I live in Monroe and in about 2 weeks need to drive to Huntsville to drop my son off at Space Camp. I'm thinking about making a slight road out of it, my main idea being leave Monroe and drive to Bowling Green to stay for the night. Wake up and drive over to Mammoth Cave, then head from there either to Nashville or Chattanooga. Stay there a day then drive to Huntsville.

Question, wtf is there to do in Nashville other than country music? I have a 12 year old boy and 8 year old girl. No wife so just the three of us. I would love to find some outdoor things like rafting or something. Is there anything like that in central Tennessee?

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Posted by dirtsandwich

Member since May 2016

5160 posts

Posted on 6/26/16 at 4:29 pm to DavidTheGnome

For rafting, you should check out the Ocoee. Lots of outdoor stuff around there including tubing, mtn biking, orchards, horse back, etc.

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Posted by kingbob

Sorrento, LA

Member since Nov 2010

67083 posts

Posted on 6/26/16 at 5:02 pm to DavidTheGnome

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Posted by DavidTheGnome

Monroe

Member since Apr 2015

29166 posts

Posted on 6/26/16 at 5:57 pm to dirtsandwich

Would an 8 year old be able to go rafting?

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Posted by TheIndulger

Member since Sep 2011

19239 posts

Posted on 6/26/16 at 7:14 pm to DavidTheGnome

pronably wouldn't be a problem as long as the rapids aren't too intense. The rafting companies will post the age limits. A really great company is the Nantahala outdoor center. Their website should have all the info.

I've been to mammoth caves. Personally I think rafting would be way more fun, unless you're really into caves or something.

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Posted by madamsquirrel

The Snarlington Estate

Member since Jul 2009

48585 posts

Posted on 6/26/16 at 9:03 pm to DavidTheGnome

Yes an eight year old can go. We took our teens/preteens. They still talk about how much fun it was.

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Posted by CHEDBALLZ

South Central LA

Member since Dec 2009

21923 posts

Posted on 6/27/16 at 4:17 am to DavidTheGnome

Find Dam Guide on the OB and ask him...... he has a wealth of knowledge for TN.

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Posted by DavidTheGnome

Monroe

Member since Apr 2015

29166 posts

Posted on 6/27/16 at 12:16 pm to CHEDBALLZ

Ok I'm skipping Mammoth Cave and we are just doing a Smokey Mountain vacation. I do want to do rafting/tubing, possibly hiking. Dollywood maybe? Sounds dumb to me but I think the kids might like it.

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Posted by Shenanigans

Spring Hill, TN

Member since Nov 2012

2394 posts

Posted on 6/27/16 at 12:58 pm to DavidTheGnome

I'll be up in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg over the 4th of July weekend. I've been tons of times in the past but this will be my first trip in the summertime. I'll have my 3 year old with me so some things are limited but we plan on doing Dollywood/Splash Country and also doing tubing/floating down the Little Pigeon River.

Dollywood is running a special for $99 adults/$82 for kids 4-11 for a 3-day pass to both parks.

We are also planning on hitting up the Aquarium, Titanic, and Wonderworks.

Long story short, the Smokies are very family friendly and there should be lots of fun things for an 8 year old and a 12 year old to do up there.

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Posted by Blah

Baton Rouge

Member since Sep 2003

621 posts

Posted on 6/27/16 at 1:20 pm to DavidTheGnome

Just got back from a trip to Bryson City, NC / Deep Creek area of the Smokies, look into this for tubing on some white water. The NOC is just 15 mins away and is a first class outfitter for rafting. Also, you only have to be 7 to raft the Nantahala (class 2 and 3 rapids) and it's 12 for the Ocoee (class 3 and 4 rapids).

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