23 Fun Things to Do in East Tennessee: Must-Do’s and Hidden Gems from a Local

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East Tennessee is perhaps the most underrated area of the state…although after living in Knoxville for years, I may be biased 😉

Picture rolling hills and lush forests that extend well beyond the Smoky Mountains. We’ve got plenty of history, too, like our “secret city” of Oak Ridge, where scientists worked on the Manhattan Project, the birthplace of country music in Bristol, and rich Appalachian and Native American cultures.

Our cities including Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Johnson City are full of the arts, a thriving music scene, and fabulous museums. While Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville boast family-friendly attractions, crafts, and festivals, you’ll find incredibly unique attractions throughout the area like a museum on beans (yepp, like garbanzo, pinto, and kidney). 

As a Knoxville local, I can confidently say East Tennessee is where adventure meets true Southern hospitality. The scenery is beautiful, the people are warm, and there’s always something new to explore. Here’s 23 fun things to do in East Tennessee to get you started so whether you’re passing through or planning a dedicated road trip, you’re guaranteed to have a great time.

Map of the Best East Tennessee Attractions

Unique and Fun Things to Do in East Tennessee

Must-Do’s in East Tennessee

1. Explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The biggest and most popular to-do (for good reason) is Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Situated on the border of Southeast Tennessee and Western North Carolina, the Smokies are easily the most important thing to do when visiting this area.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for incredible mountain views, diverse wildlife (like bears, turkeys, and elk), and a rich history for both Appalachian pioneers and Native Americans, specifically the Cherokee Nation.

Some things to do here are driving Cades Cove scenic loop, trekking to Laurel Falls, and hiking to Kuwohi. (You may be more familiar with the name Clingmans Dome, but the name Kuwohi was recently restored after having been renamed Clingmans Dome by white settlers.)

Note that while admission is free to the park, a parking permit is needed and costs $5 per day or $15 for the week.

Related read >> Great Smoky Mountains 3 Day Itinerary (with rec’s on how to modify as needed)

2. Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol

This museum tells the story of country music’s “big bang”, aka the 1927 Bristol Music Sessions, in which 19 musical acts of varying Appalachian styles were recorded.

The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is Smithsonian-affiliated and provides an inside look at the iconic sessions and the Appalachian musicians that contributed to the birth of country music including Roy Acuff, Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family, and El Watson and His Company. 

3. Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Oak Ridge

One of the most underrated but truly fascinating parts of East Tennessee history is its connection to the Manhattan Project. There were only 3 sites in the USA that played a role and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was one of them!

This is because the Tennessee Valley Authority, an electric utility company, in nearby Knoxville was able to provide enough energy for the required experiments.

Now, you can visit the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, which consists of multiple sites that were created to enrich Uranium for the atomic bomb.

While you can visit some of the sites on your own, I recommend taking a guided bus tour via the American Museum of Science and Energy which takes you to the historic K-25 and Y-12 sites and inside Oak Ridge National Lab to see the world’s fastest supercomputer.

You’ll learn about the different methods used to enrich uranium, more about the “secret city”, and see what scientific research is still being done today to learn more about nuclear energy.

If you’re visiting in winter and early Spring when the bus tour is not running, you can still visit the American Museum of Science and Energy and the K-25 Museum on your own!

4. Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga

I know everyone talks about the Georgia Aquarium as being the best in the South, but hear me out. The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga can hold its own.

It’s made up of two separate (massive) buildings each dedicated to different aquatic life — River Journey and Ocean Journey.

In River Journey you learn about the waterways in the South including rivers found throughout the Appalachian region and the Delta Country (aka the cypress swamp ecosystem).

On the other hand Ocean Journey has exhibits on the tropics, a butterfly garden, and ocean ecosystems with animals like penguins, sharks, jellyfish, and more!

5. Dollywood, Pigeon Forge

You know her, you love her. Dolly Parton, from Sevierville, Tennessee, has her very own theme park right outside her hometown in neighboring Pigeon Forge. 

With top attractions like the Wild Eagle roller coaster and fan favorite festivals like the Flower & Food Festival, Dollywood will certainly entertain you!

You can cover Dollywood in a day, but to get the most of your visit, spend the night in Pigeon Forge so you don’t feel rushed. The retro-themed Wayback Hotel is one of my favorites!

Admission is typical of a theme park at $99.90 for an adult.

6. Anakeesta, Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg certainly has plenty of things to do, but Anakeesta is one of the best. This entertainment complex sits atop a mountain, so you’ll get incredible views of the Smoky Mountains.

Plus they have gardens, treetop walks, and elements to traverse in their treehouses.

If you feel like making an entire day of Anakeesta, they also have great dining with equally stellar views, bars with lots of laid-back rocking chairs, fire pits, and even Astra Lumina, an enchanted night walk through various light art installations.

