Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Any visit to Tennessee would be incomplete without stopping to soak in the magnificent beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Nestled securely between Tennessee and North Carolina, the best place to visit the park is through Tennessee tourist mecca Gatlinburg. The park itself offers many activities, such as horseback riding on one of over 550 miles of horseback trails. With five horse camps throughout the park, you can even bring your own horse. On the other hand, rent a horse and take a guided tour through the park or enjoy a carriage ride through the rolling waves of trees. Cost is usually between $15 and $25 per hour. There are several local hotels or log cabins to rent during your stay.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-1200 (local)
Great.smoky.mountains.national-park.com
Ruby Falls
Down in Chattanooga, Ruby Falls is one Tennessee attraction you do not want to miss. This massive, 145-foot underground waterfall, located under Civil War site Lookout Mountain, has been a family favorite for over 75 years. The falls were discovered in 1923; the cave where it dwells has a long history of Native American involvement, as a hideout for outlaws and Civil War soldiers, and as a source of constant wonder. The falls lie 160 feet under Lookout Mountain and the Lookout Mountain Cave has been explored for 12 miles without an end being found. A visit to the caves lets you take a tour through the speleothems, or cave formations. You can view stalactites, stalagmites and capillary tubes as well as a plethora of cave life: cavefish, crawfish, bats and salamanders. There are four hotels available nearby for your stay.
Ruby Falls
1720 Scenic Highway
Chattanooga, TN 37409-1163
(423) 821-2544
Rubyfalls.com
Shelby Farms Park
Memphis is best known as the home of Elvis Presley. However, it is also where you can find Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, a 4,500-acre haven of wildlife and fun. What started as a penal farm in the 1920s is now home to over 20 bodies of water, in addition to a herd of buffalo, horse stables, paddle boats and a dog park. One of the best things to do here is to go on a hayride. The park offers hayrides starting in the fall. Ride in the trailer with the hay and watch the park roll by as the sun sets and the leaves change color.
Shelby Farms Park Conservancy
500 North Pine Lake Drive
Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 767-PARK
Shelbyfarmspark.org
