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Tennessee Trip
Posted on 7/2/26 at 5:35 pm
Posted on 7/2/26 at 5:35 pm
We are going to Tennessee, we will be staying near Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge but we want to maybe spend a day in another city. We were thinking of either taking a drive over to Nashville to spend a day or maybe Chattanooga. We will have our 7 year old with us so I don't know if there is much to do in Nashville for a child that age. Any ideas?
5
Posted on 7/2/26 at 7:57 pm to cassopher
Chattanooga is a great place to take a 7 year old. Rock City, Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain. Chattanooga and Gatlinburg are a good combination for a vacation of this type.
Posted on 7/2/26 at 11:28 pm to geauxpurple
2nd Chattanooga, its' closer than Nashville and offers more to do than Knoxville. In terms of driving, Knoxville is closest. The Chattanooga aquarium is quite good and should be of interest to a 7 year old. The entire East Tn and Tn River region is historically interesting, but 7 is a bit too young for battlefields, grist mills and remnants of Indian removal.
Posted on 7/3/26 at 9:52 am to cassopher
If you’re staying near Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge and want another day trip with a 7-year-old, I’d honestly lean Chattanooga over Nashville. Nashville is great, but it’s a long haul for one day and might feel rushed. Chattanooga has more easy family stuff packed together — the aquarium, riverfront, walking bridge, Lookout Mountain/Rock City, etc.
For something closer, I’d also look at Townsend for tubing with Smoky Mountain River Rat, or do a water day at Splash Country or Soaky Mountain. For waterfalls, Roaring Fork/Grotto Falls is a good Gatlinburg-area option, and Deep Creek near Bryson City is fun too if you don’t mind a longer drive. Knoxville is also worth considering if you want a closer city day without spending half the day in the car.
Smoky Mountain River Rat
Dollywood Water Park
For something closer, I’d also look at Townsend for tubing with Smoky Mountain River Rat, or do a water day at Splash Country or Soaky Mountain. For waterfalls, Roaring Fork/Grotto Falls is a good Gatlinburg-area option, and Deep Creek near Bryson City is fun too if you don’t mind a longer drive. Knoxville is also worth considering if you want a closer city day without spending half the day in the car.
Smoky Mountain River Rat
Dollywood Water Park
This post was edited on 7/3/26 at 9:54 am
Posted on 7/3/26 at 4:20 pm to cassopher
Asheville, NC would be a lot closer than Nashville if you considering a visit to Biltmore.
Posted on 7/3/26 at 7:48 pm to Nole Man
quote:
Soaky Mountain
was awesome. Get a cabana.
Also worth it to eat lunch at Chimneys Picnic Area and go play in the stream.
Posted on 7/4/26 at 2:55 pm to MintBerry Crunch
I have a grandchild that is going to be in a cheerleader competition in Sevierville. Looking for a place to stay. I have Marriot points, but staying beside I-40 near a Buc-cees ain't gonna work.
Saw this place online. In the woods, front porch, shady. Anyone have a better place?
LINK
Saw this place online. In the woods, front porch, shady. Anyone have a better place?
LINK
Posted on 7/6/26 at 8:16 am to geauxpurple
quote:
Chattanooga is a great place to take a 7 year old. Rock City, Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain. Chattanooga and Gatlinburg are a good combination for a vacation of this type.
This is the right answer. We just did this trip last month. We actually started in Chattanooga, did ruby falls and rock city on day 1, then drove to Gatlinburg.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 11:48 am to nuwaydawg
There are tons of cabins to rent in Wears Valley which is a pretty easy drive to Sevierville. I recommend searching VRBO.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 11:54 am to cassopher
Not another city, but I recommend a Float Trip down Pigeon or going to NOC in NC tons of outdoor activities for a 7 year old. The rafting trip at NOC is pretty tame and would be fun as well.
You can plan a stop at Clingman's Dome on the way to NOC assuming you're driving through the park.
You can plan a stop at Clingman's Dome on the way to NOC assuming you're driving through the park.
Posted on 7/9/26 at 5:55 pm to armytiger96
NOC has a location in Benton TN to raft the Ocoee where the 96 Olympics were held. Highly recommend.
Posted on 7/9/26 at 9:31 pm to Nole Man
quote:
Chattanooga has more easy family stuff packed together — the aquarium, riverfront, walking bridge, Lookout Mountain/Rock City, etc.
If in Chattanooga, go to the top of Lookout Mountain to Point Park. It's part of the Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park. Amazing views of the valley and the city. At various places they have photos of soldiers sitting on rock outcroppings that are still plainly visible and identifiable.
Posted on 7/10/26 at 6:44 am to cassopher
Definitely Chattanooga. However, the advice to check out Knoxville is pretty sound.
Although Chattanooga is closer than Nashville, you have to consider traffic. The drive from Pigeon Forge up to I-40 can be slow, and traffic from Sevier County through west Knoxville can get heavy.
Although Chattanooga is closer than Nashville, you have to consider traffic. The drive from Pigeon Forge up to I-40 can be slow, and traffic from Sevier County through west Knoxville can get heavy.
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