Smoky Mountain Attractions For Families
The Smoky Mountains are the perfect destination for a family-friendly getaway, offering a mix of outdoor adventures, interactive attractions, and unforgettable experiences. Whether your family loves exploring nature, seeking thrills at amusement parks, or enjoying hands-on learning experiences, there are plenty of Smoky Mountain attractions for families of all types!
From scenic hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to exciting attractions in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, the Smokies provide endless opportunities for making lifelong memories. In this guide, we’ll highlight some of the best Smoky Mountains attractions for families, ensuring your trip is packed with fun, adventure, and plenty of quality time together!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
There is a reason that the Smoky Mountains attract thousands of visitors every year who are looking to explore nature, enjoy thrilling attractions, and create lasting memories. The National Park is the greatest of all the attractions that the Smokies have to offer! With its breathtaking landscapes, kid-friendly activities, and interactive learning experiences, this region has something for everyone. Whether you're hiking through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, experiencing the excitement of Dollywood, or discovering the charm of local attractions, your family will have an unforgettable adventure!
Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails
One of the best ways to experience the Smoky Mountains is by hitting the trails! Fortunately, the park offers several kid-friendly hikes that are easy and rewarding. Laurel Falls Trail is a 2.6-mile roundtrip paved path leading to a stunning 80-foot waterfall, making it perfect for little adventurers. Kephart Prong Trail offers a short, scenic hike with fun footbridges to cross over creeks, adding a touch of excitement for kids. For breathtaking views, Clingmans Dome provides a half-mile paved path to the highest point in the Smokies, where your family can take in panoramic mountain scenery.
Wildlife Viewing Opportunities
This may be my favorite part as a Gatlinburg photographer! The Smoky Mountains are home to diverse wildlife, making it an exciting place for kids to spot animals in their natural habitat. Cades Cove is a prime location for viewing white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and even black bears from the safety of your car. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail also offers a scenic drive with plenty of opportunities to see wildlife, particularly in the early mornings or late afternoons. To get up close to the famous elk herds, take a trip to Cataloochee Valley, where you can witness these majestic creatures grazing in open fields.
Scenic Drives
If your family prefers a more relaxed way to explore the park, scenic drives offer incredible views without the need for long hikes. Cades Cove Loop Road is an 11-mile one-way loop that showcases historic cabins, picturesque meadows, and abundant wildlife. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a beautiful 5.5-mile drive that winds through lush forests and past cascading waterfalls, with plenty of pull-off spots for photos. For those who want to experience the park’s highest elevations, Newfound Gap Road provides an unforgettable drive through mountain ridges with stunning overlooks and picnic areas to enjoy along the way.
Outdoor Adventure Activities
In addition to the National Park, the Smoky Mountains have tons of attractions for families who are looking for adventure! Here are just three of out more popular outdoor adventures:
Ziplining and Aerial Adventure Parks
For families seeking an adrenaline rush, ziplining is a must-try activity in the Smoky Mountains! Anakeesta in Gatlinburg offers an exhilarating zipline course with stunning mountain views, perfect for kids and adults alike. CLIMB Works is another fantastic option, featuring longer and higher zipline routes that give families a bird’s-eye view of the lush forest below. These adventure parks also include treetop rope courses and sky bridges, adding an extra layer of excitement for thrill-seekers.
Whitewater Rafting and Tubing
If your family loves water-based activities, whitewater rafting and tubing offer an unforgettable way to experience the Smoky Mountains. The Pigeon River is a top spot for rafting, with guided tours available for both beginners and experienced rafters. For a more laid-back experience, tubing along the Little River in Townsend is a fantastic way to float downstream while enjoying the beautiful scenery. This also happens to be one of my family’s favorites! Many outfitters provide tubes and safety gear, making it a stress-free way to cool off on a warm day.
Horseback Riding Through the Mountains
For a unique and relaxing way to explore the Smokies, horseback riding is a really cool activity the whole family can enjoy. Several stables in the region, such as Sugarlands Riding Stables and Cades Cove Riding Stables, offer guided horseback tours through scenic trails. These excursions allow families to experience the quiet beauty of the mountains, winding through forests, across creeks, and even past historic homesteads. It’s a peaceful and immersive way to connect with nature while spending time with your favorite people!
