The top stops along the way from Corbin to Asheville (with short detours) are Sugarlands Distilling Company, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, and Smoky Mountain Outdoors (SMO) Rafting. Other popular stops include Market Square, The North Carolina Arboretum, and Ole Smoky Distillery "The Holler".
1
World's Fair Park
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Park
Nature & Parks
Event venue
The park is located in Knoxville, Tennessee and was created as part of the 1982 World's Fair. It has since been converted into a well-loved public space and is used for recreation and events. The park has large lawns that are suitable for public outdoor concerts as well as games of Frisbee.
This is an amazing park with lots to do even when they aren't hosting events. There is a really beautiful playground with a splash pad, amphitheater, pond, and so so much more.
Gerard R — Google review
Lovely park with multiple spaces for playing, relaxing with friends, or just enjoying the outside vibe. There's a huge lawn area, fountains for playing in and sitting by, cool bridge murals, a playground area, clean restrooms, and just a nice space within a city. Easy walking distance to The Square.
Alesia H — Google review
My kids really enjoyed this park. They loved the playground and splash pad…it was fun for them even at their age (11 & 9 yo) we walked around a bit. I think this would be better if there were some concessions…maybe a couple food trucks or something. We came through on a Saturday and it didn’t seem like there was much open around there.
Megan L — Google review
Visited the Asian Festival. It was so wonderful to experience the different cultures along with experiencing the different foods and enjoying the dances and the music. Also enjoyed the Sumo Wrestlers.
Linda S — Google review
First time visiting Knoxville,and was pleasantly surprised to find how beautiful this area is. Fountains, walkways and so many great picture spots. There are also public restrooms with vending machines with icecream,snacks and drinks.
Brian M — Google review
The park was the Central site of the world's Fair from the 1980s. There are beautiful bridges crossing over man-made water features handsome beautiful shrubbery with flowered areas. You can pay to go into the sun sphere but we did not.
Alex S — Google review
Always enjoy the World's Fair Park. They have the Dogwoods Art festival today which was just a great event. Plus the splash pad and the playground are great for families.Always a nice walk, even if there's not an event going on. I will say I will probably never pay $5 to go in the World's Fair ball. For tourists it's probably a nice box to check but for people who live in the area it's definitely a pass.Convention center is right next to the World Fair Park as well plus it is a short walk to downtown.
Cory B — Google review
Incredible park! Events are ALWAYS happening (check out the Knoxville schedules), great kids area, can’t beat the view of the Sunsphere, and very walkable. Not a ton of shade, but not always necessary depending on the event. Parking is all over the place, most of it free. Mardi Growl, Wing Fest, Brew Fest, 4th of July, the Knoxville Marathon, Asian Festival, etc etc etc. You name it, they have it at Worlds Fair Park!
EM — Google review
Good place to go for a walk, read or just sit down and enjoy the fantastic views.Water is clean porch is nice
Yt ( — Google review
This was a fantastic stop while heading to Pigeon Forge. Very beautiful area with the fountain, green space, and use of water. I would have really enjoyed going up into the Sunsphere. There is a fair amount of parking in the lot designated for the park. Definitely cool that the World's Fair was held here and there is information around for education.
Brian D — Google review
Went to visit Knoxville in March with friends, the Worlds fair park was really nice, I like how it’s pretty much walking distance right next to downtown. It was great
Glenn_lefer — Google review
Great small park in the middle of downtown Knoxvile at the site of the 1982 World's Fair. There's a playground on one end with a really good Veterans Memorial. Security is present and the atmosphere was great!
Chris O — Google review
A wonderful place to visit. It seems to be the city's centralized park area. We have experienced the fireworks 🎆 in the area as well.
Pastor T — Google review
We appreciate having a lovely green space to enjoy. Today my daughter needed to take photos for an upcoming oil painting and the World's Fair Park was a perfect place! Plenty of parking, immaculate grounds, and beautiful weather; what else could we ask for?
Jeanna L — Google review
A lovely park that brought back fun memories as a kid at the worlds fair. Seems to be so much untapped potential, but enjoyed our time.
Erick C — Google review
So much to do and just enjoy being outside. Great playground for kids, and a splash pad for kids big and small
Krishna D — Google review
The park is well maintained, has a public rest room and a free parking lot. It has a lot of green space and benches. It also has a nice water fountain for children to play. The elevator ride to the top of the Sun Sphere is a nice experience but you need to get tickets ahead of time over the internet.
Gerlinde S — Google review
For the past several months I’ve been wanting to tour the SunSphere. Today, I finally got the opportunity and it was just amazing to ride 210 feet up the elevator to see a full view of the city of Knoxville! What a sight! 🤩 I also like the park area too. There’s a STEM school close by and free parking near the school.
Patricia — Google review
It is a must see if your in the area. Beautiful park with lots of walkways, fountains, & of course the Sunsphere. Only downside is where the parking is too get to the park. Hours are 6am to Midnight. They have security. Solar lights along the walkway. & the amphitheater which is really cool as well. The bridges are painted & the one has birds all along the wall & ceiling. U can drive all the way around the area. It was fairly busy. Kids playing in the fountain area which shoot up pretty high. The Veteran Monument is there as well & a must see if you have the time to get out and stroll around. U won't be disappointed. Just be careful when it gets a lil late I saw a homeless man sleeping in the area around the Sunshpere. Thn while leaving & driving across the train tracks a guy came running up to my back window scared me to death I just took off. So be careful when it gets close to midnight. But it's breathtaking during the day & esp at night & so peaceful.
R J — Google review
World's Fair Park in Knoxville, Tennessee, is an enchanting oasis that captivates visitors with its scenic beauty. The picturesque landscape, adorned with lush greenery and vibrant flowers, provides a perfect backdrop for a leisurely stroll. The tranquility of the park offers a refreshing escape, making it an ideal spot for those seeking a peaceful retreat.During my visit, I encountered a delightful surprise—a cute corgi prancing around with infectious joy. This unexpected furry companion added an extra layer of charm to the park experience, creating heartwarming moments that lingered in memory.Whether you're admiring the stunning views, enjoying a leisurely walk, or encountering adorable four-legged friends, World's Fair Park in Knoxville promises a delightful blend of natural beauty and unexpected delights. It's a haven that invites you to unwind and savor the simple pleasures of life.
Kat H — Google review
Took my fiance for the first time and she loved it! Great place to visit and take great pics.
Tiffany H — Google review
Recently visited the World's Fair and had an overall great experience! Here are some highlights and tips to help you plan your visit:- Plenty of free parking nearby, which was a huge plus!- I went on a non-peak day and had no issues getting tickets, but the attendant recommended buying tickets ahead of time, especially during major holidays like July 4th.- Speaking of the attendant, they were super helpful and provided valuable information to make the most of my visit.- The tower visit was a bit short, but the views were absolutely stunning!Overall, I'd definitely recommend visiting the World's Fair. Just plan ahead, buy your tickets early, and you'll be all set for a great experience!
Jonte M — Google review
One of the things I appreciate is that Knoxville has integrated the former 1982 World's Fair grounds into a appealing park that is vibrant and complementary to the city. Other cities have done it not as well. The park includes pleasant areas to walk, relax and take in the scenery. It's an easy walk from downtown to get there.
Paul D — Google review
2
Market Square
Mentioned on
+37 other lists
Sights & Landmarks
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Market Square has experienced a revival, along with the emergence of the Urban Wilderness and South Knoxville. Visit Knoxville's evolving marketing strategy and the city's growing reputation as a food scene have also played a role in its transformation.
4.5
(2987)
Knoxville, TN 37902, USA
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Zoo Knoxville
Mentioned on
+50 other lists
Zoo
Zoos & Aquariums
The Knoxville Zoo is a great place to visit for families with kids, as it offers educational experiences and plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained. From camel rides and carousels to splash pads and even a family petting zoo, there's something for everyone at this zoo.
I have been coming here since 2000 with my family. We are proud members! One of our favorite zoos. Not as big as the Nashville zoo, but they just seem to have better Layout /Exhibits / Lot of places to stop and rest with benches, Picnic tables. Not to meet you boo with the zoo but Halloween is our favorite thing every year. I don’t like the fact to expose you have to go through the gift shop to exit the zoo. Now that usually causes a little problem with the kids. That really the only thing I hate about this zoo. Should be an option to exit without going through the gift shop.
Carolyn S — Google review
One of the best zoos I've been to. The animals seem happy and active, and not only are the exhibits top notch with multiple view points, some of which are inside (with A/C!), but the walking paths are engaging with thoughtfully placed water misters and shade! So much care for the animals and guests. Plenty of attractions to keep kids happy, the food is actually good and reasonably priced. Definitely worth a trip!! 10/10
Megan B — Google review
I live about 45 minutes away from Knoxville and yearly we get memberships to the zoo. I highly recommend doing so if you live in the area! The zoo is smaller than many zoos, but still has a lot to do and see for kids of all ages. They’ve recently renovated their habitat for reptiles and it looks great! They host seasonal events and activities (Boo at the Zoo, dinosaur takeover, etc.). The splash pad is great, the petting zoo and play area are cute, and the food at the restaurants are (expectedly) overpriced, but good quality. They do well in their maintenance and cleanliness and it seems like the animals are well cared for.
Megan F — Google review
We had a great time at the Zoo Knoxville. We went with three kids under 5 and three adults on a weekday morning. We did not have a wait to get tickets or enter the zoo. The zoo is very well laid out with easy to navigate paths and signs, with bathrooms / changing rooms always close by. There was something for everyone in our group with fun exhibits and explanations for all the fun and unique animals. We brought in our wagon and alternated from pushing our kids or letting them run along the paths to the next exhibit. The zoo has a variety of animals in exciting enclosures, a petting zoo, splash pads (not open when we went), a kids playground, and lots of photo opportunities.There are many food stands, restaurants with indoor and outdoor eating areas, however many of them were not open when we were visiting.The other unique set of displays in this zoo is their dinosaur exhibits where there are large robotic dinosaurs that move and make noise. My kids really loved those!Overall the zoo took us about 2 hours to complete, which was the perfect time for short - attention spans and we ended right before lunch. I would definitely go again to explore the splash pad and playground areas as well as to see the well cared for animals again.
Sherlyn S — Google review
We love Zoo Knoxville! My daughter adores all her animal friends who live at the zoo. She is a big fan of monkeys, red pandas, ghiraffes, otters, and tigers. The zoo is well arranged for ease of visiting. This zoo's trails run in loops and the animals have reasonably large well appropriated paddocks. There is plenty of shade for the animals and humans that are at the zoo. The zoo has sunscreen and hand sanitizer dispensers throughout their facilities for sanitizing and preventing children from getting sun burnt. There is also a splash pad for children and parents to cool down during the hot of the Summer. This zoo is definitely a world class Zoological Park.
Jason H — Google review
We love this zoo! The staff is so friendly, and very knowledgeable. We had the opportunity to go to a party hosted privately after hours, and to have the zoo to ourselves was such a wonderful experience. The guided tours, refreshments along the way, feeding the giraffe and a catered dinner, just wow! They pull out all the stops!
Ashley R — Google review
For about 10 yrs we have bought yr passes...we have skipped a year here and there before openings of new exhibits...we are such a big fan of knoxville zoo...they have some neat exhibits and fun experiences...till September you can walk the trails and see the dinosaurs and some move...the new outer space is one of our favorites. Being up close to red pandas and a sloth is pretty cool too! Not to mention riding carousel.
Sherri B — Google review
It was a wonderful day with my son, their Uncle Wesley, and 2 & 3 yr old granddaughters. Their parents were on a BD and Anniversary get away. It was miserably hot so the misters were nice to walk through. All the animals were out and we seen them all but the Bears. We actually noticed how Healthy all the animals looked too. We are so very proud of Knoxville Zoo. The moving and roaring Dino's throughout was exciting. I wish we had known more about the Dino Eggs while we were actually there. But my 3 yr old found them anyway. The old Safari Jeep was a perfect idea for kids to play in. It was truly a wonderful day to spend with my grown son and our little ones.
Kim H — Google review
Had a great time at Knoxville zoo today. We took advantage of BoA museum on us to get free tickets for every cardholder. Not too crowded, and kids played at splash pad. Loved there. It was fun to watch zoo keeper feeding bat fox with worms.
Craig L — Google review
We love this zoo so much!!! Great reptile exhibit indoors for inclement weather. Love the new otter habitat too! Plenty of good food options and places for kids to play between visiting the animals. Kids got to feed a sloth one time too!
Courtney C — Google review
A pretty decent zoo for the price. It's about $25/person to get in, and you can easily spend a few hours here. They have a good amount of things for small kids to keep them busy. There's a nice play area, petting zoo, carousel, and a splash pad. The assortment of animals is pretty standard for a zoo. I did appreciate the turtle and frog section they have set up. The gift shop is very pricey, so get your stuffed animals elsewhere and skip the markups.
Beans W — Google review
Great experience. Lots of animals and very spacious. This is one of the better zoos that I've been to. I think the directions are a little difficult to follow, But ultimately you will manage I really enjoyed the up close and personal tiger area and then the lion area.
Scott G — Google review
Giving a three stars simply because 3-4 exhibits was empty. We wasn’t able to see the zebras, tiger,otters, rhinos they where no out. I’m unsure what was going on but my little girl was so sad about the zebras. The dinosaur exhibit was truly wonderful. We have a Dino obsessed little boy and he was amazed. They made the whole trip worth it just to see him smile. Over all nice zoo would recommend updating the strollers too they were a little run down. But I do like that they have that option to be able to rent one. Parking was a mess but not the zoos fault it was just a busy time.
Alice W — Google review
The Knoxville Zoo is a great place to spend the morning before the day gets too hot. Even when the animals are too hot, you can still see them indoors as these spaces have glassed viewing areas. My daughter and I spent around 2 1/2 hours viewing the animals and reading about the various conservation programs such as the Red Panda Preservation. Surprisingly, the Dinosaurs at Dawn exhibit was also a favorite and we were impressed by their animatronics. Parking was free and easy. The other visitors seemed to be local parents/grandparents with small children.
Lindsay C — Google review
I went for the first time over this past weekend with my children who have previously been. I enjoyed myself as did the kids but we didn't get to see all of the animals with it being so busy, but we made the best of it. My favorite part was probably feeding the turtles, they were very cute and took the leaves so gently. We ate at the beatro which was good but pricey. It was a hot day and the mist fans were great. I'd definitely go again!
Brooke C — Google review
Nice little Zoo. (I'm from San Diego, and our Zoo is very large and more than one park, which is why I said little Zoo.) They do a nice job with the enclosures. Fun outing to take the Grandkids for the day! They're doing a little remodeling, so there were a few interruptions to the flow around the park. They have the natural habitat type of enclosures, which I appreciate. Lovely weather, we had a lot of fun! I also appreciate the fact that they have free admission for Veterans! Good job!!
Sheryl D — Google review
We absolutely love the zoo. The staff are beyond amazing! So informative and polite. The animals are almost always out and about. There is so much for kids to do also! Prices are good and atmosphere is outstanding. Love the misting fans in the summer also!!!
Trista D — Google review
Great zoo. Nice place for the family to enjoy an outing. Lots of cool animals. Make sure to visit the Arc building. It has several snakes and neat things.
Nitak H — Google review
We love coming to the zoo. We first started our excursions because we were socializing our Service Dog and what better place to introduce distractions? The animals all loved our dog and made the trips more exciting. Now we enjoy coming with family, in particular our little niece and nephews. Well worth the price and time spent. Members get food and gift shop discounts, so that's a plus too!
David M — Google review
The Knoxville Zoo is a fantastic place to visit. With a diverse range of animals and well-maintained habitats, it provides an enjoyable and educational experience for all ages. The staff is knowledgeable and passionate about conservation, and they offer informative talks and feeding sessions. The zoo's layout is easy to navigate, and there are plenty of shaded areas to take a break. It's a great destination for families, animal lovers, and anyone looking to support wildlife preservation. Don't miss the red pandas and the reptile exhibits – they are a real highlight!
Matt H — Google review
The Knoxville Zoo is always a blast. If you have kids and/or love animals, I highly recommend visiting. Some of these pics are from their temporary Planet Prehistoric exhibit, which is pretty cool.
Tiffany B — Google review
Zoo Knoxville was great, however some of the enclosures did not have any of the animals posted that was supposed to be in them (just a few enclosures). We did get to see several animals which did make for the empty enclosures. We stepped into one of the cafes got in line to grab a drink. The cashier was putting souvenir cups together and putting the straws in them with her bare hands (should of been wearing gloves) we saw this and left the Cafe. Our experience was great but could have been better. We will come back to the animals.
Chris A — Google review
This was my first visit to the Knoxville Zoo, and I have to say that I was expecting a much better experience than the one I received. I'll start with the low points:The animals seemed...sad. Most of them were sleeping or hiding. So, you don't get to see half of the animals that are advertised. And the ones that you do see (for the most part) seem exhausted and miserable. The glare on some of the exhibits make it nearly impossible to see in when the sun is out. Accessibility appears to be limited in some areas of the Zoo. Lastly, the gift shop isn't even worth visiting in my opinion, there's hardly anything related to the zoo itself.My favorite and what I consider the best part of the zoo was the amphibian and reptiles exhibit. But beware, it can get very hot in there due to the humidity and crowding. So, I would avoid it if you have breathing issues. I really enjoyed it though. They have some cool snakes, lizards, turtles, and frogs. Plus that's where their sloth is located! Loved him. Would have totally stolen him if he wasn't so high up. The Gorillas are also amazing. I could have stood and watched them for hours. They have so much personality.That's about all I have to say.
Tiffany P — Google review
So fun! We thought we were done in 2 hours then quickly realized we missed a whole section of the zoo in the back with elephant and rhino and more! We will definitely be back.P.s. - $5 for parking unless you're a member!
Jess P — Google review
What an amazing zoo! My toddler loved that for many of the animals there were multiple views you could look through to see them! There were many cool activities throughout the zoo which made the experience even better! We will definitely be going back!
Valerie L — Google review
Great place to take your kids of any age! Yes some days the animals are hiding and you don’t see much but other days they are out and about it’s amazing to see! Some times they even have zoo mascots come out and interact with the kids! I think the food is a bit pricey but overall a great zoo experience!
Marissa L — Google review
Stopped in Knoxville on the way back home from Panama City Beach Florida. I had my 12 year old daughter and her 2 friends, so we went to the zoo. They had a blast exploring the zoo and seeing all the different animals. They have a monkey enclosure and there was a baby monkey dancing and showing off for us. I would definitely recommend visiting if you get a chance. Also there is a lot to do around the city.
Dustin S — Google review
Went to the Knoxville zoo today with my kids. We went up to get our tickets and the girl charged me for my two year old who should have been free. After I corrected that she also charged $5.00 for parking. The lot was so full we had to park over by Muse and we still got charged for parking. So for four of us we paid $80.85. That's kind of steep for a zoo this size. Once inside we realized many of the animals were not outside. Many enclosures had nothing to view and several people were commenting on it. Also couldn't help but notice lots of the concessions stands were closed as well. It's spring break and it was very crowded. My kids rode the train and the merry go round and both were an additional $4 per kid per ride. They did however enjoy both. What animals we were able to see my kids enjoyed. They also loved the dinosaur a lot. The petting zoo was a favorite of the kids as well. I gave three stars because my kids did enjoy the experience. My girl and I were somewhat disappointed and probably had a two star experience. They need more animals and more viewing opportunities for the animals they do have. The kids were entertained and I guess that's all that counts. Being forced to exit through the gift shop with kids felt like a final cash grab. Water for $3.50 in the vending machine with all the water fountains off was frustrating. I would reluctantly recommend a visit but not really enthusiastically. We wished we had a better time but we're just being honest.
John G — Google review
We love the Zoo! We are season pass holders if you are a family and plan on going more than once get the pass it’s totally worthy it. They have great events (Boo at the Zoo) and you can even get married there! I’ve officiated 3 weddings there. The staff is always friendly and willing to help you. They also have a great kids area with a sand pit, a little water feature (not together) and an aviary that you can going and touch the birds!
Happy N — Google review
Nice selection of animals, it's nice how big the exhibits are. Just a lot of walking. As well as the gift shop was nice just seemed high price but still bought from. .kids enjoyed the zoo.
Amy G — Google review
Absolutely beautiful zoo. It is kept very clean and the animals seem very well taken care of!! Also we visited the day after Tonka was euthanized. So sorry for your loss :(
Kimberly W — Google review
Very clean. They have fun interacting animals And they also have extinct animals like this One that Is mixed with a Tiger bear and has horns on his head. And they're also coming out with a dinosaur Except they have fun interacting. Little rides for the kids like under 4 or 5 or 6. And you can put them on the little scooters that are shaped like animals and you can ride with them around in the park. They also have a petting zoo a playground and the sandbox for them. You should go.
Anthony T — Google review
Have been to many of the zoo's throughout the US and this has become our favorite! At the end of our 1st visit we bought memberships and going back regularly. Love the layout of the animals and allows you to feel like you are up close and personal. The animals all look so healthy and happy with their unique enclosures. Even on a cooler cloudy day, the zoo is a great place to visit and enjoy a walk. A must go for everyone, it won't disappoint.
Lena M — Google review
My husband and I went for my birthday on 6/18. It was hot and slightly crowded. I enjoyed the animals until I reached the Gorilla's, and boy did that big guy tug at my heart strings. He looked so bored or sad. I'm guessing because it was hot, they couldn't go outside. idk, but his actions made me cry. 🥺 I still recommend this place, especially for small kids.
Gena M — Google review
4.5
(11265)
•
4.0
(1392)
3500 Knoxville Zoo Dr, Knoxville, TN 37914, USA
(865) 637-5331
4
Ijams Nature Center
Mentioned on
+79 other lists
Nature preserve
Nature & Parks
Urban Wilderness is an urban nature preserve located in Knoxville, Tennessee. It spans over 1,000 acres and has a variety of trails that are perfect for running or walking. Ijams Nature Center is a protected area that offers educational programs for all ages, hikes, bike rides, paddling and climbing opportunities.
First time here today and had a great visit with the front desk, she directed me around the trails. An owl was on the arm of a volunteer out front, and I took the Tower Trail to the River trail.Such a beautiful spot, looking forward to returning, especially for events!
Andy K — Google review
I love my visit to this site! There is so much to see and do at this location. There’s no way I think anyone could hike it all in one day. Is you like to hike and be in nature, this is a great place to do it. The only reason I am not giving this place 5 stars is because of how hard it is to navigate around the center and on the hiking trails. All the different trails are not clearly marked, and it can get easy to get turned around. I definitely recommend buying a guide map for $1 in the visitor’s center and keeping it with you, because even the map can be a little confusing. As long as you keep your wits and have a good sense of direction you’ll be fine. It’s well worth the visit!
Amy J — Google review
A friend recommended this was a must and they were so right! Such a beautiful place to escape it all. Short drive from downtown and amazing trails and views! This is a must!
Kimberly K — Google review
Having only spent one night in Knoxville, I decided to make this one of the few places to check out. I have to say, the pictures don't do this place justice! It is absolutely stunning! The nature center is small, but they do have some cool exhibits. $5 gets you 12 hours of parking, which is reasonable. This place will get busy, even on a weekday morning, so try to come early if you can. It also gets muggy/humid in the summer and you will want to put on some bug spray. The best trails are going to be the river trail, which will give you the views with the boardwalk, and the keyhole loop. The keyhole will give you the views of the old quarry. You will also want to check out the pink marble and Tharp trace trails as these also give outstanding views.
Thirteendays — Google review
Ijams nature center has something for everyone. For this review I am discussing Meades Quarry. The park roped off a section for privacy during the wedding I was performing. The only sad thing was the trash floating in the water. Go visit and please respect the space.
Brittney H — Google review
Very nice place for a nature hike. They have added so much to this place over the years it's amazing. Tons of trails. Amazing play structures. Kayak rental, treetop rope course, and so much more. Beautiful views, if you are a nature lover or looking to teach your kids more about the great outdoors it's a wonderful place to visit. Very helpful staff also and if you are just looking to hike it's free but they do accept donations to help run the place. They also have a nice little gift shop here.
Amber T — Google review
Nice place with nature surrounding. The admission is free. There is visitor center located here with gift shop, exhibit and restrooms available. Plenty of parking space available. There are several trails available here some offering lake and River views. There are couple of ponds. One of best hike would be to take storybook trail and then take north cove trail. Continue on north cove trail to river trail or river boardwalk trail. One will get to see some beautiful view of the river from the boardwalk. You can then either return back or continue further to take tower trail to return back to visitor center. Overall a nice nature place to spend few hours around.
Nareshkumar A — Google review
Fun nature center. We only did the riverwalk/tower hike, but there are many more trails to explore. Also you can rent a variety of boats to use on the river. Friendly/helpful staff. Please note: trails are not well marked, so just keep google maps open/active to make sure you are going the right way.
Gita R — Google review
Date of visit: Sunday, 06/16/2024Use Google Maps to locate.Parking was paid via QR code. No trouble finding parking.Nice nature center with lots of trails for exploring. We hiked the Tower Trail which leads to the River Trail and back to the center, in total about a 1 mile hike. There are some steep spots on this trail, including some steep stairs. Once you get to the river, it is beautiful.Nature Center building has some exhibits as well as a gift shop. It looks like there might also be meeting rooms.They have a calendar full of fun activities. We got to enjoy some bluegrass music in the afternoon.Restroom was clean.Definitely recommend, especially if you like to hike.If you deem this review helpful please give it a 👍.
Egg W — Google review
A Knoxville gem!Ijams is a part of the Knoxville Urban Wilderness and a true gem within city limits. It resides on something like 300 acres off of a narrow, winding road in south Knoxville.There are a handful of trails and outdoor events for families and individuals and a variety of playgrounds for kids.The gift shop offers snacks, outdoor necessities, and local products.While you’re here, check out the indoor exhibit with the turtles, then hit the trail for some fresh air and the secret pond.
Lauren H — Google review
Great place for a day out with the family and kids. Nice walking trails and interpretive centre with hands on activities for kids. Nice escape from the city with plenty of wilderness. Definitely worth a visit if you enjoy the outdoors.
David W — Google review
On of the best hikes of my life. Clearly lots of love and care have been continually put into this place. Incredibly clean and well maintained. I wish I lived closer!
Tim C — Google review
Gorgeous trails, amazing and incredibly affordable gift shop with unique and pretty items, cool indoor exhibits with restroom and water facilities, dog bowls for pups outside (very dog friendly). Biking, walking, fishing, and kayaking/paddle boarding. Unique events week by week. FREE TO GET IN!!!!!! <3
Zoe — Google review
8.30.23 Parking is free. Exploring the nature center is free. Walking the river boardwalk is free. Renting a SUP paddleboard is $15 and a float/tube is $5 in the Quarry area. This is a beautiful and peaceful place. If you love nature or want a place to relax, this is your spot.
Margaret H — Google review
Ijams Nature Center: Urban Oasis Awaits!Ijams Nature Center is a hidden gem in Knoxville, offering a stunning escape for nature enthusiasts of all stripes. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a casual paddler, Ijams has something for you.Here's what makes Ijams stand out:**Variety is the Spice of Life:** Hike through serene forests, bike challenging trails, or launch your kayak onto the Tennessee River. The options are plentiful!**Difficulty Dialed In:** With a range of trails from easy strolls to challenging climbs, Ijams caters to all experience levels.**More Than Just Trails:** Take a break from the trails and explore the sunflower fields (seasonal) or visit the informative visitor center.**City Slicker Savior:** Despite its diverse offerings, Ijams is conveniently located just minutes from downtown Knoxville.**Budget-Friendly Fun:** Parking in the park is only $5 a day, or you can snag a year-long membership for just $50, granting you free parking for your visits throughout the year.**Insider Tip:** If you're bringing your furry friend, remember to keep them leashed while exploring the trails.Ijams Nature Center is a must-visit for anyone seeking a dose of nature within the city limits. With its stunning scenery and plethora of activities, Ijams is sure to leave you feeling refreshed and invigorated.
Gerard R — Google review
Spending a few days in Knoxville for the first time and ijams was probably one of the most recommended activities. It did not disappoint. SO many trails. Very nice views of the Tennessee River and Mead Quarry Lake. Multiple places to put in boats. Some cool animal exhibits at the visitor center. People were very helpful in advising which trails to take. Definitely check it out if you're looking for an outdoor activity in the Knoxville area.
Brandon M — Google review
This very beautiful place is going to make your visit more memorable with the friendliness and genuine serving attitude of the staffs. They are really suitable for this job. The lady I met in the information table was consistently helpful and friendly as I have seen her talk to several new visitors including ofcourse myself.Huge place but properly maintained. There are various parts of this big land so make sure you plan your way. A certain portion was closed when I went due to the falling rocks from the mountain whose video even went viral as some people were able to witness it live.Bathroom and filtered water available at the Visitor’s Center and even a free wifi
的心臟良好 — Google review
So many trails and we only went on a couple! The Keyhole was really cool and not too far from the parking area. The staff at the welcome center were very helpful and friendly too. Definitely worth a trip back to see more.
E. J — Google review
Being new to Knox, this place is beautiful. FIDO friendly, lots to do for all ages. Great hiking or just perfect is you want to walk around and look at all of the beautiful animals, sitting areas or if you want adventure, you can visit the zip line. Beautiful walkway around the water. This is a must see if you are in the Knox area.
Lisa C — Google review
Ijams is a wonderful space that's free to visit located right on the border of Knoxville. All I did during my visit was walk the river trail and added a few of the shorter trails on as I wandered around the grounds. There's climbing, a canopy adventure area, kayak rentals, and children's activities. If you're just passing through like I was, this is somewhere I'd highly recommend even if it's just to stretch your legs. The grounds and trails are very well maintained and bathrooms were clean.
Sara O — Google review
All-time favorite hiking location near downtown Knoxville! I’ve been coming here for years, just exploring around, and continue to be amazed each time. I highly recommend going to the Nature Center to pick up a map first, as there’s so much to see. Each trail has an incredibly cool feature on it, and some trails took me years to find. Some are paved or have gravel, while others are full-on hikes. There are two locations to park at - the nature center, which has most of the shorter hikes, most with pavement or gravel, plus high ropes course (the Navitat). Or at the quarry down the road on the opposite side, which has the quarry/water, longer hikes, two hidden quarries behind the main one, mountain biking, natural rock climbing, etc. They just recently started charging for parking, but only a couple of bucks. Very dog and family friendly!
EM — Google review
Was looking for a hike near knoxville so we didn't have to drive all the way down to the smokey mountains and this didn't disappoint!The attendant was superhelpful, the sights were incredible, and the trails we went on were well taken care of.
Joshua L — Google review
Definitely worth the visit if you are in Knoxville. For me, the river boardwalk trail is a unique element. You need to hike a trail down hill to get to the boardwalk, and it's worth it. Admission is free, but there is a charge for parking ($5). There are other trails around the main office. For me, the scenery around the quarry was not as appealing, but I hear there are several trails around the quarry (which I did not walk) that are nice. There are also boat activities on the quarry, which were not in operation when I visited (late March).
Paul D — Google review
What a gem this place is. We finished visiting the Knoxville Botanical gardens quicker than expected. I had this marked on the map and took a chance. This was a highlight of our trip. Definitely take the Riverwalk / board walk. the amount of spring flowers in bloom was amazing, trilliums covered the hillsides. The river walk had a feature we've never seen before, a geologic fold. that was an amazing thing to see first hand. If we lived nearby, we would definitely be checking out all the many trails.
Dale M — Google review
Beautiful place to visit. Nice walking along the river, seeing the boats and kayaks go buy. The wildlife all around. Love being so connected to nature. Trails are well kept. Peaceful and quiet. Very enjoyable, easy walk.
Faith L — Google review
Last visited 2/15/24. Decided to stop in and see what the River Landing Walk was like. Wife and I had a great time just puttering around and enjoying the nice day.
John F — Google review
Went bike riding. Rented bikes from the park and helmets. The trail starts in the middle so you can take one and come back then take the other and come back. Has some nice hills to go down but riding back up is tough. Trails are concrete and shared with walkers. Be sure to yell which side you are coming up on the walker so they can move over. Beautiful ride. Great exercise. Have fun. Went on a Sunday. Get there before lunch and their were maybe 8 bikes for rent. When we got back from our ride, they were all out. You have to pay for parking. It's like $12-$15 for the whole day.
Amy M — Google review
A wonderful nature center with multiple trails, some paved and others not paved.We really enjoyed the River Trail.Main building and paved trails appear to be wheelchair accessible. All other trails do not appear to be wheelchair accessible.
Joshua S — Google review
5
Panther Creek State Park
State park
Nature & Parks
Hiking area
Nature & Wildlife Areas
Bodies of Water
This vast park offers 17 hiking trails, 7 miles of horseback riding trails & year-round fishing.
This park is not what I expected. The overlook trail involves climbing up and then down the mountains. The trail is very well marked whuch is helpful since the trail was covered with leaves. Some part of the trail is a little narrow, but still safe. If you have stability issues, I recommend going with someone to provide you with stability, use a hiking stick, and take the trail starting on the right. I took the trail on the left and it required some uphill climbing but when I got to the other side of the trail, going down hill was a bit steep and walking on big rocks can be a bit slippery and dangerous. This might explain why the 3 solo hikers I crossed path with took the trail on the right instead of left. I love the view of the Cherokee Reservoir. Its amazing. Toward the end of the trail, about 2 mile mark, the scenery changed to more green then just brown with leaves on the green. It's nice to experience the change from brown to green as I hike the trail. I also drove to the end of the road where the overlook is without having to hike the trail. There are 2 picnic area with restrooms. If I'm in the area again, I would love to hike this trail in the Spring and Fall. I bet the Fall Foliage is beautiful! My 2 little girls enjoyed their 2.2 mile hike on the overlook trail. One of them looked so happy when she was hiking. When I was leaving the park, I encountered more deer. A group of them cross the street in front of my car. I loved it!! I spotted some on the trail and when I was leaving the park in the park by one of the trails.
Tilly L — Google review
What a nice park! We were just stopping over for the night but we will definitely be returning to explore this wonderful place. WI-Fi was non-existent so enjoy the solitude. Be careful in the campsite you choose, some are a bit short. The nose of our truck stuck out into the road just a little bit. We have a 26’Foot trailer with a Chevy Truck with A 6 1/2 foot bed, a little to much for our site. But now that we’ve been there we have mark several sites in the camp map for future reference. The bath house was amazing! Shower and bathroom all in one room with a lock on the door and they were air conditioned! Super nice camp staff and little camp store with most anything you need and I’m certain some amazing trails based on the trail maps. Laundry room, beautiful pavilion with Church services on Sunday morning
Judy V — Google review
I spent some time here in May while on a road trip. I really enjoyed both hikes I did. The park is calm and quiet and the trails are easy to follow.The first day I was here after several days of storms so there were downed trees blocking the trail in several areas. I also saw two tiny baby turtles upside down. I was able to turn them over and move them off the path. I hope they are okay and growing into big turtles now!I didn’t see a lot of flowers as other reviews have mentioned but I did see lots of creatures!
Steph W — Google review
This park is full of interesting trails full of beautiful sights! Cherokee lake is so pretty! We had a peaceful walk along the shoreline which went on & on due to the low level of the lake right now. Its definitely worth checking out!
Dee B — Google review
Just riding around and looking for foliage and , this beautiful place did not disappoint . They have a lot going on here from Frisbee golf to walking trails . At the very end is a very nice pavilion that you can reserve for special occasions. It overlooks a beautiful lake . Very quiet from the beginning of the entering point to the end . There is a visitor center just inside on the left up on the hill.
Tim L — Google review
This is such a beautiful park! I live near Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which I love also, and Panther Creek State Park does not disappoint. It is so picturesque, peaceful, and such a great place to explore, go for a hike, or have a picnic.
Eugenia B — Google review
Beautiful doesn’t begin to describe this place. Only some sites have sewer - ours didn’t, but what we got instead was well worth it. You have access to a variety of hiking trails directly outside your camp site - and the washrooms are well kept. Pictures say 1000 words so I’ll let that do the rest of the talking.
Corey F — Google review
Very clean park. The views are beautiful. We like to take shorter hikes here and chill on the lake shore for a bit. Peaceful, happy vibe.
Jami C — Google review
Beautiful park! I had never been there and I'm an East TN native. Was invited to a wedding held at the overlook. Breathtaking!!
Kimberly H — Google review
Beautiful State Park. Campground is clean. Bathrooms are clean. Lots of green space. Staff in Campground was very friendly. This is the first state park we have been in with Frisbee Golf. Boat ramp is close to campground with parking available. We travel in a 36’ 5th wheel and a long bed dually and there was plenty of space in site 12. The site was gravel but level. Lake Cherokee has great fishing.
Jill D — Google review
So many trails! A cute little park when you first pull in, a couple pavilions for parties, many streams and of course the river. Just a gorgeous place, clean bathrooms and a BEAUTIFUL view from the top
Elizabeth M — Google review
We absolutely love Panther Creek. There are so many trails to hike. It's on the banks of Cherokee Lake and the creek is awesome. We love seeing Oliver the owl when we go. It is dog friendly and there is a Pavillion next to the playground that can give shade for parents while the kiddos play. They also have a campground which stays booked in the summer months. The restrooms at the Visitor center are clean and there is a water bottle filing station there as well. If you have a state park passport you can stamp it at the Visitor center or pick one up there.
Mountain T — Google review
Amazing. It is wonderful place. Just it was cold for today and I couldn’t take more picture. I saw beautiful view from over mountain. I recommend go and see.
Rimma S — Google review
This place has so many trails, resting/picnic areas, and restroom options! Also has picnic areas and a scenic drive if you don't want to hike. There's also a campground, bike trails, and horseback riding trails! Literally has it all! I had such a great time exploring the area.
Brandy B — Google review
Big rocks! It's beautiful, you can see the lake from the top if you hit it in the early spring. Footing can be a little sketchy, lots of rocks. If you are athletic, this is a pretty easy area from what I saw. We only did 3 ish miles as we were on our way home from another trail. There is some incline. Nice park, looks like a great place to camp. I love places with variety in scenery and this place does have that. Met a few of the regulars who were super friendly!
Amanda L — Google review
Wonderful trails and lake access!Our whole family enjoys this park year round! We love getting outside and enjoying nature. The only thing that would make this place even better is if they re-opened the swimming pool.
Laura M — Google review
Beautiful site. Can accommodate our 35’ rig in some spots. Backing into site 32 was a little tight, but not the worst we’ve seen. Firefly’s galore.
Riannon B — Google review
There are many hiking trails, play areas, and Frisbee course. They have picnic areas as well as an area for RVs. You can drive up to a viewing area of the Cherokee Reservoir. It is a great area for family outing.
Nancy Y — Google review
Great place for hiking, bird watching, camping and even horse back riding!
