is just phase one.

Oh, so we are open now with, ice creams and all your favorite sodas and banana splits and dirty sodas, which are popular these days.

And then we've just recently added sandwiches and salads and soups and all those kind of nice light lunch items, too.

What's become the the favorite here?

Like what's the most popular ice cream or sandwich or snack or dirty soda that you offer.

Well, we really tried to make an effort to get real premium deli quality meats that we slice in-house.

And so the roast beef is, is a black Angus roast beef that's cooked, sort of medium rare.

And it's just absolutely delicious.

The turkey is a no additives turkey.

It's just salt and turkey and a little bit of water.

And so the product is really, really clean and fresh.

Salads and sandwiches are made to order.

So you pick what you want.

And we'll do our best to approximate what you had in mind.

Ice creams.

Well, we're the only ice cream shop to carry this particular product in all of Tennessee.

We found a kosher dairy in Florida that primarily sells in the beach communities, and they sell in the Caribbean.

And, they just have a really, really high quality product.

We have a commitment to have a lot of dairy free options.

And so those those things are all produced on totally separate equipment, and they're all coconut based.

So this was a decision that we made to try to have, again, that same clean, healthy, you know, the least number of ingredients that we could have and still have that rich old time flavor.

My favorite is your dairy free chocolate.

That's my go to every time I come here.

And, I'm one of those that can't do dairy.

Yeah.

And, so it was so great to come here and see that you thought of us.

Well, you know, and it's delicious.

Like, there's no difference between that chocolate flavor and the milk chocolate flavor.

They they taste the same to me.

Except one upsets my stomach.

The other one doesn't.

And milkshakes.

You do milkshakes here too, right?

We do milkshakes and banana splits.

And, there, there's a lot of popular flavors.

People like some of the flavors like that are perennial favorites.

Butter pecan, you know, is that kind of a little less sweet and more old fashioned than many places.

But then the kids like flavors like Smurf and birthday cake.

[laughter] You did a great job, Robert.

This is just awesome.

Well, thank you so much, and thanks for coming.

Well, thanks for having us.

We really appreciate it.

Do you want do you want to have some lunch?

Heck yeah okay.

Sure.

I want that roast beef.

Okay!

[♪♪] [♪♪] If your taste buds are ready for something sweet and delicious, then head on up to Monterey, Tennessee and find out why the Tennessee Central Soda Shop is quickly becoming the place to be to satisfy any sweet tooth.

While you're there, see the other sights and sounds this beautiful part of the Upper Cumberland has to offer.

[♪♪] [♪♪] Next we're heading to Crossville, Tennessee, where creativity finds its thread at the Yarn Patch.

This colorful shop is filled wall to wall with vibrant yarns, cozy textures, and inspiring patterns where every skein of yarn holds the potential for something handmade and meaningful.

What started as a passion for fiber arts has grown into a welcoming space that brings makers together, celebrating craftsmanship, creativity, and the joy of creating something handmade.

Let's join field correspondent Mirlie Larose.

as she steps inside this cozy corner of creativity to see how the yarn patch continues to spin inspiration into every single stitch.

And if you know me, I never pass up an opportunity to crochet with friends.

I'm definitely crashing this party for this trip.

[♪♪] In keeping with the theme of fun and relaxation, there's a little shop in downtown Crossville, Tennessee where many people are learning the relaxing hobbies of knitting and crochet.

These fiber arts offer a chance to take your mind off your worries for a little while, and give you the opportunity to create something beautiful and lasting at the same time.

I'm here in Crossville, Tennessee at the Yarn Patch with owner Heather McLellan.

Heather, thank you so much for having us.

Thanks for coming.

For the viewers who may not know the Yarn Patch, can you tell me what makes this shop so special?

We have a friendly, knowledgeable staff, and we're more than happy to help you pick out your projects.

And we are also in a beautifully well-lit space in 104 year old building in downtown Crossville.

And that is awesome.

You can really sense the passion to when you walk in here.

That brings me to my next question.

What started your love for knitting and crochet?

Yeah, when I was a kid, I watched my grandma and my mom crochet all the time, making Afghans.

And, my mom taught me in middle school and then in college, life was just way too hectic, and I stopped for a while.

But when I, graduated and got my first real job, I needed the stress relief.

So I picked it up again.

