Kid-Friendly Destinations In The Smokies
Posted by Leif Palmer in Pigeon Forge Attractions
If you're going to be vacationing in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee this year, there's a good chance you might have some pint-sized passengers tagging along for the trip. Whether it's your kids or the grandkids, you may have had travel experiences in the past that were challenging when it came to finding activities the young ones enjoyed.
When it comes to the Smokies, however, no one can say we aren't kid-friendly. In fact, if you have the young 'uns with you on that next mountain vacation, we have some recommendations for several destinations that are sure to keep their interest and maybe even put smiles on faces. And no smart phones are required.
Dollywood – Duh. It kind of goes without saying that kids and theme parks go together like peanut butter and jelly. But not everything at Dollywood is suitable for kids, especially preschoolers. So if you're spending a day there, here are a few recommendations for attractions that cater to tots:
The Country Fair section of the park has a bunch of kiddie rides like the Amazing Flying Elephants, Busy Bees and Lemon Twist. And kids of many ages can enjoy the water rides like Daredevil Falls, Mountain Slidewinder and Smoky Mountain River Rampage. New for 2017 is the Whistle Punk Chaser, a junior roller coaster, and the Li'l Pilots Playground can be found near the Barnstormer ride. Finally, don't forget that the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary and the Wings of America Birds of Prey show, which takes place at an adjacent amphitheater, are entertaining for kids and grown-ups alike.
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies – Kids love animals, and they'll get to see a whole bunch of the swimmy kind at this downtown Gatlinburg attraction. Fascinating creatures from all the world's oceans are represented at this multi-level facility, including stingrays and sharks. Kids can get up-close views of the sharks in the aquarium's underwater tunnel or from above on the new glass-bottom boat ride. Guests can also pet stingrays in Touch-A-Ray Bay, and the new Penguin Playhouse exhibit lets kids watch Antarctica's favorite residents at play right here in the Smokies.
Smoky Mountain Deer Farm and Exotic Petting Zoo – Keeping things in the animal world, you might want to check out this cool petting zoo outside Sevierville. The farm has all sorts of neat creatures you can see, pet and feed, including elk, goats, camels, zebras, emus, kangaroo and reindeer, just to mention a few. The whole family can go riding at the horseback stables, or the littler kids might want to take a pony ride.
Family amusements – You probably can't go wrong taking the kids to one of the many family amusement centers you'll find in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. Depending on the location, these are your best bets for finding things like miniature golf courses, go-cart tracks, laser tag and video arcades.
When you plan your next trip, be sure to go ahead and make reservations for one of our cabins in Tennessee here at Timbercreek Cabins. That will help you plan family-friendly outings that are also convenient to your accommodations.
About Leif Palmer
Leif Palmer loves residing in the Smoky Mountains. He is an avid outdoorsman: rowing for exercise on the lake, trail hiking, and free climbing rocks in the mountains. He indulges his arty side by periodically beating up pieces of marble by sculpting. He is always frustrated by his inability to sink long putts, and hates his curly hair (but his wife loves it). Leif has been known to muster enough courage to change a diaper, and hopes his son will become a chip off the old block.
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