After this past year, many families are looking forward to a summer vacation brimming over with opportunities to laugh, play and make plenty of memories. A close car trip from many major bases, Sevierville, Tennessee offers something for every member of the family – and it’s all surrounded by the great outdoors. Here are 5 ways to enjoy Sevierville and the Smoky Mountains together this summer.
Make a Splash
Sevierville’s newest attraction is waves of fun! Soaky Mountain Waterpark features 50 acres of waterslides, wave pools, and family-friendly activities – perfect for a day (or two) of fun. Check out the first-of-its-kind Avalaunch Watercoaster, ride the rapids in their not-so-lazy river, and let the little ones discover their own thrills on kid-friendly waterslides that are scaled-down versions of the big kid rides. Just across the street, Soaky Mountain’s sister property, Wilderness at the Smokies, is a family-friendly waterpark resort with over 700 rooms plus indoor and outdoor waterparks that are included with your stay.
Nearby, The Resort at Governor’s Crossing also offers a combination of indoor and outdoor water play areas and slides as well as Firefly Cove, an outdoor area with a Woodland Walkabout, mini golf, seasonal outdoor movies and more.
Get Smart
Just because school is out, doesn’t mean learning stops! Make plans to visit the Tennessee Museum of Aviation, Tennessee’s repository and archive for aviation history. This museum features rare flyable warbird aircraft including two P-47 Thunderbolts, a Douglas A1-H Skyraider, a Sikorsky UH-34G and more, in addition to high quality exhibits covering various aspects of military history. After exploring the museum, book a flight in Sky High Air Tour’s authentic 1927 Waco biplane for a unique view of the Smoky Mountain foothills.
After spending time in the skies, head over to Rainforest Adventures Discovery Zoo – one of America’s finest small zoos. With a focus on conservation and education, Rainforest Adventures showcases over 600 animals representing 130 different species. From learning about lemurs and pythons to playing with goats in the petting zoo, this attraction is fun for the whole family.
Hit the Trails
There are plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors in Sevierville. The 800+ miles of maintained trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park offer breathtaking views and challenging hikes. For those who prefer to stay closer to town, Sevierville’s Greenway system provides miles of walking and biking trails along scenic streams and rivers. Those rivers are also packed with fish! Sevierville is known for its smallmouth bass fishing and anglers (who purchase a temporary Tennessee fishing license) are welcome to cast a line in the water.
Discover a Treasure
Sevierville is known for its high-end outlet shopping, particularly the 100+ name brand stores at Tanger Outlets Sevierville. But the city also features specialty stores and retailers offering unique items you’ll treasure. Smoky Mountain Knife Works is the world’s largest knife store. Spend a few hours wandering through this trove of knives, cookware, and museum-quality displays before making your way to the basement and The Relic Room – a section of the mega-store that features real fossils, ancient coins, rare minerals and more available for purchase.
Add a few more stores to your must-visit list, too. Pick up outlet priced Lodge cast iron at Lodge Factory Outlet. Make your own custom knife at Uncle Hank’s Knives. Pay a visit to Robert A. Tino’s farmhouse gallery and bring home a watercolor or oil painting of the Smoky Mountains. Then visit downtown Sevierville for unique shopping and dining experiences.
Stay in the Smokies
Where you stay can be just as much fun as what you do when you are in the Smokies. Plan time at a luxurious cabin resort like Hidden Mountain or Oak Haven. Most all cabins have a full kitchen, private hot tub, game room, and gas fireplace. Campers love Sevierville’s RV Resorts – some of which even offer glamping and luxury tiny home rentals. Another great choice are Sevierville’s award-winning hotels, motels, and condos which are close to the action on the Parkway.
Discover even more and start planning your trip to Sevierville this year at VisitSevierville.com.