Theressa C — Google review
Gorgeous park with amazing views. Camping areas available as well. The overlook area is breathtaking. Well maintained bathrooms and rest/picnic areas
Christina H — Google review
What a nice place to visit Panther Creek State Park you can do RV camping or tent camping they have a outdoor amphitheater just a small one up in the wood you can hike to the bathroom and showers were spotless, and the park itself was in very good shape and condition we took a couple pics, but we want to go back in the summertime when the weather is a little nicer little warmer and go kayaking
Brian E — Google review
We visited the park to hike the trails for a couple of hours, and it was beautiful! We ended up switching trails at places where they intersected and felt like we got a fairly good coverage of the all the trail areas. Be advised that the trails in the fall are a little obscured by leaves but as long as you pay attention you can still make out the path. These are actual hiking paths and not paved, so some sections can have difficult terrain and feature loose rocks and tree roots. Dress accordingly!
Cheyanne B — Google review
Our favorite local spot to hike. So peaceful and we usually see some wildlife.
B M — Google review
Always an excellent time at Panther Creek SP! Camping is great. The campgrounds and bath houses are very clean! The hiking trails are awesome.
Mike W — Google review
4.8
(2311)
•
4.5
(215)
2010 Panther Creek Park Rd, Morristown, TN 37814, USA
(888) 867-2757
I'll never travel to Asheville without this trip planner again
6
Tennessee Homemade Wines
Mentioned on
18 lists
Winery
Food & Drink
Tennessee Homemade Wines is a winery specializing in sweet wines, made from locally grown fruit. They have locations both in downtown Gatlinburg, and at the Tanger Outlets. You can visit them for wine tastings to try flavors like blueberry bammer, white knuckle grape, proper peach, and fine blackberry.
We had a wonderful time at Tennessee Homemade Wines in downtown Gatlinburg. Lacey shared some heart warming stories and made it so much fun! The atmosphere was vibrant and the wines (cold and warm) were very good. We bought some for gifts and for ourselves. So glad we stopped by. Thanks Lacey!
Mark C — Google review
Absolutely amazing wine! The best wine on the Gatlinburg strip hands down. If you come in here be sure to ask for Pam! She’s the best and will help you out. My favorite wine from here is the strawberry creme’
Victoria L — Google review
Britt was a amazing person to have for the tasting all the flavors were all good definitely a recommend stop while in gatlinburg
Hunter W — Google review
Definitely a place to stop at if you are not a "real wine drinker". I have never found a wine I really liked until here. We tried a few, but I will definitely recommend Strawberry & Blueberry as being delicious. The chocolate & Strawberry cream ones are also good, but more of a dessert flavor.
S G — Google review
Tennessee Homemade Wines are the best wines!!!! The staff in store is exceptional nice and fun to be around!! We’re club members and the staff we’ve talked to have been so nice, helpful, and awesome at communicating with us! We can’t say enough praise about Tennessee wines. Extremely happy with them!
Lindsey H — Google review
We sampled wine at 4 places on the Parkway and this was our favorite! TJ was personable and helpful since we aren’t huge wine drinkers. The blackberry and strawberry wines were our favorites! We ended up going home with a bottle of the blackberry, which was perfectly sweet with a hint of tart.
Jennifer W — Google review
Loved it. Bianca was awesome. Greeted me offered samples and knew every flavor sold. Made excellent suggestions based on my questions. Sold me 13 bottles. We just opened the first Blackberry wine today, and my husband loves it
Fran E — Google review
We first had Tennessee Homemade Wines on a trip to Gatlinburg back in 2018. When we planned our most recent trip to Pigeon Forge, I just knew I had to get some more wine. It’s been years and I could still remember how good it was! We couldn’t find the Gatlinburg location when we went moonshine tasting and didn’t see it until we were already on our way off the strip. On our way out of town, we decided to stop at the Sevierville location and we were not disappointed! Bionca was so helpful with our tasting and helped us make sure we got exactly what we wanted. My mom tried a few that were too sweet for her, and Bionca knew exactly which one my mom would like instead. Between my mom and myself, we bought 12 bottles! And Bionca made sure we got the best deal on our purchases. I was excited to try the cotton clouds this time around, but our OG favorites are still peach, blueberry, and blackberry. We are also excited to try the raspberry and strawberry that we bought. Tennessee Homemade Wines is officially a must stop for us anytime we are near the Smoky Mountains!
Aliyah S — Google review
The best wines I've ever had, hands down. The ciders are good but can be very sweet. Wines are all light, I haven't had one yet that feels heavy and thick. Sampling is fun, staff members are always very friendly.
Josh W — Google review
Visited store with my parents while we were on vacation we did the sampling. At first it was a good experience. But, then when more people arrived for the sampling the lady that was serving us started to split her time between us and the other group.But while we patiently waited for sips that we would like to try. We noticed that the two other employees that worked there were just leaning against the wall and both were on their phones. Was a nice store but can do better with customer service.
Hannah M — Google review
Was going to buy some wines but after people cutting the line a half dozen times, I’m over it. They need a better way of managing crowds. The guys behind the counter clearly saw that I was waiting and was next but let others jump in front of me. Probably garbage wine loaded with sugar anyway. Went to Junction 35 and gave them my money instead.
Brian L — Google review
We live in Ohio and have been to Gatlinburg 3 times in 6 months. This place is aways a stop. We buy our two favorites everytime we go. We also like the Maple Reserve White. Make sure to try the #1 winery in our opinion when visiting Gatlinburg.
Kate T — Google review
OMG,I found something really lovely to brag about. It's a delicious wine that's made in Tennessee!All different types, flavors, and brands.Ciders, burcandys, creams, and more...
AW P — Google review
Had the opportunity to meet Giovanni in 2023 during my first visit to gatlinburg at the Tennessee Cider Co. A year later I was lucky enough to run into him at Tennessee Homemade Wines. As always he was just as knowledgeable with all the wines as he was with cider and it was nice to see a familiar face!
KuriousKirby — Google review
4.8
(667)
•
5.0
(7020)
1645 Parkway Suite 950A, Sevierville, TN 37862, USA
(865) 409-5012
7
Smoky Mountain Deer Farm and Exotic Petting Zoo
Mentioned on
33 lists
Zoo
Outdoor Activities
The Smoky Mountain Deer Farm & Exotic Petting Zoo is a great place for anyone who loves animals. You can feed deer and other exotic animals, see them up close, and take a ride on the petting zoo's horses and ponies.
My daughter loved feeding the animals. The goats were a bit overwhelming but still entertaining. This was also her first ever pony ride. The staff were pleasant and very informative. My only surprise was that you lead the pony ride yourself. I would have expected the trainers to handle that. Other than that the animals were all health and happy to see us all. The park was quite tidy and clean considering the nature of pens and stalls holding animals. I'll happily go back if I'm ever in town.
Johnathon B — Google review
we had a lot of fun here today. we walked through and engaged with all the animals and had a great time getting up close to some animals you wouldn’t have many opportunities to see up close the way we did today! They were all very friendly and came up to with us with or without food. I will say it was a bit off putting seeing rats running around in the Watusi enclosure and I see from other reviews this has been an issue for quite a while. I did not read the reviews until after our visit and I would like to say that there was not a kangaroo present today and some of the enclosures animals are in in previous reviews seem to have more space now. In relation to previous reviews I’ve just read; I really appreciate that anything we noticed health wise about the animals such as an abscess or a hurting leg on the horse, there were signs indicating that a vet had seen the animal and there was a treatment plan in place for that animal. A deer did nip at the my babies feet out of curiosity lol (did not hurt him) and we were informed on what to do and what not to do and how to stay safe in the enclosures which we really appreciated. All the staff we encountered were friendly and helpful. I thought the price was fair for the experience. Always use your own discretion up close interacting with exotic animals! Staff/company shouldn’t be blamed if you don’t follow instructions on signs and safety warnings! We were there until closing time and saw the animals being fed by staff.
Lexi R — Google review
This was a fun way to spend Mother's Day! We only experienced the Riding Stables. The prices were great and the ride ended up running much longer than we paid for which was a huge bonus! There is a cleverly built platform to mount the horse very easily. The workers were very assuring and quickly offered to take many photos of our group. Everyone kept telling us to relax & have fun. It was great! Our trail guide, John (see photo) was extremely patient and very warm & kind... especially to the inexperienced riders in our group that kept allowing the horses to eat grass constantly (which held up the ride at times!) The trails were mostly shady or dappled shade with fragrant honeysuckle and native flowering bushes everywhere. The Smoky Mountains were always with us as well. We will definitely go back here!
TM G — Google review
Kids loved feeding the zebras, camels, swarms of deer and goats. Pony rides were great too; just a little short. Three loops max. Four would feel more satisfactory. Still fun. Friendly staff.
Vick C — Google review
Very cool place, seems like you're driving into the middle of nowhere, but keep driving you will get there. Staff was all very happy, friendly and informative. Animals seemed happy and well cared for. Their living areas were all very clean too. You can walk through in about an hour and feed just about every animal there and they will eat from your hand. You can also go inside the goat area to pet them and you can pick up the baby goats if you wish to do so. You can go into a deer station and pet them too. This place has rabbits, turkeys, emus, Llamas, donkeys, exotic bovines, deer, goats, camels, birds, zebras and other animals. It cost about $40 for 2 adult admissions with a large souvenir feed cup and 2 sliced up apples to feed the animals. It's about 20 minutes from Pigeon Forge but worth the drive. This looks like a great place to take kids.
A C — Google review
I enjoyed this secluded little farm of exotic animals. This was my boyfriends first time at a zoo and it was fairly priced and not too crowded. I think the unique thing that this place has against other places is the deer. You can actually go in their gate and feed them and pet them. It was a lot of fun and a beautiful day for it.
Savannah K — Google review
We arrived a little early and were greeted by a gate so if you're fixin' to get there earlier than opening DON'T.Went on a hour trail ride. The staff are friendly and the horses are well trained for trail riding.My mom has bad hips and needed a hand getting her leg over. The next day after the ride she said her hips felt loosened up and she was in less pain. She said she'll be doing more horseback riding.The trail ride was pleasant and my horse a little sassy but well trained.The horses like people have different personalities and the horses we got matched us well.Also if you weigh more than 250lbs you can not ride. They do have a scale and they are serious about the well being of their horses.There are quite a few places to go horseback riding but we were glad to choose this place. Definitely would go back again
Amalia R — Google review
What a great place with a variety of animals! Came here with my 3yr old and 1yr old. My 3 yr old rode a pony and I liked that I could walk the pony alongside her instead of staff doing it. Feeding the animals was such a fun experience. We ALL enjoyed it. The deer were really gentle that my 1yr old was feeding them. Got to pick up a baby goat too! We spent a good 2hrs here. Highly recommend for families.
Annette P — Google review
We loved it! We saw so many different animals! Elk, Zebra, Ostriches, Goats, Turkeys, Reindeer, & more. We got to go in the Goat pen & Deer pen for pets. It was all so cool! My 5 year old wanted to go back the next day :)
Stephanie B — Google review
I am absolutely disgusted by the poor living conditions these unfortunate creatures have to live in. I am a veterinary technician and have been working with large and domestic animals for over 30 years and this place made me physically ill.The majority of the animals have zero grass to graze on, no soft places to stand or rest. They stand on concrete and in their own feces, emaciated. Each area was lacking food and fresh water.They have so many large animals in the tiniest of space (FIVE longhorns in a space less than a SIXTH of an acre, all fighting over the small handfuls of grain from the patrons, stabbing each other in their underside with their horns because there’s no space for them to turn or move without jabbing each other).The horse, Lulu did have hay in her field but the rot and mold can been seen and smelled from the other side of the area. Her feeding trough has rotted food and filled with dozens of flies.DO BETTER! These animals deserve better. I’m flummoxed by all these five star reviews. Clearly these people are only in it for their own pleasure and are completely ignorant to how animals should be living and treated.There is NO REASON why these animals can’t have FRESH hay and WATER in their pens. This place is despicable, inhumane and should be shut down.These animals need to go to places that will give them proper care and love. It was made very clear by the animals behavior that they only get food from the people that buy it for them in the gift shop.I hope they get fresh hay or can graze when the place is closed but my heart is still broken for these unfortunate, beautiful creatures that are stuck living in that horrendous squalor.To add insult to the pain of seeing these sad creatures they would NOT allow me to bring my medical service dog in with me. They said I could leave her WITH THEM. Anyone who has a trained service dog will understand their great value and support they provide. It is ILLEGAL to not allow a person with a disability in WITH THEIR SERVICE DOG. She is trained as medical alert for seizures and mobility. This place makes me sick.
Rebekah S — Google review
Super cool place to take your kids while in Smoky Mountains, the animal variety was amazing and the interaction was superb. I was a little saddened I didn't get to ride the horses, when I got there I didn't know you have to be below 250lbs 😔... other than that loved the place and staff was very nice and friendly.
Angel R — Google review
The highlight of our trip! We are visiting town from Orlando and I’m so glad we visited Smokey Mountain Deer Farm, my son yelled “that was better than Disney” right when we got in the car. The animals were so great with the kids, you could get so close, closer than any zoo I’ve been to. 10/10 would recommend!
Michael B — Google review
Great petting zoo to visit with the kids! The employees were super friendly and helpful. You get a big cup of feed for the animals for only $3.50. The entire place is very stroller friendly, which was appreciated! It's fairly easy to get to, but away from the busy areas, and it's not overpriced like most area attractions.
Ashley C — Google review
I was supposed to post this review in May, but I completely forgot. This place is amazing! This was our 2nd time here. After we pet and fed animals, we took our daughter to ride the ponies, but the weight limit is 100 lbs. She weighed 105 lbs so she couldn't ride them. She was crushed, however when we went to get a refund, they offered her a ride on a horse instead! She was the happiest little girl that day and could not stop talking about it! Thank you so much Exotic Deer Farm! You made our daughters day that day and I'm so thankful! <3
Candycore R — Google review
We had so much fun. It is a very friendly place for animal lovers. We spent about 2.5 hours there, and my kids made sure to hug and love each and every goats, deers, and feed all the other animals. We got there at 10 am, we got useful instructions and feed at the shop. We purchased 3 cups of feed and 3 apples, and it was enough to feed everyone. You'd need to bring in quarters if you want to feed the emus because their food is coming from a dispenser next to their pasture. My kids had the best time. Thank you so much.
Kriszti E — Google review
This was so much fun!! We don't have kids and decided to just go ourselves... Adults, you can totally enjoy this visit without little ones 😊 My husband and I got to hold baby goats, fed tons of unique animals, and were swarmed with an overload of cuteness! You can go in the pens for both the goats and the deer and you can feed all the animals there (just make sure to read the signs on what they can eat). We split one large souvenir cup of feed between the two of us and it was plenty. Had a lot of fun and definitely recommend!Just a note... you WILL get dirty and smell. Wear clothes and shows you are comfortable with getting messy. Bring something to change into if you plan on going back out or go home to change.
Sabrina S — Google review
This was so much fun for the whole family! We really enjoyed the pony rides and being able to interact with all the exotic animals. They are incredibly friendly and mostly like to be pet, except for a few shy guys. I adore cows and the long horns are so so so sweet! They loved having their heads scratched. Even one of the elk leaned over the fence to give me a kiss! It was one of the best days ❤️ the staff are also very attentive and knowledgeable, but prepare to get dirty! You will be on a farm.
KeriLynn F — Google review
I love this place! The animals are all so friendly and gentle. Kids would love this if they love animals. And animal-loving adults like me would enjoy it, too!
Lisa — Google review
Took my kids here and they had an absolute blast! The staff is so friendly and accommodating & informative before entering the zoo. The food and apples are all reasonably priced. My kids got a little to excited and gave all their food to the deer and goats up at the front, so definitely encourage your little ones to save some for the horses, zebras and donkeys near the back as well!
Mary — Google review
One of my best memories in the area by far!! I loved getting to see the deer and goats up close and feed them. The other animals were all really awesome to see as well. Def recommend for all!!
Michelle H — Google review
Fun little place to visit. It opens at 10, and they do NOT open the gate a minute before. There is only space for about 2 cars between the road and the gate, thus backing cars up on the narrow mountain road; keep this in mind for planning your arrival time.You can purchase small and large feed cups, as well as sliced apples to feed to most of the animals. We spent around 40 minutes seeing all the animals and feeding them - it is just one small circular loop of animals.
Ashley B — Google review
We called a week before to book the horse ride. When we got there, there were only 2 other scheduled groups for the day. We went on a Monday. We got there an hour before the trail ride so we went into the petting zoo first. We bought a cup of food and 2 apples. There’s so many animals and many different pens. You can go into the goat pen and the deer pen. The deer are very food excited but honestly don’t love to be pet. The horse ride was very pretty. Definitely didn’t feel like an hour. We saw some deer laying in the trees too. Our horses were very well behaved. I rode Pete and my husband rode Comanche.
Danielle G — Google review
Our family loved this experience!Getting to go in the enclosures and be with the goats and the deer was an experience that our boys will always cherish! Feeding the goats is always one of our favorite things to do! They had goats, birds, bunny's, turkeys, camels, donkeys, Pigs, cattle, and even zebras!Our boys age 2 and 4 also got to go for pony rides, (Biscuit and Honey) which was awesome!! We definitely recommend visiting here!
Paige A — Google review
My group and I came to this location with a reservation for a party of 7, on a Friday morning. We arrived on time, and made our way back to the location where the horses are located, which is another 3 - 4 minutes up the road from the petting zoo. The owner (I believe) managing the waivers was a great and personable individual. Kelsey was our tour guide, and she was great! We had a 45 minute tour, and the kids and adults all enjoyed it. This location was very affordable, and the horses were all very calm and beautiful. The scenery was beautiful, and the experience alone was amazing. Best part was that a majority of the trail was all shaded, and was a very comfortable ride. I would definitely recommend this location!POINTERS:Don't forget to BRING CASH tip your guide.
Miss R — Google review
The absolute most amazing place ever! So happy I found this gem of a place! It is very affordable and very fun! The animals are so sweet and friendly. It is awesome you get to feed them and interact with them. The deer area is my favorite! Highly recommend this place, great for family fun!
Sara W — Google review
A hidden gem in the mountains. I went here in October. I absolutely love this place! ❤️ My family and I had sooo much fun petting and feeding the animals. It wasn't busy there when we were there. I would absolutely come back again and highly recommend this place to anyone!
Melanie M — Google review
This little gem is a great opportunity for the little ones to interact with the animals. They had so much fun petting them and feeding them! Inexpensive prices and so much to offer. We went during our kid’s spring break so there was a lot of people but overall we were still able to enjoy ourselves. Kind staff and the animals look well kept. Would highly recommend and come back!
Nina K — Google review
My fiancé and I LOVED this place! As two adults this was our favorite thing we did on our trip. We can't wait to bring our daughter with us next time! Definitely a must do for any age.
Savannah-Nicholle M — Google review
Locals and Tourists alike, attention please. Families just cannot pass this place up. If you’re looking for a family friendly farm (FFF) look no further.🐪This farm is amazing. If you like the foothill country- side and a solid variety of domestic and exotic animals, this is your place.🤠The admission prices are super reasonable and the owners and staff are community renowned.Adults (13 & up) $15.99Kids (3 – 12) $9.99Kids (1 – 2) $0.99Kids (under 1) $0.09🐃This wonderful place is hardly ever closed, except for holidays, you’ll find hard working folks here:Open everyday 10 AM–5:30 PM🫎 They offer a petting zoo experience with perks. All of the animals are safely contained. The ambitious pathway is fun and adventurous with enough room for kiddos and adults alike, with the privilege to touch all of the exotic and domestic animals!🐴 They have Horseback riding through the Smokys!30 minute ride $26.9945 minute ride $29.9960 minute ride $32.99Doubling fee $9.99🎠Pony rides as well. Need I say more?Pony Ride $9.99🦚 The souvenir/ admission shop is friendly, climate controlled and offers facilities for the call of nature.Animal and adventure lovers of any age will love this place. For a laid back, mountain- countryside farm, this place just does it. Come on over for the animals and fun and then stay for the hometown warmth. ❤️🔥
Andre D — Google review
We're from Indiana, decided to have a girls day with 4 of my girls ages 8, 10, 10, & 17. My 8 year old daughter is autistic, (more so doesn't go out of her comfort zone, gets scared of noises and such.)I was worried about her going alone because, she's only riden as a small child. She was nervous driving there however, our leader was more than a leader. She got right on 0 issues and did amazing! She stayed right behind him, he was amazing at being very kind to us, explaining everything along the way making her fit right in, along with the rest of us. We originally made reservations else where (without searching around) they had to cancel on us. I'm so happy they did, because we ended up where fate led us, HERE. One day i hope to come back. Amazing memories, staff, horses & views. We also got to choose if we wanted a helmet or not. 10/10 recommend. Thank you, again!
Sontanna G — Google review
After having a horrible experience at Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg, this trip could only go up. The woman at the beginning clearly explained the rules and instructions. The layout of the farm is a big loop and it's easy to see everything so you don't have to worry about whether you missed an animal pen. They are also all labeled clearly what animal is in there. There are workers constantly going around checking their pens and cleaning/feeding. The animals seem to be well cared for. The prices for admission are cheap, the feed and apples are cheap. Just don't forget to bring some quarters for the special containers of feed for the birds and baby llama. Overall, so much fun! We will definitely come back again to try the horse riding!
Brianna B — Google review
My expectations were a bit high having visited the Catskill Game Farm in the Catskill mountains in southeastern New and York many times as a girl. It’s a bit on the small size. The animals seemed a bit crowded. I think they were in the process of expanding. The gift shop had a huge variety of toys and souvenirs. We had a 3-year-old with us so we were done in 45 minutes.
Starfire T — Google review
4.7
(2344)
•
4.5
(1434)
478 Happy Hollow Ln, Sevierville, TN 37876, USA
(865) 428-3337
8
Nolichucky River
River
Nature & Parks
Bodies of Water
Grew up on this river,beautiful and plenty to do along the Nolichucky River...name comes from the Cherokee Indians,means the river of death..
MarkPerree F — Google review
Love camping in spots alongside river. Also love the music and arts festivals hosted by river.
Abby B — Google review
Great fishing spots
Zanna ( — Google review
It’s very beautiful that’s all I know
Stuart S — Google review
4.9
(8)
•
4.5
(116)
Tennessee 37890, USA
9
Bush's Visitor Center
Mentioned on
7 lists
Museum
Cafe
Nestled in Dandridge, TN, Bush's Visitor Center offers a fascinating look into the origins of America's most famous bean company. The center features a museum chronicling the history of the family-owned business since its inception in 1908 and showcases their secret recipe for baked beans. Visitors can enjoy an interactive self-guided tour with friendly staff providing useful information along the way. The tour concludes at a well-stocked gift shop and a delightful family cafe offering delicious meals at reasonable prices.
A surprisingly fun attraction. The museum (which was about to close temporarily for remodeling, a week after my visit) is about beans, yes, but it's also about history and culture -- how did the company have to adapt to changes in how Americans buy groceries? How did the can opener evolve? And so on. There's a 20-minute film which includes the production process at the factory across the street. The gift shop is fun, and the restaurant offers good Southern cooking. I don't normally order dessert at restaurants, but I had to try the pecan pie, which is made with mashed pinto beans as a thickener. It's surprisingly good, and you can get cards with the recipe when you pay your ticket. This would make a great side trip during a Sevierville/Pigeon Forge vacation.
John C — Google review
This place was so cool!!! I really enjoy seeing how products I purchase are made and this truly envelopes you in the rich Bush Family History. The staff was super friendly and helpful. If you collect souvenir pennies, you can add to your collection here. We had lunch at the cafe. Prices were reasonable and the portions were good sized.
Mande B — Google review
We stumbled upon the Bush's Visitor Center during a recent trip. What a wonderful experience. There is so much to see and learn about the Bush family. The original Bush house still stands across from the visitir center. In addition to a short video about the beans and canning process, there are exhibits and a cafe. Unfortunately, I didn't get to eat in the cafe, but supposedly they are known for their pinto bean pie. It's worth stopping by to visit.
Gina B — Google review
Coming back home from our family trip we made a plan to stop at the Bush’s Visitor Center since when we first discovered them, they was closed during COVID. The visitors center is free!To get the history on Bush’s Baked Beans was pretty cool and seeing how the make the beans and the science that goes behind making sure the beans are cooked properly was really nice. They had soooooooooooo many different flavors that we didn’t know so of course we grabbed a few to take home.Also, we went to the cafe where we enjoyed some of the BEST and VERY FRESH chicken tenders. We was served by Ms.Ruth, who was very sweet.
Teierra B — Google review
I loved this museum. It's so informative and educational. The whole museum is put together very well and the gift shop is awesome. We bought several cans of bean dip . They have different cans of beans to buy. we had to pass on the cans of beans because most of them contain pork but they looked so good.
Megan B — Google review
The museum was informative, fun, and free! The employees were very welcoming and friendly. This place has everything bean! From throws to ornaments, and every version of baked bean you never knew you wanted to try. Did you know that Bush actually got there start canning tomatoes? If you didn't... or maybe if you did, you will definitely want to stop by this amazing little piece of American history. We loved that they had interactive items and photo ops throughout.Make sure to stop by the cafe and try some of their bean pie before you leave which will leave a sweet lasting impression!
TodayIsOurAdventure — Google review
I stopped by Monday morning 9:15 am on may 9th 2022! I was IMMEDIATELY greeted by Kathy. She was so helpful, upbeat, professional and just sweet as a jar of honey! Kathy made my time at the museum a pleasant experience 😊! Thank you again, Frank from Tennessee
RETIREDMCO1199 T — Google review
What a fun place to visit! The gift shop has lots of good items at fantastic prices. Easily the most affordable tourist attraction I've ever been to. The staff was fantastic and friendly from the minute you walk in the door.Don't miss the restaurant next door. Not everything has beans in it. The food was great and very reasonably priced for large portions. My wife and I ate here for less than $30, which is unheard of at a touristy location. Definitely make this a stop if you're in town and looking for something fun to do.
Beans W — Google review
We loved it. We had lunch which was delicious. We walked around and did the gift shop. Great experience, wonderful staff
Jessica C — Google review
Such a gem! We stopped on a whim while driving through TN, and I’m so glad we did. The museum isn’t huge but it’s clean, colorful, interactive, and free! The people working there were so sweet and helpful. The gift shop has a mix of country decor, food products, every type of Bush’s beans, and cute merchandise. The shirts and goodies we picked up were decently priced. We didn’t try the restaurant but will next time. Definitely worth a visit.
Melissa A — Google review
I was greeted at the front door by two very friendly ladies who told me about the little movie they have about Bush and how it started and a small museum within the storeI found several varieties that I have not ever seen in the stores. So you know I had to buy them. I highly recommend stopping in and checking it out they have closed towels kitchen items wide variety of things I must stop in
Karen's W — Google review
It's about a 40 minute drive from Pigeon Forge. We enjoyed our visit. A lot of neat places to take Selfies here. We enjoyed all the interesting exhibits. My granddaughter enjoyed it as well. We ate there as well. They bring you two different beans to sample. They were both delicious. Everyone enjoyed their meals. I got the Club and it bodacious. Definitely recommend a visit. The factory is across the street and you don't get to explore that but still cool to see.
Vegas S — Google review
To be completely honest, I thought my family would be the only people there on a Friday afternoon in November. Boy, was I wrong. There were quite a few people there.. and for good reason. There are tons of photo ops, the museum is free and there is even a short video about the Bush family. We didn't have time to eat at the Cafe, but I heard it was yummy! If you're in the area, this place is worth checking out!!
Megan W — Google review
First time to Bushes Baked Beans was many years ago when I was trucking. The Visitors Center was not open then. Sad to say. Today with my parents we came to visit. We had a fun time looking at the displays, videos, gift shop and of course, beans! We were going to get some food in the cafe but there was a wait. We decided not to wait this time.All the employees were very welcoming, friendly and helpful!
Jeff J — Google review
We stopped here while driving home from Pigeon Forge and everything was wonderful. The gift shop had all things related to Bush’s Beans like shirts, decor, plushes of Duke the dog and obviously cans of beans and bean dip and the little museum was very interesting. It’s a great place if you are a fan of Bush’s Beans and it’s free!
Jen H — Google review
Such nice hospitality from every employee and so much to see and learn about. The interactive display for all the products was great. Wonderful gift shop. Lunch at the Cafe was good, too
Jenny R — Google review
OMG, the staff here is soooo friendly. Fantastic tour of their museum. Wonderful gift shop. Bet you can't get through this place without buying at least a can of beans. We had a meal at the family cafe and what a great meal and very reasonably priced. We were too full for dessert but after seeing some go by our table just had to try some and just like Bush's products it was a great dessert. Check out the tee shirts, very reasonably priced as well. So happy a fellow camper told us about this place.
Mark P — Google review
The museum/store/restaurant were very interesting and even better than anticipated. It is a great family friendly stop to learn about the Bush's commitment to community and family. Their family Bible is on display and speaks volumes about the source of their values. It was good to see that, though faith was not mentioned in any other way. They are a fine example of American entrepreneurship.
Mandy H — Google review
Bush's Visitor Center was an unexpected find as we were in the area touring. The center has a museum showcasing the history of the Bush family bean business through the years. There are plenty of interactive points throughout. Staff provided useful information during the self-guided tour. We even found Duke hiding in various places. The museum ends at the gift shop, which provides plenty of purchasing options. As you exit, you can visit the Bush Cafe for a nice meal. Great place to visit!
Dennis B — Google review
I honestly just stumbled across this place while going to try a local trout farms trout lunch. I had no idea the Bush family was from this area and so much of the company's production is still being done right here where the original farmhouse still stands.Overall it's a super cool experience to walk through the free museum, you learn alot about the history of Bush's and the staff is very helpful as well.There's a nice store with all sorts of kitchen items, unique gifts and Bush's swag. It's worth checking out at least once.
Trent H — Google review
Greeted upon entering the visitor center and was giving some background information on the Bush's history before continuing on with the tour. There is a little store attached to the center with some interesting stock of Bush's products.
Lynn L — Google review
We visited the store and museum today. The staff here are the best! They are so helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. We met Dennis in the museum, and it was a pleasure talking to him. We enjoyed the history about this local staple. I'd definitely recommend people to stop by the cafe and check out this museum and store.
Rachel G — Google review
We drove by Bush’s on the way to Dollywood and had to make sure we visited before we left. Bush’s baked beans is our 10 year old granddaughter’s favorite food! We ate in their cafe and it was delicious! Tasted great, big portions and reasonably priced. The museum and gift shop were beautifully done. The staff at the museum were extremely friendly and helpful. We would have bought a souvenir but the prices seemed high, but the can of baked beans was a good price at $2.14. We arrived smiling and were still smiling when we left. Highly recommend and we would go again!
Su W — Google review
Great little tour, sadly can't visit the actual factory any longer. Staff at history section were world class, closer to a family reunion than a tourist place. Nice history on how they paid fair prices to local farmers. Great place for home style lunch and dessert.
ED E — Google review
It is an interesting history of the family business from the late 1800s till now. It was a nice, not crowded self guided tour.We chose to eat at the cafe and really enjoyed it. There is a random sample of beans every day. My wife had the pimento cheese and I had the pulled pork and onion rings. Everything was good and I am positive I will be back for lunch. Be careful, your busses frequent this place and get there early to avoid the crowds.
Chuck W — Google review
Super cute little place! It's free which was a major draw! Unfortunately, we didn't get to eat at the Cafe due to a bus load of people but maybe next time.Roll that beautiful bean footage.
Emily M — Google review
Hidden gem just 20 miles from the strip in Pigeon Forge. Nestled just North west of the area, this company does a great job of leveraging the story of their heritage and commitment to sustainability in a fantastic museum for all ages! And it is FREE!!
Joe C — Google review
This place is awesome!!! We happened to be driving through on a road trip and we saw a brochure at a rest are and decided to stop by on a whim. We’ve been eating Bush’s beans our whole life so why not! It was amazing!! First of all, it’s FREE!! There are not many free places like this in this day and age. And the quality of the little museum is top notch. It’s interactive for all ages. The staff are so friendly and helpful. We also ate at the cafe which was delicious and very reasonably priced. They also have a huge gift shop with a lot of neat items. We really enjoyed our visit and we know you will too. I filmed a more in depth YouTube video. If you’d like to check it out, the link is below!Bush's Baked Beans Factory Museum Tour + Cafe | FREE THINGS TO DO IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINShttps://youtu.be/hqWfy72az7M
Katie L — Google review
This place is super cool with lots to look at. They have a big store with all sorts of kitchen items and some way cool bean stuff. They have a museum and lots of cool photo opportunities. Diane who works here was extremely helpful and very informative on the history. They had cute Little Duke keychains, some bean lifesavers, pants, shirts, socks, hats and even cans of beans. You can even weigh yourself in beans. This is a great family location.
Lisa S — Google review
Wow a great self tour of visitors center. We were pleasantly surprised. You learn the story of how Bush family started with Canned Tomatoes and branched into Baked Beans. A wonderful surprise.
Allan S — Google review
Absolutely LOVED our visit today. We were greeted with such family oriented hospitality in ALL AREAS. We went through the museum, General store and finished up in the cafe! Wow!! Very interesting and will definitely look at Bush beans with more knowledge. The cafe food was Excellent and the pinto bean pecan pie was DELICIOUS!!! And tasted just like a pecan pie. The family history is awesome to see. The generations learned and continue to produce a great product plus focused on family oriented business, development and marketing. Integrity! Awesome work!
Doreen V — Google review
This place was very nice. Would go again. Ate lunch there in their cafe and it was very good and prices were reasonable. Also went through the gift shop and museum.
J H — Google review
This was a really fun stop! The museum is completely completely free and has a great history of this family owned American company. I love all of the facts about beans and I also love the fact that most of the beans are grown right here in the United States. We decided to go to the café for lunch and the food was all delicious. We had a vegetarian with us so she had the vegetarian bean pie, the Ruben was also ordered with the thick cut spiral fries, which were amazing, a barbecue platter, and the hamburger (which was a little dry). The star of the show was definitely the pecan pie! Hands-down, the best pecan pie I’ve ever had, the crust was flaky, and there were plenty of knots, and the addition of the beans was a delicious twist. Their store features lots of their can be products, some of them that I don’t even see in my local grocery store. We stocked up on quite a few of them and look forward to enjoying them down the road.
Michelle G — Google review
Wow, wow, wow. Can I just say that this place has the nicest group of people. I'm talking 10x of Chic-fil-A. They truly love their jobs telling the history of Bush's. They are so proud of the heritage of Bush's. You can just hear it in their voices and excitement to tell you a story of a historical item on the timeline wall. We just had an amazing time. Please don't pass this by. Stop in and enjoy the amazing story of A.J Bush and his family.
Adam K — Google review
An informative history of the Bush family with self guided stories and displays along with a brief video showing the process to get the beans from farms to stores. There is also an interactive area and a nice gift shop. The workers were all very friendly. They also have a cafe if you want a meal.
Cathie B — Google review
Who knew baked beans could be so interesting. In a self- guided tour you will learn the history of the Bush family and company and the process they use to produce their main lines of baked beans. The gift shop has a great variety. Sadly, the onsite cafe was too popular the day we visited. If you’re arriving near lunch time check the wait time when you arrive. It may be better to eat before your tour.
Rob C — Google review
I have been to the Bush's visitor center several times and I never get sick of going there.They offer a very nice short film about how the beans are made, how they're put into the cans, and how the sauce is added to them.They also offer little interactive things that you can do throughout the museum and they offer a lot of little knick knacks and cans of beans that they don't carry in actual grocery stores.The restaurant that's attached to it is a good place to eat. It's inexpensive and the food is always good and fresh.It's neat to be able to see the original house of the people that started bush's and to see the factory right across the road from there.
Jami T — Google review
Super friendly, fun place to go!!It's a must if you are in the area. They have a pretty good menu. The employees are all nice and friendly. Service was great and didn't take long at all. We all got different dishes.After you eat you can visit their free Bush's museum. It's a very fun and interesting museum. Not boring at all, in case you think what can be fun about beans? Lots of good information, very well put together.You can watch a very interesting movie on how they process the beans all the way to the can... beginning in the can!It's fun for young and old. Very clean, spacious, you can learn fun facts, play the bean tic-tac-toc, etc.They also have a shop with fun stuff like clothing, souvenirs, a bean blanket, kitchen towels, etc. We even had free cans of beans!Excellent place! Loved it!!!
Carla L — Google review
A great experience! My mom and I visited here, along with my 3 small children. The staff were so kind to my children. A lady gave them a scavenger hunt paper to look for things in the museum. The received a small prize for finding all the things at the end.The history was interesting and I enjoyed learning about the beans and how the beans are made.This visitor center is free!There’s a restaurant attached to it. We didn’t get to try it because of a water main issue but we plan to come back.The gentleman working upstairs gave us a menu and a recipe for the pinto bean pie. I can’t wait to try it. Definitely worth stopping here.
Gabrielle B — Google review
4.8
(5325)
•
4.5
(1240)
3901 Hwy 411, Dandridge, TN 37725, USA
(865) 509-3077
10
Ole Smoky Distillery "The Holler"
Mentioned on
+62 other lists
Distillery
Food & Drink
The Ole Smoky Moonshine distillery in Gatlinburg is a popular tourist destination where visitors can sample different flavors of moonshine. The distillery is also licensed by the federal government and manufactures signature flavors such as Maple Cream and Butter Pecan. There are also live music performances and a gift shop on site.
Great staff and HUGE selection (27 moonshine ranging in proofs of 40-150%) We did a tasting of about 8 flavors, took some back to the cabin! We liked the butter pecan and Java in our coffee as well as the blueberry pancake flavor. Went down way to easy! We also thoroughly enjoyed the live bluegrass band just outside!
The C — Google review
Great place to check out. They have $5 tryouts which are totally worth it. Servers are entertaining and give cool facts about the drinks. They have large area covered with live music and sitting space. Must go place if spending time in downtown
Jitender B — Google review
Great Tour! We had a fun group experience with the Redneck Bus Tour that stopped here. We all enjoyed free tasting and coupons. Great spirits and views of the distillery in action! Awesome
Michelle H — Google review
Great place to visit and try some flavored moonshine. I didn't realize you needed to make a reservation some time in advance to do the actual tour so plan ahead. You can do a tasting though without reservations. It's $5 for just the moonshine part and I think it was $9 and you got whiskey as well. All employees I came in contact there were very friendly and helpful.
Doug A — Google review
Southern hospitality at it's finest. The midwest could take a clue from the South. My husband and I have Southern backgrounds and we long to move back South. Tasted most of the flavors. Shots poured for everyone! Everyone was very nice and even met some drinking buddies. We purchased over $400 worth of moonshine and Whiskey. We will be back. This will last for awhile. Take the private tour with Tim!!!
D.Y. H — Google review
One of the best parts of our trip! We scheduled ahead and do the behind the scenes tasting tour! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! Beyonce;) did our tour and made our time incredibly awesome! She was SUPER knowledgeable, fun, and kind!! It is really neat to see how the moonshine is made and hear about the history and future of the company ! We then had VIP tasting which was super fun- you even get a Tshirt on the way out! The place was clean and organized well!
Alexis W — Google review
This is a moonshine store that has taste testing for $5 and a wide variety of flavors. There’s a distillery on-site that’s very interesting. They also have a stage and bluegrass bands perform in the afternoon and evening. The music is free with rocking chairs arranged in front of the stage for anyone to sit in and enjoy the show. We saw 3 different groups and they were all very talented.
