outdoor activities

Get out of the house for a while. Please.

Parks / Hiking

Laurel Run Park – The closest place to hike in the mountains

Church Hill Parks – Several options with playgrounds, pools, and places to walk

Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium – Lots to do. Hiking, geocaching, fire tower hike, barge ride, zip lines, etc.

Warriors’ Path State Park – 12 miles of hiking trails, a playground and treehouse, disc golf

Kingsport Greenbelt – Over 18 miles of easy walking paths along creeks and rivers

The Wandering Llamas – They’re llamas. They wander. You can walk with them along a wilderness trail (no riding!)

Devil’s Bathtub – 7+ mile hike across stream beds and a waterfall into the Devil’s Bathtub

Natural Tunnel State Park – Nice park with an easy trail or chairlift down to a huge natural tunnel that trains pass through

Virginia Creeper Trail – nice place to hike or bike (you can rent bikes there)

Swimming

Kingsport Aquatic Center – 46,000 square foot indoor area open year-round, outdoor area open Memorial Day to Labor Day

Church Hill Splash Pad – Close and fun for young kids

Wetlands Water Park – Fun in historic Jonesborough

Motorcycle Riding (or Fun Car Rides)

The Jagged Edge – A long ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway

The Southern Dozen – Some nice drives

Eleven Best Motorcycle Rides in the Smoky Mountains – These rides go to 11

Caves

Bristol Caverns – It’s a cave

Appalachian Caverns – It’s another cave

Appalachian Underground – Not your usual cave tour, but more of an exercise in spelunking. No experience necessary. Must be able to hike 3 miles and climb over boulders (but no mandatory tight spaces). You will get wet and muddy.

Miscellaneous

Off Grid Mountain Adventures – Zipline, go-carts, UTV tours

Briarwood Safari – Animals from around the world

Cooper’s Gem Mining – Sluice authentic mine ore for gemstones and fossils

Backyard Terrors and Dinosaur Park – Free attraction with over 50 prehistoric creatures

Northeast TN Quilt Trail – Over 130 quilt sites (barns, homes, etc.)

Adventure Time Ballooning – Hot air balloon rides

Horseback Rides – Two miles of riding at Warriors’ Path State Park

Farmer’s Market and Carousel – It’s a farmer’s market. And cool carousel.

Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary – An old prison with tours. And a distillery!

Trail of the Lonesome Pine – the official outdoor drama of Virginia