And then the nice thing was when I moved to Tennessee to be near family, I had a way to make friends really quickly through that shared interest.

That's super sweet.

I know hobbies are very important to the adult life.

Yeah, and I know you've also made your family super proud with this.

Hopefully.

I feel like knitting has also gotten bad PR because growing up, I feel like they've always told us that knitting was for like the older community.

Or you can only knit scarves.

I think it's good to know that, like, you can sew something and it's going to hit the runway pretty soon.

Yeah, I mean, I hand knit this sweater.

That's exactly what I'm talking about, clothing pieces, I love that.

Yes, and crocheting has definitely been in vogue with the younger kids now.

So it's it's making a comeback, which is great.

Everyone's getting hip to it.

Yes.

Let's talk about your classes.

Are they beginner friendly?

For someone like me who has never picked up a knitting needle, can I take a class?

Yes.

We've got beginner and we've got all skill levels.

And also, if you don't see something on the calendar that you want, we do private lessons.

We're happy to schedule something with you.

We also have social groups that meet every week.

So you can come meet a fellow fiber crafter.

And that's good to know because I am new to the town, so I definitely need to make new friends and new hobbies.

That's one of the reasons I really love having the shop, because it was so important to me when I moved that I have people come and they're like, oh, I just moved to the area that I can tell them about it and give them a chance to meet people.

So that's awesome.

Heather, could you tell me what kind of yarn supplies and unique items do you guys carry?

Yeah, I hand die my own line of super soft yarns called Cumberland Fiber Works, and then we also have a range of different fibers and thicknesses.

So we have yarns for any taste and budget.

And we carry a wide range of supplies for different crafts as well for crocheting, knitting, spinning, weaving, needle felting, cross stitch, embroidery and a few more.

So.

And I also try to buy local as much as possible.

So we've got some locally made drop spindles, some locally made kind of yarn ball things.

Can you tell me what can someone expect when they come to Crossville?

What kind of experiences can they expect to get?

Yeah, one of my favorite things about Crossville is the hiking.

Cumberland Mountain State Park, is great for camping and hiking.

You can go there and then, visit our shops downtown.

We've got a lot of independently owned restaurants and shops, which is really nice.

So it makes Crossville very worth visiting.

That is super fun.

Well, Heather, thank you so much for having us.

You got me excited to join this this new hobby.

Awesome.

Yes, you should come check it out and we'll be happy to teach you.

I'm so serious.

Like let's go do that now.

Alright.

[laughter] [♪♪] [♪♪] So whether you're a seasoned fiber artist or just interested in learning a fun, relaxing new hobby, then stop by the Yarn Patch in downtown Crossville, Tennessee, they have everything you need to immerse yourself in the world of knitting and crochet.

[♪♪] If you're looking for a day of adventure, there's no better way to dive in than with Canoe the Caney on the scenic Caney Fork River.

This locally loved outfitter pairs laidback adventures with breathtaking views, offering a chance to paddle peaceful waters, spot wildlife and experience the natural beauty that makes this stretch of river so very special.

Each trip down the Caney Fork is a blend of relaxation, exploration, and just the right amount of adventure.

And right now, our field correspondent, Shaun Scantland is ready to kayak into the current and discover what makes this riverside experience a must for anyone looking to see Tennessee from a whole new perspective.

It looks like a beautiful day to tag along.

[♪♪] What a better way is there to get out and enjoy the beauty of nature around you Then, by floating down a peaceful river in a kayak.

Well, Canoe The Caney in Silver Point, Tennessee gives their customers the perfect chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and just enjoy the sights and sounds of the gorgeous Caney Fork River.

Welcome to scenic Silver Point, Tennessee.

We're just off the beaten path where the pace slows down and the water washes your trouble away.

We are at Canoe the Caney, where we're going to have a little bit of a water adventure today.

Please welcome my guest, Billie Davis.

Thank you so much for having me here today.

I am thrilled to have you guys here.

So as our longtime viewers know, I love a good origin story.

You got to tell me the origin of this place, how it started.

And I'm sure there's been a lot of growth.

So I want to know what's the secret to that success.

Oh, gosh.

So it started in 1999 with Jason Carver, and, he started with two jet ski rentals.

So we started as JB's watercraft, and we did that for a long time.

And, then gas prices went way up and he was taking his grandfather to and from the hospital in Vanderbilt.

