Things to Do

indoor inflatables / trampoline / arcade / laser tag

An indoor entertainment center with inflatables, a trampoline area, a toddler zone, arcade games, and laser tag.

212 S Calderwood St, Alcoa, TN 37701

Mon-Sat 10a-9p, Sun 12-6p

bowling

A family bowling alley with open and cosmic bowling, leagues, and birthday/church party packages.

333 Whitecrest Dr, Maryville, TN 37801

Mon 2-10p, Tue-Thu 9a-10p, Fri-Sat 9a-12a, Sun 12-9p

indoor play

A clean indoor playground with a toddler station, obstacle courses, arcade games, and air hockey.

1070 Hunters Crossing, Alcoa, TN 37701

Mon-Fri 10a-7p, Sat 12-8p, Sun closed

roller skating

A year-round family roller-skating rink with public skate, rentals, and party packages.

2801 E Broadway Ave, Maryville, TN 37804

Skate sessions Tue 1-4p & 6:30-9p, Fri 7-10p, Sat 2-10p, Sun 1-5p (Mon/Wed/Thu closed)

arts studio / classes

A community arts studio offering pottery and art classes, summer camps, and kids' creative programs.

Maryville, TN (see website)

family-friendly cafe

A welcoming downtown coffee house with a kids' book corner and a full breakfast and lunch menu.

212 College St, Maryville, TN 37804

Mon-Sat 7a-6p, Sun closed

park / pond

A 7.7-acre pond beside Springbrook Park where families feed the ducks and try a little fishing.

Near Springbrook Park, Alcoa, TN

park / playground

A simple neighborhood park with a playground and open green space for a quick visit.

412 Amerine Rd, Maryville, TN 37803

park / lake / greenway

A ~30-acre downtown park with Greenbelt Lake, a duck pond, playgrounds, an amphitheater, and a 2-mile loop trail.

320 McCammon Ave, Maryville, TN 37801

disc golf

A free public disc golf course in the local parks system, a low-cost all-ages outing.

Maryville-Alcoa area (see parksrec.com)

park / playground

A small neighborhood playground near Miller Ave, an easy close-to-home option for young kids.

701 Cates St, Maryville, TN 37801

park / playground

A 20-acre park with two play areas (one geared to ages 5 to 12), good for siblings of different ages.

616 S Everett High Rd, Maryville, TN 37804

park / playground / pool

Home to the Blount Inclusive Playground for all abilities, plus a seasonal pool and shaded picnic areas.

1998 Sequoyah Ave, Maryville, TN 37804

greenway / trail

A mostly flat, paved 9+ mile trail along Pistol Creek linking parks, ideal for walks, strollers, and beginner bikes.

Springbrook Park (Alcoa) to Sandy Springs (Maryville)

dog park

An off-leash dog park in the Parks & Rec system where families can bring their dogs to run.

Maryville-Alcoa area (see parksrec.com)

park / greenway

A wooded park along Pistol Creek with walking trails and creek access for an easy outdoor afternoon.

1467 Montvale Station Rd, Maryville, TN 37803

park / playground

A 20-acre park with three playgrounds for different ages, ball fields, courts, and a creekside greenway trail.

702 Best St, Maryville, TN 37803

park / pool / recreation

Alcoa's flagship park with two playgrounds, an outdoor pool with water slide, a duck pond, and a community gym.

1537 Dalton St, Alcoa, TN 37701

YMCA / family recreation center

A family YMCA with pools, swim lessons, childcare, and youth programs, with financial assistance available.

1000 N Central St, Maryville, TN 37804

Mon-Fri 5a-9p, Sat 7a-7p, Sun 12-6p

public library / kids & family events

Free all-ages programming including storytimes, LEGO Club, kids' book club, and family astronomy nights.

508 N Cusick St, Maryville, TN 37804

Mon-Thu 8a-8p, Fri 8a-5p, Sat 8a-4:30p, Sun 1-5p

historic theater / art gallery

A restored 1934 downtown theater with a public art gallery, coffee shop, ice-cream parlor, events, and tours.

127 W Broadway Ave, Maryville, TN 37801

Coffee/ice-cream parlor Tue-Thu 1-9p, Fri-Sat 1-10p, Sun-Mon closed

performing-arts center

Maryville College's multi-venue arts complex hosting concerts, theater, symphony, and family-friendly shows year-round.

502 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, TN 37804

Box office Tue-Fri 10a-4p (in-person Wed-Fri); opens 1hr before performances

historic site / museum

A 1794 one-room log schoolhouse where Sam Houston taught, now a state historic site with a period museum.

3650 Old Sam Houston School Rd, Maryville, TN 37804

Tue-Sat 10a-4p, Sun by appointment, Mon closed (seasonal; closed midwinter)

hiking / waterfall

A ~5-mile round-trip forest hike to a powerful 25-foot waterfall, best for families with older kids.

trailhead off Cades Cove Loop Rd, Great Smoky Mountains NP

scenic loop / hiking / wildlife

An 11-mile loop through a historic valley with wildlife, cabins, and 1800s churches; car-free mornings are great for biking.

Cades Cove Loop Rd, via Townsend, TN

horseback riding / hayrides

The only stable inside the park, offering guided trail rides (age 6+), hayrides, and carriage rides.