Related read >> How to spend 1 day in Gatlinburg

7. Moonshine Tasting, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville

The Smoky Mountain towns are known for their moonshine so when you’re in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, or Sevierville, be sure to sign up for a tasting or distillery tour.

They’re often around $5 depending on which distillery you go with, and include 8-12 tastings of various types and flavors.

One of my favorites is Sugarlands Distilling Company in Gatlinburg. Their tasting is $5 with 12 tastes. Their cream-based moonshines are my favorite.

Flavors rotate daily, so you can always come back to try again the next day for a new experience.

Related read >> 1 day Gatlinburg itinerary

8. Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community, Gatlinburg

While Gatlinburg is known for it’s family-friendly attractions and big tourist draw, there is a quieter side to the city. The Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community is nestled in Gatlinburg away from the main tourist crowd.

Here, you’ll find over 80 artists, galleries, workshops, and demonstrations sitting along an 8-mile loop.

You can watch glass blowers and jewelers at work, paper marbling in action, and even dip your own candles.

Plus, shop for unique handmade items to remember your trip by.

You can get to this area of Gatlinburg by driving the loop, or take the free trolley system that runs in Gatlinburg. The yellow line travels the loop once an hour.

Related read >> Top things to do in Gatlinburg for adults

9. East Tennessee History Center, Knoxville

Right in downtown Knoxville, you’ll find the East Tennessee History Center which covers the entire history of the region from Native American habitation to the Civil War to country music to modern tourism. I think they do a good job of objectively telling the story of this area of the South.

Don’t miss the recreated historic downtown Knoxville street with a walk-in pharmacy and streetcar that you can go inside.

The museum is A LOT bigger than it looks and takes a good 2 hours to see everything.

Local tip: If you want to visit a bunch of historic sites in Knoxville including historic homes like Blount Mansion, James White’s Fort, and Mabry-Hazen House, opt for a Pastport, which is a combo pass for $40. It includes admission to the East TN History Center (you can buy it there too).

Related read >> 49 Awesome Things to Do in Knoxville

10. Museum of Appalachia, Clinton

On the topic of East Tennessee History, don’t miss the area’s only living history museum, the Museum of Appalachia in Clinton.

This museum is Smithsonian-affiliated and will allow you to take a step back in time to the days of Appalachian pioneer settlement.

The experience is entirely self-guided and you’ll see over 250,000 artifacts. Plus admire historic cabins, barns, and other buildings from this time period.

Related read >> Top day trips from Knoxville (Clinton is number 4 on the list!)

Most Unique Hidden Gems in East Tennessee

11. Sunsphere, Knoxville

As soon as you arrive in Knoxville, it’s impossible to miss our Sunsphere. This is the icon of our city – it’s even on all Tennessee drivers licenses.

The Sunsphere is an observation tower that looks like a dandelion with a tall, thin, blue tower in the center and a giant gold disco ball on top.

It was built for the 1982 World’s Fair, held in Knoxville, which was the South’s first ever World’s Fair and the last successful (read: profitable) one in the US.

The theme of this World’s Fair was “Energy Turns the World”, so the Sunsphere was built to mimic the blue sky (the tower) and the sun (the observation deck on top).

Now, you can go up the Sunsphere to see 360-degree views of the city and even look beyond to the Smoky Mountains on a clear day.

12. Musical Tesla Coil, Gray

I love a good science museum and Hands On! Discovery Center in Gray, just outside of Johnson City, has one of the most unique attractions – a Guinness World Record winning Tesla coil. The reason it’s award winning? Because it can make music!

When the spark is initiated, the air molecules around it heat up and vibrate creating a sound. The pitch of that sound changes by changing the frequency of the spark. So cool!

@periodicadventures

This was not on my BINGO card for the year but what a pleasant surprise 😍 #teslacoil #handsondiscoverygraytn #musicalteslacoil #grayfossilsite #johnsoncitytn #johnsoncity #johnsoncitytennessee #starwarssoundtrack #starwarsmusic #coolscience #sciencemuseum #tnvacation #northeasttennessee #northeasttn #thingstodointennessee

♬ original sound – Alanna | Travel Pro 🧳

I visited and they played a suite of Star Wars music including the Cantina music, Imperial March, and main theme. 

Plus the museum itself is one of the only active fossil sites in America. They’re constantly digging up fossils, many of which are on display in the museum.

13. The Museum at Bush’s Visitor Center, Chestnut Hill

This is a weird, but delicious one! (Slimy, yet satisfying).

The Bush family (not the presidential family of the same last name) started Bush’s Best in Chestnut Hill, Tennessee and they make canned beans.