Danuel M — Google review
Surprisingly great fun. You get a $5 coupon if you do the tasting. There is also a huge Gift shop and live music played outside in a beautifully decorated area.
Allan S — Google review
Ole Smoky Distillery is always a good time. We stopped in this past week while on a girls trip. You have to participate in a tasting, it does not disappoint. The flavors of moonshine are always surprising. The combinations that they come up with are not something you'd think of, such as the lavender blueberry moonshine, which was delicious...mix it with lemonade and Wow!
M.K. S — Google review
This place was on my short bucket list and I was not disappointed at all! Made a special trip over there when I was vacationing in North Carolina. Went all out with the Behind the Stills tour (free special tshirt when you do.) Brooklyn (not Beyonce😉) was awesome as our guide! We definitely took advantage of their amazing selection and sales. Got a pack of 12 (2 free bottles) with the large cooler free and got the 3 pack with the free small cooler. I wish I had read the passport before ending vacation and visited all 3 locations for another free shirt. Definitely keeping it on hand next time I'm there, which will hopefully be next year.
Shan F — Google review
Second tasting and had a great time taste testing the moonshines of the day! $5 tasting and the flavors were great, bartenders fun, and comical even through their sales cooler pitch! Minimal wait to get to the bar top, but it was a full bar! Store is huge so many different souvenirs and shines to pick from, everyone is super helpful, and don't forget to use your coupons! Take it all in, throw the tasting back and just have fun!
Ashley D — Google review
I would say overall 4.5 stars is where I would put it. The atmosphere is neat with live music outside. The shine tasting is nice but I don't agree with the sign everywhere saying free tasting when it costs you $5 but I understand the city forces that fee and not the establishment. However you do get a $5 coupon for merchandise in the store with the tasting. Overall fun experience I recommend do your shopping before the tasting or you will spend a lot more after you do the tasting lol.
Zac — Google review
This was more than I imagined and certainly an experience I recommend for those of age. Bring your wallet!First, the moonshine tasting is $5, but you get a $5 coupon to use on your purchase and you're gonna purchase something. They served 9 flavors with two of them being edibles and two being cream liquers. Second, get a tasting with Buzz! He is hilarious and so much fun.Lastly, have fun! There are so many flavors and Ole Smoky Moonshine merch. I wasn't ready. And they have specials, so take advantage.When you're done shopping, step outside for some entertainment. The rocking chairs are comfy and the music is great.
Gwendolyn H — Google review
This is the second year in a row we’ve visited Pigeon Forge and the surrounding area and this is without a doubt our favorite drink spot. An experience from start to finish, we take our time walking through the fun gift shop and more notoriously, sampling their delicious moonshine.The place is always packed, but you never have to wait long to saddle up on the bar for an inexpensive show/tasting. Though they charge you, you get to try 9 different flavors for $5.00 and when you’re done, they hand you a $5.00 coupon to apply right back into your purchase. Great marketing, fun bartenders, and a memorable experience you won’t want to miss.
Amy R — Google review
Amazing experience! We came from Indy and wanted to try out their testing. The pricing was very affordable and easy way to get some local moonshine in your system. It was $10 for 11 tastings of moonshine. Pretty popular for a Saturday night, and would hands down recommend!
Gabriella H — Google review
We had an amazing experience as always as my husband and I visit yearly. We brought the rest of our family this time around and had the best experience yet! Matthew was awesome, informative, funny, and just made the experience even more enjoyable! We couldn’t recommend him enough and when we travel here in the fall, we hope to have him again!❤️
Toni R — Google review
The worse experience we had visiting a distillery and believe me, we’ve visited quite a few distilleries, winery and brewery in all our travels around the world.First of all, they have 2 choices for sampling which the bartender did a piss poor job explaining the different except for one had 9 tasting and the other had 11 tasting. Doesn’t take a genius to understand that by paying more you should get more choices. She could have said “with the premium tasting, you’ll get to taste our signature bourbon as well”. I tried to change or upgrade but was refused.Then the bartender tried to explain the very strict tasting rules by yelling. If it was so strict, suggest posting it on the bar and make sure everyone reads it. Cause after 6 tasting, my wife had an emergency as it’s that time of the month, and had to quickly find a restroom. She left while the bartender was trying to sell customers the package set. When the sampling restarted, my wife wasn’t back yet. The bartender said as she left the bar, she forfeited her tasting. Even I wasn’t allowed to finish her drink. When she returned, we had 2 more tasting to finish but the bartender refused to serve my wife claiming it’s the rule.Not sure if this is a state law or rule of the distillery. But to then charge the customer full price for something they didn’t have is a rip off. Imagine someone had to run to take an emergency phone call or go outside quickly to check on their kids. I understand forfeiting that one drink you missed out but then to forfeit the remaining of the course is crazy. Imagine you left just after the second pour. Then you’ll pay $7 for just 1 or 2 very very small sip. Or what if that person has lactose intolerance and can’t drink the last 3 sampling. Why can’t your partner or friend who’s tasting with you and paying as well can’t finish your drink on your behalf?I’m all in for rules but again, if it’s that strict, maybe it clearly visible and post it so everyone can read. Also, was planning to pick up a bottle of their bourbon on the shelf but couldn’t find a single price on the bottle or on the display. As they keep on saying “Hell yeah, I surely won’t return and won’t recommend this place”!!!
Michael M — Google review
If you're in Gatlinburg, TN, you need to stop in at Ole Smoky Distillery, " The Holler. " Best Shine here, in my opinion! Make sure you pay the $7.00 dollars for the moonshine tasting!
William B — Google review
We did a lot of moonshine tasting when we were in Gatlinburg and Jen by far was the best she was nice. She was knowledgeable and made the tasting a lot more fun. We were able to get the specialty flavors we were looking for and use our coupons because we did the whole moonshine trail with the old smoky locations we got our free T-shirt and the guy that helped us Was really awesome. Jeff just moved here from Las Vegas so you know who you are thank you for a great time and this is a great location. They don’t have any restrooms in the location. You have to take the elevator to go upstairs, but the experience was definitely worth it 10 out of 10 totally recommend this location and ask for Jen. Thank you Jeff!
Lisa S — Google review
Really enjoyed our visit and did the moonshine tasting. Our bartender was fantastic and hilarious. Bought some cherries, and lots of moonshine to bring home. We got a free cooler for buying 3 mason jars. Honestly a great deal for us who can't buy it locally. Beautiful old distillery with a live band playing.
Catherine J — Google review
A must visit if you're in gatlinburg. $7 sampling (as of Feb 2024) for 9 communion-sized shots. The guy running the samples was fun and made the event a blast!We got the snow cream and it was a great addition to coffee. I'd also recommend the sour watermelon.
Joshua L — Google review
first time here and had the absolute best time. i didn’t fully catch the bartenders name…i think Karima ?? and Felicity? Their friendliness w each-other and how they interacted with customers was so awesome. They were amazing. So kind, funny and informative. The entire staff was extremely friendly from walking in to cashing out. Def recommend, super fun & moonshine is amazing of course. Do the premium tasting! Worth it and still inexpensive.
Amelia W — Google review
The tour was filled with awesome information. Terry was our guide and server and he done an outstanding job.when he served our tasters he also included ways to use the moonshine in cooking.learned slot of neat things and had a great time. Highly recommend the tour if you go to gatlinburg
Angie P — Google review
Definitely worth doing a sampler at the in store bar. I believe it was $5 and they give you mini shots to try all different flavors. They are delicious and the staff makes it extra fun! They have great merch in store aside from the moonshine. Tee shirts, hats, bags.. all kinds of things. Decent prices too.
E H — Google review
Always a fun experience doing the tasting. Cannot remember his name but he was hilarious. Banana Pudding is delicious and so are the pickles.
Carrie P — Google review
The tour was very informative and hilarious at the same time. Brooklyn was our tour guide and she was perfect in every way!
Melissa L — Google review
I'll never travel to Asheville without this trip planner again
11
Sugarlands Distilling Company
Mentioned on
+42 other lists
Distillery
Food & Drink
Sugarlands Distilling Company is a distillery located in Gatlinburg, TN that produces award-winning moonshine. It features tours of their still house, tastings, and live music.
This Place is so much fun. They have every kind of moonshine you can think of. The have a $5 test tasting of a lot of the different flavors. It is also kid friendly. They give tours of the distillery. The kids love the tour. Such a fun place to hang out and shop.
Wendy H — Google review
First moonshine tasting and it was so much fun! We had Abbey and she's was an excellent bartender and very knowledgeable of each tasting and pairing! She was also very entertaining! We got a comedy show, several tastings, and so many laughs! Tasting space was comfortable and clean. The store was beautiful. Excellent experience, we will definitely be back!
Heather B — Google review
Moonshine’s not really my thing but I recommend everyone to stop by here when they’re in the city and try their tastings. The bartenders are all funny and entertaining and they’ll make sure you’re having a great time.
Nastaran H — Google review
We had a lovely time sampling approximately 10 of their different kinds of cocktail alcohol beverages for just $5 each. It was a great way of having a family good time in Gatlinburg Tennessee.And with the sampling you do you get a discount of $5 per person if you are purchasing something from there that you like too. 👍
Bina S — Google review
Let me just tell ya, if you want some shine, go here! Go do the moonshine tasting, it's always a blast. The servers here are the Best! If you have a wait to get in line to get in I will say that the line moves fairly quick and it's so worth it. I can't tell you how many times I've been and it never disappoints. And you never know who you might just run into while your there.
Terrie S — Google review
Such an awesome place you have to stop in and do the sampling, it's well worth the five dollars. you have to meet Glover, he's the Best so Awesome. He sure loves his job. I could've stood there all night and listened to Glover talk. I hadn't smiled that much in Avery long time. Thank you, Glover. I love the banana pudding & pecan shine. Can't wait till my next visit.
Tracy F — Google review
Abby did a very entertaining and happy tasting presentation. Staff was very cordial and helpful. Tasting fee goes towards fee and you are allowed to stack the tickets. Definitely worth the visit.
Eric M — Google review
Joshua was our bartender this beautiful Sunday afternoon. He was a blast and we had 13 different moonshine to try. Doesn't mean you like each and everyone, but it was a great atmosphere and everyone looked like they were having a great time! They also had a very handy pour spout to be used on these mason jars! Overall a great time😊
Jeaninne B — Google review
I've wanted to visit Sugarland's for a long time, and when my finace and I finally got to go last weekend, I was NOT let down! We did the taste testing with Cody as our "Taste Master," and he was phenomenal. He kept the group engaged, made us laugh the whole time, and was quite the entertainer. What was even cooler, is that after the tasting, you could use your wristband to get $5 off a jar of amazing moonshine! I had an absolute blast and I can't wait to go back!
Brandi H — Google review
We had such an awesome time here. We weren't able to take the tour because it was closed for maintenance. We did the tasting, which was an amazing value. The shots are small, but they taste amazing. Our server had a great personality and made it such a fun experience. The drinks in the bar are absolutely delicious. The gift shop has a lot of merchandise to choose from.
Casandra E — Google review
This is a must visit. We have so much fun everytime we visit Sugarlands. The staff is knowledgeable and extremely entertaining. Be sure to visit the back room, ask anyone and they will point you in the right direction.
East A — Google review
False advertising and the manager that was there that night was a young girl did not care !!!Always loved coming here for the employees that work behind the bar that pours always extremely friendly Cody Rob always make things fun enjoy coming back here when I'm on vacation numerous times but do not like being disrespected by a manager when this sign is clearly stated the price of a product it doesn't state sign they would not honor their price and she talked to me extremely rude I think she should take management classes and she wants to run an establishment I've seen brighter employees at McDonald's as managers Don't think I will be ever coming back here and purchasing products I will find other needs to fulfill the money that I spend when I come up the Gatlinburg it's pretty sad when one person ruins something you enjoy doing !!!
Rob S — Google review
We love Sugarlands, come here twice a year when we are on vacation. Absolutely the best And so is Payton, enjoyed our tasting session with her. Go Payton!!!! 5 stars. $5 to taste 12 flavors plus a bonus flavor. They have a cocktail bar also. Amazing!!! Defiantly recommend !!! Plus you get a $5 wristband also. And our bartender Lissy was amazing also. Will be back in November.
Amy — Google review
Best tasting in town courtesy of Cody. The man is magic with a pour. A story to go with every shot. Lucky if you don't lose your liquor laughing. And loving his girly Lissy serving the special of the day back in the cocktail lounge along with Britt. This place is hands down the best in town!
Lana M — Google review
Stopped into Sugarlands Distilling today, we did our tasting with Stephanie, great time, lots of laughs we had a phenomenal time. Wedrink as a family so it’s all good all the time. If you’re swinging into Gatlinburg definitely stop by and see Stephanie. The pour says it all, just look at it!!!!…. Don’t forget the cocktail bar out back
Adam B — Google review
Absolutely love visiting Sugarlands Shine! They always have the best flavors and the best bartenders…Rob Ham is our favorite and we always try to get his sippin’ post! But seriously this is the spot for moonshine and good times!!
Kannsas M — Google review
As a fan of the series "Moonshiner's," this has been on my bucket list of area locations to visit. Having the holiday off today was the day to cross it off the list. I enjoyed the atmosphere that the place gave off and there was plenty of moonshine & sipping creams to choose from as well as Sugarlands Distillery branded merchandise. I did not take part in the sampling but there was plenty of it going on and everyone participating seemed to enjoy the flavor varieties being served.And for those who would like to meet the stars of the show, Mark & Digger, I'm told they visit the first day of every month to take photos with the fans as well as autograph jar of shine & merchandise.
David — Google review
This location has an excellent atmosphere! The staff is beyond helpful, and friendly. A special shoutout goes to Ryan, Justin, Britt, and Lissy. These special folks were full of knowledge, and make a mean cocktail. Treat yourselves to this unique experience, more than once, if you’re able.
Elizabeth C — Google review
The taste experience was great, we had such an fun experience here. Good value to taste the Moonshines, the shots are small, but they taste amazing. The gift shop has a lot of merchandise to choose from.
Leny — Google review
Had a very pleasant experience here with my family, which is more than I can say for Ole Smoky down the street. We walked in to Sugarlands and did the sample tasting. Very straightforward, simply pay at the front, and they send you to a sample bar. We sampled lots of varieties. Our server, Ben, was humorous and friendly. Had a great time here. The discounts were a plus as well. Thanks for a fun time!
Liam C — Google review
Great setup inside and outstanding employees. The shows… tasting bartenders are amazing! Lots of energy and very fun & funny. Loved it!
Jon H — Google review
Just popped in while we were in Gatlinburg and we weren't disappointed. You must do the $5 tasting, and hope you get Peyton. She was fun! It helped us decide what we wanted to purchase. After that, we meandered back to the bar and had a drink. Make sure you have your ID or they won't serve you. My mom forgot her license and they wouldn't accept her Medicare ID card as proof of (old) age...haha!
Amanda S — Google review
Justin was great with the tour was very knowledgeable and answered whatever questions we had to the best of his ability and was funnier the all hell. Only one criticism got the tickets online and it says moonshine flight maybe change the wording to sampling I stead was a little confusing but staff was extremely helpful. The cocktails were absolutely perfect. Foster who was our profesional pourer was wonder and if you tip him a 20 he will twerk for you lol.
Xavier M — Google review
We had a great time stopping into Sugarlands for our first time trying their moonshine. I couldn't believe some of the flavors like Eggo and the Arnold Palmer. Travis was our "Spirit Guide" and had us laughing the whole time. We really appreciated the experience and entertainment value for just $5 + tip.Don't forget you can stack the $5 off coupon on your wrist for any purchases!
Aubrey J — Google review
This was the best moonshine tasting we visited while on holiday in Gatlinburg.The moonshine was delicious, the hosts were hilarious, and I got to meet the famous Payton (who we saw on YouTube and made us want to visit!)It was so good, we paid a second visit for another tasting and to buy more moonshine to bring back with us to the UK.When we run out, we'll just have to fly back and buy more!
David R — Google review
We had such an amazing experience at Sugarlands Distilling company! We got a $5 tasting which was absolutely great! We tried 12 kinds of moonshine + 1 bonus shot, and our bartender Steve was really fun. They offer $5 off the jar with the wristband from your tasting which is a pretty good deal. They have lots of flavors, but definitely try dark chocolate and Pina colada. I highly recommend this place!
Roman — Google review
Trey was funny and personable and made the tasting experience great for my friends & me! Loved the PB and apple pie flavors the best of the great variety we got to try. 😊
Kayla S — Google review
I am not a moonshine person, but they had a few rye whiskeys that I wanted to try. I was able to sample all three rye whiskies they had (for a price) before making my decision. The person helping was super informative and very relaxed, making this tasting a great experience. He also recommended going to the bar and having an old fashion made with the whiskey I sampled. I also got to keep the glass the old fashion came in!
Chris P — Google review
An excellent distillery when compared to Ole Smokey up the road. Place was more spacious and well organized.They have a cocktail bar at the end were you can just enjoy their distillery if tasting is not your thing. We ended up going for an Old Fashion made with their own bourbon called Roaming Man and a Moscow mule. Both cocktails were nicely made. You’ll even get to keep their glass when ordering the Old Fashion.We ended up buying a bottle of their bourbon for $38 to enjoy at our hotel.
Michael M — Google review
We had a blast with Abbey at Sugarlands! She was hilarious and made the experience so much fun! I was the driver, so I wasn’t even trying the moonshine, but I had the best time! -Courtney’s chauffeur
Kimberly K — Google review
We just finished the tasting here. $5 and totally worth it. We had Cody and he was a blast. There’s tons of merch and the wristband gets you a discount on shine and other things. Affordable bar in the back too! Favorite place in Gatlinburg so far!
Seleena C — Google review
Spur of the moment stop and are we so glad we did! $5 gets you a tasting of 12 different flavors and a bonus shot - our bartender Josh was really great and made the tasting a lot of fun.Your wristband also gives you $5 off of merchandise, so it's a win/win.Will go again if we're back in town.
Julie G — Google review
Great tasting of 12 different samples! It came with a coupon for $5 toward the store. I love this brand and highly recommend this experience in Gatlinburg! They even have a cocktail bar in the back. Would love to have a drink or two there next time!
Megan B — Google review
This place is absolutely amazing ! Hands down ! We came all the way from Lubbock Texas to see this place . Great product , everything was delicious ! Shout out to Ryan and Justin for the awesome tasting experience ! After the tasting go back to the bar ! You won't regret it ! Britt and Lissy served some amazing cocktails back there ! Zach is also very knowledgeable about the whole process ! Highly recommend getting the full tour !
Devin M — Google review
We had so much fun doing the tasting here!! I forgot our servers name but he was hilarious and made our experience amazing! He’s the best we had all day in the whole Gatlinburg area. I like how organized they were as well. Tastings are $5 but you get a $5 coupon to spend on anything in the store so it’s essentially free. Their moonshine is also very delicious and they have unique flavors!! We can’t wait to come back!
Rachel B — Google review
You pay $5 for a tasting of 12 preselected flavors. Even with a crowd, the experience is fun! Sugarlands has the best organization system in Gatlinburg as they have everyone line up to check your ID, then assign you a bar to taste test. It takes out the uncertainty of waiting around for an open spot at the bar and ensures that the entire bar can experience the drinks at the same time.Their shines are really good, but the creams are even tastier! Their seltzers are also amazing on a hot day.Even better, your $5 tasting gets you $5 in the store for merchandise! Fun experience and good drinking.
Stella G — Google review
12
Gatlinburg SkyPark
Mentioned on
25 lists
Bridge
Water & Amusement Parks
The Gatlinburg SkyLift Park is a great place to visit with your family because it has a chairlift that takes you to the top of Crockett Mountain and views of the Smoky Mountains. The park also has a SkyDeck where you can relax and enjoy the views, as well as a SkyCenter where you can buy food and drinks.
When I first got here, the line was down the whole street and almost turned away. I’m so glad I did not. I would recommend try to get here during the sunset time to get both the sun light and night view from the top. The views are great. The little store on top has some food and drinks to offer. I came during the holidays and it was amazing to see all the lights and trees decorated up to. Def Worth every second I spent in the line. Even that, the line moved pretty quickly!
Willie R — Google review
Great fun for the whole family. We got to enjoy terrifying ride to the top via skyline. This led to a gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains and the strip. Walking across the bridge was not as terrifying as the lift but it was scary (for those who do not do well with heights). Worth a visit for sure.
Matt — Google review
I have been on this ride 3 times and never fails to impress me. The ride is so calm, yet provides one of the best views of the smoky ranges. Definitely worth it! The ticket is valid for the whole day, so I would suggest to go there in the morning so you can go again throughout the day if you wish!
Kavitha K — Google review
What a bridge! What a View! Definitely top 5 things to do in Gatlinburg! We grabbed our tickets and rode up the skylight. My wife is a bit shy with heights so I encouraged her to look out on the horizon. The upper area has a couple options, we went to the small bridge first. While a bit springy I definitely liked the idea of getting used to it first. After we went across the trail and came back across the 600 foot long bridge. The middle had about 50 feet of glass sections where you could see down 140 feet! Loved it! Afterward we grabbed a couple beers up top, grabbed 2 of the 20 or so rocking chairs and watched the sun go down. Because of the mountain ridge we could only see glowing colors on the peaks, not the sun itself, but it was worth the wait. The ride down is easy, but you definitely see how high up you are!
Tom M — Google review
This place is beautiful a must do when visiting Gatlinburg. The view from any spot on the top is beautiful. The bridge is incredible and so cool in the center to see the bottom. They also take your picture before you go to top. Give you ticket you buy online or at the top. Tickets cost 31.95 adult 24.95 senior children 18.95 under 3 free.
Amanda J — Google review
Amazing Views!! Not a long wait, bought our tickets online ahead of arrival. Went in July, so a very hot day, and it was nice to get a cold drink and relax in the shade. As said, the views were so beautiful!! Even though there were alot of people it did not matter. It was wonderful!!
Tammy M — Google review
Great views! The chairlift to the top was very smooth, and gives good views of the valley on the way down. I was expecting the Sky Bridge and the glass floor to be longer and higher of the ground (I'm guessing it was about 60ft high), but it was still an interesting experience. We bought the photos that they took of us, but I'd like to see higher resolutions.
Roy S — Google review
The view from the top was amazing! It was our first time here and we really enjoyed it. The place got few things to do and the bridge was amazing. The shop and the food was okay and we got to sit there have a quick bit to eat and got some drinks. Will defiantly come back for more.
Ibrand.Media T — Google review
The bridge was pretty cool. Glass floors in the middle were a neat view. The tower was neat and had some educational info in it. The bridges to the tower were definitely more challenging than the sky bridge. Nice easy walk around the sky trail. The surprise was how good the pizza at the Cafe. Not saying the beat pizza ever. But definitely did not disappoint. I'd eat it again. And again. Fun family trip with a good pizza, who could turn that down.
Patrick L — Google review
The ride up was very beautiful...lift ride was smooth. The bridge was my biggest fear... but I conquered it.There is plenty of places to enjoy the bridge without going across it. There's nice restrooms and a gift shop with food and drinks.I would caution though...if you have younger children that challenge rules or your direction. The lift bar pulls down, but it doesn't lock. There is also a gap where you sit depending on your size. I teach preschool, and there are kids in my class that I wouldn't even recommend going on this with.
Kathy W — Google review
Super nice place. Everyone was kind and the views were great. They also had a super relaxing fire pit, cute photo spots and more ! It was my birthday, so I had a good time.
Cassidy P — Google review
Beautiful views of Gatlinburg. I was afraid that the bridge would be scary, but aside from some gentle swaying it was fine. The gondola up and down the mountain was almost worth the price on its own.
David R — Google review
4.6
(14209)
•
4.5
(7125)
765 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA
(865) 436-4307
13
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
Mentioned on
+98 other lists
Aquarium
Nature & Parks
Ripleys Aquarium of the Smokies is a large aquarium that houses more than 10,000 marine residents from around the world. It is open 365 days a year and features interactive exhibits and displays on different aspects of marine biology.
Awesome rainy/cold day place to explore and it has a large playground space for the kids to run around safely!My daughter wandered off from us at one point and the staff was super quick and helpful in helping us find her. The boat ride is cool and worth the extra $12. The guys running it have some cool stories about the hundreds of fish in the tank.
Kassie S — Google review
We loved this place! Definitely worth the trip! They have a large play area for the kids and their gift shop is great opportunity to pick up some souvenirs and things for yourself! Ha haThey have a couple of interactive things to do and their penguin encounter is very informative. If you get a chance, don’t miss the mermaids! So graceful! My only complaint (this does not reflect on the establishment) is some forget basic manners. Let’s all be courteous people.
Jessica C — Google review
Highly recommend the glass boat tour! It is an extra add on to your ticket, but it was so cool to be above them! They also tell you all about the different sharks and fish that are in the tank! Going through the tunnel was such an amazing experience!There was a diving show in the stingray tank! You can pet and even feed the stingrays! They also have a cute penguin playground!
Sierra L — Google review
Visiting Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies was an enchanting experience. The moment I stepped inside, I was immersed in the awe-inspiring world of marine life. The variety and beauty of the aquatic creatures on display were truly mesmerizing.The exhibits were thoughtfully designed, allowing visitors to witness diverse ecosystems up close. From the vibrant coral reefs to the mysterious depths of the ocean, each section offered a unique glimpse into the wonders of underwater life. The underwater tunnel was a definite highlight, giving me a 360-degree view of graceful sharks, majestic sea turtles, and colorful fish gliding overhead.The staff was knowledgeable and passionate, eagerly sharing interesting facts about the different species. Their enthusiasm added an educational aspect to the visit, making it both entertaining and informative.The facilities were clean, well-maintained, and easily accessible. There were plenty of interactive activities for all ages, including touch tanks and feeding sessions. It was heartening to see the conservation efforts showcased throughout the aquarium, promoting awareness about protecting our oceans and their inhabitants.Whether you're a nature enthusiast, a family looking for an enjoyable outing, or simply seeking a captivating experience, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is a must-visit. It left me with a sense of wonder and a renewed appreciation for the marvels of the underwater world.
Jon B — Google review
We had a lot of fun here. We were inside for well over an hour, and you could spend many hours here if you check out everything in great detail. There is lots to do and see. I would definitely recommend to everyone. Fun for kids and adults. We bought the aquarium + 2 attraction tickets online. It was a great deal you basically got another attraction for free considering the aquarium and museum tickets alone cost more than the combo price. Plus you can scan your phone and walk right in, no need to wait in line.
Amber A — Google review
Better than Georgia Aquarium? Not quite. FStill a fantasic aquarium? Yes!Enjoyed it. Especially the jellies. Didn't get to pet ones but we saw a penguin parade. Recommend for families, couples, or even solo.
Elen S — Google review
Family Friendly Fishy Fun!Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies was a great place for a rainy day in the mountains. The exhibits were well laid out and featured plenty of of viewing spaces with children in mind. The shows were educational, but also interactive to keep your focus. The shark tunnel gives you a unique perspective, getting you up close and personal. They also offer opportunities to touch some of the creatures. I recommend making this a stop on your Smoky Mountain adventure.
Katlyn B — Google review
Very efficient use of space for a smaller aquarium. The underwater ground escalator was fantastic and kept everyone moving a reasonable pace. Although it was packed and a little pricey, I never felt like I was waiting in line to see any particular exhibit.
David C — Google review
Very nice aquarium. An innovative design and interactive experience, my family really enjoyed ourselves. The underwater shark ‘tube’ was more than I expected and the diversity of the animals was fantastic. The March of the penguins wasn’t worth the wait, I recommend just spend more time watching them in their enclosure.
Tom B — Google review
Took the family for a school field trip. Had lots of fun. The information about the different creatures was well displayed making it easy to learn. The two different levels to the playground are conveniently located for rest points where the kids could burn off some energy before continuing on. Other features we enjoyed where the shark tunnel, penguin parade, and dive show.Near the end of the aquarium there's a little food court. Prices are high but that was that was be expected. Its $4 just for an order of fries and $3 for a corn dog or hot dog and those where the cheapest items on the menu. Despite the prices the food was good and it was a convention place to stop for a quick bite before the long drive home since we didn't want to stop elsewhere. The whole family enjoyed being able to watch the sting rays in the giant aquarium next to the food court.
Amanda E — Google review
My kids had so much fun!!! The drive was long but overall great experience. Their bathrooms need to be checked on more often. They have a really nice changing table for my younger one great play areas for my 5 year old just wish it was more toddler friendly here. Prices are a bit up there but overall friendly staff just wish the interacting with their customers more. The update features of the building are nice just wish I caught one of the shows to have a full experience. But no major complaints would definitely go again.
Kaiya W — Google review
It was a pretty decent aquarium. Although a tad confusing to walk around towards the end. It had a lot of nice fish and creatures to look at. A good variety. The gift shop store is a little expensive but not bad and has a nice selection. Food wasn't too bad either. There was a mermaid show that the kids were loving. And scuba diving event as well. They have nice explanations and interactive stuff that is great. There is also a boat that takes you out for a small bit to look at the creatures in the tank through bottomless glass. And they gave good information on the creatures in the tank. I'm not a big fan of aquariums, but my family loved it.
Jasmine M — Google review
Despite being pricey at nearly $50.00 for a adult, what a great Aquarium, the exhibits were set up and spaced nicely so that you could take your time at the ones you wanted to and not be in the way of other families.Alot of different play areas, a hands on and touch exhibit and a nice cafe as well.Especially enjoyed the moving floor through the shark tank area where you could see everything swimming all around you, even above you.
Michael M — Google review
We were there for a birthday party for our granddaughter. This place is absolutely awesome. The staff is very accommodating very friendly I have never met anybody in this aquarium that is not polite and helpful. The animals and the place seems to be taken care of very well. And my granddaughter had an absolutely wonderful birthday party which was just fantastic.
Ann V — Google review
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies offers a captivating underwater experience that immerses visitors in the wonders of the ocean. The vibrant marine life, from graceful sea horses to mesmerizing jellyfish, creates a mesmerizing spectacle. The interactive exhibits and knowledgeable staff enhance the educational aspect, making it enjoyable for all ages. The well-designed layout allows for a seamless journey through diverse aquatic environments. Overall, a must-visit destination that combines entertainment and education, leaving visitors with a deep appreciation for the mysteries of the deep blue.
Hakan A — Google review
Enjoyed this experience with my wife and daughter as part of our Christmas getaway this year. They had festive music playing, and the perfect inside temperature was welcoming from the brisk air outside. To be in such a tight area, they have a wide variety of species to observe. Lot's of interactive displays for families to enjoy. Do be prepared for a slightly pricey concession, but that goes for everything in Gatlinburg really. Thank you Ripley's for showing us some cool sea life. We had a great time!
Lo L — Google review
I wasn't sure what to expect going in but after entering I was pleasantly surprised. There is a nice variety of marine life. And the penguin parade was just adorable. And there is a tunnel under the main aquarium with a moving walkway that took you through it which was nice.
Edward E — Google review
Aquarium is beautiful! Walking through tunnel under large shark tank was incredible. The only negative was the individual who worked at the ticket window and clearly hated her job. We had to be one of the first families to get our tickets, and she made it clear I should know which of the 3 sets of doors to enter the building through. The employee monitoring a shark recovering from a procedure earlier in the week was pleasant and briefly explained what she was doing as she continued to work. Parking garage behind aquarium was perfect - $10 - but fills quickly.
Steve P — Google review
This aquarium is awesome but very pricey! It was $106 for three of us. They have a mermaid show and plenty of cool things to see. There is a play area for the kids as well so they can get some of that energy out.I would recommend setting up for the mermaid show @ 12:30 about 20 mins early to get a good spot. It's a cool place to visit once, but I doubt I'll come back.It's definitely a great learning environment for the young kids
Joseph J — Google review
Awesome aquarium and very military friendly :) I’m not one to seek out a discount, but I’m always appreciative when it’s given. The aquarium has some excellent enclosures and the animals seem well cared for. The staff is very friendly and attentive in their jobs. Definitely a great spot for the family or anyone who loves aquatic life, there’s so much to see!!!
Jeff V — Google review
My kids had a wonderful time here. (4yrs and 6 yrs) The aquiarim is very well designed and run. The exhibits are up to date and nothing is broken or out of order. Although, it's all interconnected and you can explore freely, the museum is designed, so that if you just keep walking forward, you will see it all and can walk straight out through the gift shop without the use of a map. Also, it is a great indoor activity if you need an escape from the weather.There are so many things to see and the exhibits are beautifully executed. My kids went back to revisit their favorites before we left. I believe that the museum is designed to view entirely in 2-3 hours, but we spent about 5 hours and only left because we had dinner reservations. This attraction is well worth the price of admission. I recommend it.
Fernando O — Google review
We really enjoyed our school field trip to the aquarium. It was very busy as many schools were there at the same time so it made it a little chaotic, however there was plenty of stuff to do and look at. He really enjoyed getting to touch the sting rays and going into tunnel, watching the sharks swim overhead. So overall great trip!!
Carol H — Google review
The family had a great time. It was absolutely packed and parking for the Aquarium was full but we ate at a place nearby and didn't have to worry about getting towed by parking there and walking 2 blocks to the Aquarium. There are many chances to get a family pic taken by the staff at a put up shack along the Aquarium walking path. There is 1 place to eat and it can be pricey along with all the gift shop items. This shop is huge by the way and you can pretty much find anything in there. We rented a stroller but it's not the greatest stroller but good in a pinch. All in all its a great place to stop for the family.
Mista K — Google review
In the heartland of the Smokey mountains, Ripleys is sandwiched between many businesses and hotels. Even on a Friday the parking lots were full and we paid $20 to park blocks away.$70 for one adult and child. Do not get tickets at the automated register as there is no option for basic admission, aka the cheapest. Employee also had she/her pin on her lanyard which was disappointing to see.Highlights included the adorable penguin walk that happened on the lower level at 1:15 and the underwater tunnel observation area with moving walkway.Facility appeared clean and it wasn't overly crowded. The sharks were a hit with my daughter and there was a big indoor playground that was popular.I would recommend once coming here but we wouldn't return due to the high cost.
Psalms 1 — Google review
Upon arriving we watched the penguin parade as the walked around the aquarium. This was an unexpected surprise. As we were leaving the penguins were being fed and we enjoyed that as well.The coral had the most beautiful colors and I used one of the pictures I took of it as my Screensaver.The staff was helpful. Kind and informative. Altogether a wonderful experience.
Judy A — Google review
The aquarium is amazing! Beautiful, vibrant, tanks are everywhere, with elaborate details and finishes, and the animals seem very well cared for. The underwater tunnel is the best part, and everything is so clean! Some of my favorite creatures are shared a few here, but the pictures really don't do the experience justice.
Christie H — Google review
My family went right after the new Year on a weekday. We showed up at about 9:30 and finished going through all the exhibits at about 11. When we were leaving at 11 the parking lot was packed and there was a line down the road for people trying to get access. There was also a line at the ticket booth of people waiting to get tickets. I would recommend going first thing in the morning, or towards closing, to skip the lines and crowds. Additionally, I had bought our tickets in advance online and got to skip the line altogether, so I highly recommend it! You do not save anything by purchasing in person and your tickets are good for a year from the date of purchase.With that being said, the aquarium itself was fantastic and it is no wonder it was so busy! If you're visiting or traveling even remotely close to this place I would dare to say it is a must visit. We do not have children, and as two adults, we had an absolute blast. The facilities are beautiful, clean, and top of the line. There were so many cool creatures and things to do. There is a touch pool for manta rays, which includes the option to feed them, there is a penguin parade where they bring the penguins out, and there are educational talks. There was also a penguin encounter, which we paid extra for, and was well worth it! It was a group of about 10 people and we got to talk to staff 1 on 1, pet the penguin, and get a great picture (included in the price). This added about another hour onto our visit.Throughout the aquarium there were food facilities and plenty of places to sit. The aquarium also includes eye level exhibits, exhibits you can see from above the water, and even a walk through exhibit that was surprisingly long and included a conveyor belt ride, which is also a novelty.Lastly, when leaving, we got to see the gift shop which has something in the price range for everyone. The shop even includes art done by the penguins, which is pretty unique. We walked away with two items from the shop for a affordable $25.All in all, if you or your family are even the least bit interested in animals or nature, visit. If you're still on the fence, they had a trophy saying they were voted the best aquarium in America in 2018. If you don't go, it is your loss!
Megan L — Google review
Great experience for the kids. It was advertised as the best aquarium in the US. I don't agree, but it's definitely worth the visit. Lots of interactive things. The 🐧🐧🐧 exhibit allows kids to crawl inside for a better view.
David M — Google review
This is one of the best aquarium I've been to right behind Chicago's aquarium. We went during Easter and it was jammed packed. But it took us about 1hr to get through. All I can say is I wish I had a better camera so enjoy the pics
Jeff F — Google review
Omg I love aquariums. Haven't been since I was a little girl. I prepaid for my tickets and photo with frame very highly recommend. Also if you loose your picture ticket you just gotta remember when you got thereish I have so many pics and videos it was awesome
Leah A — Google review
Very large aquarium. The walkway for the shark exhibit was one of the largest I've been in. The penguin parade was cute and our almost five year old granddaughter loved it. She really liked the play area also. The mermaid show was best viewed from the front, sitting on the side didn't show as much.
Kris K — Google review
Our family decided to drive down from Pigeon Forge to visit the aquarium. This was a first time visit for 2 of our family members. Shortly after we arrived the staff announced that it was time to feed the sharks, what a great experience to watch. It was a busy time so there was a crowd of people trying to watch the feeding. However we were still able to watch due to the staff spreading out around the tank. The abundance of sea creatures and the various display tanks made viewing easy. At the end of the attraction, everyone has the opportunity to touch/pet a stingray if you so desire. One of my favorite things to do. No matter what age, this is an amazing experience for everyone.
Dawn M — Google review
Content wise this is a very nice little aquarium. Nice variety of attractions and It's always an enjoyable way to spend an hour or so. I just can't give the aquarium more than three stars due to the price. Truly, the pricing is absolutely ridiculous. This would be a fantastic aquarium for $20. However at the current price it really is hard to justify the price tag. Honestly, I'd recommend spending the day and driving to Chattanooga if you are visiting Tennessee.
Cory B — Google review
We really enjoyed the aquarium. The price was fair enough. There is a parking garage behind the aquarium and parking is $10. There were a lot of kids there when we went due to field trips however it didn't really impact our visit, just have to be patient and wait your turn. The staff could be a little more friendly however we still had a good time takes at least 1 hour to go all the way through and that includes stopping briefly for each view of different aquatic life.
Stephanie — Google review
Our kids had and us parents had a great time here. I came as a kid probably 20 years ago and was so excited to bring my 3 kiddos now. We highly recommend stopping here on your smokey mountain vacation!
Brandi H — Google review
Straight up magical. It's an aquarium yes... but I had NO idea that there would be mermaids. Oh... my... gawd... I had to remind myself over and over that I am a grown woman. The little girl in me kept screeching about the mermaids though.Seriously, if you have children that love fantastical things like mermaids you need to get them to this aquarium.The staff we encountered were all incredible and courtesy is not a word lost upon them.It was a bit pricy to enter but it was a price that I would gladly pay again.Prepare to spend at least a few hours exploring this delightful playground where fantasy and reality blend. The only real issue we had was that it was very crowded... but I'm fairly certain that is to be expected in any setting of this variety.
