Family Attractions
Family-friendly stays & attractions
Cabins and rentals near the parks, farms, and attractions kids actually want to visit.
Featured family attractions
Rock City Gardens
Chattanooga, TN
See seven states from Lookout Mountain's iconic clifftop gardens.
AnchorDollywood
Pigeon Forge, TN
Major Smoky Mountain theme park with rides, shows, festivals, crafts, and family attractions.
AnchorTennessee Aquarium
Chattanooga, TN
Major riverfront aquarium and one of Chattanooga's top family attractions.
AnchorRipley's Aquarium of the Smokies
Gatlinburg, TN
Major indoor family attraction in downtown Gatlinburg with a shark tunnel, touch tanks, and one of the top rainy-day picks in the Smokies.
AnchorTweetsie Railroad
Blowing Rock, NC
Wild West-themed family amusement park with steam-train rides, live shows, and rides between Blowing Rock and Boone.
AnchorRock City Gardens
Lookout Mountain, GA
See Seven States from Lover's Leap — classic Lookout Mountain rock gardens, swing bridges, and views.
AnchorRuby Falls
Chattanooga, TN
America's deepest commercial cave waterfall — 145-ft underground cascade inside Lookout Mountain.
Ruby Falls
Chattanooga, TN
America's tallest and deepest underground waterfall — 1,120 feet inside Lookout Mountain.
Regions where family attractions are popular
Chattanooga
Southern Tennessee · TN
Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge
Southern Tennessee · TN
Asheville
Western North Carolina · NC
Brevard / DuPont Forest
Western North Carolina · NC
Highlands / Cashiers
Western North Carolina · NC
Boone / Blowing Rock
Western North Carolina · NC
Cashiers / Sapphire Valley
Western North Carolina · NC
Cherokee
Western North Carolina · NC
Places to Stay Near Family Attractions
Match scores below are tuned to Family Attractions — open a different category to see how each stay re-ranks.
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Travel guide
Guide to family attractions in the Southern Appalachians
Farms, parks, short hikes and attractions make the mountains easy for families of all ages.
When to go
Summer and fall breaks are busy. Weekdays are best for shorter lines.
Tips before you go
- Pick short, easy trails.
- Choose stays with space and a kitchen.
- Plan one main activity a day.
Best towns to stay in
Helen, Blue Ridge (GA), Pigeon Forge and Townsend (TN) are family favorites.
Quick facts: 33 family attractions
| Name | Town | Best time | Difficulty | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock City Gardens | Chattanooga, TN | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Ruby Falls | Chattanooga, TN | Year-round (cool 60°F inside) | — | Yes |
| Dollywood | Pigeon Forge, TN | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Dollywood's Splash Country | Pigeon Forge, TN | Year-round | — | Yes |
| The Island in Pigeon Forge | Pigeon Forge, TN | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Titanic Museum Attraction | Pigeon Forge, TN | Year-round | — | Yes |
| WonderWorks Pigeon Forge | Pigeon Forge, TN | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Paula Deen's Lumberjack Feud | Pigeon Forge, TN | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Anakeesta | Gatlinburg, TN | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Ober Mountain | Gatlinburg, TN | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies | Gatlinburg, TN | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Tennessee Aquarium | Chattanooga, TN | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Raccoon Mountain Caverns | Chattanooga, TN | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Pisgah Forest Gem Mine | Pisgah Forest, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Lake Lure Flowering Bridge | Lake Lure, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Linville Caverns | Marion, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Tweetsie Railroad | Blowing Rock, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Beech Mountain Resort | Beech Mountain, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Sugar Mountain Resort | Sugar Mountain, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Emerald Village | Little Switzerland, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Elijah Mountain Gem Mine | Hendersonville, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Thermal City Gold Mine | Union Mills, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort | Cherokee, NC | Year-round | — | — |
| Cataloochee Ski Area | Maggie Valley, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Tryon International Equestrian Center | Mill Spring, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Appalachian Ski Mountain | Blowing Rock, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Hawksnest Snow Tubing & Zipline | Seven Devils, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Wolf Ridge Ski Resort | Mars Hill, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Sapphire Valley Ski Area | Sapphire, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center | Scaly Mountain, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Sliding Rock | Pisgah Forest, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Rock City Gardens | Lookout Mountain, GA | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Ruby Falls | Chattanooga, TN | Year-round | — | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
What are good family activities?
Easy waterfalls, farms, tubing and parks. Each page shows family-friendly notes.