Top 5 Tennessee Experiences to Escape the Crowds

Tennessee has a way of surprising us. We have done the Gatlinburg strip, the pancake houses, the crowds, all of it. The kids enjoy parts of it, sure. But the moments that stick, the ones we bring up at dinner months later, are always the ones where we left the main road behind.

This list is made of those moments. Five experiences around the Smokies that got us away from the traffic, into the trees, and honestly laughing until our stomachs hurt.

1. Outdoor Gravity Park in Pigeon Forge

This one is genuinely unlike anything else. You climb inside a giant inflatable ball with a few gallons of water in it and they roll you down a hill. That is it. That is the whole thing, and it is so much fun.

I will be honest about one thing nobody warns you about. If you deal with claustrophobia at all, you should know you go in through a small opening and you are fully inside the ball. Our daughter Aniston got in, looked at me, and said she was scared. I told her we could be brave together, and we went for it. Once you start rolling, you are laughing so hard that you forget you are in there. But it is worth knowing beforehand so you can talk it through with your kids instead of finding out at the top of the hill.

Outdoor Gravity Park opened in 2015 and is one of only a handful of places in the entire country doing this. It is family owned and inspired by a trip to New Zealand, where zorbing started. If you have never heard of zorbing, this is the place to try it.

This reel gives you a real feel for how the zorb rolls and how soaked you end up. It is the fastest way to convince your kids this needs to be on your itinerary.

Tips for your visit

You pay per roll, so decide ahead of time how many each person wants. The racetrack style runs are the ones our kids begged to do again, and one of the tracks only allows one person because of how fast it goes. Do a little research on which run fits your family before you show up. You can ride solo or with someone, and honestly, going together is half the fun.

What you need to know

This is a reservation based experience, so book your slotted time online at outdoorgravitypark.com before you go. When you arrive, they have changing rooms, bathrooms, and cubbies to store your stuff. You can also leave things in your car if you prefer. They do have a blow dryer, but bring your own towel just in case. If you forget something, they sell basics on site. A shuttle takes you up to the top of the hill every time, so you never have to walk back up. The balls ride up on a conveyor belt, and fresh clean water is put inside for every single run, which made me feel a lot better about the kids doing it more than once.

2. CLIMB Works in the Smoky Mountains

CLIMB Works is rated one of the top zipline tours in Tennessee, and it is the perfect example of how to get Smoky Mountain views without the Smoky Mountain crowds. The course is tucked up on the mountain, you take a UTV ride up to the start, and they provide all of the gear.

This was the very first time our whole family ziplined together, and the kids were hooked from the first launch. They have side by side lines, so you can ride next to your child and see their face the whole way down, plus suspension bridges between platforms that are half the fun on their own.

There was one point where the kids got stuck partway down a line near the end. It sounds scarier than it was. One of the guides clipped on and shimmied down the cable like a sloth, got to them fast, and brought them back in. The kids thought watching it happen was the coolest part of the day, and honestly, so did I. It told me everything I needed to know about how well trained those guides are.

If you are anywhere near the Smokies, this is a top tier experience. We wrote a full recap of our day here: Ziplining the Smoky Mountains with CLIMB Works. Book at climbworks.com.

Tips and what you need to know

CLIMB Works provides all of the gear, harness, helmet, gloves, and trolleys, and the guides handle every clip in and clip out. There is no hand braking, so your only job is to sit back and enjoy it. They are open year round, closed Sundays, and reservations are required. Plan to arrive 40 minutes before your tour time, because they cannot hold a tour for late arrivals.

Before you head up the mountain there is a bathroom at the base, plus a gift shop with light snacks and drinks for purchase, and free lockers for keys and small items. Hit the restroom before you go, because your feet do not touch the ground for about two hours once the tour starts. There is another bathroom stop when you come back down.

A few requirements worth knowing before you book: guests must be at least 5 years old and 42 inches tall, and anyone under 70 pounds may ride tandem with a guide. Everyone must weigh under 270 pounds, and guests under 5 foot 10 must be under 250. Kids 5 to 14 need an adult on the tour with them. Closed toe shoes are required, and they have shoe rentals in limited sizes if you forget.

Wear comfortable clothes you do not mind getting a little wet, since tours run rain or shine. Tie long hair back, skip dangling jewelry, and use a strap for glasses. Cameras and GoPros are allowed only if they are securely strapped on, and nothing unsecured like a phone or water bottle can come on the course. CLIMB Works also shoots photos throughout the tour that you can buy afterward. Cancellations are refundable up to 48 hours out.

3. Off-Road Gatlinburg

This is a guided UTV tour on private land up in the mountains, and it was pure joy. Mud, creek crossings, rugged backroads, and views you simply cannot get from the main road. They run tours across a few hundred acres of private trails, so you are not sharing the trail with a hundred other vehicles.

You drive your own UTV, and the guides build in plenty of stops along the way for photos and to catch your breath. You can also switch drivers partway through, which was a big deal for us because Jake and I both wanted a turn. No off-road experience needed. If you can drive a car, you can drive one of these.

There was a lot of laughing, a lot of mud, and a lot of "did you see that" moments. Wear clothes you do not care about. Book at offroadgatlinburg.com.

