Top Tennessee Outdoor Activities

Get wet and muddy when exploring the Cosby Picnic area and the Great Smoky Mountains with kids and a nature guide, awakening enthusiasm and reconnecting with mother nature. The aim is to focus attention through games, while soaking up fresh air, looking for salamanders, and just having some good outdoor fun in the forest.

Get your boots on and join an energetic 1-hour country line dance lesson led by a professional instructor at Nashville’s Country Fusion studio. Whether you're a total beginner or have a few steps under your belt, you’ll learn popular line dances, practice with music, and leave confident enough to hit a honky tonk. This class is fun, social, and perfect for groups, couples, or solo travelers looking for a Nashville-style experience.

Enjoy a little bit of everything during this unique, small-group combo tour in Nashville: tick off top landmarks in downtown Nashville—from the Tennessee State Capitol to famous honky tonk bars— in a comfortable golf cart, get a peek at the city’s Instagrammable murals, and taste locally brewed moonshine, whiskey, and vodka in two distilleries.

Roar through Nashville aboard a jacked-up 4x4 truck. This unique tour offers an unforgettable ride with lively commentary from your guide about the city and its surroundings.

Kick your boring city tours to the curb — or at least putt them that way. This small-group tour of Nashville turns the city into your playground as you compete with your friends for the lowest score, calculated by the type of drink you order and your golfing abilities. Your guide will bring a caddie, a mobile putting green, and a set of putters to make sure the fun doesn't stop.

While visiting Memphis, take a guided sightseeing tour of downtown, passing many landmarks and enjoying some free time to explore. Then board a paddlewheel boat for a cruise on the Mississippi River. See Memphis’ highlights, including Beale Street and the former mansions of the Victorian Village neighborhood—ideal for first-time visitors. This combo tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off from select hotels, for your convenience.

Take in the extraordinary forest ecosystems of the Great Smoky Mountains while getting your adrenaline flowing on this extreme jeep tour through Newfound Gap. Your guide will take you in an open-air jeep from Pigeon Forge uphill to the nearly mile-high Gap, and then back down to base. Along the way, you’ll learn about the history and geography of this remarkable wild land.

Take aim at an exciting active experience while enjoying local brews at Craft Axe Throwing in Memphis. You’ll receive help from Axe Masters and Axe Coaches who will teach you the technique needed to make the axe stick in the target in three throws or fewer. Hone your technique and keep score with your friends then celebrate with craft beer available for purchase on-site.

Go on three different quests as you learn all about Chattanooga in a fun, competitive, and adventurous way. Explore Chattanooga your own way, without having to follow a guide or stick with a group tour. Solve riddles, undertake challenges, and submit photo evidence as you work your way up the leaderboard and complete your scavenger hunt.

Fly high above the Tennessee countryside on this helicopter tour over the French Broad River, Douglas Lake, and the Great Smoky Mountains. Extra elevation gains guarantee broader views of the surrounding landscape with a focus on Douglas Lake and the Douglas Dam, while the included headsets make it easy to communicate with your pilot and hear about the sights as you weave through the sky.

No need to travel far to take this thrilling Pigeon River white-water rafting tour, which departs from a central location right by Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg—one of the closest put-ins in the area. As the lengthiest rafting trip on the Pigeon River, this excursion is perfect for thrill seekers, while a guide on every raft makes it appropriate for rafters of all experience levels.

Cruise on Nashville's Cumberland River aboard one of the country's largest paddle-wheel boats, the 'General Jackson Showboat', during this excursion. Book for a lunch or dinner cruise, enjoying the scenery on the riverbanks as well as live entertainment. Round-trip transportation from local hotels included.

There are so many fun activities to do during Christmastime, but many are right in the middle of huge crowds. Book this Chattanooga Saving Christmas Escape Room and have some fun without being pushed around by the masses. This experience is done with the group you choose. Play a fun, interactive game that’s holiday themed and work together to get Santa's sack back in time to save Christmas.

