Cookeville is located east of Nashville and is surrounded by some of the world’s most breathtaking natural wonders.
This city is worth seeing because it has more than 150 waterfalls, a long beach, excellent restaurants, and a beautiful back road.
Additionally, Cookeville is home to some of the world’s most well-known painters and chefs, so visitors can expect to find plenty of creative attractions and top-notch dining opportunities.
The city also holds many fascinating events, such as spectacular concerts hosted at Cookeville’s most well-known theater, enhancing its appeal as a travel destination.
If you’re taking a tour in this city or just relocated here, you might find it a bit stressful not knowing where to go or what to do. Use this article as a guide to explore the best things to do in Cookeville, TN.
Things To Do In Cookeville, TN
1. Visit Cream City Ice Cream & Coffee House
Credit: CreamCityIceCream&CoffeeHouse / Facebook
For some sugary and delectable sweets to satisfy your lovely appetite, head to Cream City Ice Cream & Coffee House.
It is well recognized for its rich, flavorful ice cream, which is offered in many flavors.
The most well-known varieties include cake batter, cookies and cream, caramel cone, black cherry, peanut butter cup, and Tennessee fudge.
This location is well-known for serving ice cream and other desserts like milkshakes, affogatos, sundaes, and smoothies.
Location: 119 W Broad St, Cookeville, TN 38501, United States
2. Explore Cane Creek Park
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One of Cookeville’s most charming and romantic attractions is Cane Creek Park.
There are many tourist amenities available at this park, including a playground, some picnic shelters, and even barbeque sites.
This park is also ideal for activities like boating and fishing.
Local fishermen and dog walkers know and love this place.
Cane Creek Lake surrounds the pathways in Cane Creek Park, making them perfect for jogging and strolling.
This park also features outdoor sporting equipment, like a basketball and volleyball court, making it an excellent destination for families and groups of people.
Location:201 C C Camp Rd, Cookeville, TN 38501, United States
3. Cookeville Depot Museum
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The Cookeville Depot Museum, a prominent location in the city that was first constructed in 1909, is a building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Cookeville Railroad Depot, which serviced the nation until the late 1950s, is where the museum is situated.
It contains a sizable exhibition of items tracing the growth and history of the Tennessee Central Railway.
The Cookeville Depot Museum is a great attraction for visitors on a tight budget because of its free admission and inexpensive exhibitions.
Location: 116 W Broad St, Cookeville, TN 38501, United States
4. Visit The Hidden Hollow Park
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The small city of Cookeville has a lovely and cheery natural area that is excellent for leisure time.
One of Cookeville’s most exciting and daring spots is Hidden Hollow Park.
It was a tobacco, cattle, and corn farm before it became a social club.
It was later transformed into a beautiful park, though, with amenities including a swimming pool, fishing ponds, playgrounds, picnic spots, floodlights, volleyball courts, a petting zoo, and a sweet stuffed deer named Dee Dee.
Location:1901 Mt Pleasant Rd, Cookeville, TN 38506, United States
5. Visit The Backdoor Playhouse
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Tennessee Tech University’s Backdoor Playhouse is One of the top-performing arts theaters in the city. It has been providing entertainment for the public for 60 years.
This theater is the ideal location for couples searching for enjoyable activities in Cookeville.
For many years, actors and performers have demonstrated their abilities and had fun with their audiences.
One of the most well-known locations for entertainment enthusiasts is the Tennessee Tech University campus, where this theater is situated.
The atmosphere at The Backdoor Playhouse is fantastic and quite cozy.
The theater offers its patrons a wholesome experience due to its overall surroundings.
Location:805 Quadrangle, Cookeville, TN 38501, United States
6. Enjoy Murals In Cookeville@ Our Protectors Murals
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Tennessee’s Cookeville is one of the most well-known cities for its murals.
The city is well known for its wide variety of murals, all of which the inhabitants treat with great care and preservation.
The Our Protectors Mural is one of the most well-known murals; it was created as a homage to the first responders who helped on September 11, 2001, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency responders, paramedics, military personnel, and friendly locals.
One of the most picturesque features in the city is the mural, which a local artist painted.
Location: 768 S Jefferson Ave, Cookeville, TN 38501, United States
7. Visit Poets’ Coffee
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The most excellent place in Cookeville to start your mornings is at Poet’s Coffee.
You will find this fantastic coffee shop In the Historic Courthouse Square
The staff is kind and energetic, and the ambiance is pretty laid-back.
Poet’s Coffee’s big windows let you enjoy the scenery while sipping your preferred cup of coffee.