Tips and what you need to know

Tours are guided and by reservation, so book your time slot online before you drive up. Helmets and goggles or sun hoods are provided, and the guide leads the whole route, so no off-road experience is needed. One adult drives, and you can swap drivers at the stops, which we highly recommend so both parents get a turn.

For younger kids, we brought our own booster seats so they could sit up higher, fit comfortably, and actually see the trail. They will get muddy, so take the fabric covers off or cover them before you go.

Wear closed toe shoes and clothes you truly do not mind getting dirty in, because the mud and dust are part of the deal. Bring your own neck gaiter to protect your face from the dust and mud, and wear glasses or sunglasses to protect your eyes. A hair tie or hat helps a ton once you are moving. We brought our own bag with waters, which was nice because you will want to hydrate between stops. There are restrooms at the base before you head out, and photos happen at the scenic stops, so have someone ready.

4. Cumberland Kayak to the base of Burgess Falls

Burgess Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Tennessee. It sits inside Burgess Falls State Park on the Falling Water River, and the main falls drop about 136 feet in a wide cascade down layered rock. There are actually four waterfalls along the river, and the big one is the showstopper.

It honestly reminded us a little of Iceland, like a miniature Dynjandi. If you have never seen Dynjandi, go look it up, it is that huge bridal veil waterfall in the Westfjords that fans out as it falls. Burgess Falls has that same shape on a smaller scale, and it is stunning.

Here is the thing most people do not know. The overlook is where almost everybody sees it from, and the trail down to the base has been closed. The only legal way to see Burgess Falls from the bottom is from the water. That is what Cumberland Kayak does.

You meet at their location, they give you a life jacket, a kayak, and a paddle, and they take you safely down to the falls where you get time to explore before heading back. It is one of those experiences where you look around and realize almost nobody gets to see this view.

A few practical notes because these mattered to us with kids: they have a cafe on site, real bathrooms, and a water refill station. Do not underestimate how nice that is after a paddle. Book at cumberlandkayakadventure.com.

Tips and what you need to know

Reserve your trip ahead of time, especially on weekends, since the guided falls trips fill up. Kayaks, paddles, and life jackets are all included, and the guides get everyone comfortable before you push off. Our kids each paddled their own boat, but doubles are available if you have a younger one who needs to ride with you.

Wear closed toe water shoes for this one, not hiking sandals. I learned that the hard way. The current near the waterfall is stronger than it looks, and I hit my foot hard enough to access my toe. I am on week two of recovery now, and I really hope you learn from my mistake. The guides will tell you the same thing, but the force of the water around the base can surprise you.

Bring a dry bag for your phone and camera, plus light snacks and waters for after the paddle. Sunscreen and a hat are smart, and plan on your bottom half being soaked no matter what. They have porta potties, a water refill station, and a cafe with hammocks and seating while you wait for your reservation, so bring a reusable bottle and pack a dry set of clothes for the ride home.

The one piece of gear that saved us here

You are going to get wet. Fully, completely wet. The thing that made the biggest difference for us was our Car Cabana, which attaches to the back of the vehicle and gives you a private space to change. No wrestling with a towel in a parking lot, no changing in a porta potty, which I would truly not recommend to anyone. Use code VENTURESEEKERS for 20% off. It is one of those purchases we did not think we needed until we used it once.

5. Smoky Mountain Jet Boat on the French Broad River

This one was a blast. You ride a jet boat down the French Broad River in Sevierville, and it is the perfect mix of scenic and adrenaline. The boats move fast, up around 45 miles an hour on the open stretches, and the crew mixes in spins and slides that had the kids screaming with laughter.

Everyone gets a headset, so you can actually hear the guide over the engine and the wind. Our son grinned the entire ride.

In between the fast parts, they slow way down and you actually get to look around. We saw a ton of wildlife along the banks, including a bald eagle perched right over the water, and the guides know the river well enough to point things out as you go. It feels like two experiences in one, a nature tour and a thrill ride.

They run a few different tour lengths, from a 25 minute run out to the historic Douglas Dam up to a 70 minute grand tour that combines everything. Kids 2 and under ride free. They are located at 1949 Winfield Dunn Parkway in Sevierville, inside Scenic Helicopter, and they even have a combo flight and boat option if you want to go all in. Book at smokymountainjetboat.com.

Tips and what you need to know

Life jackets are provided and required for everyone, and the crew helps get the little ones buckled in before you board. Everyone gets a headset, so you can hear the captain point out eagles, herons, and turtles over the engine noise, which our son thought was the coolest part.

We did not get wet on our ride, but river conditions can vary, so wearing something quick drying is still a smart call. Sunglasses with a strap, sunscreen, and a hat you do not mind holding onto are the right call. Leave loose hats and anything unsecured in the car. Book online ahead of time and arrive early, since it shares a lot with Scenic Helicopter and parking fills up. There are restrooms on site before you head out on the water.

What we would tell a friend

If you are planning a Tennessee trip, do one or two of the touristy things, then spend the rest of your days out here. Every single one of these five got us away from the crowds, and every single one of them is something our kids still bring up months later.

And if you are trying to decide where to stay, learn from our mistake. We booked right in the middle of Gatlinburg our first time and spent hours in traffic just trying to leave. Next time we are going with a cabin tucked back in the trees.

Come follow along on Instagram @the.ventureseekers for the reel version of this list. Seek adventure together.

-Brittany, The Venture Seekers