Family travel destinations attractions and things to do with kids in tennessee

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

Tennessee is a state full of outdoor attractions, educational activities, and many family-friendly events. Located in the eastern part of the United States, Tennessee is a landlocked state with many rivers, mountains, and lakes, and there are also large cities that offer urban experiences. Here are some interesting things you can do with kids in Tennessee.

Memphis is on the southwestern edge of Tennessee, and Arkansas and Mississippi claim parts of this city too. Its metro population is over a million, but its easy to get around and there are many attractions that will entertain your kids. Mud Island River Park, the Memphis Zoo, and The Peabody Hotel are all fun and educational for families, and there are many other attractions in Memphis if you want to stay longer.

Mud Island River Park is located on the eastern side of the Mississippi River, just north of Interstate 40 as you cross the bridge into Tennessee from the Arkansas side of the river. This is a great park for children; its fun but can also be a tremendous learning experience. The centerpiece of the park is a ? mile long concrete scale model of the Lower Mississippi River. Kids can wade in the river, stand in the waterfalls that flow over the panels showing the states through which the river passes, stand on the 20 city maps along the model, and ride paddleboats in the pool that represents the Gulf of Mexico. Numerous panels explain details about the river, and theres also the Mississippi River Museum, with exhibits such as a full-size steamboat, a Civil War gunboat, and music of the river.

You can also rent bikes, canoes or kayaks at the park, or ride the monorail to downtown. Theres a walkway above the monorail, and you can cross the river and watch the boats below. There are several restaurants, gift shops, and a large picnic area; sightseeing paddlewheelers are just down the river from the park. Mud River is open from April until October, and general admission is free; theres a charge for the museum. The park features special events such as Sleep Out on the Mississippi, held every 2nd Friday, when kids can camp out in tents and enjoy activities at the park. Check their website for details and a list of other family events.

The Memphis Zoo, in Overton Park, has more than 3,000 animals; among them are pandas Ya Ya and Le Le, Komoda dragons, and many other animals in natural habitats with interesting architectural details. The zoo offers many special events such as Zoo Boo during October, a Halloween acitivity, Zoo Snooze, an overnight program that concentrates on nocturnal animals, and Saturday Zoo School for Preschoolers and Zoo Camp, for K-5 children. Zoo school and zoo camp teach children about the animals as they participate in arts and crafts activities and tours of the habitats. There are also rides for children, such as the carousel of zoo animals. Several Memphis hotels offer Panda Hotel Packages that have zoo tickets included with the room. Check the zoo website for details.

The Peabody Hotel, an historic downtown fixture, dates from the 1880s, and was restored in the 1980s to its original grandeur. Parents will enjoy the visual delights of the ornate lobby as the kids watch the March of the Peabody Ducks, held at 11 am or 5 pm each day. The duckmaster will tell guests the story of the ducks that live on the roof of the Peabody; you can go up the elevator to the roof and visit the Duck Palace while also getting a good view of the river and downtown. The duckmaster will line up the kids along a red carpet, choose someone to assist him, and bring the ducks down the elevator in the morning and back up in the afternoon. The ducks float around in the fountain in the center of the lobby during the day. Theres a gift shop in the Peabody full of duck-related items if you want a memento of the experience.

Chattanooga, east of Memphis and on the border with Georgia, is a city with many attractions. If your family is interested in trains, the Chattanooga Choo-Choo is a place you may want to visit. Theres a hotel where you can sleep in a railcar, theres a model train museum, and you can ride trolleys or eat on a train. Enjoy the beautiful gardens, shop or learn the history of the Choo-Choo at this fun place.

The Tennessee Aquarium is also in Chattanooga, and has many exhibits and activities that will excite your kids. The aquarium shows numerous habitats of aquatic creatures, from canyons and forests to swamps and oceans. Your kids may want to take home a river otter or a seahorse after they see how cute these animals are! The IMAX 3D Theater is next door, and the Creative Discovery Museum is two blocks from the aquarium, offering hands-on educational activities. Both the museum and the aquarium offer special events that are fun and educational. Check websites for details.

Take an elevator into a cavern to see Ruby Falls, a 145-foot underground waterfall. Ruby Falls is on Lookout Mountain, and the caverns have amazing rock formations; the walk is about a mile long and strollers are not permitted, so the caverns may not be your best bet with very small children. Older kids will get a thrill when they walk across the 180-foot Swing-a-Long Bridge at Rock City Gardens, or view seven states from the top of Lovers Leap. The Incline Railway claims to be the steepest passenger railway in the world, and youll believe it as you climb to the top of Lookout Mountain. Combination tickets are available for all three attractions.

If your kids like outdoor adventure, whitewater rafting on the Ocoee or Pigeon Rivers will be something that they will enjoy. Family rafting trips are available near Chattanooga and Knoxville, and children as young as 5 can go on the milder rapids. Many of the rafting outfitters offer other activities such as horseback riding, tubing, kayaking, rock climbing and rappelling, volleyball, mountain biking and caving; some also have onsite cabins or campgrounds. Most companies will snap your familys picture as you are rafting for a fun souvenir of your trip. Guides are usually young, fun-loving, and get along well with the kids, but are also well-trained in safety. Young children may get cold during the trip, since the water tends to be chilly, but wetsuits are usually available for rental at most places. Many different types of trips are available, including ones that provide lunch or extreme thrills on Class IV-V rapids. Check websites for details and prices of rafting trips.

Kids usually love Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, which are located at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and are surrounded by mountains. The beautiful park has 900 miles of trails for hiking, bike riding, horseback riding; you can also fish, climb mountains, or ride the Sky Lift, a chairlift that will take you to the top of Crockett Mountain. The town of Gatlinburg has many attractions that will interest kids; parents are sometimes less enthusiastic since most of them have an admission price. Highways 321 and 441 are packed with hotels and motels, restaurants and many attractions such as Ripleys Believe It or Not, an aquarium, miniature golf, the Space Needle, and much more. The Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community is at the edge of Gatlinburg, and includes an 8-mile loop of shops of artisans who make traditional crafts. Kids will gain a sense of history as they watch the workers carve or weave, using simple tools to create furniture, clothing and other products.

Pigeon Forge has more than 40 attractions, including the theme park Dollywood, which offers rides, music and craft demonstrations. If youre brave, ride the Tennessee Tornado or other thrill rides, or take the toddlers for a ride on the Dollywood Express, a train ride. Country and bluegrass music shows, glass and soap making, and Aunt Grannys All-You-Care-to-Eat Buffet are some of the things you can experience at Dollywood. Dollywoods Splash Country is next door, and offers lots of fun water activities. Pigeon Forge has numerous other attractions attractive to children; as in Gatlinburg, most have an entrance fee. Many different kinds of accommodations in many different price ranges are available in both towns, ranging from campgrounds to chalets with breathtaking mountain views.

Nashville, the capital of Tennessee, has many attractions, especially for those who like country music. The Bicentennial Mall State Park is beside the State Capitol Building and has exhibits on Tennessee history, Nashville Shores is a water park with slides, rides, and a white sandy beach, and the Gaylord Opryland Resort is a destination in itself, with its huge atrium, 44-foot waterfall, rivers, and indoor gardens. For music fans, the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame shouldnt be missed; there are also many music festivals throughout the year. Check websites for more Nashville attractions.

Tennessee is a state that offers many attractions; it has scenic mountains and rivers and also offers many cultural activities. Families traveling to Tennessee should be able to find events and activities that will interest everyone; order brochures, research online or visit your library for details, dates, and additional attractions.