Unicorn S — Google review
We took our family for the first time. Our grandson who is 5 months old loved all the colors, and watching the fish. We had a wonderful time walking through and seeing all the fish, sharks and more. I wish we could have seen the sea turtle more. Our grown adult children loved it as much as anyone. We took our time to walk through and think we were there about 2 hours.
Amanda C — Google review
Adults and kids and a great time here. The kids loved the play area pictured. The penguin parade was cute. There was a lot to do and see here. It was worth admission, especially if you have kids.
Dan A — Google review
Very cool for adults too! Went during the week and wasn't crowded. Neat exhibits. Great displays. Parked in the parking garage behind while we visited the area all day$10(card only) we bought tickets at the door, no waiting 10am
Stephanie M — Google review
Super underrated aquarium!, plenty of staff and all the fish and animals look very healthy and happy!. Great place to take the kids to learn and get away from the heat of the day. Make sure you get there early or there will be a line out the door.
Matthew ( — Google review
One of the best aquariums that I have been to. I love tunnel you walk through and it is a whole huge fish tank with lots of different sharks and sea turtles swimming above and around you. So cool! They have a penguin show. Definitely a must if you are in the Gatlinburg area.
Lindsay S — Google review
It was amazing. The shark tunnel was super neat and had a moving floor panel to move you along or you could walk it. We had the opportunity to touch the moon jellyfish and the rays which was really neat. There is a mermaid show, if visiting you'll want to be about 15min early for a good seat. There was a large playground in the middle and tons of interactive stuff, if visiting with kids. 2 places to eat/snack as well! It was such a cool experience and totally worth it.
Cristy Z — Google review
Best Ripley’s aquarium I have been to. Lots to do with great exhibits and The tunnel in the tank is amazing. Kids playground in the middle is big, you could spend a long time there. Very crowded but manageable.
Lex C — Google review
Worth the money! Tons of exhibits, friendly and helpful staff. The penguins are the best! You get to touch live stingrays without paying extra. It's a great place!
Adam R — Google review
The exhibits are great! The tanks all looked great! I could sit and watch the majestic sting rays for hours. The walk to and from the parking garage is not for people with bad knees. The city is working on the parking garage closest to the aquarium, and the elevator was not closed. You start at the top floor of parking and it's one way only. We got very lucky and got a spot in very close to handicap as they were all full on a Wednesday afternoon. It's probably a quarter mile unless you can do stairs, that cuts of the 4 handicap ramps that are for wheelchair access. All in all, a great adventure!
Emily B — Google review
My wife & I brought our 2 granddaughter's (10 & 12) while on vacation. Decided to get the Ripley's Combo Tickets pack. They had already decided to go here & a couple of the other Ripley's attractions, so the combo pack was the way to go. The aquarium is a good size, expect to spend a few hours here, there is a lot to see & do. Everything from exotic fish & other sea life, an albino python, to the shark & rays tank. Shark Lagoon allows you to walk through an underwater tunnel through the tank. There is also an area where you can pet the rays. They also have a mermaids show where, at the end, the mermaids will swim up behind you & take a pic. They have a play area, food & drink places, & plenty of photo ops. They also have a locker area inside by guest services where you can rent a locker to put belongings in, which is very helpful. The girls loved it, & we all had a great time. Would definitely recommend it if you're in the area.
Ed J — Google review
Really good experience! Maybe a little pricey at $40 a ticket, but the Aquarium +2 attractions ends up being a great deal! We spent at least 2 hours or so here. I was nicely surprised at the accessibility of the ASL videos & captions and how few stairs we came across. Learned a lot, saw lots of cool animals, and touched a sting ray! I'd recommend and probably even go again!
Claire G — Google review
My family loved the aquarium this one was so much better than the one we have where we live! The sharks were amazing to see up close along with many other animals! I feel it was a bit pricey for the time you spend there and it doesn't help that you usually have to park a little bit away and pay and walk to the attraction instead of parking there or having parking included in ticket prices.
Shauna F — Google review
Went to the Aquarium for a visit today 6/20/24. We were able to park in the parking garage with no problem, but we did get there early. The parking garage fills up quickly. We were able to walk thru the whole aquarium at a nice leisurely pace without feeling rushed and before it got crowded. The Staff that we interacted with were friendly and helpful. We were able to feed the stingrays. It was a fun experience for the whole family and we would recommend a visit if you're in town. We definitely recommend going early if you don't like crowds. Gatlinburg in general including the aquarium gets busy real quick.
Randall E — Google review
We went to the aquarium yesterday and I have been a few times before we do not live that far away. To my surprise, it was not like our other visits at all. The water was very dirty yesterday which was surprising to me because every other time it has been absolutely beautiful. Also I had never noticed before that several areas had a bad odor also seems to me that some of the lights were out. The large play area I feel takes away from the aquarium, kids seem to want to go play there instead of looking at everything else. Everyone there was very nice and the kids love that you could touch the stingrays.
Amanda H — Google review
This is the best aquarium I've been to in years. Not the cheapest but you get your money's worth. Every time we thought it was finished, their was more layers. The penguins are especially cool and we happened to catch the mermaids appearing as well. There are also two playgrounds for the kids that are quite fun.
Will R — Google review
The touch a ray bay and feeding was the BEST. I wish I'd known it was the last exhibit when following the path. Parking is available in the garage behind. The trolley drops off guests on the side of the building. The aquarium offers a 30% military discount including veterans and immediate family. Must show proof.
RJS S — Google review
This is an awesome experience, the kids had fun the entire time and never asked to leave. We like this aquarium much better than the Chattanooga aquarium. If you find yourself coming to Gatlinburg and have kids make sure you stop by Ripley's aquarium, it will not disappoint!
Shane G — Google review
Was staying in Gatlinburg with the family and decided to go here on day 2. There are pay-for-parking lots across the street as well as a parking garage that's also self-pay. It's a little walk across the busy street to get to the actual entrance. It's a busy area so keep that it mind if you're with kids.Once you arrive at the entrance, there are 2 options. If you paid online, you can get right in line. If you are wanting to pay in person, you have to go to the ticket booth and pay, then get back in line (if you are wanting any kind of discount, like military- you need to pay in person). They offer a 30% military discount, which is great!The line is wheelchair accessible and there are wheelchairs available at guest services, right by the ticket booth.The gift shop is right when you enter and there's a little bit of congestion as you enter, but that gets better as you walk through. A lot to see and explore, beautiful place. We loved the penguin parade. Worth the visit.
Laura H — Google review
It had been several years since we had visited. We really enjoyed our visit. We watched the dive with the sting rays & the penguin feeding. Those were neat. You can also have the option to touch jelly fish & sting rays which my child loved. I really thought it was great that almost every area had a sign language video for those who needed it. You don't see that many places! The parking garage behind the aquarium is one of the cheapest places to park in the area. It is 10$ whereas almost every other lot is $20. Staff was nice. Restrooms were clean. I do think the ticket price should be more affordable, that is my only complaint!
Megan E — Google review
Amazing place! There's a little bit of everything, including a play place for the kids. We loved it so much, however I would urge you to go early as it gets verrrrrrry full later in the day! We would definitely have passes if we lived closer, 10/10 recommend 😁
Amy T — Google review
4.6
(39313)
•
4.5
(15128)
88 River Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA
(865) 430-8808
14
Forbidden Caverns
Mentioned on
7 lists
Nature & Parks
Caverns & Caves
The Forbidden Caverns is an underground cave and river attraction in the eastern part of the Great Smokies. It is open to the public and features stunning underground caverns with colorful lights, as well as a cave river that flows under English Mountain.
So fun! This was my first time taking a cavern tour or really exploring caves in any way so not much to compare it to but I had a great experience. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the different formations and history of the caverns with the moonshiners and Native Americans. The underground river is amazing and some of the formations are really breathtaking! They also have a generous military discount which is always appreciated. Would recommend this to anybody visiting on vacation!
Taylor M — Google review
Great tour and experience! Fun tourist spot to check out and not too far from Pigeon Forge. The road is a bit tight and windy, we had a camper because we were leaving town so that was a bit challenging. The tour guide was very kind and educational and cavern's a unique experience. I couldn't believe how far down we traveled, the average tour takes about an hour to complete.You will walk the full thing, there are a few low spots and tight areas which the guide points out and the path is clear and easy to navigate. Our pictures turned out great when we were down there! I recommend wearing a sweatshirt/jacket and tennis/closed toe shoes. Price was $20pp. I didn't think it was bad, and it helps to support the caverns and small town business.
Ashley D — Google review
A neat little excursion! The tour isn’t long. If anything, I would have liked to linger at the various stops for longer. But it was a neat experience, good price, and I would like to go back to take my children next time.
Audrey W — Google review
I really enjoyed this cave. I didn't expect much as the information suggested it was a small cave and the tour was only 0.5 miles round trip and a little less than an hour long. There were a few places where there was a low overhang but nothing too strenuous to deal with. Floor was pretty level in most places so mobility shouldn't be much of a concern. There were also only a few steps going up as the entrance and exit have a ramp.Turned out it was much better than I expected. There were lots of different types of formations and most of them are still growing. According to the guide this cave has one of the largest Onyx drip stone formations in the United States. I didn't see much in the way of cave life but others said they saw a few frogs and other small creatures.Due to the availability of a river running through the cave and the remote location, the caverns were used to hide a moonshine still during prohibition. There are remnants of many whiskey barrel rings and parts of a still. Not sure if the still in the photos is an original however.The caverns were also used in the winter by Native Americans looking for shelter. Several artifacts were found inside, however they are no longer on site. The guide also said that there were flint formations inside the cavern as well that were used to create arrowheads.Overall a nice little excursion although it could have went a little longer so people could appreciate many of the formations a little longer. Definitely worth the price of admission if you are into exploring cave systems.
Robert B — Google review
The cavern is beautiful. A fun stop and would be refreshing stop on a hot day.We arrived as soon as they opened and were on our tour within 15 mins. It was a group of maybe 20 people.The cavern is about 58 degrees. My group felt comfortable all wearing shorts and t shirts but the people in leggings and sweatshirts looked cozy and comfortable as well.Random side note if you care: it felt like smells were amplified in the cavern so have good hygiene or others will smell it.
Kiara J — Google review
Beautiful cavern with a guided tour and a moderate walk. Native American history and moonshine history were explained by the guide. Pieces of scrap metal and a partial moonshine still are present today. 11 miles of cavern are said to be mapped out but you only get to explore maybe a half mile of it. Guided tour took less than an hour for 25$, beautiful and worth it just wish we could’ve seen more. An underground stream runs through the cavern and can be seen at several spots along the path and can be heard through most of the tour.
Colton L — Google review
I came here for my birthday to have fun with my family and absolutely enjoyed it to the fullest! I haven't been here since I was a kid and needless I loved it still. We got to see newts which was awesome but no bats this time. Definitely will be back and I recommend all should go here for this amazing experience!
Courtney R — Google review
An amazing little adventure to do with the family! They label the tour "moderately strenuous" but it's not too bad. We had three kids under the age of 10 and they all had a blast. There is a small part of the tour that they turn the lights off, but it's only for a second and no one's walking while they do it. The rest of the time the path was well lit and easy to follow.Make sure to bring a sweater if you're the type that doesn't like the cold. It was 85°F outside and less than 60°F in the cave... perfect for hiking, if you ask me =)The tour is guided (which we didn't realize until we got there) but our tour guide was very knowledgeable and let us stop and take pictures whenever we wanted.The tour itself took about an hour, but there's also a gift shop and a picnic area, if you want to bring a lunch.
Jason V — Google review
Title: An Unforgettable Journey into the Depths: Ace's Captivating Tour at Forbidden Caverns, TennesseeRating: ★★★★★When it comes to exploring the hidden wonders of the world, few experiences can match the sheer excitement and awe-inspiring beauty of a tour through the Forbidden Caverns in Tennessee. And if you're lucky enough to have Ace as your guide, prepare yourself for an extraordinary adventure like no other.From the moment Ace stepped forward, his infectious enthusiasm and magnetic personality set the tone for an incredible journey. His expertise and passion for the caverns were immediately evident, as he effortlessly blended historical facts, geological insights, and entertaining anecdotes into a truly captivating narrative.Ace's ability to inject humor into his storytelling was an absolute delight. He had the entire group, including myself, in fits of laughter throughout the tour. His comedic timing and witty remarks not only kept us engaged, but also created a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. It was evident that Ace not only had an extensive knowledge of the caverns but also possessed a true talent for connecting with his audience.As we ventured deeper into the labyrinthine caverns, Ace's expertise shone through. He expertly navigated us through the narrow passageways, sharing fascinating tales of the caverns' formation, ancient discoveries, and the various geological formations we encountered along the way. His explanations were clear and concise, ensuring everyone in the group could appreciate the wonders before us.One of the highlights of the tour was Ace's knack for making the caverns come alive. With his imaginative storytelling skills, he effortlessly transported us back in time, allowing us to envision the ancient civilizations that once sought shelter within these hallowed halls. His vivid descriptions painted vivid pictures in our minds, creating a sense of connection to the history and natural wonders surrounding us.Ace's attention to detail was exceptional. He ensured that each member of the group felt included and engaged, taking the time to answer questions and tailor the experience to our interests. His patience and genuine enthusiasm were evident as he shared his knowledge and passion, leaving us feeling enriched by the entire experience.Forbidden Caverns itself is a breathtaking marvel, but it is Ace who truly brought the tour to life. His infectious energy, entertaining humor, and wealth of knowledge made this journey an unforgettable one. I left the caverns feeling inspired, educated, and with a newfound appreciation for the natural wonders that lie beneath the surface.If you're planning a visit to Forbidden Caverns in Tennessee, do yourself a favor and request Ace as your guide. His charm, wit, and expertise will ensure that your experience is nothing short of extraordinary. Trust me, you'll be talking about this tour for years to come. In short, Ace is a savage. My girlfriend also was very impressed.
Alex C — Google review
Our guide was informative, it was really cool (literally and figuratively). We didn’t feel rushed. I learned a lot! To me it was more worth it cost wise than my trip to Ruby Falls.
Mireya M — Google review
This is a .5 mile hike there and .5 mile hike back. The hike is very scenery and beautiful. I have provided pictures of what you will be seeing. It is very interesting at that Elijah Oliver cabin. I am so glad that we went. My son really enjoyed it the whole family did. It was a great experience.
Christina N — Google review
Beautiful caverns. We didn't get to see the whole thing because it rained for two days before we came. But what we did see was beautiful. Staff was super friendly and full of information about the caverns
Brandy P — Google review
Fun tour. Don't be tall. This was my first time in a cavern and our tour guide was amazing. Very cheerful and funny. 👍🏻
Samuel H — Google review
This was a real treat.It's absolutely awesome to see all of the rock formations, the underground river and the lighting is great.Our Tour guide Laila was very nice and informative.There are steps. The ground is sometimes slippery. There are hand rails to help at many spots.I was with a person who had double hip replacements in their late 70's and they made it fine with some help along the way.Definitely recommended when you're in the area. The entrance fee is reasonable and everyone had a great time.
Osvaldo S — Google review
This place is awesome! I can’t remember the name of the lady at the ticket counter but she was really funny and awesome! We loved her! She was helpful with the gift butterfly we bought in the gift shop and how to make it cooler by making it stand up. Angie at the opening of the tour was so sweet and fun! She recommended a wonderful Mexican place to eat which turned out to be amazing! All the guides through out the tour was very nice and informative! The caverns themselves was absolutely breathtaking! Thank God it wasn’t flooded when we went and was able to do the whole tour and we was self guided. Would go back again over and over.
Danielle H — Google review
Pretty interesting. Me and the wife enjoyed it. Word of caution, this place is not stroller friendly. If you have a cane, crutches or issues walking I wouldn't recommend it. Most of the ground is very uneven, or slick or both. Tour guide was every informative and funny. Gift shop was reasonably priced. I think tickets were $20, well worth it.
Justin H — Google review
What a cool place to visit. If u like history and don't mind a little dirt u will love the tour. Our tour guide was very friendly and on point with the information about the cave. She had only been there for 6 weeks and I couldn't even tell
Ashley H — Google review
My family and I had an absolutely wonderful experience at the Forbidden Caverns! We all really enjoyed seeing this active cavern. What a unique experience! The caverns temperature is 58°, if you get cold easy, I recommend bringing a jacket or sweater. The tour guide did an amazing job going over the history and science of all that encompasses the cavern. It was really interesting to learn about it. Highly recommend it if you're looking for something unique and fun to do with the entire family! We'd go back in a heartbeat.
Nicole R — Google review
I love this place. Very beautiful, unusual . People who work there are super nice and helpful. They tell you stories about these caves.
Tatiana P — Google review
My husband and I had a great experience here! This was a bit of a last-minute activity for us, and I am so glad we opted to do this! There is a free parking lot across from the building, and the restrooms (by the way, are very clean!) are located in this parking lot as well.Our tour itself was awesome. Our guide, Diana, was great. We were in the front of the line so we could hear everything well. I’m not sure if those in the back of the line could hear as well, but it seemed to me like she was projecting her voice well. We toured the cavern as a group with one guide. We learned a lot of interesting facts about caverns in general, as well as facts about these specific caverns. Our tour definitely lasted the guaranteed time, if not longer.As I mentioned, this was a last minute activity for us, so we did not come prepared. I had sandals on and we did not bring jackets. There is a lot of moisture in the cavern and it is 58 degrees, so I recommend a jacket and gym shoes. Some places have puddles and it can be kind of slippery, but I was totally fine in my sandals (I was being extra careful, however).Passageways can be narrow and low. My husband is a tall guy and was crouching for a large majority of the tour, but he didn’t mind. On the tour, there are 9 steps you have to go up, 50 you have to go down (you do not have to climb back up these), inclines, and declines. We didn’t have any issues. The steepest incline was going back up into the gift shop. The gift shop had some cool items and were priced fairly.Overall, we had a great time and would definitely recommend coming here! It is worth the price and time.
Grace B — Google review
The Forbidden Cavern is in the Smoky mountains area. It is an amazingly beautiful limestone cavern with an underground river there, along with lovely natural sculptures.The person who guided us in the tour was also very good. The cost was $25 per person. Also it's pretty close to Sevierville so it didn't take too long to get there, if you're living in Sevierville when visiting the Smoky mountains.
Bina S — Google review
The wife and I went here, and we loved it. The guides were awesome. Big open areas with some tight paths. Really cool place to go and take the family. Will go back again.
Steve 0 — Google review
This place was great! The tour guide had a weird, dry sense of humor, but I liked it lol. Also, I'm very fascinated by rocks, rock formations, etc. So everything was exciting to me. I really wanted to see a bat, but unfortunately that didn't happen, otherwise, everything was cool and informative!
Adrianna T — Google review
Looking for something different to do today, I hook up with MIB Adventures and we go underground exploring. Some pretty cool caves here and yes cool 58 degrees 200 feet underground with a river. Another off the beaten path thing to do in Tennessee. ✌️😎
Aaron B — Google review
I have been coming to this area for decades and only just now learned about this magnificent attraction. The cave is beautiful, our tour guide Halley was super sweet, and the price was reasonable. Definitely worth a visit.
Chris K — Google review
A very nice cave tour! Our tour guide, Alex, was very knowledgeable and a super amazing guide. She gave a very detailed history of the cave as well as lots of information about all the different formations. The tour itself was quite interesting and we really enjoyed seeing all the unique formations. Highly recommend!
Greta B — Google review
Had a great time exploring the caves!! The only reason I did not give a 5 star is because I felt like the tour was short/rushed. Didn’t feel like we were there that long. But it was a great tour.
Jordan W — Google review
awesome 👌Came here on a Saturday morning shortly after they opened and it was a large crowd but it moved quickly ! You go down as a group and your tour guide gives you the history and lots of facts about this still live cave.We recommend wearing sneakers and I personally recommend not wearing white... its an active cave so the ground is wet, there are muddy puddles and dirt/debris. I enjoyed that end of the experience as it brought it more to life than it already is !!!There are stairs, there are small hills to walk up and down but what a treat to see such beauty in nature !!!
Adrienne S — Google review
We have visited many times and every time my family thoroughly enjoys it. The staff is really terrific and it is great to visit during the summer to have an opportunity to do an activity out of the heat. It's alot cooler in the caves so we tend to linger. It is a family friendly activity that even small children enjoy. It's a very pretty place and a nice experience.
C M — Google review
This was a cool experience and our guide was very knowledgeable. There are some tricky spots, stairs, and moisture throughout, so I recommend sneakers and a light waterproof jacket when visiting. The tour lasts about an hour. I wouldn't recommend for children younger than 6 unless they're especially interested in caves. Our daughter is 8, and she had no problem negotiating the cave, but smaller children had to be carried in places. Tours are groups of about 20. There is a free parking lot.
Natalie T — Google review
Was it worth $72 for the five of us? Yes, the admission fee could be lowered for what it is (maybe $10/person). The tour guide was nice, although with a big group it was very difficult to hear from the back (I’d recommend going with a smaller group size). The formations were impressive. My daughters had fun for their first time inside a cavern. None of us needed any extra layers for the temperature (I’d recommend solid sole shoes though, not flip flops).
Skychaser J — Google review
The cave was beautiful and lots of history/information. Unfortunately it was very difficult to understand our tour guide because she said she's having "bad allergies" and her voice was off. Other than that, it was amazing!
Trish A — Google review
lilah was a very good host.My daughter and I certainly enjoyed it
ExtremeODPlus — Google review
The cavern is definitely cool, literally and figuratively. If you get cold easily then bring a jacket. The tour guide knew her stuff and was very informative. Great for kids and adults. The tour lasts around 50 minutes or so. Worth the money.
Blake W — Google review
Excellent tour guide, she was very funny and provided a great experience. Our crew was able to safely navigate through the cavern and view the amazing features of this cavern. Highly recommend.
Miguel R — Google review
4.7
(2688)
•
4.5
(1362)
455 Blowing Cave Rd, Sevierville, TN 37876, USA
(865) 453-5972
15
Smoky Mountain Outdoors (SMO) Rafting
Mentioned on
+8 other lists
Rafting
Tours
SMO is a well-renowned rafting company that offers some of the best white water rafting in the area. With options including level 3 and 4 rapids, as well as beautiful scenery and perfect weather, this is an experience not to be missed.
Amazing experience! Our guide was Miami and he was great the whole way. He clearly had done the route many times before and easily guided us through the level 3 and 4 rapids without anybody going overboard. The weather was perfect and the scenery was beautiful. The run was a total of about 2 hours and was a ton of fun. Highly recommend!
Taylor M — Google review
We’re from Ukraine and lot of our friends from USA recommended us this company. Smokey mountain outdoors rafting was the best place I got unforgettable emotions for whole my life. We were so pleased with my husband with all services from booking to trip. We had an Upper trip and it was funny. Especially when we pass the falls. Our guide was very polite, explained all the nuances and we got an amazing rafting experience. Everything was safely and comfortable. I truly recommend this place for visiting for everyone. You'll be happy with the whole process, promise you!
BUBLIKMUA A — Google review
SO AMAZING!!! ❤️..I booked our group here. I'm so glad I did. We had 32 people, and everyone had an amazing time. It went smoothly. Even the little ones had a blast. We did the upper, and I was nervous for my 11 yr old grandkids. They loved it so much! Our guide was amazing, California girl (Ace). Thank you so much for showing the kids a great time. They talked about it for 2 days.. I wanna thank all the guides.. Everyone loved them.. we're booking our next trip and we've decided to come here again!!!
Debbie F — Google review
Decided to do rafting for the first time and I expected an adventure out of this tour don’t get me wrong it was fun and exciting but only when there was those loops/waves. We had our guide she wasn’t very engaging half of the ride you’re just quite looking at your surroundings with other strangers.The waiting place has a food truck and there’s a little shop in case you need sunglasses or water shoes.
Rameci R — Google review
Amazing!! So worth the price. It was cold out and very windy but it was such a great experience. I suggest to not take lazy family members as It’s a good amount of physical work (6 miles worth of rafting). My family got stuck with a family who did not participate and we ended up doing all the work & the instructor was not too fond of them either. Overall, it was very fun and we are definitely doing it again next time we visit TN!
Bee M — Google review
An extremely well organized and disciplined company. The kindness shown by the Security Staff as i got down from our car and he saw me limping was commendable. He immediately asked me to get in and allowed us to park closest possible to the Office. This speaks volumes about their commitment. Even the time slots allotted were followed perfectly. Our guide Ms. Tia was phenomenal. She looked after us and our grandchildren with dedication and tenderness. It’s much appreciated. Overall an unforgettable experience. To those visiting this area make this spot as the number one place for your River Rafting experience.
Bharat B — Google review
MUST DO!! This was definitely the highlight of our trip. We had so much fun. My group was made up of people 10 years old through 55 years. It was great for all ages (Upper Pigeon Forge but not the extreme one). Our guide Tia was great. Very knowledgeable, funny, most importantly safe! We got to jump out of the raft and swim a little on a calm part of the river. My 10 year old even got to ride on the front of the raft with his feet hanging river through rapids. All though I was a little scared about that, he had so much fun and was completely safe. Would definitely recommend for all ages.
Alycia A — Google review
First time rafters here and we were super happy with how it all went. Be sure to check in with plenty of time as they have a gift shop and you will want time to get on sunblock and use the facilities. You can rent a small locker for $2 otherwise leave most items in your vehicle. Upper Pigeon trip was not too hard or scary even for kids but it was still very exciting and beautiful. Josh was our guide and he was great! You can wear caps but sunglasses need a strap unless you don't mind potentially losing them.
Theresa C — Google review
This is a MUST DO! When we got there we were like omg how are they gonna handle all these people? The service was very well managed. We were taken out for our float trip in a very well managed timely fashion. SMO has approximately 90 tours guides for the visitors to not have to wait very long. They have lockers available for $2 if you need to put your car keys up. They also sell waterproof packs and have a gift shop available. There are a few food trucks available at the location if you get hungry. Also in the bathrooms they have changing rooms, and showers available not to mention blow dryers for the women. Our tour guide Alex was great! Would do this again without a doubt if back in the area. Definitely if given the chance "ride the bull" aka on the front of the raft with your legs over the raft. My nephew who is 13 had the time of his life on this vacation.#ALEX
Michaela B — Google review
Ya'll have to try this at least once! Because after that you'll want to go again and again!When we went (4.6.24) the water was cold, but that is the only con I can think of. The experience grossly out weighs it being cold. Plus don't like the cold plan for a summer trip.Our guide was very knowledgeable and guided us safely down the river. I believe his name was Josh but I'm bad with names...I highly recommend checking them out! I'm definitely going to be going back!
Joella M — Google review
such an amazing experience!! my lady and i did the extreme version of the tour, and it was awesome! we got a smaller boat, so we were able to move quicker and whatnot, making for a super exciting experience! our guide was Gabby, and she did an amazing job! if you can, request her for your tour, and you won’t regret it! thank you SMO for an amazing experience
Kevin B — Google review
This was a great experience for our family during our Spring Break vacation! Prior to booking, the lady who answered the phone was very helpful answering all our questions. Getting prepared to board the buses and was very organized. Our guide, Nila, helped all of us to feel totally comfortable before starting, and she was very entertaining. The kids, and my husband and I had a great time. The water was freezing, but it was really awesome!
Jill C — Google review
Great time with my daughter on the lower section. Because the water was moving so fast we were actually taken up river a bit so as to extend our trip. Judo was a stellar guide! We will definitely be back for the upper section. Worth every penny.
Matt D — Google review
We were a party of 9, all first time rafters and did the Upper river. We were in two boats (6 & 3) but were within sight and sound the whole trip. This was one of our favorite activities done for the week. It was so exciting, fun, and safe. We did not see a single person flipped into the water and there were lots of rafts. Our guides Geoff and Garett were amazing! The entire event was so smooth... Check-in, meeting the guides, gearing up, riding the bus, getting on the water, riding the river, departure and equipment removal all we're so seamless. We loved our experience and highly encourage it to all.
Stormy M — Google review
We did the Upper & Lower River experiences and both were equally great! Our tour guides were Tom & Slim and they made the day so fun. Staff was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions we had about the Smokies while we were floating down river. Great experience and rapids weren’t anything too crazy, would recommend this experience to families with kids as well.
Abigail F — Google review
What can I say? The entire family had a blast! We did the lower pigeon river rafting because of our 4 year old but all of us had a great time, especially the short swimming portion! Heather was our guide and she was great!Thanks to everyone at SMO for the great experience!Check out the video on our YouTube channel: Fig 5 Adventures!https://youtu.be/gomSwbcrgOY?feature=shared@SMO Yes, Please feel free to share our video.Thank you again! Awesome Experience!
Adrian F — Google review
We used multiple companies on our trip and we had a few issues, although overall experience was nice. So first of all, it was off season and guides were training. Everyone has to start somewhere but our guide (I think it was one of her first times out) dodged most of the rapids. I appreciate that learning is important but other companies put their trainees in their own raft which doesn’t effect guest experience. I was disappointed that we missed 80% of the rapids due to the guide being hesitant to go through the rapids. We also had to paddle a lot because of the guide steering the boat around the rapids and then we would have to paddle backwards because we would get too close to the boat in front of us. I feel it’s the trainers duty to guide the trainee and make sure they learn how to hit the rapids right and guide the boat. Additionally, you have to pay 2$ for a locker for your car keys and then take your locker key on the river with you. And it’s 10$ if you lose your locker key. Other companies hold your car keys for free at the front desk. Just seems counter intuitive to bring something you don’t want to lose on the river.
Delaney R — Google review
This was a really fun experience. The guides were great and it had been raining for several days, so the experience was a great combination of challenging and fun. Would definitely do it again, and I recommend it to others!
Steph W — Google review
It was a fabulous and fun time. Ziggy was the best guide ever and such a great sport! We were 3 Seniors with some mobility issues and Ziggy was so patient and helpful! Recommend for an anyone looking for a fun day.
Barbara F — Google review
If you take their rafting trip ask for Shawn! I knew by his laugh he was going to the best tour guide! Dude was determined to have a good time, there wasn’t a dry seat on our raft.The views you get from the river are spectacular and you won’t see this in the tourist areas!!This company also offers a package to zip line as well!Highly recommend doing it!2.5 hours rafting and 2.5 hours zip lining.This was our honeymoon trip and it was absolutely incredible!
Ashlyn B — Google review
So much fun! My family and I had a blast. Roger’s was our instructor and we loved her!! This trip was for my son’s birthday and she had every single group sing happy birthday to him on the river. Great experience and would definitely recommend!! We will be back again 😀
Rachel M — Google review
A very fun experience!! Tia, our tour guide was very friendly and knowledge. Made sure we were all safe. She really seemed to love her job!!
Jill F — Google review
THE BEST!We had an amazing time rafting the UPPER PIGEON. This was the first rafting trip for my 8yr son, and I had booked a lower pigeon. We got there and talked at the check-in office - got it changed to upper pigeon - the best decision - my son thoroughly enjoyed it!Staff at SMO are extremely friendly and supportive of any changes (availability and best interest).It was a packed day, but they handled it well - they are very well organized and structured, a big shout out for people at parking, at the check-in office, they help run the place efficiently. Our trip guide Tyler was phenomenal. Took approx 90 minutes for the upper region, and I believe it is the same for the lower region, too.They have approx 84 tour guides onsite, very professional - ensure the trip is fun and safe for everyone. Ample parking, clean amenities onsite - shower, bathroom, changing station, locker ($2), etc. are well maintained.The only downside is the pricing of the pictures taken, which is a bit expensive for what you get.It's a MUST try activity for all ages, and these guys are absolute pros and make the entire trip fun!
Madan N — Google review
It was first time for many people in my group. We all enjoyed. Guide was very good. When we went it was class 3 rapid at one place. Rest of the places are two or below. It for kids and old age people it awesome. Lot of parking and very well managed.
Raghukumar S — Google review
Party of 4, old folks. Just left the rafting and amazing is nothing compared to the experience, thrill, and fun. Sean was our guide. Funny and professional. Very knowledgeable. Kept us aware of all the tips and tricks to make our experience a safe one. We were even able to swim free for a while. They have bathrooms and places to change clothes, showers too.Highly recommend this company and their amazing workers.
Ariana M — Google review
This place is Awesome. Very well organized, extremely professional, every team member was friendly and excited to help. From booking our registration, the guide, the photos, all the way through the end, HUGE 10 Star rating. Plenty of parking, equipment provided and the food truck food was delicious 😋💥💥💥💥💥
Matt R — Google review
We had a great time with our kids ages 10 and 12. We did the lower river with guide Rev. Dean who was absolutely fantastic!!! Even our friends in another boat said he was the best. He did so many cool tricks and made the experience so memorable. All the staff were friendly and their system is smooth. Great experience!!
Britt B — Google review
what a perfect adventure. Our guide was Bart, he was GREAT! I highly recommend this company. This was my fourth time white water rafting and this place has been the best so far. they are very organized.I wore crocs with the strap (sport mode) and they stayed on the whole time.
Poly F — Google review
I went here leading a university group over spring break. The management was patient as I needed to communicate things to the group before making the decision about purchasing photos and was very accommodating when I needed a receipt for providing a tip to their guides. The guides we rafted with was Josh and Miami, which were both a hoot and provided us with an amazing rafting experience, letting us bull ride and spin through some rapids. All my students who participated in our spring break trip said this was the highlight of their trip. Thank you for this amazing experience and we will most definitely be coming back again in the future.
Courtney J — Google review
Decided to take our boys rafting for the first time. This is the perfect river for someone who has never been white water rafting. It has good rapids but nothing that will scare the pants off newbies.
Christopher G — Google review
Took my grandchildren and we had the best time . Our guide Bart was the best guy he made sure that we had fun got wet and enjoyed our trip.
Candice C — Google review
Me, my husband, and two kids (9 and 14) rafted with Stoney today. The river was pretty calm but it was a great intro to rafting for my boys. Stoney was awesome, super knowledgeable, and probably the best of the bunch! ;) we’d definitely come back!
Ashley H — Google review
We loved river rafting. Our 4 year old had a blast, this was one of the only places that allowed little ones to enjoy rafting. Lauren our guide was awesome and super sweet. We had a blast!
Maggie R — Google review
We had a great day today rafting the Upper Pigeon River. Our guide, Shelby, was fantastic and kept us laughing. The facilities are organized and very clean. The pictures were great and worth the money. We will definitely return!
Cassie T — Google review
Amazing time with the family! Our guide was Alex, and he was the absolute BEST!! This was my first time doing something like this and I was extremely hesitant, but Alex was wonderful throughout the whole thing and made me feel safe and at ease. Highly recommended 🙌🏻
Erin E — Google review
I chose the Upper River option for my group and I was very happy with the overall experience. It seemed like all the rafting companies launched from the same location and SMO traveled down the river the farthest. The onsite facilities were clean and the staff were very friendly.
David K — Google review
4.9
(2111)
•
5.0
(6009)
3299 Hartford Rd, Hartford, TN 37753, USA
(865) 430-3838
I'll never travel to Asheville without this trip planner again
16
Rafting In the Smokies
Mentioned on
2 lists
Raft trip outfitter
Tours
River Rafting & Tubing
Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks
Experience the thrill of whitewater rafting with "Rafting In the Smokies" on the Pigeon River, just a short drive from Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Maggie Valley. Choose between the upper tour for adventurous rapids or the lower tour for a more family-friendly experience. The guides are praised for their great communication and informative yet fun approach. After your exhilarating ride, take advantage of on-site showers to freshen up.
We had the best time. Our rafting guide Jabels and Aaron were awesome and had a great sense of humor. If we ever come back to the area I would definitely go back again!
Natasha D — Google review
We did the “upper” rafting tour. Which consists of level 3 & 4 rapids. The upper is for those who like adventure/challenge/adrenaline dumps.The “lower” rafting tour is more suited for families with small children and/or elderly people who are not usually physically active. The lower consists of level 1 & 2 rapids, with more “flat” water.Our rafting guide was Heather and she was great! Just listen to your rafting guide and you will have a fun and safe time! And yes, you will have to row a paddle but they will teach you how.
Alia A — Google review
Our first experience as a family going rafting and the lower river family float was the perfect way to g et our feet wet! Our son LOVED it and was ready for more. We felt completely safe and our guide Allie was amazing!Highly recommend for anyone wanting an adventure without the fear!
Jessica D — Google review
Amazing experience credit to our guid Patrick. He gave us a tailored experience with more excitement than the others. Hands down a great guy. Everything was organized, safe and fun. Will definitely return!
Laura R — Google review
So much fun for our family! Our youngest is 12 and didn't have a problem with the rapids at all. All of the staff is super friendly and the guides playfully banter with each other as the groups go down the river. Our guide Elias was awesome! HIGHLY recommend you go with this rafting group!
Kara — Google review
Just finished our trip and had a great time! Bobby was our guide and he was great. Everyone seemed great and seemed to really love their jobs! Would definitely recommend these folks! And then go grab some amazing food from Grab It n Growl food truck a block away
Kimfogs — Google review
Highly recommend this place! Everyone was so nice and helpful from the very beginning! We booked the 11:00 window but were told to book the later afternoon spots in the future order to ride the really good rapids! We loved our guide Heather and highly recommend you request her! She’s very knowledgeable about the river and funny! We also recommend getting the picture package, totally worth $40!!!
Jamie C — Google review
We had a great trip! Our guide did great and had patience with one nine year old on our trip that didn’t help row. Rapids were great but not over the top. Recommend this trip for sure.
John B — Google review
Lexi was our Rafting Guide and she was amazing. Lock your feet in and follow all instructions from your guide. Zip lining was John and Eric, and they were a blast! Highly recommended!
Scotty Q — Google review
This was our second time to go white water rafting as a family and everyone had a wonderful time.Our guide was great and answered am off our questions. The rapids were mostly class 2 but we did guy a couple class 4's along the way.We also went Ziplining as part of a combo deal we bought. The Ziplining was good, not great. The family felt rushed through the course.I am still giving the entire experience 5 stars because we enjoyed ourselves that much overall.
Brandon P — Google review
It's my first time doing it with my family and it was awesome. Went there 08/09/23 rafting time 1:00pm-2:30pm, our guide was Brad, he is fun and knowledgeable about the waters. He even gave some useful tips to my son as his co-captain for the boat. A definitely must do when you visit Tennessee.
Pia R — Google review
As someone that can't swim and was terrified the entire time leading up to it, I truly appreciate our guide Elias! His jokes and puns and reassurance made the experience more fun. I felt safe with him as my guide!
Frankie B — Google review
Lots of fun!!! Camping was amazing!! Nice clean showers and kind owners. Fourth of July was incredible with fireworks. Definitely be back!! Very family oriented. Thank you for a fantastic time.
Kim H — Google review
We've gone rafting in the Pigeon River for several years and this year was the best, it was also our first time with 'Rafting in the Smokies'. All the guides get along great, good communication and an informative fun time. Isabella was 10/10 and deserves a raise. 👏 Overall I feel like it was more efficiently ran and a smooth process for checking in/getting back with this company. Bring your water shoes, and a change of clothes. There are also showers here for afterwards!