This coffee shop, which serves caffeinated drinks like Americanos and Cuban espressos, will become one of your favorite places in the neighborhood.
Poet’s Coffee offers a variety of teas, including Earl Gray, White Orchard, and Green Tea Tropical, in addition to its excellent coffee.
At Poet’s Coffee, the traditional bagel with avocado, cream cheese, and various sides makes for the ideal breakfast.
This location is ideal for beginning your day with a mouthwatering breakfast.
Location: 230 E Broad St, Cookeville, TN 38501, United States
8. Seven Senses Food And Cheer
Credit: SevenSensesFood&Cheer / sevensensesfood.com
Seven Senses Food & Cheer is one of the city’s top restaurants.
The restaurant is renowned for serving cuisine in traditional American and Southern styles.
These dishes are all provided using locally sourced, fresh ingredients.
Eating at this restaurant for lunch or dinner is a great idea.
The restaurant is a hit thanks to its vast menu and fantastic selection of sides, which include salads, tacos, boneless chicken wings, fried pickles, sandwiches, and burgers.
The restaurant’s main meals are also well-known, and you’ll want to order more of everything after trying one.
The inviting atmosphere and ethnically diverse menu of Seven Senses Food and Cheer make it the ideal location for a great dinner.
Location:32 W Broad St, Cookeville, TN 38501, United States
9. Visit The Market On The Square
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One of Cookeville’s top shopping places is The Market on the Square.
It is a tiered shopping haven with various goods on each level.
The street level is renowned for selling various foods, condiments, and kitchen essentials.
You can check out the store downstairs if you’re interested in shopping for interior and home décor things.
This store’s inventory is distinctive and always current.
It is a one-stop shop for all your purchasing requirements while visiting Cookeville.
Location: 6 N Jefferson Ave, Cookeville, TN 38501, United States
10. Visit Dogwood Park
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Dogwood Park is one of the greenest and most picturesque areas of the city.
The area is ideal for spending some quiet time alone and leisurely walks.
The area has lovely pathways, a rose garden, and several picnic areas.
In the summer, Dogwood Park also has a water park that is quite well-known among kids.
A park is a fantastic location to take in some stunning artwork.
Dogwood Park is the ideal place to spend time with family and snap stunning images away from the bustle of the city.
Location: 30 E Broad St, Cookeville, TN 38501, United States
11. Explore The Cummin Falls State Park
Credit: CumberlandRiverBasin / cumberlandriverbasin.org
Cummins Falls State Park is the ideal location for spending some alone time and engaging in some light exploration around Cookeville.
Nearly nine miles northwest of Cookeville’s downtown is where you’ll find the renowned Cummins Falls State Park.
The park is a well-known destination for day visitors and is lovely.
Cummins Falls, one of the region’s biggest and most beautiful waterfalls, is another reason for its fame.
The park is especially beloved by the locals due to its amenities, which include picnic areas, a parking lot, and well-maintained pathways.
Location: 390 Cummins Falls Ln, Cookeville, TN 38501, United States
12. Check out The Outdoor Experience
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The Upper Cumberland area has a store called The Outdoor Experience, where you can get outdoor gear for all your adventure activities.
The Outdoor Experience is a great place to go if you want outdoor fun.
The store carries hiking boots, kayaks, canoes, climbing gear, fishing gear, and gear for day hikes.
All of your adventure-related needs can be met at The Outdoor Experience.
The Outdoor Experience’s helpful customer service will help you prepare for all the adventure activities you intend to partake in and around Cookeville.
Location: 124 E Broad St, Cookeville, TN 38501, United States
13. Visit Circle K Horse Pavilion
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For riders of all experience levels, Circle K Horse Pavilion provides private and group horseback riding lessons.
They offer instruction and experience for novice, intermediate, and expert riders.
You can choose to take a lesson on one of the paths at Circle K Horse Pavilion or ride in the indoor or outdoor arena.
The facility owners take great satisfaction in offering a secure setting for horses to live and play while upholding safety regulations and local laws.
This makes Circle K Horse Pavilion a fantastic location for horse lovers and a top-notch boarding and rider-training facility.
You’ll find miles of pastureland with plenty of shade trees and picturesque trails that keep your horse cool and well-hydrated.
Not to mention, the property has a brook that meanders through it.
Location: 4698 Bohannon Ln, Cookeville, TN 38506, United States
14. Exhibits @ Cookeville History Museum
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The Cookeville History Museum’s displays are a fantastic delight for visitors.
The goal of this museum is to offer events, activities, and displays that advance knowledge of Putnam County’s and Cookeville’s past.
