5 Great Family Trips in East Tennessee

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Justin
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Here at The FamLee Life, we believe that there is not much better than going on a great adventure with your family. Since we live in such an amazing area we try to do as much near home as we can. We have found many places that are truly a blast. Below we have compiled a list of 5 great family trips in East Tennessee all of which we have visited on multiple occasions and truly enjoyed.

 

Smoky Mountains National Park

This is probably the best place in the east Tennessee area if you are looking for great outdoor adventures. No matter what your family’s skill level there’s definitely a trail for you. Great views and scenic drives are abundant in the park, with the occasional waterfall thrown in. Unlike many other National Parks entry to the park is free. Sadly you are not permitted to bring your four-legged friends into the park.

  • Activites:
    • Hiking
    • Fishing
    • Scenic Drives
    • Camping
  • Our Recommendations:
    • The Chimney Tops Trail
    • Cades Cove
    • Trout Fishing in Small Mountain Streams
  • Admission Cost:
    • Free
  • Website:

 

Sevierville/Gatlinburg Area

If you make a trip to The Great Smoky Mountains Park then going to the Sevierville area is a must. Any activity you can imagine is available from go-karting to a hillbilly dinner theater. This area is also full of great restaurants and shopping. One of our family’s favorite restaurants in the area is Blue Moose Burgers and Wings. It is also a great place to stay if you plan on spending a good amount of time in the Smokies. Before you make the drive be sure to check the local event calendar, the town gets extremely busy at certain times throughout the year.

 

Big Ridge State Park

This small park tucked in the East Tennessee mountains is packed full of great fun for the whole family. This park has a trail for every skill level and many great things to see. In my opinion, the coolest area in the park is Big Ridge Dam. It is a small primitive dam that only spills water over the top that you are able to walk across. Another great spot is the Grist Mill located on the opposite end of the park. Big Ridge also tends to be less crowded than most other state parks in the area and it my book that is a huge plus.I made a post about this park before and you can read that post here. 

  • Activites:
    • Hiking
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Basketball
  • Our Recommendations:
    • Lake Trail
    • The Grist Mill
    • Big Valley Trail
      • It is worth mentioning that this trail is pretty difficult as it takes you straight up the mountain. However, if you are looking for a good workout and want to get some beautiful views of the surrounding mountain then this is the trail for you.
  • Admission Cost:
    • Free
  • Websites:

 

Norris Dam State Park

I absolutely love this area, probably because it was the closest park to my parent’s house. I spent a lot of time in the park hiking, fishing, and just driving around. One of my favorite areas of the park is Lower Creek Road which takes you to the threshing barn and the grist mill. If you go at the right time the grist mill will be running and you can go inside and see it working. If you follow this road you get some great views of the creek and even park and follow some of the trails into the backwoods of the park. The Lenoir City Museum is located nearby and offers some amazing exhibits with no entry cost. The park gets its name from Norris Dam which was built in 1936. The Dam is beautiful and allows you to both drive or walk across it. There is also a bike and kayak rental company located in the park now.

 

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

Located on the border of Tennessee and Kentucky and encompassing 123,000 acres Big South Fork is a great recreation area with tons of activity for the outdoor enthusiast. From canoeing or kayaking the Cumberland River to taking a gentle hike in the woods to view the Twin Arches. The Twin Archers are definitely one of the park’s jewels. If you take a trip to Big South Fork be sure to drive a little bit farther out of the park to visit Pickett State Park. Picket is also overflowing with things to do. A medium-sized lake is located in the park and is stocked with trout several times a year. While I have not done much rock climbing myself I have seen people rock climb in the park and some view the park as one of the South’s last rock climbing frontiers.

 

We hope that this list has inspired you to load up the car and head to one of these great places to time with your family. All of these places are great options for a day trip from the Knoxville area. If you would like to spend a little extra time all of these places have great lodging options located nearby.

Thank you so much for reading this article if you liked it please help us out by sharing it. If you go to any of these places please let us know. Do you have any recommendations for places we should visit in our area? If so please let us know in the comments below or on one of our social media platforms. If you want to stay up to date with our adventures be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter. Thanks again and God bless.

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