Have Fun Learning!
Make learning fun with some of the most interesting museums in Tennessee! These options are great for when you want to get out of the sun and enjoy a more laid back adventure.
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
A must-visit for families is Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg. It offers an exciting underwater adventure for all ages. Kids will love walking through the Shark Lagoon Tunnel, where they can see sharks, sea turtles, and stingrays swimming overhead! Interactive exhibits like the Touch-A-Ray Bay allow your children to get hands-on with marine life, while the Penguin Playhouse provides up-close encounters with, you guessed it, penguins!
Titanic Museum
Step back in time and experience history at the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge. This immersive museum allows families to explore a replica of the famous ship while learning about its passengers and crew. Here you can touch an actual iceberg, walk the Grand Staircase, and experience the sloped decks that simulate the ship’s sinking. To make it even more memorable, each visitor receives a boarding pass with a real passenger’s name, making the experience both educational and personal.
Wonderworks
For a mix of science, adventure, and entertainment, WonderWorks in Pigeon Forge is a fantastic attraction. This upside-down building is filled with over 100 interactive exhibits designed to engage kids and adults alike. From the Extreme Weather Zone, where families can feel hurricane-force winds, to the Space Discovery Zone, where they can try on astronaut suits, there’s something for everyone. The attraction also features a laser tag arena and an indoor ropes course, making it a fun-filled stop for families.
Theme Parks & Fun
Our theme parks in the Smokies are like none other! From celebrating the music legend that is Dolly Parton, to arcades and coasters. Check out a few of the best theme parks in the Smokies:
Dollywood
A trip to the Smoky Mountains wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge. It is one of my personal favorites! This world-famous theme park, founded by country music legend Dolly Parton, offers a mix of thrilling rides, entertaining shows, and delicious Southern cuisine. Families can enjoy roller coasters like the Lightning Rod or take it easy on the Dollywood Express Train Ride. With live music, seasonal festivals, and kid-friendly attractions, Dollywood is a must-visit for all ages. I promise, you won’t regret spending a day here!!
Ober Mountain
For year-round family fun, Ober Mountain in Gatlinburg is the place to be. In winter, families can hit the slopes for skiing and snowboarding, while the summer months offer alpine slides, mountain coasters, and a wildlife encounter featuring native animals. A scenic aerial tramway takes visitors from downtown Gatlinburg up to the resort, providing breathtaking views of the Smokies.
The Island in Pigeon Forge
The Island in Pigeon Forge is an entertainment hub with something for everyone. Families can take a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, enjoy interactive attractions like the Island Mirror Maze, or let the kids run wild in the Arcade City. With numerous dining options and live music performances, it’s the perfect place to spend an evening after a day of adventure.
Unique Local Experiences
As a local to the Smoky Mountains I am going to let you in on a few of my favorite unique experiences in the area. Some of these are more popular than others, so you may need to book ahead of time, but they are totally worth it!
Gem Mining and Fossil Digging
Families can try their luck at gem mining at attractions like Pigeon Forge Gem Mine and Little River Gem Mine, where kids can sift through dirt to uncover sparkling treasures and fossils. Some locations even offer educational experiences, teaching children about the different types of minerals and fossils they uncover.
Visiting Historic Sites
Explore the history of the Smokies by visiting Old Mill Square and the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, where families can see artisans at work and purchase handmade crafts. These historic locations offer insight into Appalachian culture and craftsmanship, with live demonstrations and hands-on experiences for children.
Family-Friendly Dinner Shows
Enjoy interactive entertainment at Dolly Parton’s Stampede or the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud, offering music, comedy, and delicious Southern meals. These engaging performances allow families to enjoy a hearty meal while being entertained by acrobats, animal acts, and hilarious storytelling.
Seasonal Festivals and Events
The Smoky Mountains host a variety of family-friendly festivals throughout the year. Winterfest lights up the region with dazzling holiday displays, while Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage offers guided nature walks. Summer and fall bring music festivals, arts and crafts fairs, and harvest celebrations that highlight the area’s rich culture and traditions.
I hope you enjoy these Smoky Mountain attractions for families as much as I have with my crew! And if you are in the area and want to get some stunning family photos in the Smokies, then I am the Gatlinburg photographer for you! Reach out here!
