- In Gatlinburg, some enjoyable pastimes for both parents and kids are mini golfing and a water park.
- Family activities in Pigeon Forge include year-round snow tubing and a gem mine.
- For guaranteed family fun near Knoxville, you can spend a day on Cherokee Lake and rent a watercraft from Roscoe & Hooch.
There’s a variety of exciting family pastimes in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Knoxville areas! No matter which of our suggested activities you choose, both kids and parents alike will be sure to enjoy these wonderful, local experiences. Listed below are family activities available in Gatlinburg and neighboring locations.
Explore the Pigeon Forge Gem Mine
The Pigeon Forge Gem Mine is the ideal place for children to discover, dig, and mine! Here, they can search for gemstones and fossils. Additionally, if kids find a gemstone they really like, there’s an option to make it into custom jewelry.
The gem mine also has a free museum that features stones and fossils. This enhances learning and teaches kids about what they discovered while mining. These educational and fun opportunities make the mine one of the top family activities in Pigeon Forge!
Go Mini Golfing
One of the best family activities in Gatlinburg is to have fun playing some mini golf! For example, Ripley’s Davy Crockett mini golf has two 18-hole courses with lively, animated animals throughout. In the mood for a mountaineer theme while mini golfing? Hillbilly Golf Sports is your spot!
Additionally, Gatlin’s Mini Golf (located at Gatlin’s Fun Center, which has multiple family-fun activities) includes 45 holes on an enchanting course! If you are staying closer to Knoxville or Pigeon Forge, don’t worry, as those locations also have fun mini golf courses for the family, too!
Enjoy a Recreational Day on Cherokee Lake
Located around Knoxville, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge, is Cherokee Lake. This beautiful lake has no shortage of incredible family activities! If you are looking to get out on the water, renting a boat, jet ski, or paddleboard from Roscoe & Hooch is always a fun time.
Cherokee Lake also has some wonderful activities you can take part in while sticking to the shore, such as fishing, outdoor games, swimming, or a picnic.
Try Year-Round Snow Tubing
For one of the most unique and thrilling family activities, Pigeon Forge Snow offers year-round snow tubing! This is the first indoor snow park in America, and it allows you to take your kids snow tubing even in the summer. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so even if you’re just nearby Gatlinburg, this family activity is worth checking out.
Visit Wild Bear Falls Water Park
Wild Bear Falls Water Park is a heated, indoor water park that is located at the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg. This place is excellent for the whole family, especially kids! It has everything from a lazy river to exhilarating water slides. Check out this water park if your family is looking for some aquatic activities in Gatlinburg.
Check Out World’s Fair Park
For family fun in Knoxville, you can’t go wrong with the World’s Fair Park. It has many cool points of interest to check out, including the performance lawn and amphitheater (especially when events are going on).
There’s also a lively splash pad and Volunteers Landing, which is the portion of the park that runs along the Tennessee River. The Sunsphere is an iconic landmark that’s another part of the experience, and it has an observation deck that allows you to see the entire city!
When planning out some family activities to do in Gatlinburg, consider the above as a primer to all the great attractions this area has to offer. If visiting Cherokee Lake happens to be on the agenda and you are looking to get the most out of lake day, book a boat with Roscoe and Hooch and take the fun up a notch.
