Discover Henry County: Nature, Culture and Water Experiences

Henry County combines nature experiences, water activities and a diverse cultural landscape. At Paris Landing State Park, fishing, boating and swimming take center stage. Those who also want to explore history, events and regional cuisine will find notable points of interest in Downtown Paris. This makes it possible to adapt the search for a vacation rental or vacation home to your preferred travel focus: active days on the water, nature observation or cultural discoveries in the city.

Nature, Water and Wildlife

Paris Landing State Park offers a range of options for a stay by the water, including fishing, boating and swimming. Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge provides a different way to experience the landscape. There, you can explore three units: Big Sandy, Duck River and Busseltown. Oak Grove Road provides a specific point of reference: from Highway 79 north of Paris, it leads more than 7 miles to the refuge's visitor center.

Birdwatching is possible at Bennetts Creek Overlook. The visitor center also has an observation platform that offers year-round views of wildlife in a cove of Kentucky Lake. These two perspectives complement each other well: the focus at the overlook is on observing birds, while the platform looks out over wildlife in a cove. This allows you to include different nature experiences in your daily plans without limiting your stay to a single activity.

Downtown Paris: History and Creative Places

The commercial district of Downtown Paris is part of a Historic District listed in the National Register. Its traditional Tennessee Town Square is defined by the Henry County Courthouse. ARTS Round the Square takes place as an all-day festival on the Courthouse lawn. Downtown Paris also hosts the Tennessee River Jam every year. Those who want to include the city as a cultural focus of their trip can consider Paris as a separate part of their accommodation search.

Historical highlights include Cavitt Place, which was built in 1916. The building preserves original stained-glass windows, a marble staircase and marble floors, ceiling and wall murals, as well as mahogany woodwork. The Paris-Henry County Heritage Center presents a permanent exhibition on the history of Henry County. For those interested in creative pursuits, the Paris Academy for the Arts offers year-round classes and workshops for people of all ages from Paris and Henry County. The Krider Performing Arts Center complements this offering with the KPAC Young Artists Theatre program.

Events and Regional Cuisine

There are also specific culinary events that can be incorporated into travel planning. Tennessee River Jam features local and regional food vendors in Downtown Paris. At the World's Biggest Fish Fry, more than 12,500 pounds of catfish are served in the Fish Tent. These events showcase different sides of the area: one is a shared experience in the city center, while the other highlights a particularly distinctive regional specialty.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Accommodation

When searching for a vacation rental in Henry County, it is worth deciding first on your preferred pace. Those who favor water activities can plan their trip around Paris Landing State Park. For nature observation, Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, Bennetts Creek Overlook and the observation platform at the visitor center take center stage. Culture enthusiasts can combine these options with Downtown Paris, the Courthouse, historic buildings and events.

More Destinations

More destinations: Cumberland County, Tipton, Mcminn County, Sullivan, Henderson County, Cheatham County, Dekalb.

To the higher-level travel overview: Tennessee.