It’s a family-friendly small town that is a little more relaxed than other cities in the Great Smoky Mountains , and for that, you will adore it. When you think about a family vacation to Tennessee, Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge might come to mind, but Sevierville is a must-visit. Read through our favorite things to do in Sevierville, TN for family fun!
Here is a list of 13 things to do in Sevierville, TN. Oh, but there is so much more! This Tennessee town in the Great Smoky Mountains doesn’t disappoint.
Scenic Helicopter Tours
Grab your flying goggles and head for the skies with Scenic Helicopter Tours. Riding in a helicopter provides a thrilling opportunity to see the beautiful Smoky Mountains area from a different perspective. Scenic Helicopter Tours prides itself on quality over quantity. Their helicopters are equipped with comfortable, leather passenger seats and expansive windows for the best visibility. Before your flight, your pilot will give you a safety briefing. Their pilots are your aerial adventure guides and will make your tour an exceptional and memorable experience. They offer corporate charters and unique experiences that are unique or romantic if you wish.
Pink Jeep Tours
Ok, so this one isn’t located in Sevierville, but it should not be missed as an option to take an effortless tour of the area with a superior area guide. See the Smokies like never before from the back of a custom, open-air Pink Jeep Wrangler. Their local, certified adventure guides bring the history and magic of the mountains to life and their Smoky Mountain tours offer hidden gems around every bend. Several include a thrilling, 4×4 off-road adventure.
Tennessee Museum of Aviation
This hidden gem is a must-do! The front part of the museum includes thousands of historical artifacts, while the back part is a 50,000-square-foot hanger packed with vintage aircraft. The exhibit area features a “Wave Wall” which traces significant milestones in the history of aviation from before the Wright Brothers. There is a piece of the USS Arizona as well as pilot uniforms from multiple points in history; how interesting to watch them evolve. The hanger is a favorite spot to see! There are two Republic P-47 Thunderbolts from WWII (there are not many of these left), a full-scale replica of the 1902 Wright Glider, several MiG fighter jets, and much more!
Rainforest Adventures Discovery Zoo
Rainforest Adventure Discovery Zoo is a small little zoo that is jam-packed with tons of fun! Designed by one of the contractors working on the Disney Animal Kingdom project, it features over 600 animals. A favorite exhibit is the marmosets, and they now have Axolotls! Most of the zoo is inside, but there is also a small petting zoo outside with goats, sheep, and emu. Be sure to pick up a bag of food from the gift shop so you can feed them. Locally owned and operated, this business has more than 20 years under its belt and a focus on exotic animals of the rainforest. Absolutely worth the stop on your Smoky Mountain vacation.
Sevier Air Trampoline and Ninja Warrior Park
Sometimes when you’re on vacation you need something just for the kids-and this is it! Yes, you can jump too…but this trampoline jumping park is the most epic “get the wiggles out” stop for vacationers. Jump for an hour or two at Sevier Air- with dodgeball, a “high dive” jumping station, interactive jumping games, a ninja warrior park, a wipe-out station, and tons of jumping space. Don’t miss the bottom floor while you’re there. You’ll find a two-story ropes climb and a café with snacks, frozen yogurt, and more. They also have small rooms in this area, perfect for birthday parties.
Fox Fire Mountain Adventure Park
The sprawling 150 acres of Fox Fire Mountain alone is worth the short trip to East Tennessee. At the very least, you’ll want to buy tickets for The Discovery Hiking and Swinging Bridge Tour. This allows you to cross Foxfire Gorge from Foxfire Mountain to Prosperity Mountain. At 335 ft., this bridge is the longest swinging bridge in America and makes gorgeous photos in addition to being super fun. Before you cross the bridge, you’ll write your most important wish on a piece of plastic and carry it across the bridge to Prosperity Mountain where you’ll find Whispering Winds Covered Bridge. Here you can hang your wish with thousands of other wishes…and if you’re lucky, your wish will come true.Be sure to ask the staff about the hundreds of stories of people’s wishes becoming reality. Also, on this side of the bridge, you can follow the hiking trail to Lost Mine Falls and the Sweden Furnace Iron Mine. It’s only about a mile trip, and the second smaller swinging bridge over the falls is so much fun. There is also a small Walking Tree Canopy Tour and a stone-stacking area where you can create your own cairns. The Little Adventurer Obstacle Course ropes course is amazing, and the River Walk Trail is also a lovely trail along the water. You can dip your toes or hunt for salamanders and more in the water. There are also zip lining and ATV tours as options.
