I rave all the time about how family friendly the Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee are, and I still stand behind that. You already know that the Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited national park in the U.S., but on top of that, there are several other great places in the Smokies to visit. And just in case you need a little convincing, I am sharing 7 of our favorite places in the Smokies that are great for families! Trust me, there are MANY more, but these are definitely at the top of my list that we just have to visit most every time we go back!
1.) Skyland Ranch – We went for the first time last fall, and we loved it so much that we are going back again this month! They are about to celebrate 2 years this month, so they are still pretty new. They still have lots more expanding they are working on, but we love how small and family friendly it is! It is a 100 acre ranch with a chair lift, longest mountain coaster in the Southeast, animals you can feed and take pictures with, a hayride, live music and entertainment, a playground, gem mining, cornhole, a mountain overlook and tons of yummy food and drinks! I loved how the kids had plenty to do here, but it wasn’t too big. It was just the right size to sit and enjoy the music while watching the kids play.
2.) Wilderness at the Smokies – They have an indoor/outdoor waterpark, a rooftop swimming pool, an arcade, miniature golf, bowling, rock climbing, a ropes course, laser tag, a coaster and so much more! They have several dining options, frozen yogurt, a candy shop and even a shop to make your kids their own stuffed animal. They also have different fun activities during different seasons. The kids absolutely love it here!
3.) Anakeesta – Anakeesta is another small park that still has plenty to offer. It is bigger than Skyland Ranch, but much smaller than Dollywood. It has a safe family feel to it, but since it is much larger, you will need to stay with your kids constantly to keep an eye on them. They have tons of good food and drinks, carolers, playgrounds, a rope bridge, a mountain coaster and more!
4.) Wildside – A brand new park owned by Anakeesta, this adventure park is so cool! Rent a UTV or a bike and go off-road with the family! We have already added this to our list and plan to visit this month with the kids! We took Leighton years ago to a similar park, and she has been begging to go back. It was such a fun day, so we just have to try it out! I’ve heard great things from friends, and I can’t wait to report back soon!
5.) Dollywood – I have brought the kids here 4 times over the last few years, and it is a yearly tradition of ours. They are the most family friendly amusement park, and it ‘s easy to see why. The park is large, but it has a small town family feel to it. All the staff is so nice, there are several playgrounds, and I love that they have a great variety of rides and coasters for small kids too. They also have several family friendly music shows and performances. Dolly always gets it right!
6.) Ripley’s Aquarium – We took the kids here last spring, and we plan to go back this month. This aquarium was huge! They had a conveyor belt where you could ride along and look at different fish surrounding you. It was so cool, and the kids loved it! They have penguins and even put on a show while we were there. They also have a couple different playgrounds that the kids loved. Definitely worth the money; it’s a great aquarium!
7.) Pink Jeep Tours – Our kids were 100% obsessed with this last fall! We are already planning an other trip to do this soon because the kids won’t stop asking us to take them back. It was that fun! And I’m not just talking about for the kids; it was fun for the entire family! After driving through the Smoky Mountain National Park, they drive you through an off-road park where you go racing down a dirt road and jump some hills. It was an absolute blast!
8.) Goats on a Roof – They have one of our favorite mountain coasters in the area, and as the name signifies, they have goats…on a roof! The kids can feed the goats, and it’s really such a fun spot! It’s usually not too crowded, and seriously, we LOVE their mountain coaster! You will definitely want to add this to your list!
9.) Dig ‘N Zone – This last year was our first here, and it is such a cool spot! They have tons of different construction equipment and rides that are fun for all ages and for adults too! Grayson could have spent all day here, and even the girls loved the rides and racing each other!
10.) Dolly Parton’s Stampede – We took all the kids here, and they had such a blast! The dinner was really good and super filling. There was plenty to eat for kids and adults. The show completely kept their attention all night. They loved watching the horses, the performances and all the fun games they played with audience members. It is such a fun way to spend the night with your kids!
What are your favorite things to do in the Smokies with kids? Let me know!