Crystal C — Google review
Such a fun experience for my husband and I, and it was super affordable!! We were walk-ins and they were able to get us in within the hour. Our guide Mason was super funny and knowledgeable, and the scenery was absolutely gorgeous. We highly recommend eating at the Pigeon River Smokehouse right across the street before or after your trip. The brisket sandwich was sooo good!!
Hallie F — Google review
Amazing experience! My fiancé and I had never been whitewater rafting until yesterday. Koda was our guide. He was very friendly, funny and knowledgeable about the area and whitewater rafting. He was easy to talk to as well and recommended tasty pizza at a restaurant in Gatlinburg after we asked what restaurants in the surrounding areas had gluten free food. The experience surpassed our expectations and was such a blast! Highly recommend to anyone that’s considering the adventure. It’s worth it! And from hearing conversations from other groups, it appears that everyone is in great hands regardless of the guide they get! They all seem very experienced which makes a difference if you feel a little nervous/anxious trying something new.
Ashley J — Google review
Had a great time in our rafting trip. Our guide B was awesome and made the trip even more fun. She asked if we wanted the wild ride, or the regular. My teens opted for the wild ride and it was a blast. Splashed everywhere, bumping up and down , and even taking a swim in the (very cold) river.
Nicole Y — Google review
Our family of 11 did the Lower Piegon River Float Trip. Sabrina was the guide for my raft and we couldn't have asked for a better guide. Besides being efficient and knowledgeable, she was very friendly and entertaining. The scenery was also beautiful.
Stacie K — Google review
Moss was a great guide. Had a 9 yr old with us and she had a blast. She said it was her favorite part of our week long trip. She got to just sit in the front since the paddle was too big and enjoyed all the dips and splashes. Loved how quick and efficient everything was to get into the water. Grabbed a bunch of souvenirs and quality photos from the experience.
H P — Google review
TRENT was the most incredible guide!! Our entire group (kids were 5, 10, and 13!) had an absolute blast. He was fun, funny, knowledgeable and overall just a great person. You’d be so lucky to have him! All the other staff was patient and helpful. This is definitely the company you want to raft with! Hope to see you in GR Trent! You rock!
Jennifer L — Google review
Fantastic experience! Our guide was Hobbit and he was highly skilled and entertaining. The rapids ranged from 1-4 and were lots of fun. Definitely would recommend this company! All of the raft groups were having a great time.
Shelby D — Google review
We did the ropes course, zip lining and the lower white water rafting with our group. Overall the guides were amazing and made it so much fun. I don’t think we would do the ropes course again but zip lining and white water rafting was a hit! It was our kids first time doing both (they are 12,10, and 7) and they absolutely loved it. We can’t wait to go back and try the upper river! Definitely recommend
Josh J — Google review
We had an amazing experience with Rafting in the Smokies! The guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and ensured everyone's safety while keeping the adventure fun. The rafting trip down the Pigeon River was thrilling, with just the right mix of rapids and calm stretches to enjoy the stunning scenery. The equipment was top-notch and well-maintained. This is a must-do activity for anyone visiting the Smoky Mountains, and we highly recommend Rafting in the Smokies for an unforgettable outdoor adventure!
Pradeep P — Google review
Great experience. We had our kids out for their first time. Stanley and Lars explained safety and put them at ease. Super friendly and patient. Great experience and beautiful river views. Food nearby or picnic tables for packed lunches.
Wortham B — Google review
We had an absolute blast! The office staff was so accommodating to my goof up and we needed to change the time from 11:15 to 12. The tour guide was phenomenal! Everyone we came into contact was so friendly and very funny with lots of funny jokes. Two of us were scared but they were so good with us. Highly recommended! They have showers and change rooms for after the rafting and they take pictures of you that you can purchase. We had so much fun!
Stephanie M — Google review
What a wonderful experience white water rafting!!! We were lucky enough to get B as our tour guide and she was amazing!!! The place is wonderful, we had a $12 discount and the equipment is very clean!! I can’t rave enough about how wonderful this place is! It’s our second time coming here and we will never go anywhere else! They are funny & show you a great time!!
Amanda O — Google review
Great price for such an exciting experience! Taylor you are small but mighty! I fell out and she got me back in the raft quickly and safely. It's beautiful and peaceful with just enough thrill to get the adrenaline pumping.
Christy` C — Google review
We had an amazing time with Doug! He was super friendly and informative. Felt like he made it his mission to show us the best time possible. Everyone there was great and took care of us. 100% recommend Rafting In The Smokies!!
Scott H — Google review
William, you are awesome! Thanks for being our guide. We had a wonderful time. Nice rapids too!It was PACKED on a Saturday morning.
Kevin F — Google review
Everyone there was super nice, friendly, and welcoming. The rope course had different levels for each person’s comfortability. The guides for the rope course made sure to explain the rules and that they could assist throughout the whole course. There is a chance for rope blisters, but the staff had first aid prepared. To avoid blisters, one could ask for some gloves. The guides for the zip lining were very experienced and could show off their tricks on the line. It was cool to see and a great experience!
Terri T — Google review
Went here with a group of 11 with kids and adults. We first went zip lining and it was great way to have my first zip lining experience. The zip lines are not super long so for first timers is helpful. The workers were informative and attentive. Sean and J1 were our guides and made sure everyone was safe, comfortable and having a good time. We brought lunch and were able to eat at the picnic tables but they do have food places around. Our second activity was the lower level rafting, due to ages of kids, and it was one of the coolest things I have ever done. You have to paddle on the lower levers rafting but get to relax more down the river. We were able to hop in the water at one point and float down the river with the mountains all around us. The Mountain Views were a sight to see. Our guide Jason was the best. He was friendly, informative and helped us be the first boat to make it to the pick up spot. He also was able to lift me out of the water and back into the boat which I was worried I wouldn’t make it back in. He was able to answer all our questions and made the trip enjoyable. The youngest kids got to sit in the front of the boat and enjoy the ride while the rest of us paddled. You need water shoes to participate and will be putting on a helmet and life vest. Great place to bring the family.
Michelle C — Google review
4.8
(1575)
•
5.0
(3311)
3595 Hartford Rd, Hartford, TN 37753, USA
(800) 776-7238
17
Smoky Mountain River Rat Whitewater Rafting
Mentioned on
5 lists
Rafting
Tours
Raft trip outfitter
River Rafting & Tubing
Smoky Mountain River Rat Whitewater Rafting offers a variety of whitewater rafting excursions in the Smokies, catering to both beginners and experienced adventurers. Families with young children can enjoy a thrilling yet safe experience, thanks to skilled guides like Barbie who excel at easing fears and building excitement. Booking online is convenient, and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. The facility is easily accessible, making for a hassle-free experience.
Definitely a “must do” experience while visiting Tennessee. Ask for Ewok as your guide and you won’t be disappointed in the slightest, I can promise you that much. Luckily my girlfriend and I were able to get our own private boat as the other group had 11 people in it. Definitely happy that they gave us our own boat with the one and only guide, Ewok! Incredible experience that I will definitely be back to.
Dominick R — Google review
Hands down, one of the most fun things I have ever done. We had Justin and Bobbie as our guides and they were wonderful. Very helpful and very entertaining. My only complaint is that it didn't last longer haha I could easily ride the entire length of the river with these two. Very knowledgeable and very helpful to someone who had never rafted before. I highly recommend River Rat to anyone who is looking to tackle a whitewater adventure. They will take great care of you. 10/10 recommend!
Taylor W — Google review
Being from Texas we had no clue what to expect, but we were excited to try it! My 11 year old was pretty nervous. We got Scott as our rafting guide. He was great! He had my daughter sit by him and he assured her that she was safe with him and he would make sure of it! Scott was very informative and fun to talk to. He was true to his word and made sure my daughter was good the whole ride, while also making it fun for us adults. We got caught up on a big rock and Scott made sure to get us off of it without anyone falling in or flipping the boat, which seemed pretty impossible at the time. I would highly suggest River Rats upper river rafting adventure and if you can request a guide, Scott is your man! I can’t wait to go again!
Sarah W — Google review
Smoky Mountain River Rat Whitewater Rafting gave us a great trip! Our guide Bryce made sure we had a safe and fun trip. He was able to confidently steer us through the rapids. We were in a group of 6 with only one of us having prior rafting experience. We highly recommend this company and especially our guide Bryce! We will be returning when we are in the area again!
Lisa S — Google review
Did a little Whitewater rafting with River Rat whitewater rafting on 6/22. Rafts and equip. were all top notch !!! Our guide Grace was super awesome and fun, she definitely made the trip more exciting. The rapids were fun and short runs with some float time between each set of rapids. Bus ride to the put in spot was about 10 minutes. Overall a great experience.
Andrew G — Google review
I could not have asked for a better trip! The scenery was gorgeous, the rafting was a blast, and Jamie was THE best guide ever! I’m not just saying that because he plucked me from the water after I fell out, but great to talk to, very knowledgeable, and did everything to make it the best experience. I will recommend this to everyone I know and go again! Thank you River Rat and especially thank you Jamie for a great time!
Adam B — Google review
This place is awesome. Sean was great and always in control. The Pigeon River was a fun/challenging rafting experience. The team prepped everyone, felt completely safe, but make no doubt this is a challenge. I had my 12 and 14 year old with me and they had a blast, they got full instructions and were comfortable. I'd highly recommend River Rat and Sean!
Drew D — Google review
We had the most amazing experience! We were first time white water rafters, but Van, Ashley and Myranda made sure our experience was extreme but also made us feel super safe. It was truly unbelievable! An experience of a lifetime and now thanks especially to our guide Van, we cannot wait to plan another white water rafting trip! He went over anything we could have dreamed of to make our trip down the rapids the most amazing memorable time possible!
BJ G — Google review
100 out of 10! What an amazing time we had! We got to shoot the rapids. Surf the river! My so. Even got to swim! Shane was our guide and I would recommend him to everyone. He did such a great job getting us into the right spots and making sure we had fun! Best rafting company around! Next time we come we will definitely be a River Rat!!!
Matt P — Google review
There were many Outfitters to choose from in the area. I am 100% convinced we chose the best one. From the time we arrived until we left it was tons of fun and lots of laughs. We were lucky enough to have Liam as our guide. This guy was on it. He asked how adventurous we wanted to be and we said, "Make it as adventurous as you can!" He delivered! Boy, did he deliver! We got soaked! We all loved it! We are hooked on white water rafting and are already looking at other places in the country to go. If you are trying to figure out the best rafting company In the Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg area I strongly recommend River Rat!
M T — Google review
Polly was amazing! I almost backed out because I was so frightened; Polly said that I could but she would not. She assured me that she had me and she did! Kept me relaxed and once we started, I loved it!! Very safe. We had no issues and even surfed a wave! I highly recommend. The raft guides were fun and knew what they were doing. This was an amazing adventure that I will never forget. I loved our entire raft team and had a blast❤️ If I can do it, so can you, exhilarating!!
Janean E — Google review
Our family took the white-water rafting tour while visiting during spring break. Our family had an amazing time, all the people were great! We filled 2 rafts and 1 of them had the young ones in our group ages 12 yrs to 8 yrs. Our young girls were pretty nervous but our guide Barbie was amazing with them, their fear melted away and they became excited and brave. Thank you Barbie for being so great with them, they still talk about you and the adventure! Also big shout out to Bryce, he was our guide for the adult raft. Bryce was so funny and knowledgeable! Thanks again to the crew of River Rat for a great adventure and memory! Pics were awesome!
Bridget R — Google review
Our family had a great experience with this company. It was easy to book online. The people on-site were very friendly. The bus ride from their site to the river is entertaining. Our guide named Chewy was fun. We had some first time rafters so he was careful to try not to flip our boat (as much as he can prevent), yet added just enough extra to make it adventurous. We would use this company again.
Angie — Google review
The best experience rafting, I was nervous at first, but once in the water all the stress is gone. The mountains are beautiful. The staff is excellent. everyone was really nice and kind. I m very happy to checked off one if my things to do at ghe Smokeys. Bring a change if clothes, there are showed in the facility including hot water💧. 😉
Dr.L E — Google review
What a great experience for 10 friends from out of town. We didn’t know what to expect and we’re made to feel right at home the second we walked in. Our guide Matt, was excellent! Just the right amount of fun with a focus on safety and a healthy dose of storytelling about the River, the area and the rapids. There were a handful of rafting companies in the area and we are so grateful we chose River Rat!!
Mike P — Google review
Was the first time water rafting and it could not have been any better! Staff all around were great and our guides were phenomenal! We did an all day pass and on our first go we had Polly who was an absolute blast! She made sure our experience was so fun and joyful, she was a blast to talk to, ohhh yeah! Our second trip was with Tito and he was beyond funny! He was just as good and he made our trip a little more extreme per our request! So many funny stories and such a delight! River Rat takes the time to truly go above and beyond which on the water it showed as we did things other places didn’t! If you want a great experience I highly encourage you come here and hope you get Polly or Tito as it was amazing we hope to come back!
Bradley L — Google review
Awesome trip! Our guide, Tate (Summer), was great and made the trip even better. Thanks for a great experience!
Steve M — Google review
Awesome rafting trip! Very professional and modern with online booking, waivers and digital portfolio for memories of the rafting trip which were emailed to me before we even finished the trip (my package was prepaid, but you can purchase upon your return). Restrooms and changing rooms onsite. Our guide was Elliot and she was awesome, entertaining and kept the trip fun but safe. Would definitely use again and recommend. Thanks for a great afternoon.
Cheryl B — Google review
I booked a group of 41 one week in advance (was so lucky!) River Rat was very accommodating and professional, easy to contact to ask questions and very organized. Check in at their clean, spacious facility was a breeze and all the guides were fantastic, talented and entertaining. Great bus and boats and safety equipment. The ride on the river was full thrill and our whole group had a total blast. Do not hesitate to book with this company. Such a gorgeous experience in nature! (PS - eat at the food truck after!)
Jessie B — Google review
We had Spencer as our tour guide and he was absolutely amazing! We had a wonderful experience down the rafts and had lots of great laughs. The staff is positive and funny and the price of the trip was priced good. We will definitely be going back on our next trip to Tennessee!
Cyria A — Google review
Our guide was excellent! I feel so bad, I can't remember his name now...maybe Spencer? He went over the rules with the entire group at the beginning. He was so great with deadpan comedy, even my husband and I couldn't tell if he was messing with our kids or not with some of his stories. Made the slower ride (we did the family friendly trip) enjoyable. We also LOVED the fact we could swim for a portion of the river. That cold water felt amazing in the 90 degree heat. Highly recommend this tour group!
Megan M — Google review
Our guide, John P was very informative and helpful! He immediately clued in to our 21yr old son, who has Autism, and made sure to accommodate him while including him and keeping conversation with him throughout the trip! He was knowledgeable about the history of the area. We thoroughly enjoyed his guidance. He made it very exciting! John P. was so positive and encouraging! We will definitely go back!
Jeffrey S — Google review
Best experience for our kids first time rafting. Ewok was an amazing and fun guide and knew exactly how to make our trip the best
Christina W — Google review
The best first experience and adventure ever we had :) Everything was so much fun and joy!!! We came to visit Smokey mountains from Virginia, Virginia Beach with a 26 people… all instructors were super professional and very knowledgeable about their skills and how to make us happy :) we all highly recommend it!!! we all are so appreciative for everything 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 It was Blast and the best positive vibes ever :)
Tony T — Google review
We had a guide named Steven laws and he was great perfect for my little family of 3 . I haven’t seen my 14 yr old daughter smile so much in a long time . The water was great and we can’t wait to do it again but maybe bigger next time
Kurtis C — Google review
Our family of 10 had a wonderful experience and trip! Steven and Casey were our guides and they were the BEST! We did the lower adventure since we had some little ones. Well organized, beautiful scenery, and very entertaining. Excited for our next trip! It’s addicting!
Mac C — Google review
Great experience with wonderful people! The staff and guides were friendly and knowledgeable. Booking was simple, facilities were clean, easy access to location. This was our first rafting experience and our family will definitely be back for more!!
Kristy S — Google review
Brought my mother down from Ohio to Tennessee as a mother's day/birthday gift and took her for her first White Water Rafting experience here. Hands down some of the best customer and adventure experience ever!!! Jamie F. was our guide and he gave us the best tour I could've asked for! Shared some Piegon River history and even gave some awesome recommendations for nearby places to see and things to do! 100/10, absolutely recommend choosing River Rat! Thank you, Jamie and River Rat! Our memories here will last a lifetime!
Abbie W — Google review
This was the best experience ever. Our guide was Jamie. He was very experienced and knowledgeable. He made a great adventure even better. The Sullivan family can't wait to book our next trip with Jamie and will be telling all of our family and friends to experience a awesome adventure with the river rats!
Marina S — Google review
Absolutely amazing experience! Our guide Anna was very friendly and showed us a great time. I loved the panoramic moves and the rowdy tipping. Ewok was the other guide for our large group and he had excellent humor and stories as well. We got to experience a quick save of some people who fell out and the River Rat company of boats all assembled in formation to get all of the swimmers and paddles back in the other company’s raft. Steve is a changed man. Thank you to Anna for the ice cream recommendation as well, Sweet Toad was delicious!!
Ethan D — Google review
Nick was our guide & we had a blast!! Everyone was super fun & helpful. Would definitely book again!
Stephani B — Google review
River Rat is by far the best white water guides on the Little Pigeon! While other companies were rushing through it all to grab another group to take out, River Rat took the extra time to make sure we had so much more fun doing things like Appalachian surfing. Matt was such a great guide! He told us all about the history that happened along the river as we went down as well as other fun stories. I would highly recommend him as your guide as he made sure we ALL had fun! (Our group was ages 8-66)
LaNae S — Google review
My wife and I had a blast! It was our first time and our guide Conrad Loveless made it an experience to remember! All guides look like they were awesome but I think ours was the best ! This is a must do! We did the extreme rafting and it was worth it!
Victor P — Google review
This has been a bucket list item for our family for years and we only had a small window of time to river raft during our stay in Tennessee. After reading several reviews and emailing a few companies, this company was the one we ultimately went with based on their level of communication and willingness to help as we are not locals. They were very easy to communicate with, provided reminders and gave us plenty of preparation details prior to our arrival. Knowing it was going to be cold day in mid- March, we still had an amazing time.They provided wearable gear which kept us dry and warmer than expected and we loved the pictures they captured of our family which were very affordable. We were a family of 4 with 2 kids, 10 and under, and the kids had a blast. The experience was well worth it and the staff was great overall. I especially appreciated how the staff was inclusive of the kids and explained the directions/expectations at level they understood. We loved their positive vibes and historical knowledge of the river and will certainly be back.
Lilliana D — Google review
Loved, loved, loved our River Rat adventure! Our guide Spencer was great with our kids and taught us so much about the river while making it this the highlight of our 2 1/2 week road trip! Also, get the photo package- you will not regret it!
Brandy F — Google review
We had a great time! Very nice facility with restrooms, showers and changing rooms if you come back wet. Very friendly staff and our guide Ewok made sure we had an amazing experience!
Abbie B — Google review
The four of us booked the reservation online for the upper river trip a few days earlier. No coupons needed, but the best prices that we found. One word to the wise, do NOT use google maps if you are coming from the Pigeon Forge area. It took us down a one lane narrow road (I swear I heard banjos playing), like 1 car lane narrow for almost 10 miles. Get on 40E and take it to exit 447. It is right off the highway.We got there early and were able to get off about 30 minutes ahead of our time. There was gear to get on and make sure it fit properly, then a ride to the launching point, and a safety talk. The safety talk has to cover all the what ifs (including the dangers), but like flying on a commercial airliner, they have to do it.Matt was our guide (a very experienced one) and made it fun for us first timers. He even took us down a couple of the rapids backwards to check it off the bucket list as he said. He was very engaging, knew the area well, and was also very personal. It definitely wasn't a canned script. If you get an opportunity, request Matt.The photo package was worth it.
Dave R — Google review
This was our first time to do river rafting and so glad we booked it with River Rat. Everyone who works there was so helpful and friendly, and made it a delightful experience. We were lucky to get the best guide (in my opinion), Joshton. He has a lot of knowledge and expertise, and corny jokes. What more could you ask for? We had the best experience with River Rat! We would definitely recommend them to anyone!
Rosi S — Google review
4.9
(1117)
•
5.0
(907)
3630 Hartford Rd, Hartford, TN 37753, USA
(865) 448-8888
18
Raft Outdoor Adventures
Mentioned on
4 lists
Raft trip outfitter
Tours
River Rafting & Tubing
Raft Outdoor Adventures is an outfitter in the Smoky Mountains that offers a variety of guided rafting trips, catering to both leisurely floats and thrilling whitewater experiences. Families visiting the area can also enjoy activities like scenic hikes and educational programs at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors have praised the friendly staff and knowledgeable guides at Raft Outdoor Adventures, who provided informative insights about the Big Pigeon River.
This was an AWESOME white water rafting trip. There were many challenging rapids, which made it exciting and super fun! We had an excellent guide who was instructive and also entertaining. Make sure you have water shoes or shoes that are secure and can get wet. It can be challenging to get to the location, check out the roads before you trust your GPS!! Would HIGHLY recommend this trip!!
Candace D — Google review
This was, by far, the best part of our trip. We loved every moment from beginning to end. We left wishing we would have booked another tour. Thank y'all so much for the memories. And we had the best guide ever! We will definitely see y'all again.
Shontelle O — Google review
We had a WONDERFUL time on our trip with Raft Outdoor Adventures! We had a large group of 14 (so 2 rafts). Both guides (our guide was Zack) were knowledgeable and made the trip so much fun. They were so accommodating and made us feel welcome and comfortable. Some of us aren't swimmers, but we were reassured that it would still be an exciting and safe adventure. And they were absolutely right. Book them! "GIRLS RAFT PLUS ZACK!"
MeShea J — Google review
This group was fun, easy going, and super friendly! We love opportunities to support family-owned businesses, and this is one. Our guide Kaylin was great, and we had a blast out on the river doing a few fun tricks, and splashing the other rafts we came with. We felt safe and in good hands the entire trip. Highly recommend!
Rebecca S — Google review
My family and I had a blast!! This was my kids first time to go white water rafting and they loved it! Our guide was wonderful and everyone there was so great and helpful! We would definitely recommend Raft Outdoor Adventures to all of our friends and family and plan to go back again someday!
Charlotte F — Google review
My family and I had the best time on our trip with this company. I highly recommend this company for a fun and safe trip. The instructors and staff are great and friendly, they make you feel welcome. The rafting trip is super fun and exciting.
Jami H — Google review
Truly the best whitewater rafting experience! AJ was a great guide and enjoyed the trip down the river. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. This was the most memorable part of our vacation and very much glad that we booked it.
Dani — Google review
So much fun! We had a blast even on a colder day. I will suggest renting wet suits if the weather is colder. It helped a lot! Sam was an awesome guide. Very knowledgeable and handled being peppered with questions the entire time. He was also great at adjusting the experience to our group and making us comfortable. My wife was very nervous but ended up having a great time!
Adrian M — Google review
This was the perfect rafting experience for our family with two young children (8 and under) it was a calm rafting experience with some thrills mixed in between- just enough to make the kids happy! We got to swim in the calmer rapids, which was pretty cool too! Our rafting guide, Zach, was awesome. He was great with the families, kids thought he was funny and he was very knowledgeable. This was one of our favorite adventures while visiting Gatlinburg! Would highly recommend this company and we would most definitely raft here again!!
Lisa — Google review
We loved the white water rafting experience. Our guide was Halie. She did an awesome job and was very friendly. I love how she gave us lots of info and history about the Big Pigeon River and she was very knowledgeable about rafting. We arrived plenty early and the staff was good about telling us what we needed and what needed to stay in our car. There were several groups that arrived late and caused us to have a long wait to begin the adventure. When it was over, we were able to change in the nice bathhouse. However, I was disappointed with the availability to purchase photos of our adventure. I wanted one digital copy of one picture. They would not allow me to purchase one picture. The only option was to purchase all 12 digital pictures of our raft for $35. I would suggest taking your camera in a waterproof case around your neck and taking your own pictures. We will do it again!
Laura R — Google review
I booked a trip with my husband, my 12-year-old daughter, and my 75-year-old mother with Raft Outdoor Adventures. The staff was extremely friendly, even though they were much busier than I expected them to be. I had no idea how many people would be out rafting on the river! They took good care of us, explained everything well, and everyone had a great sense of humor. We all enjoyed the trip, got a taste of the rapids even though we were on the beginner trip, we got a little wet - make that a lot wet!! Benny, our guide, was adorable and made sure we all had a blast. Thanks for an amazing trip we won’t soon forget!
Teri D — Google review
This was a great experience! Very professional crew and we felt like we were in good hands. Beautiful ride with the mountains and nature as the backdrop and very family friendly route...great for all ages.
Emily J — Google review
We had a party of 15 with some younger kids so we chose the lower river. We all the best time and want to go back for the upper river. Our guides were fun which made the float ever better. The office staff was super nice and helpful even when we were running late. Thanks so much for helping us make some of the best memories during our vacation!
Brandi M — Google review
Raft Outdoor Adventures provided an amazing experience for us as for timers. Our tour guide was Sam and he was an amazing guide. The water was a bit low but by the time we were done he had us feeling like we were old pros. I felt safe in his raft because he knew how to maneuver it perfectly.
Linda R — Google review
Had a blast rafting the Pigeon and would recommend doing it with Raft Outdoor Adventures. Directions to find the place on their website are very clear since GPS isn’t quite right. Great service at check in - kind and friendly. The guides all seem great. My family rafted with Sam and he was a super cool dude. The group had some rafting experience and the water levels were a little low so the whitewater wasn’t too gnarly, but instead of making our way down the river like any other group, Sam had us surfing and going down rapids backwards - whatever he could do to make it as fun as possible. I’d come back, I’d raft with these guys again, and I’d ask to be in Sam’s raft. Best part of our trip.
Ryan G — Google review
We had the best guide!!!!! Maybe we got lucky but Sam was awesome!! He was hilarious and made our experience extra enjoyable. The other guides on our trip were a lot of fun too. The owner was present as well and very friendly! We loved the trip down the river not too intense but definitely felt the adrenaline rush more than once. If you’re brave enough ride the “bull” at a few of the level 3-4 rapids do it! Don’t hesitate with this company! They are reputable. Sam our tour guide has been with them 9 years. Go for it and have a blast! You’ll get 7 digital pics at the end for $35 if you choose to purchase.
Kristen D — Google review
This was such a fun and adventurous experience! All of the employees seemed very friendly and nice, but our guide, Sam, was the best! He was very knowledgeable about the area around the route of the lower river and he kept the whole trip fun and up beat. We also had an 8yr old and 4yr old with us and they had a blast as well! Would 1000% recommend this to everyone! You won't regret it!
Brittny W — Google review
We had a very good experience on our recent rafting tour. Check-in was easy, staff were friendly, and the facilities were clean. It was a busy day on the river, and our guide (and seemingly all the guides in our group) did a good job of ensuring our safety and enjoyment on the rafting adventure.A few things that could have been done better or differently:1)My party was in the back of the bus, which made it nearly impossible to hear one of the guides giving the safety and procedures talk before disembarking at the launch site. With all the windows open, the bustle of the other companies delivering rafts and tourists, and the engine running, those of us in the back could not hear even after it was mentioned we could not hear. I think going through the safety protocol would have benefited everyone if done before we boarded the bus.2)Similarly, we did not review with our guide what expectations were before we got in the raft. It wasn’t until we were aboard that that information was disseminated (though before we were pushed out to float).3)our guide was thorough and encouraging on the river. However, several times throughout, especially approaching or on the rapids, instructions were inconsistent, so the wrong side of the raft was paddling or not (for example: “forward one”, “forward one”, “right side forward one”, “forward one (so both sides pull) right side! I did not call for left!” Thankfully none of this confusion led to any scary or dangerous situations on the river.Overall, it was a wonderful morning and I would recommend to others seeking a river rafting tour.
Breanne D — Google review
My family and I had Sarah as our guide and she was amazing. It was our first time rafting and we had a blast. She put us at ease with her knowledge and humor. It's an experience we'll never forget!
Glimpse M — Google review
We had a blast! We went rafting in March so it was a little chilly but it was so fun we didn’t even notice. It was a perfect for our kids, 11 and 13. They loved it. We had AJ as a guide and he was so fun, helpful, and kind. We would definitely do it again.
Jill G — Google review
We had so much fun on this rafting trip. Our Guide Kaitlyn was fantastic. My husband had been before and knew what to expect. I had not, and she made me feel so comfortable. It was a great value and a very professional company. We highly recommend it.
Rick R — Google review
What an amazing thing to do. I was nervous doing for the first time, but it was thrilling fantastic. I highly recommend the staff was great especially AJ who was our guide. He was funny, knowledgeable and very responsible. I felt safe and truly enjoy the water rafting. I would recommend anyone in Tennessee to go here you would not regret and prices were good only wish they would print some pics nevertheless it was Awesome five ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Esther O — Google review
My family and I had such a great time at Raft Outdoor Adventures. We are here on vacation for my son’s baseball tournament, 7 of us. We showed up for our 11am booking only to realize I had accidentally booked it for the following week. The front desk staff was so understanding and helpful. They were able to squeeze us in on the next time slot. Eric was our guide, and he was great! Super knowledgeable and experienced which was nice being it was our first time rafting. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to white water raft.
Jordan K — Google review
We live close so we have been rafting several times with Raft Outdoor Adventures. This time we brought family from Ohio with us. Our guide Sam was the best! We are never disappointed!On Sun, Jun 16, 2024 at 1:04 PM Raft Outdoor Adventures
Charlene C — Google review
I have nothing but great things to say. The registration process was easy. The office staff was nice and understanding. I was so scared but I am glad I chose to do this. Our guide Sam was the absolute best. He joked. He explained. He was a great tour guide. The experience was everything. If you’re looking for a wonderful experience this is the place to go. Book now!!!!
Mia W — Google review
We had a wonderful time with Raft Outdoor Adventures! It was a first-time experience for our family of four and it totally lived up to our expectations! It was a thrill and we really experienced the power of the river, but felt we were in good hands the entire team with their friendly, knowledgeable staff.We went in mid-march, for spring break. Water was very cold, but tolerable. They offer wetsuits to help with the water temp and some of us used them.This was absolutely worth the money!
Diego A — Google review
Our little family enjoyed our rafting experience very much! Our children are 9 and 6 years old and were able to enjoy this adventure just fine. Our guide, Carver, was very courteous (especially with the children), knowledgeable, and he was so much fun! We learned a little history about the town as we paddled down the river, got to learn some tricks, and also enjoyed some R&R. Overall, an excellent first time experience! Highly recommend!
Kelly L — Google review
I brought my yoga retreat participants out for a white water rafting experience with Raft Outdoor Adventures and we had the BEST time. The guides are knowledgable and fun! We loved every minute and felt well cared for.
Go E — Google review
We absolutely loved our rafting trip. Our guide was amazing and we really enjoyed ourself. Our Girl Scout troop is ready for their next ride. Thank you!
Heather S — Google review
My trip in 2023 was amazing. I took my three children along for a ride on the lower pigeon river, and we all had a blast. It was adventurous, but me and my kids were able to handle the rapids. At the time they were 12, 10 and 6. Our guide was amazing.
Andrew — Google review
We had a party of five in our raft including two men and three kids ranging 8 – 10 years old. It was a wonderful experience from start to finish, great rapids, and a fun guide as well. We highly recommend this company and we’ll definitely be back for round two if we ever make it to this next of the woods again!
Trent H — Google review
This was a blast. We were a family of 9 and so they split us into 2 boats of 5 and 4 which was fine with us. We had Jill as our guide and she was wonderful. We were the lead boat and they made sure to have the rest of our family right behind us. We absolutely had a blast on this rafting adventure. She even made my nephew and daughter feel comfortable and safe. None of us had been rafting before. We will definitely come back and do it again.
Gwen C — Google review
What a blast!! We took our 7 yr old daughter with us and she loved it. We took one of the easier routes. If you are looking for something fun to do with the family, this is it!
Gene P — Google review
We had a wonderful time with our family. Just as we remembered 14 years ago with our young children. We took the same children with their fiancé 14 years later. Had a wonderful time back to back trips with Jill. Can’t wait to come back again. Hope to See y’all soon.
Rickey L — Google review
Very fun and exciting adventure. Have never done this, but staff teach and ensure your safety as best as possible, very funny too. Had a great time with family. Our guide was great and talk to us about rapids and historical facts. Will definitely visit again when in the area. Highly recommend the upper pigeon.
Morales12 — Google review
We had a family of 5 tour with Sam last week. We even had our 10 year old with us. Sam was AMAZING! He provided us with so much education and we feel that we really got a lot out of our trip. The river volume was only at 310 so our trip was a lot about learning how to navigate rocks etc. we HIGHLY recommend Sam and we will FOR SURE be returning on our next trip to Tennessee from Florida 💙
Nicole K — Google review
We had the time of our lives on this excursion. We were a family of 5 plus our guide (Evan?) on the Upper Pigeon River. The guide was full of interesting information about the river and the area in general. He recommended local places to visit and areas worth hiking, which we took his advice and found the local swimming hole he told me about. We had so much fun on this adventure, and the kids had the biggest smiles I've ever seen in my life. Non-stop smiles on their faces. As a side note, I bought my trip online, and there was a $13 discount code per person that I forgot to enter at checkout, so I emailed them and asked if they would honor that. They immediately responded and said they would. Upon arrival they honored the code no proble., which allowed us all to rent much needed wet suits so we didn't freeze while on the river. The wet suits were a game changer. We saw other people getting out of their rafts so frozen that they could barely walk. Our guide told us it was his day off and he was glad he came in to work because we made his job easy and super fun. I 10 out of 10 recommend rafting with them!
Amanda H — Google review
Friendly Staff and the guides were awesome. Shout out to Mickey. Was a bit nervous about the rafting, but they made us feel at ease and safe before we left and during the ride. Had the best time!!
Nancy S — Google review
Highly recommend! Went with my family and ourGuide was a blast, getting us all soaked (Which is what we wanted ) as hot as it was made it very comfortable and relaxing. Got to float in a few spots. The guide made it the best experience i could have asked for. My kiddos (8,11,13) made a point to go back to her and give a tip and tell her how much they enjoyed it.
Erik H — Google review
This place is an awesome adventure!! The whole staff is so friendly and knows how to have a good time. Tyler was our guide, and made our adventure both thrilling and safe. His knowledge of the river and clear instructions ensured we were well-prepared and confident. Tyler's calm demeanor and quick thinking during challenging rapids were impressive, as well as his engaging personality and sense of humor added to the fun!! Overall, Tyler made our rafting trip unforgettable, and we highly recommend him!!!
Lindsay W — Google review
The lower river rafting experience was really fun and had beautiful views of the river and mountains. We had a group of 8 that had 4 teens and 4 adults and we all had a great time. My son has sensory difficulties but our guide Tony was very patient and accommodating to his needs. Be aware though of the GPS instructions because it took us on a scary one lane road to get to the place so make sure you ask for directions over the phone from them to avoid that route.
Tania A — Google review
4.9
(3410)
•
5.0
(2009)
3635 Trail Hollow Rd, Hartford, TN 37753, USA
(866) 333-7238
19
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site
Historical place
Sights & Landmarks
Historic Sites
National Parks
Former president Andrew Johnson's homestead, with a visitor center & cemetery with his burial site.
Really well preserved historical site. A must see to learn of the complexities of this President whether you agree or disagree with his politics. Super educational. Tour guide was incredible.
A F — Google review
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site is a great place to spend a few hours and learn more about our 17th President. Start at the Visitor's Center. Get a Junior Ranger packet - great for all ages! Get tickets to tour the house - they are free and well-worth your time! Look through the museum at the Visitor's Center - dont miss the tailor shop! Watch the movie and then strike out for the three locations. It's a beautiful walk on a nice day. The drive to the grave site is also beautiful. Definitely worth an hour or two if you are in the area.
MomMapandMiles — Google review
4 stars because of construction. Just kidding! This is a nice park and I’m one of the people who would’ve been against impeachment. Would you be as well?The park happens to have the original tailors house that Andrew Johnson worked in. Pretty neat!
Henry M — Google review
Beautiful cemetery with lots of historic locations all around town! I definitely recommend seeing Andrew Johnson’s tomb and just soaking up the views from up top! Not a lot of parking but it doesn’t look like it gets that full during the day!
Daniel D — Google review
We enjoyed this important piece of history located off the beaten path. Unfortunately time constraints prohibited us from viewing the remote sites, but the home and museum were very interesting. Our kids enjoyed working on their Junior Ranger booklets on the porch of President Johnson's home.
Scott W — Google review
A great little town with a lot of history. Andrew Johnson site is amazing and the staff are friendly and helpful. Check them out. Please consider liking my review/pictures and follow along on all my adventures. Jeff Mullins Photography. It's All About the Adventures!
Jeff M — Google review
The visitors center is excellent and was quite cool to see how the structure houses Andrew Johnson's original tailor shop. The first home Johnson purchased in Greeneville is next door along with a replica of his birthplace in Raleigh, North Carolina. While not the largest presidential site I've visited they have succeeded in painting a fair and accurate portrait of the 17th president. While I still cannot forgive Johnson's strict opposition to racial quality during his presidency, I can say that visiting the site has changed my perspective on Johnson as an individual in a slightly more positive way.
Justin B — Google review
Strange to say it, but we had already visited Abraham Lincoln's grave earlier in the week and while it was impressive, this stop was better. The friendly ranger and his stories and passion made this stop well worth it.
William F — Google review
The staff at this site is excellent. Nuanced, but bluntly honest interpretation of a confounding man who came from nothing financially yet became a slaveholder, then gave the famous "Moses" speech declaring freedom to every enslaved person in Tennessee. Really knowledgeable staff at bookstore desk. Present impeachment process in fun interactive way that lets you cast your own vote. With impressively even interpretation of American slavery, sectional strife, and the impeachment process, this historic site is a must visit.
Connor S — Google review
Come & tour this informative location of Andrew Johnson! Wonderful, friendly, professional employees! Interesting!
Maple R — Google review
Able to walk to all of the attractions associated with the park. Easy parking. Very informative and interesting! Awesome food and coffee within walking distance also. Just a great experience! Wonderful small town!
Angela P — Google review
A little gem in a very pretty town. Many sites with the same name so the NPS logo was a big help finding it. A well done exhibit with a nice movie as well. Ranger was very knowledgeable and friendly. Easy to get between the site and the burial is up in a hill I relooking the area. Very pretty. Whole town is neat and pretty. Some very nice shops. A lovely drive as well
Alexandra M — Google review
This was a cool historic site to check out. The house where he ended up is a few blocks from the house he originally moved into but its not terribly far. Wasn't a bad place to learn about some history.
Kristy — Google review
Took our students here to explore the Beautiful History for a field trip and we all loved it. The tour guide was great! The home tells alot and is stunning!