They’re most famous for their baked beans, but they have all sorts of recipes from chili to pinto bean pie!

And in the city where their factory lies, they’ve built a Visitor Center complete with a free (!!) museum.

This museum is truly so well done. Not only will you learn about the Bush family and their rise to success, but you’ll learn about agriculture, beans, and even their iconic dog, Duke, who appears in many of their commercials (roll that beautiful bean footage).

Be sure to stop by the Family Café where they serve a large bean-centric menu. They’ll even serve a little flight of beans so you can taste test a few before ordering.

I had their chili and pinto bean pie and both were delicious!

@periodicadventures

Its almost between Gatlinburg and Knoxville 👍 #bushsbeans #bushsbest #bushsbeansvisitorscenter #easttennessee #easttn #easttncheck #easttennesseecheck #thingstodointennessee

♬ You and Me – Instrumental Version – Eldar Kedem

14. Lost Sea Adventure, Sweetwater

Believe it or not, Tennessee actually has a bunch of caves. One of the most unique is the Lost Sea Adventure, which I’ll admit sounds like a tourist trap. But it’s actually quite interesting and even another Guinness Record holder.

At the Lost Sea Adventure, you’ll visit one of the only caverns in the world that has an underground waterway that you can traverse. In fact, it’s the largest underground lake in the US!

You’ll take a ¾ mile round trip walk through the cave to a boat, which you’ll board. Then, a tour guide takes you along the water to admire the cave from a new angle.

I have only done something like this once before in Waitomo, New Zealand, so it’s definitely so cool to have something similar close to home. And it’s so incredible, y’all!

Tours can sell out especially in summer, so get tickets ahead of time.

15. Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, Gatlinburg

I was looking for cheap and unique things to do in Gatlinburg and stumbled upon the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum. I’m pleased to say it was indeed truly so unique and indeed cheap.

With admission at only $3, this museum will keep you busy for at least an hour while you learn about and admire over 20,000 pairs of salt and pepper shakers!

The museum is organized by theme so you’ll see a bunch of vegetable-shaped shakers, then NASA themed shakers, and even an entire map of the US where each state is a shaker.

Plus, they have really interesting ones made of uranium glass that glows.

Your $3 admission can be used as a discount in their gift shop!

@periodicadventures

For only $3, are you going? #saltandpeppershakermuseum #gatlinburgtennessee #gatlinburgtn #gatlinburgtravel #visitgatlinburg #thingstodoingatlinburg

♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey

16. Mayfield Dairy Farm, Athens

One of the South’s most prominent ice cream makers and suppliers is Mayfield. They have a dairy farm in Athens, Tennessee that you can tour.

What makes the Mayfield Dairy Farm tour even sweeter is that each ticket comes with a free scoop of ice cream!

You’ll learn about the Mayfield family, how they make their ice cream, and how much of each type of ice cream gets made per day (the total is 50,000 gallons per day!).

Note that they’re closed on Wednesdays and Sundays and they don’t offer tours on Saturday (but you can still come in for ice cream). And, the tours are every hour on the hour, where the last tours each day are at 3 pm.

17. Cherokee Caverns, Knoxville

Hidden in Northwest Knoxville is a privately owned cave system. What was once falling into disrepair, was given attention and funds to create something special.

Now, you can visit Cherokee Caverns on weekends in the summer and fall for movies in the cave.

They often show mostly kid-friendly movies, but occasionally show cave-related horror movies for Halloween like As Above So Below.

I saw The Goonies and it was seriously SO FUN to see a cave adventure movie in an actual cave.

They also host a trick-or-treat event and a holiday walkthrough event.

You can bring your own camping chairs and blankets if you want, but they also provide seating. Just be sure to dress appropriately with tennis shoes as it’s a slick walk in (the cave is naturally wet…that’s how they form afterall), and warm clothes because the cave is always 58 degrees.

They sell concessions on site, too! You’ll have time before and after the movie to explore the cave and look at all the formations.

@periodicadventures

They have port-a-pottys on site and everything is handicap accessible (although there is a gravel parking lot) #thingstodoinknoxville #knoxvilletn #knoxvilletennessee #cherokeecaverns #historiccherokeecaverns #oakridge

♬ LINGER X PAPER PLANES – Allison Keeley

18. Carver’s Orchard and Applehouse Restaurant, Cosby

Can you tell I’m partial to foodie spots (this is third on the list…sorry, not sorry)? Carver’s Orchard and Applehouse Restaurant is certainly a one-of-a-kind place.

They’re part store, part restaurant. The store sells – you guessed it – apples. But I’m talking over 50 varieties of apples! Plus jams, jellies, pies, and cider. Be sure to try a hand pie!

Their restaurant on site is also fantastic with an apple-themed menu. I had their apple cider pulled pork BBQ and it was melt-in-your-mouth delicious!

