Five Things You Must Do If You Are Visiting Tennessee
This post may contain affiliate links. Read the disclosure.
Tennessee, United States, is one of the top spots for tourists from around the globe. It is the center of Nashville. Tennessee is home to country music, the famous Great Smoky Mountains, Knoxville, an array of museums, hiking trails, a walk-in aquarium full of marine life, and many activities.
The place is ideal for large groups and entire families. If you’re planning a holiday, you’re lucky because Tennessee has something for everyone, even your pets. It offers pet-friendly cabins, various camping grounds activities, and all the available amenities.
We suggest you book your vacation for a more extended period to enjoy all the thrilling activities and visit all the cool places.
It could be a once-a-lifetime experience, especially if you are visiting from out of state, so make sure not to miss anything.
With that said, let’s look into some of the best spots and what they offer if you’re heading toward Tennessee.
Table of Contents
Visit Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge
Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is famous for its Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which offers a complete range of mountainous activities.
Once here, you can start hiking and rock climbing, take jeep rides and guided tours, and photograph panoramic Smoky Mountain views from the highest peaks.
Moreover, you’ll find many things to do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, two of the most visited spots in Tennessee. Whoever visits the Great Smoky Mountains shouldn’t miss Pigeon Forge, next to the Smoky Mountains.Â
Ober Gatlinburg is a ski resort and amusement park with activities for the entire family. Moreover, experience the Rocky Top Mountain Coaster, the longest Alpine Coaster in Tennessee.
Country Tonite Theatre in Pigeon Forge runs live performances and shows by talented musicians and artists from around the US.
You can get 50% off of a Pogo Pass by using promo code CHACHING at checkout, making it just $49.99 ($39.99 for Kansas City). This discounted entertainment pass is a great way to enjoy entertainment for FREE all year long!
End your day with dinner at the Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show in Pigeon Forge, TN. Another option for having a lovely evening is at Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Show. Enjoy local cuisines while watching a live show.
Enjoy magic shows with children Steven Best’s Unbelievable Magic Shows. Steven often calls the audience on the stage to perform magical tricks. Be a part of it and take a ton of pictures.
Take the Redneck Comedy Bus Tour that entertains professional comedians while you ride the bus to visit exotic spots.Â
We went to Pigeon Forge a few years ago. It was a blast. It’s very similar to Silver Dollar City.
Experience the Lost Sea Adventure
The Lot Sea Cave is within Craighead Caverns and houses the biggest non-subglacial lake. You can visit the Lost sea Cave at the foothills of the Smokies.
Inside, you will find the most beautiful waterfall with crystal glaciers hanging from the cave’s walls.
If you love exploring hidden caves and like taking a boat ride, this is the ideal place. It will make you feel like you are not even in Tennessee anymore. Take a guided boat tour that takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Once you’re done boating, visit the Lost Sea Village and find tourist shops with amazing branded stuff of Tennessee’s specials. Then continue towards the self-guided Nature Trail. Along the way, you will witness seasonal plants and birds.
The place also hosts Wild Cave tours for large groups of people. It is open throughout the year, except for special occasions and during the holiday season.
Explore the Discovery Park of America
Spread on over 50 acres of grounds, the Discovery Park holds awe-inspiring exhibits and fascinating secrets. It is excellent for sightseeing during one of your exploration excursions.
Moreover, it is an Earthquake simulator that many people enjoy yearly, with a giant human model and 20,000 gallons of the aquarium. This aquarium houses sea life from whales to octopuses, starfish, and other petting animals.
It is also an educational tool for children and adults, so it hosts school trips, college trips, and educational and history trips. It also offers science activities for children to witness and experience live sea life.
Visit Dollywood
Dollywood pays tribute to the country singer Dolly Parton. The place reflects Dolly Parton’s life, such as themed arenas and country music theatre.
It also has a themed hotel, where her fans can book their stay, with luxury experiences such as a private tour of her music collection, gallery, and other items.
Country music fans mostly visit Dollywood. Others love experiencing Splash Country, where you can play any music and dance to your rhythm.
Dollywood also features over 50 adventure rides for families, children, and young adults. In addition, an award-winning dining experience with a Season pass and liver performances.
Visit Parrot Mountain and Gardens
Nature is not new to Tennessee, but the Parrot Mountain and Gardens feature particular breeds of parrots with their unique colors, hand-planted gardens with lush green hills and mountains, and Europe-inspired architectural structure.
Thomas Kincade – a unique designer and artist, designed the place, keeping the natural esthetics in view. The parrots live in beautifully designed cottages over four acres of land.
The birds are free to fly and perch on treetops since the surrounding gardens provide their natural habitat.
Tourists love feeding the parrots and talking to them. The parrots get ample training to speak and interact with humans.
Interestingly enough, the place has its baby bird nursery, from where you can buy a bird and keep it as your pet. You can also feed them because they love eating out of your hands more than in their bowls.
They are incredibly social and friendly with humans and interact with humans actively. It makes the visitors fall in love with the birds and their beauty.
Conclusion
If you plan a trip to Tennessee in the US, you must experience all the unique places with all their activities to make your trip worthwhile. Prepare for at least two weeks of adventure, exploration, and thrill; let it be a learning experience.
Make each day count and visit each place in a day. Start your adventure by camping in the Great Smokies by experiencing all the camping activities. Explore hiking trails, take jeep rides on top of the Great Smoky Mountains and capture exotic photos of the views. Move on to museum visits and go on a shopping spree in Pigeon Forge.
Experience the Lost Sea Adventure and go boating in the caves with your group. Take a scenic hike back to your camp or cabin. Explore all the areas of the Discovery Park of America, the exquisite exhibits, and aquariums.
Visit Dollywood if you are a fan of Dolly Parton and stay in its themed hotel. For nature lovers, Parrot Mountain and the lush gardens are ideal.
Complete your trip by gathering memories of each place to treasure in the future because one never forgets such experiences.