United T — Google review
We had such a great experience learning about the life of Andrew Johnson and his family. Our guide was a National State Park Ranger who was informative and engaging throughout the tour. Would highly recommend adding this to anyone's itinerary. You reserve your free ticket and time slot for the tour by visiting the Andrew Johnson Visitor Center.
Jennifer H — Google review
Very well done. Extremely informative. My family enjoyed our visit.
Mike M — Google review
Very interesting to see. Downtown Greeneville is a really quaint little town. Some restaurants, it’s nice to just look at some really old stuff and a nice look around.
Chris G — Google review
Lots of information about Andrew Johnson, from birth through death. We were impressed they actually house the home and tailor shop where he and his family lived and worked. Lots of info about his presidency and the staff were very helpful.
Pam C — Google review
Great park. A lot of history here. Nice Visitor Center. They have a film you can watch, it lasts about 15-20 minutes. The view is very nice from the cemetery.
Judy M — Google review
This place is perched on top of a higher slope in the modest town of Greeneville, TN. Even though, it has an amazing view of the surrounding area. The centerpiece of this National Park parcel, is the burial memorial for our Beloved Past President of the United States - Andrew Johnson. His loving wife installed an amazing arch to compliment the original tombstone and to illustrate her love for him. It's uncommon.Regardless of your political opinions, it is legendary. And though statues of US history are no longer "in style" with current opinion leaders and mass media, this memorial is stunning and relevant. The tombstones surrounding it are made of marble and are engraved appropriately. I'm proud of my country's history and this is proof of our freedom. It's worth a visit and respect for our country's history.
Gidget S — Google review
What a pleasant suprise this place was! Knowing Johnson was an unpopular president beforehand, it was nice to come and learn more about him. My view of him definitely shifted. Great artifacts and rangers here. Definitely worth the stop!
Noah D — Google review
It was wonderful. The staff was welcoming! The theatre film was informative. The whole experience showing the reproduced original house, the Taylor shop and the later house that Johnson and family lived was great to see. The story of his life from where he came from to what he became can be an Inspiration to others! Very worth seeing!
Bob M — Google review
Andrew Johnson Visitor Center provided a wealth of information and artifacts surrounding Andrew Johnson. One of the highlights is the original Tailor Shop, which Andrew used. Very well preserved and awesome to gaze upon. It's highly recommended.
Dennis B — Google review
Very educational and well-kept facilities...for FREE! We learned a lot about our 17th President that we previously didn't know anything about. He had a tough road to walk.
Stacy F — Google review
20
Oconaluftee Visitor Center
Mentioned on
+53 other lists
Visitor center
Museum
Sightseeing tour agency
The visitor center features a state-of-the-art interactive indoor museum on the history of the area, as well as an outdoor museum with furnished log structures, including a smokehouse and springhouse. There is also an apple house and blacksmith shop on site.
Great stop! If you aren't a big hiker, just want to see everything...a must stop! 1st, just wanted to get a cancelation stamped, but this place had a nice walking trail n beautiful river view, so stayed longer and had a quick picnic here while enjoying the view. Didn't walk the trail, but sure it would be worth it too. There's more stuff to see outside. Was just a little breezy for me.
GiGi F — Google review
This visitor center is among the best I've ever visited. There's a terrific museum here, showcasing old farm buildings. We were lucky enough to visit when the blacksmith shop was being worked, and our girls got to take home a square nail forged by the ranger. Another treat came in the way of several elk appearing at the visitor center in the afternoon; we got to see two calves, 6 cows, and a bull! What an amazing experience that was! Highly recommended!
Jonah B — Google review
This visitor center is the main visitor center for the south side of the park. The interior is fun and filled with souvenirs that kids and families will love. There's a small wooden township just next to it that shows what life was like back in the 1800s. This area is also hugely popular for elk viewing. Just be sure to give them plenty of space.
Michael B — Google review
The first visitor center you will come across on the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In the early morning, expect to be greeted by the Elk herd. At this time of the year in late July, there were many does with their calves. The visitor center is close to the Cherokee entrance that also is the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. At the visitor center, there are many helpful faces. They are able to answer questions about the park and give ideas and insight on how to maximize your experience at the most visited national park in the system. They do have parking machines near the parking lot. For the daily parking, it is $5. The ticket is tied to your automobile license plate.
Richard G — Google review
We love visiting the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Farm Museum. We enjoy the self guided tour around the old farm the most. They still have chickens running around free range, but haven’t had any hogs there for a long time. I like to read all the plaques every time I go and it never gets old. There are many places to site beside the Oconaluftee River. The sound of the water rushing by is so peaceful.
L F — Google review
Beautiful center with lots of good views. The elk are probably the coolest part of this area with loads of them around the park. Interesting historical farm with live animals still in the property. The visitor center itself has lots of history on the area and good resources for hikers.
Cooper W — Google review
I love this visitor center. We have been a few times. There is a trail there that is one of the only 2 trails in the GSMNP where dogs can go. We used to take our pup there (RIP Lucy), but now we go to see the Elk and walk the trail. Our cat loved it too.
Susan B — Google review
Located in Smoky Mountain national Park Cherokee North Carolina this is a great place to go view elk. It all sounds trails along the river. A cool little settlers village that you can visit. Also if you're all hot tired sweaty and dirty you can take a dip in the River and is very invigorating. Bathrooms and vending machines located here as well. Going to The visitor center proper for some cool swag.
Warfather1964 — Google review
More than just a visitors center. This little stop had a miniature museum filled with information about pioneer living in the Smokey Mountains, a gift shop, a pioneer farm grounds to walk, and, if you're lucky, real wild Elk. This is my 3rd visit to this location since 1977. Staff was very friendly and knowledgeable about the area. It was a nice break from all the driving.
Robert S — Google review
We just went driving through the smokies traffic was a little backed up due to the fact that some elk were out. We saw 7 it was really cool to be able to capture pics of them . We also walked around the structures they had an apple barn a hog pen and old barn. If your ever in the area you should stop and take a walk around we were also able to see part of the river running behind the property. Pictures don’t do justice
Joan W — Google review
Nice and Clean and has a decent amount of parking. We saw an Elk bedding down on a trail and then saw a group crossing the road. The rangers stopped traffic to let them cross.
Michael B — Google review
Great selection of souvenirs within, decent prices though we did spend a lot all together. Staff at the visitor center were friendly until we declined to purchase a national park pass, then became excessively rude. Very beautiful visitors center with plenty to do around.
Sugar 4 — Google review
My husband and I love this place! It is a must see to view Elk just roaming around. Sometimes you have to walk a good bit to find them but other times they are all just in the front yard area or on the sides of the roads. We put in like 4 miles or more in 2 days and found tons of them!
Just P — Google review
Absolutely loved the Ranger led programs! Ranger Smith is a craftsman who shared his broom making skill and totally impressed me! I would take a class with him in a NY minute! Ranger Parker was a knowledgeable and friendly guide on our hike and we were sorry we missed his black smithing demo. They helped make our trip to the Smokies enjoyable!
Nancy N — Google review
Went to this visitor center while visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park in fall 2020.There is a big parking lot in front of the visitor center. There are restrooms too. There is a museum too. This is the visitor center near Blue ridge parkway. This one is in far better condition than the Sugarland one. While going there, we saw a group of elk roaming around.
Tasnim I — Google review
The village looked great for learning about life long ago. But we couldn't go through the exhibit because our dog was with us. Dogs are allowed on the path but not in the exhibit. So we walked along a great path that went beside the little village and then down to the Oconaluftee River.Beautiful river walk! We went by a bull elk and his herd of cows hidden in a thicket along the path very quietly, mindful of the ranger's warning to keep our distance and that they were dangerous if disturbed or up walkin around. We were 20-25 yards away.We didn't go all the way to the end of the path to the waterfall because of time commitments elsewhere, but we would have loved to spend more time there. We will go back.
Kim T — Google review
The Oconaluftee Visitors Center is a great place to stop. Several comprehensive displays of mountain life are on display. The park rangers are super friendly and very knowledgeable about the local area. They also have several very clean rest rooms and a very nice gift shop.
Louis E — Google review
Visiting center had great great views of park area. We were able to capture pictures of Elk grassing in open fields. There is a long path goes all the way around the park area and along a river. Beautiful sites to take in. Visitors center is clean and well kept. Old homestead buildings to check out and visit. Dog friendly place. Love to go back there. The Elk are everywhere around this place.
Barry J — Google review
It is the gateway to one of the most magnificent and well kept national parks in the USA (Smoky Mountains National Park). If you go between September and early December, you will see elks roaming nearby. Inside the center you will find help if you want to know more about the park and its trails. There is a small store were you can buy many little things including preserves from the area (highly recommended). Restrooms are always clean. You can even walk by the river and enjoy the surrounding nature.
Augustus — Google review
Absolutely lovely! The volunteers are so sweet here. The park itself is enchanting.The Smoky Mountain National Park has $5 parking passes and free admission... You can get them here, along with maps and stuff.THERE ARE ELK, and they're lovely.
Daymian S — Google review
This is a nice visitor center and very well located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We enjoyed our visit while at the park. The parking must be paid.
Siddharth S — Google review
What an awesome experience this place was. My main reason to go here was to see the wild Elk, which we did! But the rest of the visit was just as magnificent!
Rhonda N — Google review
Beautifully kept. Bathrooms are clean. The entire area is clean. There is a dirt walkway to take your fur baby on and go along the river. Elk came down later, more towards evening.
Christina H — Google review
Very nice to place to stop, after driving through the mountain. There are several elk in the area. A beautiful creek runs around the visitor center. Check the visitor center for road conditions and potential closure times, while there. They have a gift shop.
Michelle J — Google review
The visitor center was closed when we were there. It does look new and modern. There's plenty of historical buildings behind the visitor center that are very interesting to see. The log home has some of the largest cut logs I've ever seen on a home of that era. Also, a beautiful creek to hang out at. Elk are in the area and were in fields by the visitor center the evening we were there.
Boonies65 — Google review
Very nice visitor center!! Rocking chairs on the porch, especially nice for elk-watching. Good spot to plan for the surrounding area of trails and drives. Nice little gift shop and a nice - if a little outdated - museum section of the area. Very helpful staff :)!
K. M — Google review
This is a nice place to visit and see the Elk! We came during spring break and the herd was not all out in the fields yet. We enjoyed seeing them and enjoyed walking down by the river! Make sure you pay for your parking permit and please respect the wildlife!
Adam A — Google review
Nice walkable trail to view cabin home and outbuildings, we just had umbrella stroller and it was manageable terrain. Signs everywhere to stay off the grass, there were lots of bees. Clean bathrooms. 6 year old got stung on his foot in his shoe sadly. Yummy chocolate bars in visitors center. 😅 you are supposed to get parking permit for your dash. We had 4th grade national park pass I put on dash but I don't actually know what I was supposed to do with that.
Ashley N — Google review
The visitor center has a small souvenir store and museum with interactive pieces (but not all were working). The adjacent Mountain Farm Museum (a replica of local living prior to the parks creation) is more enjoyable in my opinion. So, if you're short on time and have to choose one go with that one.
Sylvia D — Google review
Absolutely loved this place, parking was a bit difficult but other than that we loved it. we stopped over by the blacksmith cabin and they answered all my kids questions and showed them how it all worked. We will definitely visit again
Amanda R — Google review
The staff was kind, and had some historical artifacts inside as well. The mountain farm was pretty cool, it's a nice walk out back and is next to the river. If you're lucky, you'll get to see the elk.The only bummer we had was the gift shop was closed for 2 days in a row for restocking of inventory.
Briana W — Google review
Never let's us down. We arrived later in the day and the gift shop was closed but we were able to walk the trail and view the elk (the main attraction). Still stings to pay $5 to park.
Paul V — Google review
Beautiful place! Great visitor's center with lovely porch, walking path, and public restrooms! We saw a small herd of elk in the evening!! Perfect!!
Jenny M — Google review
Nice place to stop an see the Elk. Also to use the restroom. It could have been cleaner. You can also purchase your Parking Pass here at a kiosk. As of February 2024 $5 a day
Andrea — Google review
Out of the three visitors centers we went to during our trip to GSM National Park in late March, Oconaluftee was my favorite, mainly because it was the least crowded! This is surely because of the distance from the more popular sites in the area, but its definitely worth the drive (which is absolutely beautiful, with a ton of great pull-off areas for photos)!! There was plenty of parking, which was a huge relief after having to loop the other VC parking lots a few dozen times waiting for parking spots to open up. The elk that freely roam the field behind the visitors center were very cool, and we had fun watching a whole herd of them stroll along the road like they owned it 😀 There is a beautiful trail along the river that was somewhat stroller friendly and very low level of difficulty. I highly recommend stopping here when visiting the Smoky mountains!
Karla W — Google review
4.8
(7203)
•
4.5
(1100)
Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 1194 Newfound Gap Rd, Cherokee, NC 28719, USA
(828) 497-1904
I'll never travel to Asheville without this trip planner again
21
Cataloochee
Mentioned on
+34 other lists
Nature & Parks
Nature & Wildlife Areas
Cataloochee, nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, is a historic valley that has transformed into a recreational area within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Once inhabited by an Appalachian community and used as a Cherokee hunting ground, it now offers visitors a glimpse into its rich past. Accessible only via a winding gravel road from Exit 20 on I-40 in North Carolina, reaching Cataloochee takes about an hour from Gatlinburg.
4.5
(393)
North Carolina 28785, USA
22
Hot Springs Resort And Spa
Mentioned on
5 lists
Resort hotel
Spas & Wellness
The Hot Springs Resort and Spa is a Swiss-style hotel located in Hot Springs, North Carolina that offers hot mineral water, massage and spa treatments. The resort also has primitive camping sites, suites, and cabin rentals.
This place is so well kept! We were stunned by the landscaping and decor. We didn't stay at the rooms as their accommodations with hot springs access were booked when we tried to make a reservation almost 3 months ago, so do be aware that if you want to stay here that they do need to be booked far ahead of time. We rented some of their deluxe hot spring tubs and stayed at another place nearby. We enjoyed ourselves fully there. I would advise some more bug control in the tubs themselves. Like bug candles or spraying, perhaps. We had quite a few wasps and spiders and such interrupt our peaceful soak. Views were beautiful from the two tubs we reserved. Although I would say perhaps a little bit more pruning is due to the plants in front of the river. As our view was slightly cut off. The staff was very kind and accommodating. Make sure you either fill out the digital waiver ahead of time or come even earlier for your appointment. They recommend 15 minutes but if you are gonna change there and use your full time slot you should come at least 20 min early. We really enjoyed this place, I don't know how the rooms are, but they look like generic hotel rooms. If we come back for the hot springs again id consider coming here.
Fallinangels _ — Google review
This was a highly romantic treat for my wife and I. We arrived 15 minutes early and we're escorted to our private tub and cabana. Staff was polite and accommodating. The water was at an excellent temperature. The experience was super romantic and relaxing. There was a shower, ample seating with an overhead heater and a gas fire. Would have been a solid 5* if....Despite the sign on the wall stating (I am paraphrasing) that there would be no refund or credit for malfunctioning water jets, that they sell hot spring water.In my opinion, I believe for what they charge especially in the high end cabanas the expectation of properly working hot tubs is just. Ours had one jet that sprayed above the water line and had multiple nozzles missing. We ended up shutting off the jacuzzi completely. Maintenance is a must if you run a business, not hanging signs that justify the lack there of.
Jeremy S — Google review
We enjoyed this overall but didn’t feel like we got the appropriate experience or customer service for what we paid. We booked 90 minutes but they came to shut off the tub 15 minutes early. They tell you it’s a “5 minute warning” but the tub starts draining and is empty within 90 seconds. Not really a warning, you have to get out right then. We unfortunately forgot to bring towels and asked them for some. They said “no we don’t do that” - so I’m just going to have to wipe myself off with my clothes in 40 degree weather at night? I mean seriously, just offer towels for $5 or something. It’s a resort, they must have towels on site. As we’re walking back in wet clothes, we approached the back door which was locked, so we had to walk back down and around to the front. Surely the employees near the spa could have let us know? For a town with tourism as the main industry, they weren’t very friendly and we felt like we were bothering them by wanting an enjoyable experience. The tub closest to us was full of people howling laughing and talking loudly, even though you’re supposed to be quieter, so we could hardly hear the creek running and really did not get a great experience for what we paid. It’s a shame because the mineral spa itself was incredible, but they’re really relying on people being willing to deal with all the other annoying stuff. We wouldn’t come back.
Chelsea P — Google review
This was a great idea! We did the Lovers Leap hike which is right around the corner and then grabbed lunch and scheduled a 90 minute soak in the hot springs.(Don’t worry mom, we waited 30 minutes after lunch before we went in the water.)We got the skinny on this place ahead of time and booked hot spring #5 which is apparently the best one because it has a killer view.It really does.Bring plenty of water and prepare yourself to chill the heck out.
Marc E — Google review
I absolutely loved my time here. My husband took me to Hot Springs, NC as a romantic suprise birthday trip and booked us an hour in the Hot Springs bath. We had such a relaxing time and will definitely be back. The hot springs baths are private, quiet and offer picturesque views. The jacuzzi style tub was so relaxing. The hot mineral water left us both feeling calm and rejuvenated. The establishment was very clean, the staff was professional and made us feel very comfortable. There is seating available outside of the jacuzzi tub to take breaks from the hot water and a fan was also included which feels great while you soak. This was a very enjoyable and relaxing experience.
Raven L — Google review
Quiet and peaceful experience. Honestly, didn't really know what we were getting when booking, we just thought the mineral spring bath sounded fun. Staff was friendly and the place was very clean. Our tub felt secluded and had a great river view. Tubs are drained and refilled after each use. I'd gladly go back.
David Z — Google review
We really enjoyed our time here. As an individual with limited mobility, it was kind of difficult to make the trek from the front office to the premium tub. Once we got to Tub #5, the walk was well worth it. The tub and fireplace right on the river was very serene and relaxing. We're looking forward to coming back. All of the staff were very friendly and helpful.
Clabon W — Google review
Cool little spot! Soaking in the mineral bath was lovely and very relaxing. Our bath and cabana were clean. The views were beautiful. In terms of feedback, the water was warm, but not hot. The ability to adjust the water temperature would be great. The changing rooms were super small. It also would be nice if towels were provided.
Maureen P — Google review
We came to enjoy the mineral tubs. It was 35 degrees, snowing and amazing!! We booked the Signature tub and got the Cascade. It was beautiful. The tub was perfect! The heater and fire helped keep us from freezing! The mineral shower was great as well. We had a wonderful experience!!!
Andrea B — Google review
I can only speak for the basic service. They pump water from the hot springs into hot tubs. The view is good, and it's certainly a good way to relax. I wish they had cold baths in the rooms so that you could cool off quickly and get right back in the hot springs water. As it is, you have to cool off by standing in the open air before hopping back in. Not a bad way to spend the day, and it was certainly good for our sore muscles.
Kamonichan — Google review
We just visited the Spa. It was very nice. Easy to navigate. The area we had was clean and the scenery was beautiful. We were on the river which was amazing. The hour was so relaxing and honestly I didn't want to leave.My only Complaint was with a GUEST who decided to take their liner from their bathing suit and plaster it on the wall.. do better visitors!
Jennifer B — Google review
Loved soaking in these healing waters. You get a private booth and the tub is filled straight from the spring waters there. Temperature was fantastic, hot enough and warm enough. Beautiful view as you soak. Only thing is that no longer have massage offered, or any other services that could nicely complement a part soak experience.
Ciaara R — Google review
My family and I came out from Florida. We love the farm, the cabins were cute with plenty of room for three people. Holden was very nice and helpful, we even met the real Franny at the love farm while sitting around a fire. We will definitely be returning!
Monica C — Google review
With my sister, my nieces and a friend, I recently enjoyed time in one of their hot tubs. The location is beautiful, along a creek. There are cabins where we changed into swimsuits, then we were accompanied to our hot tub. There is a privacy wall and a bench to sit or set one’s bags. At first, the water is quite warm but one gets used to it quickly. The setting is near the creek with trees lining the area so one can enjoy bathing in a natural environment. People are allowed to bring snacks and beverages. Our rental was by the hour. One hour is plenty! I recommend taking breaks from the water as afterwords, one can feel nauseous due to overheating. It’s a special experience! We did not experience the hotel.
C S — Google review
Been here several times and always have a relaxing time. Nice for a quick and close by break. Love the Sandbar House because there's room for family and we can soak in the mineral water hot tub on the deck at any time of day and as long as we want. Plus, we can cook in the well equipped kitchen and accommodate various individual dietary needs.
Linda L — Google review
We didn’t stay at this hotel, but we came in from Asheville just for the soak, and it was our 18 year wedding anniversary. The staff from the resort to the tub area were nice and welcoming and helpful. The lady was sure to reassure us that they never come in the tub area ever so that was cool that they work to keep it private. It’s a beautiful location and we got the “deluxe” tub and enjoyed soooooo much that we were not only allowed to but ENCOURAGED to bring our own food and drink, so we brought a cute little picnic brunch for our soak, which made it all the more special! We also loved that it included a little cafe style dining area. I was skeptical at first that the tubs actually received mineral water as some other places fill with tap water and try to pass it off as “mineral” water, but I was pleasantly surprised that they indeed fill it with real mineral water and that was awesome! Just be sure to drink plenty of water after and maybe put on lotion as the salts etc will dry ya out after a good long soak! Very pleasant experience and to us it was easily worth the price!
Meglymoo87 — Google review
Great campground. Well maintained. Tell the resort that you are staying in the campground for a discount on a soak in the tub across the road. Definitely do the tub if you have never done it before. Check out Big Pillow for music, food, and craft beer.
Julianna S — Google review
Neat experience!We were skeptical at first about going to a hot springs spa during the middle of a 90F summer weather. We were also curious about the healing properties claims so figured we'll give it a try.It was a pleasant overall experience.We chose the deluxe suite and it was very clean relaxing. The view we had was the Creekside view and the weather + water was perfect. I would recommend.
JeongHoon A — Google review
We have visited hot springs resort and spa twice now and have enjoyed both experiences so much. Staff is very friendly and very good at getting you scheduled via phone. I highly recommend doing the high end tubs with the fire pit for 90 minutes. Very much worth it. Tub came with a shower. Two couches, two nice seats around the fire pit. Big circle tub, private kitchenette. Great place!
Ross B — Google review
A friend and I visited here during the summer on a coldish and rainy day. Despite that, we had a great time!We were able to bring our own food and wine, relax in the hot spring tub, and we even had a river view. A Blue Heron even paid us a visit!The staff were super friendly and courteous. Plenty of chairs, showers, and both a covered and uncovered area to lounge (which helped with a bit of rain cooling us off from time to time).Truly a great experience and I'll definitely come back in the future!
TJ — Google review
I’m going to have to agree with other reviewers on several points. I had been looking forward to this experience for about a decade. I finally booked a signature tub with some friends to relax after a hike. There seem to be two ladies who handle the phones. One is incredibly friendly, patient and accommodating. The other leaves the impression that she really doesn’t want to be there.There are numerous Hot Springs Resort signs on both sides of the road, but where to turn for the office isn’t very clear (the sign saying check in at the office is at a different driveway. The correct driveway has white fencing and no mention of the office).TUBSFirst off, the deck area was fantastic and the view was beautiful. Unfortunately, you can only see the river from two seats in the tub unless you stand up or sit on the deck.I absolutely agree that the tubs only get warm, not hot. One lady in my group mentioned that right away and it was disappointing.The soak is not for 90 minutes, which seems implied by their write up on the website. You get use of the whole area for 90 minutes, including changing clothes. That really leaves no time to enjoy the deck and fire bowl.They knocked to give us the 5-minute warning, but like others mentioned, the water immediately begins draining so it’s less of a warning that your tub experience is coming to an end and more like “get out now.” The attendant knocked two more times while the other three ladies in our group were finishing up getting dressed. For a place built on relaxation, rushing us to vacate the building while changing clothes snapped us right out of that feeling.They need to make it clear that your tub time doesn’t allow for drying off and changing clothes, even in the signature tub where a shower and changing area are provided. We never even got to use the shower.You basically have 70 minutes to enjoy everything. It’s just not going to happen. For $180, it was underwhelming, especially when we all drove 3-5 hours each way for the experience.
Rachel J — Google review
I've always loved coming here for a special occasion. It's worth spending the money for the nicer soaking tubs. I will say I wish the water was as warm in the winter as it is in the summer, but I'll take it! If you come here, please don't pee outside of the tubs, walk to the bathroom. Nobody wants to smell urine when they spend good money to come and relax.
Christina D — Google review
Pleasant atmosphere in a quiet and secluded area. Amenities are great, the grounds and paddocks are all kept pristine. Bathrooms are easily accessible, changing rooms on site, all kept clean and in good condition. Water smells free of chemicals and the jet streams felt great. Water was at an enjoyable temperature. Will come back again and again.
Richard — Google review
Camp spots are good next to the river. The actual spring tubs are ok, warm but not very hot. Maybe 100-102... I'm sure we'll go back at some point. Why 4 stars? What I paid for 2 nights and tub for an 1hr just didn't meet my expectations. There's definitely room for improvement.
Brendon B — Google review
Came here for the spa and it ruined me for the rest of the day. I haven’t been so relaxed in years. Just soaking for an hour watching the water roll by and hearing the wind in the leaves - it was awesome. You pay for your soak, there is a bathroom for you to change into. You go to the attendant and he will show you to your hot tub, which has just been cleaned and is now hot and ready to go. Bring your own food and drink and just enjoy the healing waters of Hot Springs. The hot tub sits in a small enclosure, open to the river but closed on the other three sides and roofed. They will knock at 10 minutes before your time is up. They will then pull the plug at 5. It’s absolutely wonderful!
Anthony P — Google review
We didn't stay here but traveled to the resort from Asheville to use the hot springs tubs. It was wonderful and so relaxing. The resort is in a beautiful natural setting in the mountains . Be sure to read about the history of the springs! Very interesting!
Marisa S — Google review
We only used the hot tubs at this resort. Changing rooms were located on site and the tubs are private, but the water is only warm. The name of the town was changed from Warm Springs to Hot Springs, but we didn't find that out until after we booked our hot tub experience. The sound of the nearby creek was nice but our view was obstructed by dilapidated wires/bridge that crossed the creek. The experience was okay, but not something we plan to come back for.
Julie M — Google review
This place runs on old days fame.It's outdated, Wi-Fi do not work, no shower in our suite, no breakfast, no bar, no amenities, no laundry room. Our bed mattress was so old with no support I was rolling into the middle ditch of it at night. The place was clean.When you advertise a place as a RESORT, I would expect all the mentioned above.For sure it is a "spa" kinda place with warm waters, not hot, and definitely far from any resort standards by any means.
Aleksandra W — Google review
My wife and I come here about 4 times a year and it’s always been a great experience. The rooms are very private and cozy with a great soundtrack of the river. We never stayed at the hotel being locals but the spa is a must.
Ted J — Google review
Definitely recommend making a reservation early if you want to go, their time slots fill up fast! We went on a hot summer day and I wasn't sure how that was going to work, but it was still really enjoyable. They have fans in the gazebos to help move the air and keep you comfortable. You rent the gazebo with your own tub with hot mineral springs. No showers, but there is no residual feel from the mineral water like I was afraid of. It's on the river, but there wasn't much river view from ours. However, that was okay because there were also folks tubing on the river. We had a nice amount of privacy. Love the fact they allow you to bring your own drinks and snacks. It was relaxing and really enjoyable! We would recommend!
TodayIsOurAdventure — Google review
I took my boyfriend on a trip here to enjoy their mineral baths. We opted for the “2 person 1 hour” in Tub3, and it was fabulous! The mineral bath tub had jets, was comfortably hot, and the fan provided a nice breeze. We loved the view, and we want to book again for late October (when fall is at its peak). We brought wine, but we had such a nice time we forgot to open it. An hour is far too short. We will definitely book for two hours next time!Additionally, I loved their customer service! When we arrived, there was an older couple who had been booked for the wrong day. The lady at the desk did her best to book them, so they wouldn’t have to return another day. I thought it was great customer service. That moment made me decide to post a review! We must uplift these businesses!
Esmeralda — Google review
We loved cabin # 5. We were told that cabin #8 has the best sunsets. Our day was both rainy and sunny. Will definitely come back. Staff was friendly. Lots of parking. Camping Available too.
Mike N — Google review
LOVE LOVE LOVE Hot Springs! We bring so many out of town guests here, enjoy it as a family and camp during the summer at the campground!! It is a staple for our family to visit and relax and the little mountain town is charming and unpretentious, which we love!
Arayael E — Google review
I love these hot mineral springs hot tubs. . They are cleaned well between appointments. The natural minerals make you body feel great. We went two nights in a row. My only negative issue is with the price increases. It is now $60 per one hour visit. They do have upgraded premium tubs, but I haven't tried those.
TANYA M — Google review
I didn't stay at the spa. I just went for the mineral spring baths. Despite fact that the weather was unexpectedly warm (80°+), the mineral bath was so relaxing. I felt like butter and so relaxed when I came out after soaking for an hour. It was the perfect way to end a day. Slept like a baby that night!
Ann R — Google review
I recently had the most relaxing and rejuvenating experience at the hot springs resort and spa. From the moment I arrived, I was greeted with warm hospitality and a tranquil atmosphere. The hot springs were absolutely amazing and left me feeling completely refreshed.
Phillip W — Google review
It was only for two people, but we did get the seven person tub. Tub number 14. We had a great experience! We do recommend you bring your own towels from your house. The tubs do not come with towels, we purchased in the gift shop, but the towels felt like mesh material and did not help at all. Other than that, everything was great! The tub is not very hot, so it was comfortable for the full hour that we reserved. The view of the creek was also relaxing. I also bought at the gift shop, some massage muscle cream. We use that on our shoulders in the tub, and it actually helped really good with the combo.
KB — Google review
Incredible! For the price and the experience, it is definitely worth the trip. We booked for 90 minutes and were so disappointed and shocked when they told us our time was up. After every session, the water is drained, the tub is cleaned and refilled with the mineral water from the spring. You can bring your own food, snacks, and drinks. I suggest bringing them from a bigger town. Hot springs is very small. They do have a small grocery store that is worth going into. Just for treats you can't get other places. And the cool part is, Hot Springs is on the Appalachian Trail.
Traci M — Google review
My partner and I stopped by yesterday for a day trip. We rented the bath house number 6, and we really enjoyed it. The only downside is that the water could be a little hotter for our personal liking, but the water was comfortable enough. We had a nice creekside view.
Patrick C — Google review
Called to reschedule two tubs for sooner in the afternoon than our original appointment times. Rescheduled on the phone to two tubs booked for 12:30. Made our way to the resort and were running a bit late and we got in our tub at about 12:40. They knocked on my tub wall and begin to drain it after a while of soaking. Being in the tub, I did not have my phone to check the time. Checked the phone after I got dressed and it was 1:17, only 45 minutes after my appointment time. Confused, we asked the tub attendants outside why our tub was drained and we were kicked out early. They told us we had a 12:15 and 12:45 appointments and tried to blame it on us being late. The other couple in our group remained in their tub until 1:45. The lady on the phone specifically told me I had two 12:30 appointments. Spoke to the middle aged female manager with short hair inside and she completely denied this, and said two tubs were not available at 12:30 and that I was booked at 12:15 and 12:45 which was completely untrue, as those times were never mentioned to me on the phone. Asked for a refund, she said they won’t refund me for 15 minutes lost and the best they can do is give me a coupon for next time. Though we were 10 minutes late, I still expect to remain in my tub for the until the end of the 60 minute time slot, which was until 1:30. I was completely lied to and the staff showed zero accountability for their actions. If a company truly cared about customer experience we would have been compensated for their mistake. Poor customer service. Do not recommend.
Stephanie G — Google review
The location is nice. The tub was fine. The water was warm.. not hot. Maybe it's something to do with the minerals? I expected it to be hot and was disappointed. I've been to hot tubs in the California bay area which had much nicer, all wooden tubs, water so hot you needed to drink water while in the tub, towels, free drinking water in every tub space, and cost ONE THIRD of the price that Hot Springs is charging. It was fine. But it was not worth $90.
Matthew S — Google review
We booked two nights in Suite 1 at the "Resort." This is no resort or spa.Everything is rundown and old. The suites are essentially a hotel room and an old one at that. No spa, no dining, virtually no amenities at all. At $165/night I expected more that a Motel 6. The building was very old which normally would be fine, but it has not been well maintained. It is musty smelling and outdated. Old early 90's decor which is likely the last time they updated anything. There were extension cords hanging from the refrigerator and microwave. Old uncomfortable furniture. The wifi, it is horrible with 1 bar. You loose connection several times in a 5 min period, so forget using your phones or laptops. The air-conditioning did not reach the bedroom which was uncomfortably hot. There are no bedside tables to put phones or essentials, which I guess didn't matter since there where no plugs near the head of the bed.The bed was so uncomfortable, we cut our 2 night stay short after the first night to come home. The in-room hot tub is deceptively marketed to indicate the water comes from the hot springs. It does not. The staff at the front desk said it "contains the same minerals as the springs." So in other words- tap water. The water never got hot and stayed lukewarm and trickles out of the shower head that comes from the tub. We couldn't even contact the hotel staff as the front desk keeps banker's hours. All in all this was a miserable trip for my husband's birthday. We will never be back which is unfortunate because Hot Springs is very quaint and beautiful.
Rita R — Google review
Just look at the name of this place. Say it out loud. Yeahhhh... that's how you're going to feel the whole time you're there. We spoiled ourselves and splurged on a Suite, but you can just tell the whole establishment is going to be just as awesome and relaxing. Private hot tub filled with the therapeutic goodness from the hot springs...whenever you want...as hot as you want. The sound of the French Broad river heard as you're relaxing in that hot tub. Ohhh Yeahhhh! Great people running the place. Every aspect of the entire facility is well maintained and clean, clean, clean. We did not feel like we were in a 'hotel' but just comfortably 'at home' while we were there. The local shops and food are GREAT! Make sure you stop by the Smoky Mountain Diner for at least one meal. Odds are you'll go back for at least one or two more. Pretty safe bet we'll be going back!
John H — Google review
Beautiful and relaxing. We had tub #5 and we could see the French Broad river. It rained and then the sun came out, but we were happy in our tub with the fire pit. Would love to come back.
Jo N — Google review
I stayed in cabin 8 and had a great experience. A/C and a clean space are always great for any primitive cabin, plus the bathroom and easy shower access made this trip awesome.
Elise Z — Google review
This place desperately needs to be updated. Suite 1 was musty and uncomfortable. The propane was broken which meant we had no hot water for the first night/morning-- they refunded us a night and we got a free 1 hr soak in one of their tubs by the river which was nice. But we ended up checking out early and going home. If I ever come back to the area I would maybe do an hour soak, but I wont stay here again.
E — Google review
The Cascades hot tub was amazing. There is a chiller for your wine, robes to wear, a gas fire pit, mineral shower, (that gets really hot) and of course the hot tub. This is all right beside the river that adds amazing sound to the experience. I loved it and will certainly come back.We didn't stay in a room so I can't review that.
Micky C — Google review
4.5
(2419)
•
4.0
(387)
315 Bridge St, Hot Springs, NC 28743, USA
(828) 622-7676
23
Cataloochee Ski Area
Mentioned on
+3 other lists
Ski resort
Outdoor Activities
Ski rental service
Ski school
If you're looking for a ski resort with plenty of variety and challenge, Cataloochee is definitely worth checking out. With 18 slopes and trails to choose from, it's perfect for all skill levels. Plus, there are areas for snow tubing and lessons for adults and children all season long. You can purchase day or season passes, or stay in one of the resort's hotels.
After reading other reviews, felt we needed to add ours. Brought my son for his first time snowboarding MLKjr weekend for the big snow!Then came again today for his 3rd visit!1st- order your tickets and rentals online, it’ll save you time and you won’t get turned away. Since we did that, it only took a little time to figure out where to get everything we needed. They are super organized, they have plenty of skis and boots and helmets and you will get what you need! If you don’t want to wait in the rental lines, there are places in the Valley that offer rentals. You can also pick up bibs in town. Get there early.2- get a private lesson, my son was paired up with Zack and after two hours with him (the Private lesson has a shorter lift line!) he had improved SO much and was ready for the blue trails. This also helped as I wasn’t on the slopes with my teenage son! Five stars for Zack!3. They’ve got typical cafeteria food, it goes quickly, but you can also bring ALL the food you need! Second trip we brought ramen noodles and tea and used the hot water they’ve got.4. It’s a pandemic, supplies are low, buy your goggles in town, they’re out as of today. They do still have helmets. Also, it’s a pandemic, outdoor activities are all the thing, have patience and enjoy it! Get there early.5. Everyone’s super nice and helpful. Thank you for that. Great training and management!
Natasha P — Google review
This was my 1st time visiting Cataloochee Ski area to snowboard and it was awesome. I did a day session and a night session two weeks ago and everything went perfecto.. The night session was a little better since there was no waiting in line for ski lifts vs during the middle of the day on a Holiday weekend it got to a point where some of the lifts it was a 20 to 30 minute wait. I have a cabin that's less than 1 mile from the Ski Area so I cant wait to see you all next year :) I had all of my gear so all I had to do is buy my ski lift passes which was super easy and I was off Snowboarding and ripping up the slopes.
Uplift R — Google review
We decided to visit Cataloochee Ski Area for our first skiing experience, and it was an incredible choice! We booked a last-minute trip for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and the 3.5-hour drive from Atlanta was totally worth it. As first-time skiers, we took private ski and snowboarding lessons, and the instructors were fantastic—patient, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience enjoyable. The lodge was a great spot to relax, offering food, snacks, and adult beverages. For our first time on the slopes, it couldn’t have been better. We thoroughly enjoyed our time and would highly recommend it!
Vitality T — Google review
I recommend. Buy your tickets online days before and you will have a very comfortable day! Excellent organization compared to other mountains in NC, service divided by squads and short lines. We visited in Jan/16/22 and even with a lot of snow due to the storm, everything worked very well! Thanks Cataloochee team
Douglas N — Google review
I took my 8 year daughter for the first time and signed her up for group lessons. She was the only one so got great one-on-one lessons. The instructor Cullen was so helpful and encouraging. He had her on a Blue Diamond within 45 minutes of her first time ever! We were blown away. She had a perfect first experience skiing and much of that is thanks to Cullen. The resort is easy to access and affordable. We love going.
Lindsay B — Google review
We had a great time for our honeymoon. We both went snowboarding and had lessons. The instructors were awesome Mark and Ryan. They really took the time to help us understand how to snowboard. All in all had a great time. The process was easy. Thank you We will be back
Bryan S — Google review
Read the other reviews and felt I should add my own:It’s a nice little ski slope that’s convenient from Atlanta, Greenville and other cities in the southeast. I pulled in around 8am and got a parking spot right up front. It doesn’t look like it at first but there’s a few different lots you can park in past the main building. I preordered my lift ticket online and already had my gear. There was no line at the window at 8:15am and I was the 3rd chair up to the top. Highly recommend doing everything online beforehand as I heard they sold out at some point that day.I’ve seen numerous reviews complaining about long lines to get lift tickets and rentals. Look, if you go to the slopes during peak season and show up at noon with no lift ticket or equipment you’re gonna wait in long lines... And boy were there some lines. Seemed like they really started getting backed up around 11am. By about 2pm the slopes were pretty packed and I decided to call it a day. Overall the snow was decent and I recommend hitting the cat if you’re in the area!Tips: Order your stuff online beforehand, get there early, beat the crowd, have patience and have some fun.
