A Tennessee vacation with kids and grandkids gives you everything from the history of music to amazing theme parks and big outdoor adventure. Even making plans is fun with the help of TDTD. Take a look.
Tennessee leaves nothing to chance when it comes to making your family vacation unforgettable. Of course it helps that the state is blessed with some of the most stunning scenery in the US. More than 50 state parks mean family adventures here are as easy as breathing. Then there are world famous attractions from west to east, many of which come already Kid Reviewed.
TDTD Tennessee Vacation created Kid Reviewed to rate attractions across the state on the laughter and excitement of real kids. Kids wore Laugh Tracker devices to record their authentic reactions everywhere from Dollywood to Memphis Zoo. They were then asked what they thought about attractions and their opinions were very honest. So now, parents planning a family vacation in Tennessee, just need to check Kid Reviewed to know where to find the best fun for their kids.
Ready to plan a Tennessee vacation? Take a look at 10 top-rated Kid Reviewed attractions. Discover where to making learning fun and find the best adventures. Then once you know what you want to do, find wonderful places to stay all over the state. It’s all here.
Nashville Zoo, Kid Reviewed for Tennessee family vacations
Use Kid Reviewed for an unforgettable Tennessee vacation
Only Tennessee family attractions come with a real kids’ seal of approval. When you see the Kid Reviewed symbol on anything from waterparks and theme parks to museums and zoos you know children like yours have already visited. Their level of laughter and excitement has been recorded on smart Laugh Tracker devices and Vacation Tennessee have asked for their honest kid-reviews on everything from fun to food. Now all you have to do is decide which amazing attractions to try first. Here are 10 top recommendations to get you started.
Top 10 Kid Reviewed Tennessee attractions
- Dollywood in Pigeon Forge is the #1 theme park in the US 2022 and records almost one million laughs per day on Kid Reviewed.
- With 162 moments of excitement every hour, kids think Discovery Park of America in Union City is one of the most fun heritage parks they’ve ever visited. Plus, it’s within driving distance of Memphis.
- Nashville Zoo is easy to reach from downtown Nashville and easily scored 3,857 laughs per day on Kid Reviewed.
- One of Nashville’s newest waterparks, SoundWaves at Gaylord Opryland Resort makes a big splash with kids who laughed an average of 150 times an hour here.
- Take the Falls Creek Falls Canopy Challenge for thrills, Kid Reviewed recorded more than 160 moments of excitement per hour on this sky high adventure course!
- Close encounters with penguins, turtles, alligators and salamanders gave kids an average of two excited moments every single minute at Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga.
- How do we know kids love museums on a Tennessee vacation? The Children’s Museum of Memphis alone recorded 228 moments of sheer excitement on Kid Reviewed.
- Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga proves children can appreciate stunning scenery, if it comes with super-steep train rides and awesome waterfalls. The three separate attractions here scored almost two moments of kid excitement every minute.
- Navitat Treetop Zipline Adventure Park is the #1 Outdoor Activity in Knoxville and thrilled kids 270 per hour on average – that’s a lot of thrills!
- With more than 4,500 animals and a fresh activity programme every day, Memphis Zoo gave its youngest visitors the giggles 98 times every hour.
Fall Creek Falls Canopy Challenge Course, Tennessee
Looking for outdoor adventure? Tennessee has got those covered
Whether you want heart-beat-a-little-faster thrills for teenagers or some easy-going fresh air and fun with younger kids, Tennessee is the land of all types of outdoor adventure.
The legendary waters of eastern Tennessee are guaranteed to get adrenaline pumping with whitewater rafting expeditions on the Ocoee, Pigeon or Nolichucky Rivers. Or if you prefer peaceful paddling, try guided kayak tours in Chattanooga. The Nickajack Bat Cave sunset tour is a big hit with older kids.
Tennessee also has 56 state parks. You won’t see them all in one vacation but you could begin with Reelfoot Lake State Park for wildlife watching. Fall Creek Falls is the one for treetop adventure courses. If you want to try some of the state’s best backcountry hiking, head for South Cumberland State Park. Cherokee National Forest is great for scenic drives with kids. And Great Smoky Mountains National Park can fill a Tennessee vacation all by itself.
Take a closer look at Tennessee outdoor adventures for family vacations
Clinton 12 statue, Green McAdoo Cultural Center, Clinton, Tennessee
Kids can feel the history on a Tennessee vacation, and they love it!
More songs have been written, recorded and played live in Tennessee than anywhere else in the world. So when it comes to getting to know the state’s history, music is a good start.
Follow the Hip Hop Pathway from Memphis to Knoxville with older kids. Bristol was the birthplace of country music, but you can trace its influence all over Tennessee. Head to Memphis for the heart of Soul. You’ll find the roots of Bluegrass in Nashville – as well as the world-famous Grand Ole Opry. Tennessee is also the birthplace of everyone from Aretha Franklin to Tina Turner, so if your passion is R&B take kids on a statewide tour! Although a Tennessee family road trip is the best memory maker whatever your taste in music.
Time for kids to learn about one of the most important movements in American history? In Tennessee you can visit 14 different sites on the US Civil Rights Trail. Head to Chattanooga to discover Civil War battlefields and Native American heritage. Then visit historic homes from Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis to the James K. Polk Home in Columbia. Or you could simply add some museums to your vacation, step back and watch the magic happen. Because in Tennessee kids can get hands-on and excited by incredible art, natural history, science, technology, or just about everything all-in- one-place at Discovery Park of America in Union City.
Find out how to put history at the heart of your vacation in Tennessee
Dollywood Smoky Mountain Cabins, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Find places to stay from Nashville hotels to cute Pigeon Forge cabins
Now you know how much there is to see and do on a Tennessee vacation, you’ll want to stay awhile. So it’s good to know you can expect a warm southern welcome wherever you go. Plus, when it comes to places to stay, there’s a wide range of options for families all over the state.
If you want to get close to nature you’ll find cozy family cabins and chalets everywhere from forests and mountains to cute country towns. Campgrounds and RV parks are perfect if you’re planning a road trip. For urban adventures, family-friendly hotels in cities from Memphis to Chattanooga go all out to welcome kids and many of them love to have your pets stay too.
But for once-in-a-lifetime vacation memories, think about a guest ranch stay or even vacationing on one Tennessee’s many magnificent stretches of water. Most families love the freedom of vacation rentals and you’ll find them all over Tennessee too. Or when you want to kick-back and be looked after like the honored guests you are, indulge in a luxury Tennessee resort and allow yourself to relax completely.
Have fun choosing where to stay in Tennessee on your family vacation
Planning your family vacation in Tennessee
Tennessee is in south east US, it’s bordered by eight other states including Kentucky, North and South Carolina and Virginia. It’s also home to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and legendary cities like Nashville and Memphis.
How to get here
Tennessee is within a day’s drive of more than half the US population and made for family road trips. Memphis and Nashville offer international airports and there are commercial service airports at Knoxville, Chattanooga and TriCities.