19. Classic Arcade Pinball Museum, Chattanooga

If you find yourself in Chattanooga and you’ve already ticked off the incredible aquarium (number 4 above), then make your way to the Classic Arcade Pinball Museum.

This museum isn’t simply that. It’s also a playable arcade. You pay one flat fee at the door and get access to tens of classic pinball games and some older arcade games like my favorites Asteroids, Frogger, and Mrs. Pac-Man.

They even have the largest pinball machine, Hercules, which takes a massive ball the size of my fist!

You’ll see and play historic pinball machines like those from the 1950s and fan favorites like The Addams Family (ask them how to get Thing to appear!) and The Twilight Zone.

20. Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Knoxville

Might seem like an odd place for it, but the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame is in Knoxville. This is for a number of reasons.

First, trailblazing women’s basketball has always been played in Knoxville. The first intercollegiate game was played at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville. Then arguably the most iconic female head coach, Pat Summitt, reigned victorious and won more basketball games as head coach than any other coach including men’s!

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame is home to the world’s largest basketball and takes you through an interesting history of the sport. But don’t worry, it’s not boring. On the contrary, you get to participate in the learning.

Try your hand throwing basketballs throughout history in the corresponding historic hoops. Learn to dribble and how to throw some trick shots. And, listen to inspiring pep talks by coaches throughout history.

21. The Passage, Chattanooga

One more Chattanooga gem that’s such an important part of American History is commemorated at The Passage, which marks the beginning of the Trail of Tears. 

This was the forced displacement of 60,000 Native Americans who had to travel hundreds of miles on foot to Oklahoma from Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and Alabama.

The Passage is a weeping stairway waterfall that reminds visitors of the tears of the seven Cherokee tribes that were forced to relocate. It also celebrates the thriving culture of the Cherokee Nation.

Related read >> Inexpensive things to do in Chattanooga

22. Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, Petros

One of the most notoriously haunted places in the United States is found in East Tennessee in the town of Petros. It’s Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary.

They had a history of prison labor and held infamous criminals like James Earl Ray, who assassinated Martin Luther King Jr. He also famously escaped for a short period of time and the prison staff and FBI were on the hunt for just over 2 days until they found him in the surrounding mountains.

Now, you can take a guided tour led by a former inmate or correctional officer. Alternatively, opt for a self-guided tour. Either way, you’ll see the cell blocks, prison yard, and artifacts in the museum.

23. Green McAdoo Cultural Center, Clinton

One of the most underrated cultural museums in East Tennessee, and even Tennessee as a whole, is the Green McAdoo Cultural Center in Clinton.

This museum commemorates and teaches about the Clinton 12, the group of twelve African-American students who first integrated a public high school in the South.

The museum does a fantastic job at setting the scene of the American South in the 1950s, explaining the series of events that the Clinton 12 experienced, and a look at their legacy.

Where is East Tennessee?

In the East…just kidding. East Tennessee is one of three regions in Tennessee (hence the three stars on our state flag). 

It’s the East-most region where the largest city is Knoxville.

Is Nashville in East Tennessee?

The Western end of East Tennessee includes Chattanooga, but not Nashville. Rather, Nashville is considered Middle Tennessee.

How to best explore East Tennessee?

There are a number of ways to tackle East Tennessee and it truly depends on how much time you have.

Here’s an ideal itinerary in my book. Adjust as necessary based on your timing, budget, and interests.

• Fly into Knoxville (TYS) – spend 2 nights (the Oliver Hotel downtown is my fave!)
• Drive to the Tri Cities – stay 1 night in Johnson City (I liked the Carnegie Hotel)
• Set up camp near Great Smoky Mountain National Park – 2 nights (the Historic Rocky Waters Inn is a fantastic adults-only option or Roamstead has great yurt camping)
• Spend one full day exploring the National Park and the extra time enjoying Gatlinburg
• Add in an extra day for Dollywood
• Explore Chattanooga – 2 nights (I enjoyed the Holiday Inn Express downtown for its stellar location)
• Back to Knoxville for departure

My Travel Essentials

• Travel Insurance – Going on an international trip? Don’t forget travel and medical insurance with SafetyWing.
• Travel Card – If you’re new to travel hacking, fear not! My favorite card for beginners gives you $750 in rewards when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus lounge access, 10x points on hotel bookings, and free TSA pre-check!
• Get Your Guide – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
• Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
• Anti-pickpocket bag – Worried about having your valuables swiped? PacSafe makes the best travel bags with zippers and straps that lock and with mesh steel enforced fabric.
• Give the Gift of Travel – This is the perfect gift for travelers in your life! Tinggly allows you to gift experiences around the world, perfect for birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries.
• Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!

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