David B — Google review
Older and quaint ski area(established in the 60s) with facilities that are in large need of updating. Early season is a bit rough as they only make snow on 3-4 trails so it gets really crowded and somewhat dangerous on the weekends. Despite a peak of 5200' you only have about a 600-700' vertical drop here and the runs are extremely short. Moving at any kind of pace you'll be down to the bottom in about 3 minutes and then have about a 10+ minute ride back up, depending on how many noobies are falling trying to get on the lift that goes to the top where they shouldn't be going yet.Skied this past Saturday and it was downright dangerous at times with the crowds. Throngs of beginners going to the top and then stopping on all sections of the trail clogging it up for anyone trying to get through. Ski patrol had the entire right side of Omigosh tied up with training which made things even more difficult. Trails here are incredibly narrow, which adds to the danger when it's crowded. Saw at least 2-3 people get hurt and taken down off the mountain, and one spot near midstation where there was massive blood splatter all over the snow. If you want to go and you are a more advanced skier, hit it up during midweek so you don't have to deal with the crowds of new skiers on the most difficult trails.Lift passes are a bit overpriced for what you get, $70 for a 4-hour pass with slow lifts. Cafeteria and gift shop are also overpriced, but typical for your average ski slopes. The drive in to this place is also on an unpaved road with some drastic changes in incline so if it's snowing/icy, you will need at least a FWD vehicle. They do have online passes available, where you can bring your QR code and just print your lift ticket at a kiosk instead of waiting in the long line in their small office, so that is one plus. The views off the top of the mountain and while riding the lifts are also pretty great if the weather is clear.This would be a good midweek day trip if you live in GA, TN, NC, or anywhere within 2-3 hours, but just keep in mind if you come on the weekends it's going to be way overcrowded, especially if they don't have any terrain open. I will try to make it back midweek to see if things are any better without the crowds. They do also have some nice "learning" areas and the main green trail is wide and has enough of a slope to get the basics down. Good place for families with kids or new skiers, as long as they realize they shouldn't be heading up to the top of the mountain after 2-3 runs down the learning slope.Edit: 3/11/2024Hit up Cataloochee for a late season day trip and the mountain was in fantastic shape! Great job by the mountain ops team to keep snow on the slopes when it's 60 degrees out! Zero crowds(as I mentioned in prior review, it would probably make a much better midweek trip) on a Monday and overall it was an awesome last day out(for me) for the 2023-24' Mid Atlantic ski season.
D S — Google review
We visited the week of Thanksgiving and we were a little nervous based on reviews. I like to give honest reviews to help others because I use a ton of reviews to guide my decisions.We got to the resort very early. The ticketing process is very slow. One line open. Getting equipment was a little ridiculous. I've never seen having to walk to multiple buildings to get equipment, especially having to wait in line multiple times. It did move fairly fast but still annoying.The lift lines were never long, even during peak hours.My kids took lessons to freshen up and they enjoyed them.I was baffled that there was NO outside seating. Very strange!!!The food options were also terrible. The only lunch option was soup or chili, delicious but my small kids were NOT pleased. I understand this was opening week but still...some grab n go options would have been appreciated.Overall, I plan to return..great small ski resort.
Malissa C — Google review
This is definitely one of the better ski resorts in west side of NC due to the elevation and terrain parks. There was amateur ski racing going on when I was there as well.pretty cool.i should have signed up would have been a dope FAIL video😆. I have been here multiple times and will be back in the future.try all the ski resorts in NC for a good judgement yourself😉.all kids of folks there too. But do expect to run into a lot of kids and locals.When I was there my last time there was actually some younger adults causing some ruckus,being snowboard DI$&S .letting there ego get the best of them(they got kicked off the lifts).food is better here then at wolfridge definitely,but IT IS WHAT IT IS.we drink,eat just enough,and eat trail snacks anyways on boarding days🤟🏽😉😆.Local enough ..black/latin snowboarder🏂🏽💪🏽
Shah H — Google review
We went on a quiet Thursday. We had repurchase tickets and our rentals and the pickup process was easy and seamless. My husband and oldest did a private ski lesson that they seemed to enjoy. I like that they have two magic carpet slopes for new learners. The weather has clearly not been ideal and by midafternoon it was slushy, but it didn't dampen our enjoyment. I do feel like a busy weekend would have made it feel overcrowded, but we were very pleased with our experience.
Jolene P — Google review
Decided at the last minute to drive up from Birmingham and shred for a day. Although it was late season (March) and temps had started melting some snow, I still had a blast…..so much that I decided to upgrade my pass and stayed for the night sesh.This was my first visit, but it won’t be my last. Next time, the whole family is going!
Brad G — Google review
Overall, I had a great experience. When there were lines inside for gear and food, they were extremely short. The lifts had quick lines of a minute or two wait at most. This was my first time snowboarding and I took a private lesson. Dylan, my instructor, was super friendly and taught everything in an easy-to-understand way. I only snowboarded on Beginner’s Luck (that’s where the lesson was given), Easy Way, and Rabbit Hill. The runs were not overcrowded at all and I had tons of room to mess around with. Nobody was being aggressive on the slopes, either. I went on a Tuesday afternoon. The weather was scheduled to be worse than it was. It drizzled lightly a couple of times which did not seem to affect very much. Visibility varied but was never very bad; the worst is shown in the video.
Senor B — Google review
Oh wow! Where do I begin? This was our first time skiing. From the warm welcome to the slopes, Cataloochee Ski Area exceeded our expectations. The smiling faces and helpful staff created a fantastic experience for my family. The camaraderie among the skiers added to the enjoyment and fun. From the moment we arrived, everyone was nice and welcoming. We had a great time. I highly recommend.
Allison J — Google review
Very conveniently located in Maggie Valley. Very safe and fun for the family. Quite crowded but very well run. Delicious on-site Cafe with full liquor bar. Safe and secure property very family friendly. All the equipment you need is rented on site. Night skiing was a lot of fun.
B S — Google review
For skiing or snowboarding in the south, this little resort does a great job of curing the itch. They have even updated to an online booking/ticketing system so you’re not left wondering while you drive X hours if your kid will be able to enroll in lessons. I highly recommend you take advantage of the online option to buy lift tickets and schedule your lessons. We always arrive early (8-815am) and the process is very smooth. The later you wait in the day to show up, the more crowded and difficult it becomes to park and get rentals because of the volume of people. We usually get in 8am, ski for a few hours and take off at lunch time 12:30/1 when the resort gets crowded. They also updated their lockers to electronic lockers, which are really nice compared to many outdated places ($5 for a small locker for the day). I’ve been really happy with this little ski area and the improvements they have made over the years and will continue to visit. Their prices are very reasonable, especially if you go during the week. I highly recommend you avoid the weekend rush if you’re able to, to have the best experience!
FC — Google review
Very over crowded. I would have given it two stars had I not had fun, but I was in a good mood so it wasn’t terrible for me. There is a good amount of parking but back up parking is pretty far away and they have a shuttle there and back. When you get to the lodge, you go through 3 checkpoints to go ski. First you purchase your tickets (buy online ahead of time to decrease chances of being sold out), then you get in line for boots and helmets. We were in line for at least 30 minutes for this step, then we had to get in line for our ski/snowboard rental which was like 15 minutes.After that you go and you’re able to ski but to get to the hills you first have to go on a lift, there’s only one beginner lift and each time we waited in line for it we waited at least 30 minutes (very bad crowds) one reason for this is because they have to stop the lift a bunch because so many people fall at the top of the lift. Employees are very kind and quick to help us off the ground when we fall (will Happen). Slopes get pretty icy near the end of the day and the most crowded time is around 11-1. Gets less crowded around 4ish and I’m sure night skiing is a better option to miss crowds (but snow will be icy and slick).We got here around 11 on a Thursday but didn’t start skiing till 4. Employees are very kind except one man at the boot rental area. I think the processes could be quickened a lot more to reduce crowds. Also a kiddie area with little slant.4 hour pass is plentyBring snacks, lodge food is overpriced and lines there are veryyyyy long, have to wait in whole line just for water bottle (3$)You will probably fall a lot so wear waterproof clothing.Look online for tickets, live cams, etc.Overall I would not return because of extreme lines that are not necessary and you will not find them elsewhere.
M H — Google review
It was a fantastic experience! We visited on a weekday, and what made it even better was the lack of crowds. I decided to take a snowboarding lesson, and because it was a quiet day, I ended up getting a private coaching session for a very reasonable price of $40. It was a win-win situation for me!
Ayan S — Google review
4.0
(1025)
•
3.5
(449)
1080 Ski Lodge Rd, Maggie Valley, NC 28751, USA
(828) 926-0285
24
French Broad Adventures
Raft trip outfitter
Tours
Adventure sports center
Tour operator
River Rafting & Tubing
Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks
We had such a great time on our white water rafting adventure. All of the raft guides were great, and you could tell that everyone loved what they were doing. J was a great raft guide, and was super knowledgeable of the area. We loved all of the rapids, and had such a great time on the river. I would definitely do this tour again, and would recommend French Broad Adventures to anyone looking to add a little bit of adrenaline to your trip.
Sutton H — Google review
This was our first time white water rafting & had the best time! So much so that we want to plan more trips just for rafting! Jim was a great guide, calm, gave great instruction & encouragement, & good advice for other places to visit in the country for rafting. The weather & water was perfect, we stopped off for a snack & also let us jump off a rock right into the water which felt great! We got an opportunity to get off the raft and float down one small rapid which was also great & felt safe. Highly recommend this company to anyone in the area! Everyone was just so nice & knowledge. Felt very safe with them.
Amber S — Google review
We had to choose the kid calm white water rafting adventure because my daughter is 5. To charge us $250 for a family of 4 plus tip is ROBBERY for what we rafted ...seriously it was a lake and completely flat (see picture). There were 3 tiny/short/easy rapids for the entire 2 hour boat ride. They mentioned people tube down it to give you an idea of how gentle it is. Don't waste your money! We had a much better time tubing in Cherokee (and experienced much larger rapids in a tube)!
Melissa W — Google review
We had a blast white water rafting with Kerrie. We loved her adventurous attitude. She really made sure we hit the rapids just right for the most bang and biggest splashes. Half of our group had never been rafting before and everyone felt safe. When we weren't paddling, we were joking, sharing stories, and laughing almost non-stop. We booked a half day tour and wished we had booked the full day. We also did the waterfall rappel with Mars and Colin. They were terrific guides and we loved the experience. The hike in and out is nice and the waterfall is beautiful. They drove us to the location and we all joked and shared stories throughout the day. We were a group of 8, ages 20 - 70. If we are back in this area, we will definitely adventure with FBA again.
Csganley — Google review
We had the best time with our rafting trip. Everyone was so nice and professional, they spoke very highly of the owners and how well they were treated. Richard was our comic/host, and Evan was our guide. We could not have asked for a better time. The trip was so much fun, they made a great lunch, and kept everyone safe. We will go again!
Alan L — Google review
We made the right choice going with French Broad Adventures. Did the half day w/ lunch with our family (girls 15&12 and son 8). It was plenty for them to introduce them to whitewater rafting. They are ready to go again. The entire staff was friendly and helpful and our guide (Tim) was the best! Of course expect to pay $25-50 if you want a photo(s) (they have a photographer stationed below one of the class three rapids). Our photos turned out great - can’t wait to hang it on the wall!
Gretchen H — Google review
We had an awesome time!! We did the 1/2 day with lunch and it was a blast. We had the opportunity to rock jump and swim before lunch. The experience isn’t just about the rafting it’s also the guides. Glen was so knowledgeable and made us feel very comfortable. Pete..so many jokes!! I laughed so hard (bring a joke with you to share). And Amy, our bus driver, amazing skills.
Andrea — Google review
Had an awesome time white watering rafting for the first time. The guides are great and they make the whole experience (even the bus ride) enjoyable from beginning to end. The views from the water are simply breathtaking. Pricey but worth every penny.
Billie M — Google review
The most amazing time of my life, this was by far the best experience of zip lining. Jason and Anya for fun, informative and a blast to be around. We hade a great group. Thank you sooooo much for an unforgettable adventure.
A E — Google review
French Broad Adventures was great. The staff was extraordinarily helpful and professional. They really took the time to make sure the trip was special for each person.The river guides are very knowledgeable and friendly.We did a half day trip with class 2 & 3 rapids. The river itself was fun. My 10 year old daughter now lists it as best experience of her life.I would highly encourage anyone looking to raft the French Broad to start with French Broad Adventures.
Neil K — Google review
We have been going back to French Broad Adventures for 11 years now with our high school youth group, while down for Montreat Youth Conference: and we love it every time! Very friendly staff, knowledgeable guides, and great service. Our kids love rafting down the French Broad with these guides who obviously love what they do! Looking forward to seeing y'all next summer! Ask for Shawn!
Robert P — Google review
We took advantage of both the white water rafing and the zip line your. The location was well marked, the store area was clean and organized, there were changing stalls and bags for wet clothes at the ready. The guides were very personable and knowledgeable of the area. Highly recommended this company !
Stephanie R — Google review
An enjoyable whitewater rafting trip. It was quite chilly in the morning considering it was late October and their final week of the season running the trips. Up to class 3 rapids made for a pretty easy going ride. I sat up front though, and was soaked the whole time. Guides were great.
Tara C — Google review
Incredible experience for my first time rafting! Super informative and the staff was outstanding! Rocky was our group leader and made us all feel comfortable and we had a wonderful time! I will highly recommend everyone I know to use French Broad Adventures! Thanks for a terrific and fun day!
Ian R — Google review
This was the perfect trip for the people in my group who were new to white water rafting, able to experience rapids without getting scared or falling out!Everything was thoroughly discussed ensuring our safety, alleviating any fears or concerns, the guide even made the bus ride down and back enjoyable with his sense of humor!Would be great for families with kids as wellDefinitely recommend French Broad Adventures for your next white water rafting trip! :)
Emilee H — Google review
Had an amazing half trip down the French Broad River with my team! Pete was the most pleasant host for everyone and knows how to get a laugh. He truly loves what he does and is just as entertaining as the trip down the river! Everyone that we came in contact with was friendly and was happy to help us! We will definitely be back to try out the zip lines, e bikes and repelling! Thank you for an awesome adventure.
Andrew A — Google review
Booked the whitewater rafting and zip lining. Had the best time ever. Shawn was the best river guide ever!!!! If we ever come back again we’re def booking with Shawn. He was very knowledgeable, funny, and made the experience great.Paris and Vivian the zip lining guides were also great and good at keeping the group engaged.
Nerys T — Google review
Never went white water rafting before but decided to go with family. It went very nice. Our guide was name Ellie and she was amazing! She was very humorous, informative, patient and guided us all the way, safety. Very fun adventure went on the half day tour (3-4hrs). The course was great for beginner thrill-seekers or anyone interested in trying something new. It was affordable and fun. I would recommend it to people of all ages. Will be back to try out the other courses :D
I S — Google review
Initially myself & 3 friends were booked for a Zipline excursion, but a last minute conversation with our main guide Tyler ended with us switching to an E-Bike ride through a trail that passes through NC & TN...and what a seamless and easy transition this change was!Tyler and Tom our guides for this trip took the time to make sure everyone was acutely aware of how to use these bikes .. considering I myself hadn't ridden a bike in over a decade... definitely was some things to pick back up.They were very through with assisting anyone who needed it, but let us kind of explore are ride at our own pace. They pointed some of Indigenous paintings on a rock cliff, and a couple good scenic views along the way.Overall, this was one of the highlights of our trip, and I know once we got back to cell service a number of people were googling the prices of E-Bikes for back home. I would highly recommend any outdoor excursion this Outfitter offers! And if the chance to return to Asheville presents itself we'll certainly be booking a return visit!This review is based on a trip that took place October of 2023 just for transparency...I'm really bad at posting here.
Bone R — Google review
This place is so much fun, The staff was amazing and very helpful with all of our booking needs. The bus ride to the river to get on the rafts was the best safety talk i ever had on top of all the absolutely hilarious dad jokes told by Richard, he really could have a second career as a comedian. Once we got to the boat launch Richard gave us a safety brief then told us which guide we were going to be with for this trip. We were in J’s group, between the awesome history and jokes, we had a great time! Would definitely recommend and would definitely come back. We felt safe and like dare devils at the same time, I personally recommend jumping off the rock it was very fun, and when they tell you you can get out and swim i recommend that too. if you don’t like getting splashed a lot then don’t go in the front you will definitely get splashed. anywhere in the boat you will get splashed but especially in the front. Thanks to all the great staff! can’t wait to come back sometime
Mia — Google review
This was such a fun family experience! Tried to read a lot of reviews to figure out which company to go with and I think I picked well! Also seems to be a shorter bus ride to the river than others that look closer to Asheville. (All of them have you load onto a bus with the rafts.) Jonah was our guide and he was awesome. Super fun— kids were sad when it ended—-ready to do it again!
Emily C — Google review
Went for a calm water tour and it was a great relaxing way to spend the afternoon. They provided splash gear which is essentially high end rain gear and way exceeded expectations. Probably the best gear I've ever been provided rafting. For once I would say weather would not shy me away from running with this crew. Rain or shine you're going to have a great time. It was only 50 deg today and we had smaller children and they even stayed warm. If you forget something they have a great store with everything from clothes to water shoes, to water socks and it's all quality items that aren't throw away when you're done. Very impressed!
Manfred S — Google review
My family had a great time rafting down the French Broad River with Calvin as our raft guide. He had a lot of rafting experience, was very knowledgable of the river and made the trip extra fun. We booked the half day trip and had time to stop at a jumping ledge, float around in the river and enjoy a snack.
Teresa C — Google review
Absolute blast, and made even more epic by our guide Rocky. Great time from check-in, through the rapids, and the photos were hilarious! Highly recommend for a great way to spend a day.
Brian M — Google review
We had an amazing rafting trip with French broad adventures. Our guide, Eddy, was the best. He kept us on our toes and helped us have the best adventure. We also enjoyed listening to the comedic stylings of Richard on the bus ride to the river and back.
Deanne G — Google review
First time whitewater rafting but the guides put all our fears at ease. Well organized and well managed. Our guide, Shane, was a hoot and we thoroughly enjoyed the conversations along the way. Everyone we encountered seems to enjoy their "job" and it shows in how they interact with each other and with us. Thank you for a great experience!
T C — Google review
Best water experience ever! We booked ziplining and rafting. Rafting was amazing; we had a superb guide, Jim. The weather was chilly with river and low water level. Still a wonderful experience overall.
L8dy J — Google review
My family and I did white water rafting. What a fun time! I can't say enough great things about this company. While we waited we looked around the gift shop which had cute shirts, sweatshirts, hats, coozies, snacks, drinks, ice cream, etc. There were tables outside to enjoy the views while waiting and to listen to the safety meeting prior to departing. I felt well prepared and in good hands. There is a short bus ride to get to the river and the trip lead was funny, full of jokes. Our guide was Losty and she was absolutely wonderful! We were in great hands. The river was beautiful and the cool water felt great. There was the perfect amount of rapids and then parts of calm to enjoy the views and relax. There was a spot where we stopped and we could jump off a rock in the water for a swim. We stopped another time for a snack and a drink of water or lemonade. All in all it was the perfect day and our family can't wait to do it again. I would recommend French Broad Adventures for white water rafting to anyone and everyone!The next day we did the zip lining with guides Olivia and Avani. I was a little nervous as it was my first time. Our guides were great at alleviating my fears and I loved zip lining! The guides were both funny and they kept us entertained as we went through the course. We really enjoyed our trip through the trees. I would recommend this course to anyone who has never zip lined before. I have spoken to others that have zip lined and this course has a great braking system that seems easier than other courses that I've heard of. It was a lot of fun!French Broad Adventures has a lot of other activities that I can't wait to try out. Truly a great place for a wonderful adventure.
Christy K — Google review
My family did the zip line & rafting. we had the best adventures you could imagine! Zipping with Mars & AJ could not have been better. They are so knowledgeable and personable, always ensuring your experience is great. Our rafting trip was also terrific! When our zipping went a bit long, the FBA team held the raft trip a bit, so we could grab a quick bite to eat. The rafting team was awesome. Shawn kept us entertained on the bus & Ally led our rafting "team". Ally displayed her expertise throughout the trip, and everyone had a blast. I would highly recommend FBA to anyone looking for a fantastic adventure. Their entire team, everyone we encountered working there, went above and beyond to ensure our experience was amazing and memorable.
Kurt R — Google review
Sarah was a great guide. She is relatively new, so I expect she has some improvement forthcoming. We had her all to ourselves, just the two of us, so we didn’t have a lot of paddles in the water. She’s a tiny young lady and very soft spoken. With more confidence, which only comes with time and more projection in her voice when giving commands she will surely be even better. The whole team was great. We will return next year and hope to see Sarah again.
YachtsOneSRQ — Google review
4.9
(1221)
•
5.0
(1718)
12 Good Adventures Ln, Marshall, NC 28753, USA
(828) 649-0486
25
Sandy Bottom Trail Rides
Horseback riding service
Outdoor Activities
Equestrian facility
Stable
Horseback Riding Tours
Thank you guys for saving the day! After another stable lost our reservation we reached out blindly to this awesome place! They were able to squeeze us in to alleviate all tears my 12 and 8 year old had! The staff was amazing for these novice riders and turned our day around. If you want to trail ride use them! Professional, knowledgeable and 4 generation family owned and ran. Trust me you won’t go wrong. Thanks to Teddie for helping my little one have her BEST day! We will be back.
Mandy S — Google review
5⭐️+! This was the most beautiful trail ride I have ever been on. The staff, the guides, the facilities were top notch. We had 3 kids- 2 who have never rode before and they did great🙌. We did the 2-hour trails and enjoyed every minute!! Highly recommend Jackie and his incredible family❤️
Michelle K — Google review
Went on a 2 hour Sandy Bottom Trail ride for a bachelorette trip and had such a wonderful experience. The owner was so welcoming and kind. He even gave some of us jackets who weren’t dressed warm enough. Our tour guide Matt was informative, kind, and funny. Great price for the scenic views and the amount of time riding. Overall such a wonderful time, we will definitely be back!!
Olivia H — Google review
Amazing experience at Sandy Bottom Trail Rides! We have done a few other trail rides and this place exceeded all expectations! They are so professional and gave us an amazing trail ride for 13 people! The horses were very well kept and seemed healthy and happy!
Katelyn L — Google review
10/10 My girlfriend & I are both first time riders which led to us choosing the 1 hour ride which was perfect for us as beginners but after the amazing experience & views… we are planning to do the 3 hour ride next time hopefully with guide Paul again who was knowledgeable & made us feel comfortable the whole ride. One of the best experiences I’ve ever had.
Nicolas S — Google review
My best friend and I decided last minute to go horseback riding and we had so much fun! We called and made a quick reservation for an hour long ride. It was just the two of us and the service was amazing! The guide, Josh, was really nice and respectful and talked to us the whole time. The views were gorgeous and the ride was slow enough that we had plenty of photo opportunities. We enjoyed ourselves so much we even thought about going on another ride! We would definitely recommend Sandy Bottom Trail Rides to anyone looking to go horseback riding!
Sydney J — Google review
We went on the 3 hour trail ride to the mine. It was beautiful. Nice easy ride. You do not need to have any experience to do this. They have stairs to help you onto the horse. Loved the company of the dogs. Everyone involved was friendly and helpful. Even strangers at the mine helped us find some treasure to take home!
Kelly K — Google review
I'm from Miami, Florida, while in Ashville, My family and i visited sandy bottom trail rides yesterday and we all loved it! An amazing experience for my kids whom have never ridden a horse before, the scenery is amazing, the horses are very well trained and kept. The staff is very professional and friendly, the entire place is beautiful. I'd recommend sandy bottom trail rides to whomever wants to have a good time and wants to enjoy the amazing scenery of the mountains, in the hands of truly professional and friendly tour guides. I'd give this 5 more stars if i could. We will be back next year! Keep up the amazing work!
Tech 3 — Google review
This place was amazing. It was amazing to have my husband (a person of color) be treated like a normal human in a "predominantly Caucasian activity", which hasn't been our experience in the past at other establishments. The views were great, the guide was great, the staff was all super kind and professional, and the experience was wonderful. I wish I didn't live States away so we could go more often.
Misty L — Google review
Had a great time on the 3 hour tour. Lucas and Neil were our guided and helped us when needed. I’ve seen some complaints about a silent tour and to be honest, I enjoyed the peace and quiet which was a great escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Views were fantastic and the horses were fun. Thanks guys! We might be back for a fall at some point!
Austin A — Google review
Wow! What a fun ride! My mom and I went on the 1 hour ride with Josh as our guide and he was awesome! He was very kind, made great conversation, gave great tips, and he made my mom and I feel extremely safe. I rode on Gracie, who was so sweet and stopped to snack on some plants on the way and my mom rode Alli, the absolute sweetest mule. The views of the property were UNREAL and we chatted with the owner, who was extremely kind and gave us some history of the business. Overall, we have a wonderful experience and the staff was SO friendly. The dogs on the property were extremely sweet, as well. Can't wait to come back next time we visit! Thank you Josh and Sandy Bottom Trail Rides Team!
Bella V — Google review
My wife and I were on a trip and decided to come for a ride (she is an avid rider). Horses were well trained and well fed. And our guide, Josh, was fun to ride with and attentive. The views on the 2-hour ride were everything we hoped for as well! We’ll be back whenever we’re back in town. Highly recommend!
Chris F — Google review
My husband and I were going to go to the Biltmore to ride because it was closer but arrived and they require reservations weeks and months in advance and it’s hard to get them on the phone so we decided we would make the drive out to Sandy Bottom last minute and it was well worth it and now we have no interest in trying the Biltmore trail. We called very last minute and they were able to accommodate us within the hour which we didn’t expect. They are much cheaper than the Biltmore thankfully. They were all very friendly and helpful. They have saddle bags available where you can bring your own drinks and snacks ect.. on the ride which is very convenient. Our guide Melvin was very nice and helpful, he made us feel comfortable during my husband’s first time on a horse especially going up and down a mountain. The views were absolutely stunning and the horses were beautiful and well cared for. Baby doll and Woodrow were sweet horses. They have a great place out there and we can’t wait to go back. You can buy a souvenir shirt and would recommend bringing cash to tip your guide because they do a great job.
Lydia L — Google review
My husband Patrick and I are vacationing in the Asheville area and we booked a three hour trail ride ride with Sandy Bottom Trail Rides. Upon arrival, we were met by a friendly gentleman that welcomed us. After getting some friendly instruction, we saddled up and set off for what would we a truly memorable experience. Thank you Heather for being a genuinely kind and knowledgeable guide and for engaging us in conversation throughout the ride. Keep up the good work and continue to take good care of those sweet horses!
Ben Y — Google review
Wonderful experience! I took my two sons, and everything was great. One of my sons rode by himself, and my 4 year old rode with me. Our guide was so attentive to my 6 year old and made sure he was safe and comfortable. Our saddles were checked multiple times, and they went above and beyond to keep our group together and remind us of what to do. We will definitely visit again! The hour-long ride was perfect for two, small kids.
Tiffany W — Google review
Awesome hosts!! I went for the Garnet mine and it def does not disappoint. They show you what to look for and are helpful with any questions. Also they give you a well described map to make your way there. This location is easy to access and I was able to make it to the mine with a lowered sports car.
YodamboY — Google review
Took the 2 hour ride with Matt and Zoe as our guides, and it was such a treat. My kids (ages 6, 8, and 12) were able to ride alone. Both Matt and Zoe did an amazing job of making us all feel confident, safe and welcome. The views were gorgeous. If you're on the fence, just go do it! 🤠
Courtney K — Google review
We did the one hour ride and this was our first time here. It was wonderful! Our guide, Heather, was awesome, fun and very nice. Family friendly. They teach you how to ride/guide your horse which is great for those who are beginners with riding. From researching multiple other horse trail businesses, this one was the only one I could find with panoramic views of the mountains and the view was breathtaking! It started snowing while we were on the trail. The whole experience was great! We’ll be back for longer rides.
Amanda M — Google review
We had such a great experience with our guide, Shelby. She had great knowledge of horses and respect for them. The ride was smooth and it was a perfect day for riding. The horses were sweet and seemed well cared for. We also enjoyed the dogs who came along for the ride. Will definitely recommend this family business to others who plan to visit the Asheville area.
Bianca S — Google review
What a joy! I brought my daughter here for her birthday and we did a 2 hour ride. We got Matt as a guide and he was absolutely amazing. He was always asking questions and also trying to make people better riders.The place has amazing scenery and it makes it feel very special. We loved every minute of it. Thanks for making today special!
Chris H — Google review
Remote in the mountains outside Asheville - friendly staff, easy riding horses, beautiful scenery. We did the 1 hour ride but kind of wish we did the 3 hour and saw the mine.
Seth D — Google review
I love Sandy Bottom Trail Rides. A friend said they were going and I jumped at the opportunity. Everyone who works there are horse living professionals. I wanted Ed a gentle ride with about any drama. They gave me Lady, who truly was! Our trail guides, Matt in chaps & James in shorts, helped a young boy a lot and a sweet Ups-syndrome ride as well. And made ill six of us feel welcome. I’ll be back!They have more than 60 horses so all are treated with their best health in mind.
Elizabeth L — Google review
Absolutely fantastic experience! It was my husband and I and our kids, 11 and 12 years old, first time horseback riding. We did an hour ride, which was perfect for us beginners. They made us feel comfortable and safe because the horses were well-trained. The trail was breathtaking through the gorgeous mountain. We all loved it and would recommend this place.
LANA L — Google review
We had a ride reserved for 2:00 p.m. When we arrived they advised us that they were running behind because they had a big group before us. Because of this, we waited an additional 40 minutes. When the group before had returned, it took about 15 minutes for us to start our ride. If you are a first time rider, this is not the place for you. They didn't give any pointers on how to ride a horse. I had to ask... We booked a 2 hour ride and for the entirety of the ride, the guide did not STOP talking. She did not leave any time for peace and quiet. That may be personal preference, but I felt that it should be mentioned. It was hard to enjoy our ride due to her constant babbling. Our ride felt rushed from the start. Our two hour ride was not even two hours long. It was an hour and forty minutes. There were no photo opportunities offered and when we did ask, the staff seemed annoyed and in a rush to get the horses back into their stable. Overall, I wouldn't say this is the worst experience I've had horseback riding but I definitely wouldn't recommend it to anyone I know. It isn't worth your money or time.
Jeannie — Google review
Was a great experience. The horses were extremely well trained and the guides were great. We had seven of us in the group with the youngest being 8 years old. The path to the top of the mountains and to see the views from there was phenomenal. We took the one hour tour and given the hot weather, that was plenty for us but a person couldn't go wrong with any of the tour lengths. High recommend if you are looking to see the mountains in a new and exciting way.
Patrick H — Google review
4.8
(559)
•
5.0
(384)
1459 State Rd 1125, Marshall, NC 28753, USA
(800) 959-3513
I'll never travel to Asheville without this trip planner again
26
Navitat Canopy Adventures
Adventure sports
Tours
Attraction offering guided zipline tours through the forested terrain of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Kole and Paxton were responsible, chill, quirky, and knowledgeable. Any questions we asked they had a thoughtful answer for us. We felt very safe and free. The hiking portion was enjoyable because they would stop to show us things in nature giving us a breather and knowledge to take home with us! I highly recommend doing the mountain top tour!
Emma C — Google review
My family and I had a wonderful time doing the Treetop Tour. Kat and Tate we fantastic tour guides. They showed us edible leaves, shared stories from the property’s history, but it didn’t feel like they were performing. It felt like just a conversation with friends while doing a really cool activity on tree platforms where woodland elves live. The views were stunning. We will be back to do the Mountaintop Tour.
Kasey H — Google review
We had an amazing experience with the mountaintop zip line adventure.You walk to three different platforms, the guides give plenty of time to rest as you hike to increased elevations, and they give history of the land and plants along the way.We had River and Spice as our guides and highly recommend them. They were engaging, funny and very professional at the same time as they adhered to all safety standards and made sure each of us was clipped in and secure at each launch point.We had a wonderful time and would do it again!Highly recommend
Marla D — Google review
River and Willy were our guides for my wife and I anniversary celebration and let’s just say they definitely earned a great review. They were friendly and personable and made our special day all the more enjoyable. They even spared us from being attacked by a copperhead. Willy was being extremely cautious as he pushed the little feller off the beaten path. Needless to say they were awesome Tour guides!!! Will definitely go back again!!!
Charles S — Google review
One of the best zip line adventures we have been on. What a beautiful view! Really amazing zip lines. Our guides were top notch. John and Ethan made it fun, informative, chill and safe!There is so much to do while you are waiting. ALL the staff make it so great to be there. They even made a sweet sign for our daughter’s 13th birthday. 🥳Would HIGHLY recommend this place. So worth it.
ErikandBet O — Google review
What a great experience, we just went for our son’s birthday and everyone is incredible. Theresa at the front desk was so helpful from the very beginning. Our tour guides leap, and Ethan were incredible. Thank you guys for making this such an incredible experience for all of us especially our son. We will definitely be back and highly recommend this adventure for locals and visitors to the Asheville area.
Yuliya T — Google review
Sydney and Nathan provided us with a great experience. I've never been zip lining and had no plans to ever do it because of my fear of heights but decided to join my kids. They made me feel at ease with their professionalism and their chill personalities. Zip lining here was amazing. The views are breath taking. I would do it again.
Christine C — Google review
We couldn’t have asked for a better experience for the treetop tour. . Antonio and Alex were amazing guides. They helped my son to take on his fear when he got to the first zip line . Alex and Antonio were so mindful of everyone in the group. They were obviously very knowledgeable and skilled at taking people through the zip lines . My kids can’t wait to go back and do the mountaintop tour. I would recommend the tour to anyone looking to have a great zip line experience.
Tracey C — Google review
We did not the tree top canopy tour -- six zips of varying lengths through the tree tunnels and crisscrossing across the gorge. Beautiful scenery. Well worth pushing the comfort boundaries high up the hillside. Our guides, Alex and Greg were wonderful -- patient and expert, with knowledge of the foliage and the terrain. The body harnesses make for super-safe zipping -- anyone over 70 lbs, and even great for adventurous grandparents. No climbing involved, just a short hike at the end.
Laura D — Google review
I visited Navitat this October and it was an incredibly fun experience. Our guides, Willy and Leap, made us all feel safe and excited to try the ziplines. Their knowledge of the flora of the area and property's history enriched the experience and made us feel connected to our surroundings. Overall it was an extremely well ran operation with breathtaking views and exhilarating rides! I am looking forward to bringing my family back to visit in the future.
Parker V — Google review
Amazing experience! The views are amazing! The hike up is worth it. Our guides were Alex and Ilze and they were fantastic! So many great dad jokes and nature facts along the way. Would highly recommend. My parents did the atv tour so they could watch us and they had a great time with their guide, Willy.
Monica C — Google review
We had an absolute blast!! My wife was a bit anxious before and our guides John and Alex were phenomenal with talking her through the process and calming her! They were both fun and engaging throughout the entire process from check in to exiting the experience. Would give them 10 stars if I could!
Nathan D — Google review
We booked with Navitat for my dad’s birthday and from start to finish it was so special! Shoutout to Nathan and Oscar, they did an excellent job explaining everything. They are also so knowledgeable of the area and the vegetation and were explaining things along the way. Overall, it was an amazing experience!
Hyat K — Google review
100/10 would recommend the mountain tour zip! The views are great but the staff really make the experience even more worth it!! Alex and Kali were amazing (professional but goofy in the best of ways, had all the jokes, and all the fun facts).They even take pictures for you so you definitely don't lose your phone. The pictures are pretty darn good quality. Would definitely recommend the photo package ($35 for "all photos" which got us about 15 photos in total)
Sarah A — Google review
Awesome experience! Blue and Victoria were great. We went with a group of 6 and everyone had a blast! We will definitely be going back to do the treetop zip.With they had a food truck for afterwards but fantastic experience overall and already looking forward to our next adventure!
Justin C — Google review
12/10 recommend! Absolutely awesome experience and felt completely safe the entire time! Our guides, Leap and Willy-D were super knowledgeable and fun to hang around too! The drive up the mountain side was so relaxing too! Our driver, Alex, took great care to cruise gently along the well maintained, beautiful trail. Couldn’t have had better guides! If you’re here for a day, or a week, this place is a MUST!
Steven D — Google review
We went on a Saturday around 1:10 and did the mountain top tour with JD and Tate - they were such great guides and had some pretty good dad jokes along the way. Definitely felt very safe and the views were very pretty! I’ve done a few zip lines before above the smokies and I do wish there was a little bit more thrill or maybe a few more zip lines, there was only 3, but the guides and the pictures definitely made the experience! Thank you! :)
Cheyenne R — Google review
Our guides Greg and Victoria were nothing but amazing, and It's always great to see people who are passionate about their job and obviously love what they do! We had a fantastic time ziplining with them and learning about the local area. My group still talks about the bus ride up the mountain that I can best describe as a wild mystery machine experience. Sadly I didn't get the drivers name but 11/10 would ride again. We had a great time and are looking forward to coming back :)
Lauren K — Google review
Amazing mountaintop ziplining during peak leaf changing! Although there were only three zips, they were all super long, fast, high up, and fun. Spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains during the autumn leaves gorgeousness. It was also nice to ride simultaneously, as they have two side by side zips. Our guides were great, and Navitat was very well organized and had a clean indoor area with restrooms, and hammock chairs outside while we waited for our tour. The only part I wasn't a fan of was the van ride up - extremely bumpy and the driver was blasting rock music. Some might enjoy this though as part of the adventure.
Tara C — Google review
This couldn’t have been any better! Everyone did a great job and we loved it! My wife and I are going but I have a bad ankle and my wife has a bad back, we had no problems zip lining!!! It was a nice little hike but not too hard or intense. Our guides were Naomi, Gus, and McKenzie and they were all fantastic! They were funny and made sure we felt safe and had fun. I will do this every time we come to Asheville from now on.If you are on the fence about it, just do it! You will not regret it. My wife was a little nervous but after the first zip line, we were good and almost running up the mountain to the next one!
Austin M — Google review
I’ve came all the way from France to visit friends in North Carolina and Navitat was the most fun experience! This was the longest canopy ride I’ve ever done. Felt safe all times and I was just blown away by the beautiful green mountains. We had the best guides with us. Kat and Oscar. Both of them extremely friendly, professional and knowledgeable about the flora of the area which made the experience even better. Can’t wait to come back and hopefully there are some food trucks then!
Andrés T — Google review
It’s was amazing experience, I’ve been zip-lining before but the mountain top tour was amazing! I didn’t wanted it to end. Even before we started, we had a good time playing and wasting time with the little games and sitting area to wait, great staff, a lot to do while waiting for your turn. Also, big shoutout to our tour guides Alex and Ethan, they helped us throughout our journey and had a lot of patience for us!