Apple Barn Cider Mill and General Store
See the original barn from 1972, refurbished and opened with tons of yummy treats. Be sure to stop in the Cider Room, also. You can watch apples from their 4,000 trees being pressed into cider, which you can sample! If you want something more potent, stop in the Cider House, featuring hand-crafted hard ciders. There is also a candy shop and ice creamery that the kids will love. And for parents, don’t miss a tasting at the Apple Barn Winery. The wine slushies are divine. Apple Barn Cider Mill is an excellent choice among the many options for dining in Sevierville. For a few more options, check out any of these favorites among visitors and locals.
Graze Burgers
The Appalachian
Aubrey’s
Holtson’s
Season’s 101
Trotter’s Whole Hog Bar-B-Que
Driving Tours
The Visit Sevierville website offers several driving tours, and they are all highly recommended. A local favorite is the Fall Driving Tour to Douglas Lake. You start in Downtown Sevierville at the Dolly Parton Statue in front of the Sevier County courthouse. Celebrating the queen of country music, Dolly Parton’s statue is the Sevierville attraction to visit, and be sure to get a selfie with her. From there, you can visit the art gallery and if it’s Fall, make Kyker Farms Corn Maze part of your tour! End your tour with a drive down Douglas Lake Road and take a walk along the Douglas Dam with great views of Douglas Lake and the mountains.
Forbidden Caverns
Tennessee is home to the most caves in the United States, with over 8,350 caves registered to date. Forbidden Caverns is one of America’s most spectacular caverns. Visitors are provided with an entertaining and educational tour past sparkling formations, towering natural chimneys, numerous grottos, and a crystal-clear stream. Special lighting effects and well-trained tour guides combine to make this a most enjoyable experience.
Nascar SpeedPark
With over 25 acres of fun, they have consistently been ranked as the #1 spot for go-karting in the region. Your day of play includes plenty of other family fun like rides, mini golf, bumper boats, arcade, mini bowling, VR games, and more. There is so much to enjoy with your family at Nascar SpeedPark!
Rocky Top Mountain Coaster
The Rocky Top Mountain Coaster is the longest coaster in East Tennessee and the first one in the world with four uplifts. The ride features beautiful Smoky Mountain scenery, 360-degree turns, and several tunnels on over 20 acres of property. Each single sled can go up to 30mph and the driver controls the speed on the over 9-minute-long ride! For an extra unique experience, visit after nightfall where magnificent lights will guide you through a thrill-filled ride.
Smoky Mountain Deer Farm Exotic Petting Zoo
A unique barnyard environment nestled in a 140-acre foothills setting that is an unforgettable experience with some of nature’s most graceful creatures. You’ll do more than just pet the deer at the Deer Farm; you’re invited to walk among them and hand-feed these delicate animals. You will have a blast interacting with their critter family, including camels, zebra, goats, reindeer, Rocky Mountain Elk, emu, Fallow and Sike deer, miniature horses, Watusi, Highland cattle, donkeys, zonkies, and so much more. For horse lovers, they offer equestrian fun for the whole family. Their old-fashioned pony ride is perfect for the littlest riders, and they can enjoy a safe, gentle ride led by Mom or Dad. You can also take a family ride at the Deer Farm Riding Stables. They cater to first-time riders, “rusty” riders, and little ones can double up with an adult.
Where to Stay in Sevierville
Sanctuary Treehouse Resort is the Smokies’ newest and most talked about vacation “experience!” And wouldn’t you know, it’s located in Sevierville in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains! With panoramic views of the Smoky Mountains, this 40-acre treehouse resort is the world’s first interactive treehouse resort! Guests enjoy unique amenities located in their treehouse that are fun for people of all ages. Some of these unique features are 20-foot slides, bucket pulleys, escape hatches, hidden ladders, secret beds, drink chutes, interactive furniture, swings, rope climbs, outdoor day beds, and so much more! For the most unique vacation in the Smokies, view our treehouses online and reserve yours today!