10 of the best family-friendly things to do in Tennessee
An underground waterfall, immersive theme parks, and a firefly light show make Tennessee an unexpected destination for multigenerational travel.
From the mountain peaks in East Tennessee across the hills, plains, and valleys to the west, the Volunteer State’s 42,000 square miles are chock full of things to do, no matter your interests or age. Country music was born in Bristol, and Nashville became its capital, while Rock & Roll and the Blues billow through the streets of Memphis. Famed foods like BBQ, hot chicken, and meat-and-three platters draw travelers from all over.
Tennessee has several surprising activities beyond its music and food. From high-flying adventure in the Great Smoky Mountains to a theme park dedicated to Dolly Parton and museums across the state worth the trip all their own, here are 10 family-friendly experiences to consider when visiting Tennessee.
1. Catch a glittering mountainside thrill at Dollywood
Co-owned by Dolly Parton and Herschend Family Entertainment, Dollywood is a theme park covering more than 160 acres in the Smoky Mountains. The theme? A mixture of Parton’s life and legacy and the mountains themselves, including attractions like The Dolly Parton Experience (an immersive look at her career that, yes, includes her real wigs and outfits), several high-flying coasters, and live music. Dollywood hosts themed festivals throughout the year and has two resorts on property for those looking for a seamless visit.
2. Hike to America’s tallest underground waterfall
When visiting the town of Lookout Mountain, it feels counterintuitive to go underground. And yet, you must. Climb inside a glass-front elevator and descend 260 feet to reach Ruby Falls, the tallest and most accessible underground waterfall in America. Plunging 145 feet, the natural wonder was accidentally uncovered during Leo Lambert’s excavation project in the 1920s. He named it after his high school sweetheart, Ruby, turning a geological discovery into a sweet love letter. Other points of interest nearby include the ultra-steep Lookout Mountain Incline Railway and the ancient rock formations of Rock City, located just across the Tennessee State Line in Georgia.
3. Experience an adventure park 600-feet above Gatlinburg
Six hundred feet above Downtown Gatlinburg, Anakeesta offers a 360-degree observation tower, a 1,000-foot skywalk, and a 2,600-foot mountain coaster that weaves its way down the mountain. Pair that with 13 dining options, tons of botanical trails, birdhouses, and activity zones for all ages, and you have an excellent way to experience one of the Great Smoky Mountains’ most beloved towns in a new way. The adventure park opened in 2017 and will unveil a massive renovation through 2030, including a new glass-bottom gondola, thrill rides, and an expanded footprint.
4. Cheer for your favorite sports team
Whether you’re celebrating touchdowns or home runs, three pointers or slap shots, Tennessee has plenty of teams to root for across the state. Don your orange and cheer on the University of Tennessee Volunteers at one of the country’s largest football stadiums, bundle up for an evening in Smashville, say Go Grizz in Memphis, eat ice cream out of a souvenir baseball helmet with the Nashville Sounds, or join the newest fandom and cheer on the Nashville SC. From east to west, each fan experience is family-friendly.
5. Embark on a tour of family-friendly museums in one city
Chattanooga may be known for its stunning scenery and outdoor trails, but it has a high concentration of attractions geared toward kids and kids at heart. Spend a weekend exploring them all, starting with the Creative Discovery Museum—complete with a mini farmhouse, a STEM Zone, an art studio, a library, water play tables, and an outdoor treehouse with a weather station. Just down the street, venture on to the Tennessee Aquarium with its two distinct sides: one dedicated to the ocean and the other to freshwater systems. Elsewhere, families can enjoy the Chattanooga Zoo, ride a train at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, and go rock climbing indoors at High Point Climbing and Fitness.
6. Make the oldest combination candy bar
Prior to 1912, candy bars were typically one ingredient—solid chocolate, a nougat center. But Howell Campbell, Sr., and Porter Moore at Nashville's Standard Candy Company saw an opportunity to level up the candy game, and that they did. The Goo Goo Cluster (its name comes from Campbell’s son’s first words) was the first candy bar to feature a combination of ingredients: caramel, marshmallow, peanuts, and chocolate. Today, the flagship offers a candy-making experience for all ages.
7. Witness an active fossil dig site
For any budding paleontologists or young scientists, the Hands On! Discovery Center near Johnson City is a must-visit. Inside, the exhibits span the sciences from aerodynamics to medicine, quantum space, and aviation. Outside, experience an active dig site where fossils are being discovered in real-time.
8. Stay in a renovated train car
Chattanooga’s Terminal Station, now affectionately known as the Chattanooga Choo Choo, opened in 1909 and ended service in 1970. The railyard, which was converted into an entertainment district complete with a hotel, today, features 25 train cars transformed into guestrooms that can sleep up to four. The Hotel Chalet has a pool, an on-site restaurant, a fire pit, and is within walking distance to many restaurants and attractions in downtown Chattanooga.
9. Discover their future career
Because everyone should be able to try out a career before committing, the Children’s Museum of Memphis houses more than 30 exhibits dedicated to just that. Kids (and daydreaming adults) can try their hand at anchoring the fictional River City News, step inside an actual FedEx cockpit and explore an air traffic control tower, direct a pretend theatre show, visit the dentist, read x-rays, role-play a grocery store visit, and more family-friendly fun.
10. See a natural light show put on by fireflies
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is full of surprises, but one of the most awe-inspiring is a phenomenonorchestrated by fireflies (or, lightning bugs as we call them down here) during their two-week mating season. Their courtship creates synchronized flashing—thousands of bioluminescent behinds twinkle in unison, then go dark at once before beginning again. To see the synchronous fireflies in the Smokies, there’s a lottery system through the National Park Service to control crowds (noise and light impact the ritual and, therefore, reproduction). Keep an eye on the official website for lottery dates and details.