Mayar S — Google review
Awesome time!! Don’t think twice, just book it and go. Greg & Alex were our guides and they were the best! We felt like pros at the end of the day thanks to how informative and friendly they were. Beautiful and well set up place. Our next trip to Asheville will include another visit from the Farmer family. Thank you guys to a memorable trip!
Kazie F — Google review
Amazing experience, would recommend it to all friends and family. Max and Leap were amazing guides and so patient when we had difficulties on the trail. They never rushed us and always told us to take our time. This was my first time ziplining and I can confidently say because they were so patient with me I would absolutely do this again! Thank you guys for making my birthday special 💜
Stacey N — Google review
This was the highlight of my senior trip with my friends! Liv and Bob were incredible!! They both were so knowledgeable, kind, and welcoming. They made us feel so safe and comfortable while also having fun and making sure we had a great time. They were basically our friends by the end of the zip lining lol. I would definitely go back again and I strongly recommend Liv and Bob they made this a once in a lifetime experience!!
Ava L — Google review
First off, the ride up the mountain in the van was just as much excitement as the actual Zip- line tour. The guides were having as much fun as everyone else, which made for a cool vibe! Amazing views and not too busy during Spring Break. Will return!(We went during Covid; always meant to leave a great review, hence the masks)
Melissa C — Google review
My friends and I were visiting Asheville for spring break and zip lining was on our bucket list and needless to say this place blew us away. Absolutely beautiful location and the most welcoming and friendly and fun staff. It was $125 each which I think was totally worth it. There were three of us in total including me and we did the mountaintop tour. We were luckily that it was just us three on the tour so we were able to get to know the tour guides, John and Victoria, a lot better. Shout out to them because they made us laugh the entire time and gave us great suggestions for restaurants and other places to visit during our stay in Asheville. I had so much fun bantering with them that I forgot to be afraid of heights lol. They did all the harness and securing stuff for us during the tour which made me feel a lot safer and they made sure to get really great photos with of our group together which we bought for around $30 for 26 pictures I believe. The views were extraordinary and breathtaking and the speeds of the zip line left our group speechless. I will say it was freezing cold so dress warm in March but the little bit of hiking warmed us up. Thank you to John and Victoria again!! Y’all were awesome.
Nicole Z — Google review
Me and my boyfriend went on the mountain tour where we could zip line right beside eachother, I highly recommend adding the go pros we got amazing videos of eachother and the mountains! We had Guss and Naomi as our tour guides, they were hilarious and great tour guides. 10/10 would recommend 😊
Kaycee M — Google review
The Mountain Top Tour was and an unforgettable, incredible experience like no other! The views were spectacular, and I highly recommend this experience! Kali and Victoria were outstanding tour guides! They were very passionate about ziplining, and they went above and beyond to make the each guest feel safe, comfortable, and happy. I enjoyed Victoria's jokes and Kali's nature facts! I can't wait to zip line again in the fall!
Jackie L — Google review
Emerson and Jules were amazing guides! They were funny, but informative and very nice to hang out with! The views were amazing and I felt very safe the whole time! I also love the games/hammocks where you can hangout before your tour! We enjoyed celebrating my mom’s birthday here!
MaKenna L — Google review
Omg GO AND TRY THIS ! This was such and incredible experience from the moment we arrived . Getting to the actual place was not hard at all , definitely rocky roads . Checking in at the front desk which is also a gift shop was no wait at all . The lady at the front was very welcoming and helpful and she holds ur keys in the front but ur phone u must leave in car . While u wait for everyone toGet ready they have boardGames outside you can play with . You are also available to purchase pictures at the end . Once you purchase pictures u get them the same day to ur email . Once everyone has their gear on as rules are explained u get into a van that takes u to the first Zip . The ride in the van is Wild lol. But very fun. I have to Shoutout Naomi our Guide person she was so awesome very beautiful personality but also she was very considerate of making sure we took proper breaks during the small hikes in between and also explained survival facts on plants in the forest we seen . If you’re doing the mountain top tour they break it down in 3 zip line rides which all 3 are incredible . But the 2 is my favorite . Such a thrill , there definitely is speed and height and views to die for . There was rain and thunder that passed by and we waited it out . We’re so glad we got to do all 3 . When u get to the end of each zip the stopping part is shocking lol I’ll say that much . 125! For a person is definitely well worth it . Definitely will be back again . They have night zip lining to will have to try .
Nancy H — Google review
We had a blast! Safety was of a high standard. A big shout out to guides Candace and Rayner who were friendly, helpful, informative and fun. Our driver was skillful and got us to the top quickly, making the drive a big part of the adventure. Information provided about the flora and geography in the area was very interesting.
James W — Google review
What an amazing adventure. Had never zip lined before so we did the family friendly canopy experience. It was a great first time to zip line. John and Zeke were amazing guys. Very patient,very knowledgeable, and made the whole experience well worth it. they gave very clearance instructions, had great knowledge of the local area, and you could really tell they loved what they do and interacting with their customers on a day-to-day basis. Would highly recommend anyone that wants to zip line as a beginner or even as an advanced zip liner to use this company. They do have some more advanced lines you can do and we hope to be back next year to do that!! Thanks Zeke and John!!!!
Melinda F — Google review
Our group had the best time! The entire staff were outstanding and helpful. Our guides were Riah and Cat. Highly recommend requesting these two for a fun and safe trip!! The views and experience were well worth it and great for all ages. If you’re looking for an amazing adventure this is the place for you!
Jenny W — Google review
We had a fantastic experience, our family including teenagers loved zipping with Navitat! We did the mountaintop tour. The courses were well designed, with what I feel the right amount of thrill still allowing for enough relaxation to admire the beautiful mountain views. Their equipment appeared to be very well maintained. The tour was organized well. Staff was professional, polite and helpful - they maintained an atmosphere of safety, provided great information during the hike and added some good humor to make the tour even more fun.
Christina K — Google review
We visited the parc recently and had a spectacular experience. The mountaintop tour offers an exhilarating experience that combines the thrill of ziplining with the serenity of nature.Our tour guides, Kali and Gabi, made us feel welcome and safe and provided a pleasant and interesting experience. We learned a lot about nature and vegetation from the parc and many other interesting facts.The ziplines are the longest I have ever seen. The longest one is about 3600 feet long, which offers a very beautiful passage over a deep valley.They make considerable efforts to preserve the environment and minimise the impact on the forest with the tours.Overall, the park and its staff offered an exhilarating adrenaline rush combined with the beauty and serenity of nature. Will definitely return here when I get the chance.
Iancu G — Google review
We had a such a great time with Ethan & Kali as our tour guides! There were beautiful hikes in between the 3 ziplines. In addition to the scenery & experience, our guides also shared information about the NC mountains & plants along the tour. A great way to spend 2+ hours in the afternoon. I highly suggest bringing or renting a go pro. The videos from my partners helmet are amazing.Also - I'm deathly afraid of heights - as in I was the kid that refused to jump off the high dive after getting up the ladder & seeing the drop - & this didn't bother me like I thought it might. There isn't a sudden drop in gravity from the platform to the line & if you look straight ahead or down, the tree Canopy hides how high you are off the ground, so don't immediately knock it if you're afraid of the height.
Stephanie T — Google review
We had a fantastic time on our zipline tour! Even with wind gusts and rain we had a blast! John and River were excellent guides and were very personable. If we are ever back in the area we would definitely come again!
Emily P — Google review
The zip runs are great. Scenery is beautiful. Our guides Gabi, Liv and Isabel were very knowledgeable and personable made it a great experience. We would definitely recommend it and that second run 👌 Only thing that would be a great addition is some type of food option or picnic lunch available to enjoy the grounds once you’re there.
Cody L — Google review
5.0
(3315)
•
5.0
(2237)
242 Poverty Branch Rd, Barnardsville, NC 28709, USA
(828) 626-3700
27
Basilica of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
Mentioned on
+34 other lists
Basilica
Sights & Landmarks
The Basilica of Saint Lawrence is an iconic and gorgeous Catholic church in downtown Asheville, NC. It was designed by Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino and features stunning stained glass windows. The basilica offers free guided and self-guided tours, but you don't have to take one if you just want to see the architecture from the 20th century.
Beautiful Architecture can be seen in Basilica of St Lawrence. It was completed in 1909. The Basilica of St. Lawrence is designed by Rafael Gustavino and Richard Sharpe Smith, renowned architects on the Biltmore House. Their updated mass time schedules and visiting hours are available in their website. You can also book a tour with a guide on their website. Make sure to book it atleast a week in advance to get confirmation or approval. Worth to visit!
RJ C — Google review
You must come and visit on Sunday for the 9 AM mass and be sure to stay late to receive the amazing free tour afterwards! It was such a joy and funny to hear our hosts speak about the wonderful things of this church and help us to more appreciate the stained glass, sculptures and architecture. The architect love this place so much he is buried here! We had a wonderful mass with Latin spliced in. The congregation was welcoming. We felt good about giving to this church which is in dire need of repair. Peace, Joshua
Joshua K — Google review
The Basilica of Saint Lawrence is one of the most beautiful churches in America! The alter is very unique and the dome is awesome! Mass here was great. The priest gave a nice homily, and there was a pretty good crowd!
Andre M — Google review
If you love old buildings with so much history and impressive architecture, this church is a must-visit. Their front door is under kind of construction/repair so the entrance to the church is off to the side. It's a straightforward self-guided tour. It's free to enter but there's a donation box by the entrance.
Maricris G — Google review
Beautiful church and the guy at the door was very welcoming. You do need to pay attention to the visiting hours. Self guided tour and the informational sheet was full of helpful history and pointed out awesome details.
Douglas A — Google review
The architecture on display at the Basilica is captivating. Such a remarkable display of mankind’s ingenuity.
Dennis S — Google review
My husband and I were very excited to go to mass here on our vacation. We learned about it’s history on some of the walking tours we went on. The architecture is unique and amazing so be sure to learn about it! We wish we could have stayed for the free tour after mass! Mass was beautiful and everyone was very friendly. There is a parking lot for people going to mass but we went to a parking deck nearby since we had dinner reservations right after.
Joellen D — Google review
Beautiful and humbling church. Felt at peace inside and appreciated the care that has gone into caring for this sanctuary. Please leave a cash gift for your entrance before leaving.
Sjk N — Google review
I came to the Basilica on Mother's Day to celebrate a memorial mass for my friend. Her father had the mass in her memory since it was the 5th anniversary of her passing. She passed away on Mother's Day. She was a wonderful person and is truly missed by all of us who knew her. ❤I absolutely love this church even though it is not my parish. I think anybody who visits Asheville should come and check out the history and relish in the beauty of its statues and stained glass windows.
NC C — Google review
Given that there are fewer than 95 Basilicas in the US, this is a must-see on any trip to Asheville, North Carolina. Note that visiting hours throughout the day offer the opportunity for anyone to visit and learn about this beautiful, historical architectural site of holy worship.
Regan R — Google review
While honeymooning in nearby Maggie Valley, we happened upon the Basilica of St Lawrence. This stood out to us as an architectural oddity in the middle of a modern city, and decided to stop in. The outside betrayed the beauty of the inside where frescoes, tapestries and statuaries reign supreme. An absolute beauty.This structure with its fascinating details in design, is included on my list of Wonders of the World. Truly amazing ❤️
Allicia B — Google review
Positively gorgeous. A serene and contemplative enclave in downtown Asheville. Open for self guided tours. Check for hours.
Terri N — Google review
Full house runs into the street.Easter morning downtown Asheville. The church filled up fast as more people arrived. Happy Easter
JimBo' ( — Google review
Gloriously beautiful basilica! As a visitor, I felt welcomed by the parish. Parking was not hard at all. The mass was celebrated with the deacon, priest, and local seminarians. The stained glass and sculptures were a work of art. The mass was enhanced by amazing music from the choir. I highly recommend for your Sunday worship.
Mark D — Google review
I really don't like having to put up such a low star rating for a place of worship. Unfortunately, for this particular Church, I'm afraid I have to.And my reason for doing so is quite a simple one: I had been to this church with a fellow homeless man ♂️, who had been staying in the "starvation army" 🪖 shelter of apathy with me, during this weekend. It was a Sunday morning, and pretty cold when we came into this church.I had initially wanted to have a day of worship at a different variety of church, not far from this one. I had written a review of the other Church in question during the same day I was trying to determine their hours of operation. But, after I had left this basilica to find out if the other church had actually opened its doors yet, the young man I was traveling with caught up to me after a while of me waiting at the other church.What he told me came as an absolute shock of disgust at all the clergy members of this basilica... Apparently, during my absence, one of their female staff members complained about his carrying bags to him. And even though she offered him a chance to store them away in a side room, he declined on the grounds which he felt directly disrespected by the person who confronted him over his baggage. If this is how staff and clergy members of a Catholic basilica are going to treat regular citizens who only wish to head over to a church for a worship service, then I highly doubt I'll be setting foot into any church at any point in time within the near future of my life!
Ross S — Google review
Incredible architecture and beautiful stained glass windows. This place has a fantastic history and is worth the trip. It’s free admission.
Donna O — Google review
Absolutely stunning and beautiful church. The engineering done by Rafael Guastavino is incredible
Adam B — Google review
What a breathtaking Basilica. It's known to have one of the largest free-standing domes in North America. The greeter was especially kind and hands out brochures for those who are visiting. The dome itself is massive, and there are many sculptures, art pieces, and stained glass windows to enjoy. If you can, go for a service so you can get the full experience.
Kelsi H — Google review
I was blessed (tho I didn't know at the time) to visit your Church a few years back, as a protestant. I am so deeply, truly and incredibly sorry for the things I said and the way I felt when I was there. I could never repay you for my sins but I can tell you, my Confirmation is tomorrow night at the Easter Vigil. What a glorious redemption!! I pray I can visit you again some day, with my new heart and eyes set aright.
Shanni A — Google review
Beautiful and amazing structure build in the old day, see visiting hours in a picture
G S — Google review
Amazing church and the pastor has a heart of gold. The basilica is beautiful. Sunday tours after mass. Tour guide is a local volunteer who is incredible. One of americas great architects Raphael Guastavino built the church. Its magnificent to behold. And whats best is Jesus is present here. The sacrament of communion is beautifully reverant.And this parish has a true leader shephard! He dedicates all his time to everyone who enters the doors. He has a true heart for Jesus and you can tell on first glance. He answers questions anyone has about the faith during coffee hour.
M L — Google review
Beautiful church with some interesting history. My rating is due to expecting just a quick stop. If we weren't staying walking distance away and had planned to stay longer, I probably would have been disappointed. As others have pointed out, the posted hours were not consistent with the actual time. We wanted to see the church as tourists, so we came during hours posted for visiting / touring. But as we walked in we were informed mass was starting in 30 minutes. We wanted to be respectful so we didn't walk around. The staff were very friendly and polite and I'm glad we got the chance to see the inside. I completely respect the church wanting to be less tourist focused and more exclusively a place of worship, but feel the hours and information should reflect that.
B M — Google review
4.8
(901)
•
4.5
(1232)
97 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801, USA
(828) 252-6042
28
River Arts District
Mentioned on
+38 other lists
Arts organization
Art Galleries
Neighborhoods
The River Arts District is a 22-property commercial and vintage district located close to the French Broad River in Downtown Asheville. It encompasses various craftsman studios as well as galleries open to the public, making it an incredible place to buy unique souvenirs from your time in the city.
Awesome place to walk around and go in different artists' studios and see what they have to offer. So if you're looking for art of all kinds and in different mediums, this is the place to start. Everyone was so nice and helpful. Most artists, if not busy, will come over and explain some pieces and whatnot, very pleasant and informative. We wound up getting a few pieces from different artists, nice additions for our house. Prices vary, so there's something for everyone. Even if you're not in the market to buy, definitely go and check out what's all there, it's like going to museum of fine art.
S W — Google review
Loving this River Art District in Asheville! 😍. A hub of 300+ artists collective to meet, chat with and appreciate is such a unique experience!HOWEVER, the key locations to visit are scattered and without planning ahead, I accidentally walked 30,000+ steps in 4 hours! 😥 very tired indeed!So, NOTE for future visits:START the day with ULTRA Coffeebar (great coffee and breakfast),THEN park at WEDGE brewing company to visit the studios in its building (also because they open earlier),THEN drive to lunch at 12 BONES (best BBQ in town), visit the street arts, studios, Marquee and have a wine tasting at Plēb Urben Winery nearby before youMOVE to the other side of the railway - the studios on Depot st. near the Magnetic Theatre and,END the day with a meal at Vivian (make sure to reserve a table in advance for this small and special dinner place)!AND that would be a perfect day for River Art District! 👌
Jennifer L — Google review
Love all the street art and cute shops ! Def worth stopping by ti check out. Great spot to tak photos and check out some talented artists.
Julia ( — Google review
Enjoyed walking around this area. Some great art work and reasonable prices. The graffiti on the buildings is a great addition to the artisan atmosphere.
John K — Google review
A MUST see if ever in the area. I love the painted murals all over the River Arts District. Not only was it extremely creative but beautiful to look at. All the shops and buildings in this area are covered in graffiti style art. Great area to explore.
MLW — Google review
4.5
(1452)
•
4.0
(1323)
3 River Arts Pl, Asheville, NC 28801, USA
(828) 388-3526
29
The Biltmore Inn
Mentioned on
1 list
Hotel
Nature & Parks
The Biltmore Inn is a beautiful, historic hotel located outside of Asheville in South Asheville. It has a wide variety of rooms and suites to choose from, as well as several great restaurants and lounges within the property. The atmosphere is romantic and inviting, perfect for any special occasion.
I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did! We took the self guided tour with listening devices and were able to enjoy this with no rush.So beautiful!There were multiple families touring at the same time and the kids did well although I don't think it's somewhere I would've taken my own kids.We enjoyed the drive through the estate to the wine tasting. John was great at guiding us through each option.Shopping was very pleasant and Carl helped us decide on our favorites as well as the best way to save to get the most bang for our buck.The gift shops were great too! We each purchased an ornament for a souvenir.
Ehsan G — Google review
Love the Biltmore Inn. The views are spectacular. Food is delicious....breakfast especially. Rooms are comfy with nice little extras. Staff is very helpful.
Elizabeth K — Google review
Loved staying at the Biltmore Inn. We had one of the newly renovated rooms with a fantastic view. The room was very clean and comfortable. We had the package which included the buffet breakfast and private morning tour of the house before they opened. The private tour is a must. We had a group of 5 plus the guide. It was quiet and you could really ask questions and go at a pleasurably pace. We also had a pass for the length of stay and we went back to the house after lunch and it seemed like there were several thousand people in the house. It was noisy and hard to maneuver through the rooms. The grounds of the estate were the most impressive to us. I highly recommend staying at the Inn whereIt’s easy to experience the entire estate.
Ken R — Google review
Absolutely wonderful place to stay. Great restaurants, great lounge with big fireplace as well as nice outside firepits
Richy W — Google review
My husband and I decided on a whim, to pack a bag and head to The Biltmore House. Neither of us had been, and we were bored. We stayed at The Biltmore Inn. From the moment we arrived... to the moment we left, everything was amazing. We will absolutely be back when we can stay longer than a night. I absolutely love the view from the deluxe terrace rooms. So beautiful and dreamy. And dinner at the on-site restaurant downstairs was superb.
Samantha H — Google review
A great experience, tours were so informative, professional and friendly.
John Z — Google review
We went there for our honeymoon for a week. The valet were excellent and very nice. The front desk, not so much. We were not fans of the front desk. Every person we encountered working there while on our stay was snobby and rude.The rooms are pretty basic to me. I live about 30 minutes from the West Baden in Indiana and I was just expecting more from the Inn, I suppose. I would rate the Inn a 3/5 on service and friendliness compared to the West Baden. The view is a 10/10. That is perfect and I'm assuming that's why you pay so much to stay there.Also the "Library" lounge is not a library. It's the "common area" essentially. The drinks are outrageous. We paid $63 for two drinks. Bloody Mary's are $20.. for one shot of vodka lol. Those are like $5 where I live. It was a jump scare. Don't get food delivered to your room either. We wanted a quick lunch while we were getting ready one day. So we ordered one sandwich to split and a Tito's and cranberry... $65 dollars. It's just extortion really. The food was good but not worth $45.If we come back to Asheville, we would probably stay in a cabin & getting a day pass or at the hotel on the Biltmore. The house tour, the kayaking, the trails, the E-Bikes were all really fun. We just didn't like the Inn and our experience. Also, eat at the Bistro and Cedric's! Both very good and very friendly service and staff.Also we were told the pool was heated and would be open on our stay, it wasn't. But the hotels was. So all around, I would just stay at the hotel. It's essentially the same thing but friendlier.
Taylor F — Google review
Beautiful place! Wish it would have been adults only. Seeing kids at the wine tasting and other places they shouldn't be, it wasn't the best experience with the screaming.
Austin K — Google review
Enjoyed an amazing First Class Afternoon Tea in the Dining Room. The staff were top notch in thier attention and kindness. The tea was simply the best I have had of tea services I have experieced all over the world. The view was breathtaking. Splendid Holiday decor. Topped off with delicious food and tea.
Cynthia T — Google review
The inn was very welcoming. Complimentary wine every day in the lobby was a nice touch. The turn-down service was one of the best of all my hotel stays! They even tied up the phone charging plugs with a silky red ribbon that has the Vanderbilt insignia. One major disappointment is the room felt damp at all times!
Ashley B — Google review
Staying at Builtmore Inn comes with the great perk of shuttle service on the estate.Food and service as expected for for its ratings.
Corey L — Google review
We have had passes to Biltmore for years. Our daughter got married there. We're so grateful for one of N.C.'s greatest treasures. Sometimes, though, their reach for profit exceeds their mission and value proposition. We had not eaten at Biltmore Inn for perhaps a year or so. So we pulled up to Inn to valet park (raining hard). The valet informed us we would have a $20 parking fee for this lunch! Didn't make me very happy. This was NEW. Then we went downstairs for lunch and they informed us that they had transformed downstairs dining room into the "tea room" for afternoon tea and that upstairs in the library where high tea had been held, they were serving lunch. So we go back upstairs and were seated after long wait. They brought menu..... it was not lunch ... it was snacks and appetizers to be taken with drinks! Ugh! So at the Biltmore Inn, now, one cannot have a lunch!!!!! The Inn guests have to leave the hotel if they want to take lunch. The demand for (and profitability of) afternoon tea was large enough to move it downstairs to more capacity and lunch was eliminated, but we were inaccurately guided to library for snacks and appetizers ...... at one time there they even served hamburgers etc. NOT NOW.I expect more from the Biltmore Inn.
Roger J — Google review
We spent $450 for tickets, gas and food for 1 day - 2 people. NOT worth the money; gardens and art exhibit were a big disappointment. When we purchased the tickets they told us the spring flowers would be planted, dogwoods and wisteria would be in bloom. Minimal annuals were planted, in fact they were just in the process of digging up dead tulips, so that is what we paid to see. We had to seek out the dogwoods and didn't see 1 wisteria in bloom. Art exhibit was a joke. A projection of renaissance art on the walls, no actual prints to view.
Jacqueline O — Google review
Love staying here. From the rooms, the food and drinks, the absolute best.
Charity G — Google review
This is much more than a place to stay while visiting Biltmore: it's an experience in and of itself. We stayed here for two nights while celebrating our anniversary last week. Everything was pleasantly over-the-top - just as a stay at the Biltmore must have been. The property, the location, the staff, the accommodations, the view, the shopping, the food. All exceeded our expectations. Definitely worth the stay.
Phil M — Google review
Our experience at the Inn was nearly perfect from beginning to end.We stayed in the Inn @ Room 259. I was disappointed that we didn’t have a mountain view, but the room was perfect, and we did have a terrace that offered substantial privacy when sitting outside. [I assumed a terrace would come with a mountain view, and I was wrong.]The valet & bellhop were outstanding, as was the front desk, the concierge, and all of the wait staff. We were treated with the utmost respect and never got bad vibes.We took the early morning tour of the Biltmore Mansion and it is HIGHLY recommended.We ate one night @ the Inn and the experience was fantastic! The service was perfect and the meal was delicious. We started with the crab cake, and both ordered filets, then finished with the creme brulee…………like seriously - how can you complain?The $30 +/- cocktails were pricey, but then you take in the priceless views and suddenly the drinks seemed like a fair value!CONS:The website is very confusing. The difference between the Hotel, the Inn, & the Home is not clear at all, and the room descriptions could use some work.I ordered the embroidered robe for my wife, and it was probably 4 sizes too big. I contacted guest services and they said they only offer one size fits all. It was really only meant to be a keepsake, but perhaps one of my boys will grow up to be a 2x or 3x!Great job Biltmore – we have told several friends how much we enjoyed our stay and we are proud to have been your guests.
Reed S — Google review
4.5
(81)
•
5.0
(2287)
One Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803, USA
(800) 411-3812
30
The North Carolina Arboretum
Mentioned on
+78 other lists
Arboretum
Nature & Parks
The North Carolina Arboretum is a public garden located in the Blue Ridge Mountains near the Western North Carolina town of Asheville. The arboretum contains more than 60 acres of carefully cultivated gardens, including one of the most extensive bonsai collections in the United States. The gardens also showcase a variety of flora, including one of the most extensive ericaceous (acid soil-loving) plant collections in the United States.
So many different things to look at and the flowers are beautiful I went the second week of September and they all still had their colors. They have a very cute gift shop. There was a wedding going on while we were there which was very interesting to look at! Didn’t know they offered those kind of services there. But it is nice to know they do! Also, the cafe they have there was delicious. I believe I got the garden salad and it was so good. The ranch dressing was perfect. Staff is very friendly!
Emily M — Google review
Excellent arboretum full of beautifully curated displays, fun for the entire family regardless of season! Wonderful outdoor trails to meander peacefully. Huge train exhibit with live plants was really neat and inspiring. Bonsai garden was pretty even though it’s off season. Lots of cool educational nature exhibits inside too. Absolutely stunning welcome center, though the staff totally ignored me, but that was fine because I was able to locate what I needed by myself. Also, great educational program with dedicated area for future outdoor enthusiasts. Overall, a great experience minus the lack of customer service inside the welcome center. Would recommend.
Dawn G — Google review
One of the most beautiful and well kept gardens anywhere! Immaculate care of everything. Don't miss the Bonsai Garden or miniature train area with Thomas and amazing the Bonsai plants in railroad area. Amazing and varied walking trails. Great gift shop. Nearly every plant or tree has marker description. Just amazing for $20.00 car entry fee.
Chad S — Google review
We’ve been here twice and we loved it both times. So much to see! There are easy and difficult hikes. Everything is well marked. The staff is always so helpful. We love the bonsai exhibit. First Tuesday of the month is half price!
Deanna W — Google review
What a beautiful place to experience! We visited since they participate in the NC Zoo reciprocity program - the parking, while normally $20 per car, was free using our membership.Parking was easy and plentiful. We didn't really have a plan here but to roam free. The bonsai gardens were so cool. Per the time sign for the railroad display, I believe the train should have been going.. it wasn't but it still looked pretty cool.We spent most of the time on the nature trail and branching off here and there. We even visited the education center where they have restrooms and a bistro.The couple hours we were there we got to explore a lot of the gardens and even the little greenhouse. We definitely need to come back as there's so much we didn't even get to see.
Carolyn W — Google review
We were in Asheville for a long weekend and I was trying not to overdo the hiking since I was trying to recover from an injury. We decided to come here for the afternoon after a short hike in the morning.I had heard good things, but this place still surpassed my expectations! It's a pretty big place and there are even more traditional trails through the wooded area.It's $16 to park, but there is technically no entrance fee so you might be able to bike in for free.Unfortunately, we didn't plan ahead and the Bonsai exhibit was closed for the day (closes at 5 and everything else is open until 7 or 9 depending on the time of year). What we could see from the outside looked cool though.This is a great spot to spend a few hours exploring. It looks really cool in the winter with Christmas lights too from what I've seen online.
Jacqueline T — Google review
Such a beautiful and well maintained place. 16 bucks to park and the rest is free unless you decide to buy some $3 succulents. The bonsai exhibit was absolutely beautiful. A miniature redwood tree? One of the cutest things I've seen. The flowers are breathtaking as well. I highly recommend this place for its awe inspiring beauty.
Dylan R — Google review
The Arboretum is stunning! The gardens are so peaceful and beautiful to walk through. There were musicians playing music outside the bistro, which set such a fun mood. And when the heat gets to be too much, the visitor's center and gift shop have excellent air conditioning. There's also a water fountain with a water bottle filler. We appreciated that the Arboretum was dog and family friendly.
Jordon H — Google review
We loved this place! The gardens were beautifully designed by Frank Law Olmstead and have to be seen to be believed. Beautiful nature trails wind through the entire area and there are plenty of benches to take a break or just take in the scenery. This place is magical. We were fortunate to spot a mother bear, her two cubs and a copperhead on the trail. The trails are well marked and pretty easy to traverse. If I lived here I would be hiking at the Arboretum several days a week. The bistro served a great lunch - The Hungry Hiker Salad with a scoop of curried chicken salad was delicious! Don’t miss the bonsai exhibit!
Barry H — Google review
Loved the winter lights show! A massive amount of colored lights which was a perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit. We got there early on a Thursday so it wasn’t too busy! As the crowd picked up it was still a very comfortable crowd level. Highly recommended!
Elsie S — Google review
We love the Arboretum for so many reasons! There are special exhibits, live music (wine), displays, trails, hiking, biking and more! You’re surrounded by nature & it’s beauty! And it’s dog friendly (just be mindful)!
Christine C — Google review
What a beautiful place. There are tons of trails to choose from, from easy to challenging, all offering gorgeous sights throughout the arboretum. We really enjoyed the Japanese Garden/ Bonsai area. Helpful staff and clean facilities made the trip even nicer.
Dawn H — Google review
This is a really nice park. I personally love walking so for me this place has plenty of trails. There are a ton of decorations around here for Christmas so I highly recommend coming here after dark during the Christmas season. They also had a really nice gift shop at the building that's past all of the decorations.
Lev M — Google review
This place is a steal with only a sixteen dollar parking fee. Everything else was free to enter and explore. Give yourself a few hours to walk and enjoy the gardens and trails. The bonsai exhibit was very well laid out. There is plenty of photo opportunities and great mountain views throughout the park. I would recommend a visit here.
Mountain G — Google review
Amazing first visit here. We will definitely return. It was one of the nicest gardens we've ever visited. The design and layout were obviously well thought out and painstakingly built. The Bonsai exhibit was extraordinary! We could have easily spent a whole day here. We can't wait to come back.$20 per vehicle for parking, no cost for the Arboretum. You can use your parking stub as $20 towards an annual membership.
Marcus D — Google review
This is an absolute “must” if you visit Asheville. It was very easy to jump right in and engage in some nature walks.The navigation MIGHT lead you to a side road through a neighborhood. In which case, the road to the arboretum is two lights over. We luckily had a very nice lady who was an attendant in the campsite parking help us with directions.You pay $20 per car, and go straight up to the parking. The parking lot is right near the main education center which leads right onto a “red” nature trail that isn’t that advanced. You can do the nature hike, or start with the Bonsai and Quilt garden as pictures, as well as other curated natural exhibits, right next to the education center.*we brought some binoculars, which was fun because you will spot some red squirrels and other birds. It can be fun to try to find these critters as you navigate the hikes. We watched a squirrel build a nest from the comfort of a bench!*Gotta go to the Arboretum!
Austin D — Google review
Loved shooting Brittany and Jakes's summer wedding portraits at the NC Arboretum! The relaxed vibe here is perfect for my intimate, candid photography style. The couples were themselves, laughing and having fun - just like hanging out with friends. The light, the composition, everything so inspired me! It's a dream location for any photographer who loves to tell unique love stories. And the best part? Seeing the joy in their eyes when they saw their stunning, personal images. Five stars for sure!
Michael P — Google review
We had an incredible day here. The gardens are beautiful, and the bonsai collection outstanding. There was an exhibit about the manufacturing of perfume, related to flower cultivation that is a real treat for the senses. There are "sniffer" tubes set up, so that you can smell different perfume scent sources. A harp trio played in the garden, and the tranquility was so pleasant. What a place to unwind, and get in touch with your soul! Go there!
Ian M — Google review
Me and my Dad go here regularly. They do a wonderful job making this place bloom. I especially love the bonsai exhibit, which is up during the warmer months. There is a toy train that runs if you get there early in the day. Christmas they do lights and it's so wonderful 😍 ✨️ all year long this is a fun place to visit and I always look forward to it.
Sarah T — Google review
We love coming here. So many beautiful lights. Everyone will definitely love it. There's plenty of room to walk around. The little ones will love the trains. There's hot chocolate, soft drinks, food, gift shops, and restrooms. Lots to enjoy and see .
Crystal H — Google review
**Parking costs $20, but no admission to see the arboretum.**This would be a lovely place to visit in the spring or a cooler summer day. It was just too hot the day we went. But what we did get to see was beautiful! Lovely gift shop as well. You can buy plants at their plant sale in the greenhouse.
Jenni D — Google review
Such a beautiful place. Loved the bug exhibit and all the beautiful plants, flowers and trees. The bonsai tree exhibit is amazing. We took our out of town guests and they loved it. There is a cafe and we got a beverage. Loved it!
Sara C — Google review
Very cool space to wander around. Great for families of all ages. Cute little brook for the kiddos to play in. Didn’t try the cafe but it looked pretty good. Had a great little gift shop with unique items. Was awesome that it was only $20 per car. Brought in a backpack with water and snacks. It was super hot so we only stayed a few hours but could totally spend an entire day in there on a bit cooler day! Definitely worth the stop
Heather N — Google review
The best place to leisurely experience the nature of the North Carolina words while appreciating the lengths that gardening can go to. I love this place at every season. Entrance for a car full of people for a whole year was $50. It's my favorite place to unwind, enjoy the sun, and read a book.
Patricia C — Google review
This place is beautiful, educational and recreational. Well done on the curatiion of this sprawling botanical gem. NC flora is tastefully represented throughout. Looks like a great wedding venue too. I'm coming back for sure next time we're in town.
Dale T — Google review
This is a great garden you can visit for free with the American Horticulture Society’s reciprocal admission program. (Google AHS RAP) the grounds are lovely with the best part being the quilt garden and the bonsai collection. You’ll find colourful annuals as well as sun and shade perennials as well. Be sure to check out the exhibition in the visitor’s centre!
Karl G — Google review
We didn’t have enough time to explore everything but it’s beautiful and well maintained. I am sure you can spend hrs if you want to walk all the trails and visit all exhibits. Entrance fees of 20 per vehicle covers parking and admission. We went there at end of March and lot of plants didn’t have leaves yet. Most of bonsai section was empty because of colder temperatures.
Deepak P — Google review
This is one of the most beautiful garden settings I’ve ever seen. There are many activities and educational programs that go on here.Before I start, let me tell you that dogs are welcome. However, they are not welcome inside of the Baker visitor center.there are many beautiful native trails that are surrounded by plants and trees. The trails are nicely cared for and just about anyone could hike them.There’s an amphitheater, A gift shop, dining and picnics. A waterway and a pond escape. There’s an education center and a bonsai exhibit.I could go on and on. If you love trailing, botanical things, trees,taking pictures and being outside you could spend the whole day here.Have a great adventure ♥️
Alicia V — Google review
A family favorite, every spring, summer and fall! They always have a new exhibit experience, plus the gardens and miniature train town is fun for all ages to enjoy. Easy trails to walk or longer ones if you want. Plus a nice cafe or great areas to bring your own picnic.
Cathy H — Google review
Beautiful gardens with nature trails of varying length. We had a lovely visit. Important to note that the visitor center and bonsai display closed at 5:00, but the arboretum itself is open until 9:00.
Germaine E — Google review
Our favorite place to take our dog hiking! So many trails to choose from, from easy and flat to woody and hilly, with a beautiful cool river/creek for her to cool off in!! Worth every penny of their yearly membership, or even just for the day to park if you don’t do the membership. A movie costs $14+ and lasts 2 hours, OR you can easily spend all day here and have a much more rewarding experience!!
Sara B — Google review
I recently had the pleasure of visiting The North Carolina Arboretum, and it was a delightful experience. Nestled in the scenic beauty of Asheville, this arboretum offers a tranquil oasis for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.The gardens at the arboretum are meticulously maintained, showcasing a diverse range of native plants and flowers. Walking through the various themed gardens, from the peaceful Japanese garden to the vibrant Southern Appalachian garden, was a feast for the senses. Each garden section offers something unique, from colorful blooms to serene water features.
Nook H — Google review
Had a small elopement at the Heritage garden and it was honestly so professional and lovely! Thank you so much to the staff that allowed our dream event happen. Stephanie Carter was so accommodating and flexible. She was super attentive and engaged with everything. They even helped coordinate on the day of which I am honestly so grateful for. They also drove us around to take pictures around the venue and I'm so so grateful for them because walking around in a wedding dress is hard. They went above and beyond for us! The bridal waiting area has a full size mirror, a smaller close up mirror that lights up, a place to hang your clothes, and a lot of charger which was very much needed.Overall we were so happy with the service and the location!Thank you so much!
Chonk F — Google review
The Bloom with a View event offered beautiful displays of flowers and plants in time for spring. The trails were very easy as well. We spent about 4 to 5 hours here on a late weekday morning. Most of the visitors were older until a school bus came with about 30 kids, but they had a staff and a few other adults guiding them so they did not get in the way of the visitors.
Kei R — Google review
The North Carolina Arboretum was a wonderful stop during our visit to North Carolina. We went in late October, and the foliage was midway through its transformation. I observed lovely flowers and bonsai trees that were incredibly well-maintained and cared for. I would highly recommend this destination to anyone passing through. It was a wonderful and incredible facility.
Deysi V — Google review
You have to pay for parking, but entry to the NC Arboretum itself is free. I didn't mind the parking fee at all, because I'm sure it goes toward caring for the grounds and the people who work there. I took my mom through here and we both enjoyed it. I wheeled Mom around in her wheelchair very easily. There were so many different types of flowers, shrubs, and trees. There's also a small train track and town display. We could've spent so much more time just taking in all of the beauty, but it began to sprinkle, so we went inside to grab gifts and we were on our way. We took lots of photos and will have fun looking back on the memories. The bonsai tree displays had my imagination running wild!The staff were all very kind, other guests were polite, and everything was clean and well cared for. This is a must see, if you're in the area. We had a blast!!
De A — Google review
As a member, this is one of our favorite places to walk our dog through the grounds and trails.I usually enjoy looking at all the flowers and large planter displays.This late March visit, I was surprised that not very much was in bloom yet, the Quilt Garden was empty and the Planters were not done.So, it was enjoyable to see what little signs of Spring had popped up.Looking forward to our next visit to see the Tulip beds in bloom!
Haute L — Google review
This is a great place to visit. It’s both invigorating and relaxing. There are some pretty flower beds but the real stars are the trees. There are also shady paths for longer walks and a gorgeous bonsai garden.
Susan — Google review
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4.5
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100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806, USA
(828) 665-2492