Residents and visitors can learn about local history personally through their self-paced permanent exhibit on the history of this neighborhood.
The meticulously crafted timeline neatly spans history from a little more than a century ago to the present.
Exhibits that are only from the local area are featured in the museum’s entrance room.
It features objects on loan from private collections as well as moving exhibits.
Both the static and the rotating special exhibits are fascinating and expertly designed.
Much information on the neighborhood and its connections to the state and nation is available.
Special mention should be made of the helpful, welcoming personnel because they elevate the experience for every visitor while making guests feel at home.
Location: 40 E Broad St, Cookeville, TN 38501, United States
15. Paradise Games And Arcade
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Visitors can enjoy a pleasant respite from the stress of everyday life at Paradise Games and Arcade.
It’s a location where loved ones, family, and friends may gather to spend time together, unwind, and mingle.
This entertaining location has a vast selection of activities that may easily keep visitors entertained for days.
Retro consoles, cabinet games, modern consoles, entertainment, a pool table, virtual reality games, and more can be found in the arcade.
The arcade also turns through its inventory once a week to give each game the attention it deserves.
Visitors can browse a range of drinks, snacks, memorabilia, and souvenirs at this unique family entertainment center.
Location: 8 S Washington Ave, Cookeville, TN 38501, United States
16. Explore Stonehaus Winery
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Stonehaus Winery, a popular destination near Cookeville, offers unusual wines, informative tours, and delectable fare. Visit Stonehaus Winery to Taste the Finest Wines.
In Crossville, the well-known family-run Stonehaus Winery is the ideal location for a visit.
The winery is a 35-minute drive from Cookeville and is ideal for a side excursion.
Along with excursions, the location also hosts wine-tasting events, giving you the chance to have a unique and unforgettable experience.
There is a gourmet shop in the winery where you may find beautiful presents.
The location offers beautiful meals, exquisite wines, and one-of-a-kind presents.
The Stonehaus Winery is renowned for making some of the city’s best homemade fudge.
Location: 2444 Genesis Rd #103, Crossville, TN 38571, United States
17. Visit Touring Delmonaco Winery And Vineyards
Credit: UpperCumberlandWineTrail / uppercumberlandwinetrail.com
The best way to have a memorable wine-tasting experience is to tour Delmonaco Winery & Vineyards.
The winery is stunning and welcoming to tourists, and it’s only 15 minutes outside of Cookeville.
The winery and vineyards are open for guided visits at this location.
The tour instructors are very welcoming and knowledgeable about the various wine products.
Location: 600 Lance Dr, Baxter, TN 38544, United States
18. Sparta Drive-In
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For travelers who enjoy movies, Sparta Drive-In, located just outside Cookeville, is the ideal location.
Both residents and visitors like going to this drive-in theater.
It features a selection of recent blockbuster films and is styled in a retro manner.
The location is renowned for providing its viewers with some raw fun and fascinating content.
The atmosphere of Sparta Drive-In is delightful, and you can upgrade your outdoor movie experience by ordering concession foods like nachos and hamburgers.
This drive-in theater is a must-see location in the city due to its excellent service and enjoyable atmosphere.
Location: 220 Roberts Matthews Hwy, Sparta, TN 38583, United States
19. Go Riding with the Gentlest Horses at Wildwood Stables
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Wildwood Stables is the best spot to go for some fantastic horseback riding experiences in Tennessee. It is situated in Crossville, about an hour’s drive from Cookeville.
Several lengthy pathways at Wildwood Stables lead through stunning scenery and scenic settings.
These routes are great for taking picturesque walks and horseback rides.
The stable’s horses are peaceful and well-behaved.
Additionally, the location provides several extra amenities like dinners and wagon trips.
Even if this is your first time riding, your experience at Wildwood Stables will be safe and unforgettable.
Location: 1450 Westchester Dr, Crossville, TN 38558, United States
20. Burgess Falls State Park
Credit: TNGov / tn.gov
Burgess Falls State Park is among the best places to go if you and your date enjoy being outside. It has various challenging hiking trails, from the most difficult to the easiest.
The park is located on the picturesque Falling Water River, noted for its breathtaking natural beauty and boasting four majestic waterfalls.
With your partner, go trekking or take in the scenery. Avoid wearing flip-flops and wear a pair of sturdy shoes instead.
Location: 4000 Burgess Falls Dr, Sparta, TN 38583, United States
Conclusion
Cookeville is a lovely city with a lot to offer.
The city, which is east of Nashville and is surrounded by stunning views and nature’s bounty, boasts many parks, lovely waterfalls, and intriguing art exhibits.