Embark on an unforgettable Nashville sightseeing adventure that brings the heart and soul of Music City to life! Our tour takes you from the iconic Country Music Hall of Fame, where legends are celebrated, to the lively Ascend Amphitheater with riverfront views, and Nissan Stadium for a glimpse into Tennessee Titans territory. You’ll cruise along the Cumberland River, marvel at the lights of historic Printer's Alley, and admire the beauty of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Nashville’s oldest. Soak in the state’s history at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park and snap photos of the Tennessee State Capitol. Next, experience the unique artsy vibe of Marathon Village and the trendy flair of The Gulch before wrapping up on iconic Music Row. This tour is packed with legendary sights, perfect for uncovering Nashville’s vibrant past and exciting present.

Take a hike through the Great Smoky Mountains when you book this half-day tour from Gatlinburg. Join your dedicated guide for a trek to Clingmans Dome, hiking through the highest section of the Appalachian Trail. Learn about the local fauna and flora as you walk and enjoy unparalleled views of the surrounding area from the observation tower at the top.

Mini golf gets a sweet twist on this Candyland-themed course in Pigeon Forge. Putt your way through locations such as Bubblegum Garden and Ice Cream Canyon, each decorated with details including giant gummy bears and cupcake pillars that bring the course to life. When you need a break, swing by the milkshake bar or candy store for a sweet snack.

Take to the water for an adrenaline-fueled whitewater rafting adventure along the Upper Pigeon River. Enjoy spectacular views of the Smoky Mountains as you paddle through the gorge, tackle more than a dozen thrilling Class III and IV rapids such as ‘Snapdragon’ and ‘Powerhouse’, and perhaps jump in to cool off with a swim.

See the Smoky Mountains in their full, rolling glory on a 15-minute helicopter tour. Rise above historic downtown Sevierville and catch a glimpse of Pigeon Forge and Tennessee Valley from the air before swooping over the majestic Chilhowee Mountain Range. Get a bird’s-eye view of vast, undeveloped swaths of Smoky Mountain National Park, soaring just above the treetops and cresting over the sheer cliffs of Bluff Mountain and Sugarloaf Mountain. It's an unforgettable way to experience the beauty of one of America's great mountain ranges.

This is a great activity for friends or families. Take a break from shopping in Opry Mills Mall, and instead, embark on a special mission—an escape room challenge. Enjoy the flexibility of being able to choose which game you play—such as a gold rush game or a secret agent-themed game. Once in the escape room spend an hour solving puzzles and working as a team to complete your special mission.

Get to know the art, history, and culture of Houston, without spending hours planning, on this self-guided scavenger hunt of Knoxville. This is an app-led hunt, where you and your group of up to 10 friends uncover clues and answer trivia questions to get from place to place. Highlights are Bijou Theater, Blout Mansion, and Krutch Park.

Catch all the must-see Nashville sights on this fun and flexible Pokémon Go tour. Hit up Poké Stops and battle at Gyms throughout Nashville alongside your group of one to 45 people and a personal safety officer.

Hop a specialty golf cart to ride in style between some of Nashville’s splashiest entrepreneur-founded boutiques. On this shopping tour, you’ll have plenty of time to work those credit cards in white-hot Music City. Tours include plenty of time to grab an artisan cocktail along the way, plus stops at the city’s most colorful, selfie-worthy murals.

Go whitewater rafting in Tennessee with this half-day adventure along the Ocoee River. After a short safety introduction, board a private bus for a ride through the Cherokee National Forest. Climb aboard the raft and experience more than 20 class III and class IV rapids while descending the river gorge. Enjoy plenty of opportunities to swim, if you wish, on this nature-filled escape from the city.

See Wears Valley from above on a scenic helicopter tour from Sevierville. Your pilot takes you over this gorgeous section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the most popular nature destinations in Tennessee. Look for landmarks such as Cove Mountain, Waldens Creek, and the Bluff Mountain foothills, and hear in-flight commentary from your pilot via 2-way headsets. The helicopter covers about 36 miles (58km) of terrain on a flight that lasts about 18 minutes.