10018 Campground Dr, Townsend, TN 37882

scenic drive / short hike / overlook

A ridge-top drive with 14 overlooks and an easy half-mile walk to a 360-degree observation tower.

Foothills Parkway West, Walland to Chilhowee, Blount County

nature education / family camp

A nonprofit learning center with family camps and the easy Spruce Flats Falls hike to a 30-foot waterfall.

9275 Tremont Rd, Townsend, TN 37882

hiking / paved waterfall trail

A paved, easy-to-moderate 2.3-mile round-trip to an 80-foot waterfall; confirm it has reopened before going.

Little River Rd, Great Smoky Mountains NP (verify reopening after renovation)

river tubing

The area's largest tubing outfitter on the calm lower Little River, with rentals and shuttle (kids welcome).

205 Wears Valley Rd / 8435 State Hwy 73, Townsend, TN

easy hiking / historic site

A short kid-friendly walk to the historic John Oliver Cabin with grassy grounds for a picnic.

trailhead near the start of Cades Cove Loop Rd, Great Smoky Mountains NP

park / greenway / arboretum

A free, easy riverside trail with signed trees, pollinator gardens, and a children's fairy garden.

off Tiger Dr along the Little River, Townsend, TN

river swimming hole / picnic spot

A free, popular spot where two river prongs meet to form a big swimming hole with shallow wading areas.

junction of TN-73 & Laurel Creek Rd, near Townsend park entrance

cave tour

A guided ~1-hour, mile-long lighted walk past huge formations and the tallest underground waterfall in the Eastern U.S.

825 Cavern Rd, Townsend, TN 37882

indoor go-karts

Climate-controlled indoor go-kart racing about 45 minutes away, suitable for older kids and families.

2891 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863

escape room

A family-friendly escape-room center about 30 minutes away where teams solve puzzles to escape themed rooms.

211 Center Park Dr, Ste 3040, Knoxville, TN 37922

history museum

A small museum packed with artifacts and history from the historic Cades Cove community.

Townsend, TN (see website)

children's museum

A hands-on museum blending science, history, and imaginative play, about 40 to 45 minutes away.

461 W Outer Dr, Oak Ridge, TN 37830

ziplining / canopy tour

A guided 2.5-hour canopy tour with nine ziplines and three sky bridges; check age/weight minimums.

155 Branam Hollow Rd, Gatlinburg, TN

history museum

A regional history museum with interactive exhibits, archives, and occasional reenactor demonstrations.

601 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902

scenic drive

A scenic National Park Service parkway with sweeping Smoky Mountain overlooks for a relaxing drive.

multiple segments between Walland/Townsend and the Smokies

history museum / heritage village

An Appalachian history museum and historic village with galleries, cabins, and hands-on artisan demos.

123 Cromwell Dr, Townsend, TN 37882

art museum

A free-admission museum showcasing East Tennessee artists, an easy budget-friendly outing about 30 minutes away.

1050 World's Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916

zoo / animal rescue

A small hands-on zoo and animal rescue with up-close encounters, about 45 minutes from Maryville.

629 Granite Rd, Clinton, TN 37716

railroad museum

A free local museum on logging and railroad history where kids can see a restored steam engine up close.

7747 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Townsend, TN 37882

lake / park

A 16-acre lakefront park on Fort Loudoun Lake with a swimming area, playground, boat ramp, and pavilions.

end of Cox Rd off Louisville Rd, Louisville, TN

park / splash pad

A 52-acre park with the largest free public splash pad in the Knoxville area, plus a playground and trails.

11317 Parkside Dr, Farragut, TN 37934

children's science museum / planetarium

A hands-on children's science museum with STEM exhibits and a full-dome planetarium, about 30 minutes away.

516 N Beaman St, Knoxville, TN 37914

mini-golf / arcade

A family fun center with miniature golf courses, batting cages, and an arcade about 35 minutes away.

319 N Peters Rd, Knoxville, TN 37923

mini-golf / go-karts

A West Knoxville fun center with mini golf, go-karts, water slides, and a snack bar about 30 minutes away.

5909 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919

indoor trampoline

A large indoor trampoline park for jumping, dodgeball, and active all-ages fun, about 25 to 30 minutes away.

Knoxville, TN (see website)

visitor center / arboretum walk

The gateway to the 'Peaceful Side of the Smokies' with park info, artisan exhibits, and a nearby riverside walk.

7906 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Townsend, TN 37882

ziplines

A family-friendly zipline course welcoming kids ages 5 and up.

Sevierville/Smokies area (see website)

zoo

A 53-acre zoo with a Kids Cove petting area, carousel, and safari-themed splash pad, near exit 392 off I-40.

3500 Knoxville Zoo Dr, Knoxville, TN

themed fantasy village / resort

A boutique fantasy-themed village in the Smoky foothills with whimsical themed dwellings and treehouses, dining, and tours, about 30 minutes from Maryville.

7107 Sevierville Pike, Knoxville, TN 37920

historic stone castle / tours

A hand-built stone castle (1937-1946) with walls over two feet thick, on the National Register of Historic Places. Guided tours on summer weekends or by appointment (865-255-6970).

500 N Wright Rd, Alcoa, TN 37701

historic fort / museum

A meticulously reconstructed 1750s British fort on Tellico Lake from the French and Indian War era, with a museum and visitor center, about 35 minutes from Maryville.

338 Fort Loudoun Rd, Vonore, TN 37885