Wanderlust World Wanderlust World East Tennessee is located in the Smoky Mountains along the Appalachian Trail, and includes Bristol, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Johnson City. Travelers in this part of the state will be thrilled to find a mix of urban and country, with metropolitan amenities and attractions nestled among mountain views and rugged nature. There is such an amazing variety of exciting places to visit in east Tennessee that any traveler to the area will be pleased.
Dollywood is the Smoky Mountain's largest family theme park, constructed for country music legend, Dolly Parton. Dollywood is not only filled with exciting thrills and amusement rides, but it is also a place filled with natural beauty. Located on the hills in Pigeon Forge, near Gatlinburg, the 125-acre park, Dollywood offers live entertainment in bluegrass, country, gospel and mountain music, and live master craftsmen demonstrations in wood carving, glass-blowing and blacksmithing crafts. Between the musical shows and wooden roller coasters, family members of all ages will be entertained at this travel destination. There are several restaurants featuring country cuisine, scrumptious desserts, classic amusement park fare and southern barbecue. The park is open from March 27th through January 1st in 2011, and tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the gate. Children under three are admitted for free.
Dollywood
2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd.
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
1-800-365-5996
dollywood.com
Located in Chattanooga, the Tennessee Aquarium features more than 10,000 animals. Visitors get to experience the River Journey that showcases animals including alligators, turtles, river otters, giant catfish and other freshwater animals, and the Ocean Journey filled with sharks, penguins, butterflies and scuba divers. There is also a backstage tour that lets you get up close, touch and feed certain animals with the help of a guide. This tour takes 45 minutes and can be purchased without buying an aquarium tour ticket. A tour of the aquarium takes approximately two hours, and admission is valid for the entire day, allowing you to venture into other sites sponsored by the aquarium. The aquarium also offers 3-D IMAX movies in Chattanooga's only six-story-tall viewing screen and a riverboat cruise guide of Chattanooga called the River Gorge Explorer. The aquarium is open year-round, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. While there are no eating facilities within the aquarium, you can purchase a boxed lunch with an advance ticket reservation.
Tennessee Aquarium
One Broad St.
Chattanooga, TN 37402
800-262-0695
tnaqua.org
Blue Heron Cruises is a family-friendly travel destination in Ashland City, Tennessee. Take a tour with Blue Heron Cruises to experience the Tennessee countryside in all of its natural beauty. Each cruise takes you down the Cumberland River and its meandering waterways, where you will find wildlife and native birds in their natural habitat. There are seven cruises to choose from including tours of waterfront homes and wildlife, eagles, fall foliage, Harpeth River, a narrated nature cruise, kids adventure with fun and games and a sunset cruise featuring jazz music. All cruises last from 90 minutes to three and a half hours. You will board a 24-person pontoon boat that can be reserved ahead of time for special events such as birthdays, anniversaries or family reunions. Drinks and snacks are available for purchase, and there is a bathroom on board the semi-covered boat. Reservations are recommended.
Blue Heron Cruises
175 Old Cumblerland
Ashland City, TN 37015
615-385-7007
blueheroncruises.com