And we passed the Caney Fork River so many times.

And his grandfather looked over five times, he saw the river and he said, you know what, little buddy?

I'd love to paddle that river one day.

And Jason said, you know what?

We're going to make it happen.

I love that.

Making dreams come true.

So I'm not a granola guy with a Subaru with two, like, kayaks strapped to the top.

Would I be able to do something like this, or do I need to be prepared or trained?

Like for families, beginners?

Could I bring mama and and four kids in the wagon?

Could we could we do this?

Absolutely.

So we took his grandmother, 84 years old, down the river.

Yeah.

So it's a it's a class one river.

It's a dam generated river.

So you do need to be aware of what that water flow is, which is why I always recommend going through an outfitter first, because it's very different than a lot of other rivers.

Our water flow is controlled by central dams, water release, but it's a beautiful class one easy, easy river when you get it at the right time, which we got it at the right time today.

We're going to have a great time.

What can our viewers expect when they visit you?

Do you have different, types of things?

Is it just canoes?

What what do you have going on?

So we have canoes, kayaks and tandem kayaks for the river.

We also do a guided excursion to Burgess Falls and then again with JD's.

We have jet skis, ski boats and pontoon rentals.

So if it's on the water, we got you covered.

So there's two bodies of water that you operate in?

Actually, there's more.

So the County Fork River, that's where we do the majority of our river trips with the canoes, kayaks and the tandem kayaks.

But on Center Hill Lake, which is what feeds the Caney Fork River, we do our jet ski, ski boats and pontoon boats.

That's also where the guided trips to Burgess Falls is.

So we do that with kayaks and canoes.

And we also do that with jet skis.

So we do guided trips for both.

So we're going to do pontoons as well.

So people who don't really want to paddle out there or maybe take a jet ski, we're going to get you out there with a pontoon boat because it's amazing to see it from that.

But we also cover all of middle Tennessee.

So yeah, I'm telling you, if you want to get on the water, we're going to make sure you do.

So we will deliver jet skis and ski boats to any of the area lakes in Nashville.

We go to Knoxville.

Wow.

All the places.

Well.

And Tennessee's blessed with so many Great Lakes and rivers.

Absolutely.

Tell me more about the guided tours.

What can our viewers expect, to have happen on these guided tours?

What are they going to learn?

What are they going to experience?

So really, with our guided tours, we try to customize those with our groups that we take out.

The big part is really just getting them there safely, then letting them explore.

So for our viewers watching right now, how can they book a trip right now?

Easy.

They go on our website, all the trips are laid out, and they can just choose whatever option they want.

If they have questions, they can always give us a call.

We're happy to help and we'll get them on the water.

You know, Billie, being on the water really builds up an appetite.

You probably don't have anything to take care of that, do you?

Oh, no.

We've got you covered.

We have the most amazing, authentic philly cheesesteaks.

So when you come, come hungry because we're going to make it amazing and you're not going to forget it.

Just going to throw this out here.

Have you thought about calling them Billie Cheesesteaks?

I have now.

All right.

Thank you so much, Billie, for having us today.

I can't wait to get out on the water.

Do you think that's possible?

Oh, yeah.

We're going.

Perfect.

As you may remember from other episodes, you don't have to get wet for the water to wash your troubles away.

So I'm going to go have a fantastic water adventure.

[♪♪] So grab some friends and take off for the Caney Fork River and experience this gorgeous setting for yourself.

Let nature help you disconnect from the busyness of life and take time to relax, unwind, and let the worries of life fall away while you paddle through this amazing part of the Upper Cumberland.

[♪♪] Farm stays, friendly donkeys, nostalgic treats, creative corners and river adventures.

Today's journey reminds us just how much there is to discover across Middle Tennessee.

From Sparta to Monterey, Crossville to Silver Pointe, We hope today's adventure inspires you to get out, explore, and experience it all for yourself.

Thank you so much for traveling with us.

I'm Shan Stout and until our next adventure, wish you were here.

[♪♪] I guess we do start in a cemetery and we end in a cemetery.

Don't we all?

And we do...[laughter] Yes we do.

And then we we [laughter] So sorry.

[laughter] That got me.

Where do we need to pick up?

This project is funded by Putnam County with support from a grant provided by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

This program was made possible by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.