Hello Friends! My name is Sarah and I am a local home school mom who lives in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. I am always looking for ways for our kids to learn, not just in a classroom but out in this big ole world we live in. I have done so much research and put together this list for some field trip ideas for you to enjoy as well.
Now, we do live in East Tennessee so I tried to include some local ideas you can do if you are in town or visiting for vacation. There are some other ideas that are also a couple of hours away from the Smoky Mountains. I wanted to include them for us and for local parents who want to plan a road trip with their family to visit those locations for the day.
This list seems to keep growing and evolving. Let me know of a place we missed that is in the area that would be fun for a field trip.
Outdoors
- Go on a Hike
- See some birds at Seven Islands Bird State Park
- Go Berry Picking at a you pick farm
- Explore a Botanical Garden
- Visit a Pumpkin Patch
- Pick out a tree at a Christmas Tree Farm
- Learn at Great Smoky Mountain at Tremont
- Find a Fish Hatchery
- Swim and learn at a Lake/ Dams
- Learn to drive and how street signs work at Safety City in Knoxville, only open to the public in the summer and Christmas Season.
Animals / Wildlife/ Farms
- See Animals at the Knoxville Zoo
- Pet Animals at Deer Farm Petting Zoo
- Explore sea creatures at Ripley’s Aquarium
- Rain Forest Zoo has so much to see and do
- Visit a Bird Sanctuary or see some amazing birds at Parrot Mountain
- See how a Dairy Farm works or drive to Mayfield Dairy Farm in Athens, TN
- Visit a Veterinarian Clinic
- See how sea creatures live virtually at Xperia Ocean Journey
- Play with some cute puppies and cats at your Local Animal Shelter
- Take an animal Safari Ride at Briarwood Safari in Bybee, TN
- Explore Dinosaurs and have so much fun at Backyard Terrors in Bluff City TN
- Visit a Private, Family Owned Zoo at Brights Zoo in Limestone, TN
Community Service
- Serve at a local Soup Kitchen
- Clean up trash
- Make someone’s day by going to a nursing home
- Make care packages for kids at the Children’s Hospital
- Plant trees or flowers in your neighborhood
Society / Plants / Factory
- Go Tour a Power Plant
- Go to storytelling at your Local Library
- See Fire Fighters at the Fire Department
- Go visit the FREE Bush Baked Beans Plant Museum in Chestnut Hills
- Learn how bread or pastry is made at a Bakery
- Tour a Bank
- Learn at a Food Factory
- See plants at a Green House
- Go to a Recycling Center
- Learn how construction equipment works at Dig N Zone
Fine Arts
- Go see a Theater Performance at Tennessee Theater
- See a Symphony when they come to town
- Get Inspired at an Art Gallery
- Go to an Art Festival
- Go on a Chalk Walk at the Island in October and Downtown Knoxville during the Dogwoods Art Festival in April.
- See a Sculpture Gardens
- Learn about the past at Antique Shops
- Buy a New Book at the Book Store
- Learn the art of designing flowers with a Florist
- Create some Jewelry with a Jeweler
- Sing at a Broadway Musical when in town.
- Learn the art of Photography from your local photographer
- Paint Pottery
- Be amazed at a Blacksmith at Dollywood
History
- Learn about the famous Titanic
- Go tour Alcatraz Crime Museum
- Visit an Old School House
- Go see An Old Battle Field
- Explore Old Churches and Homes in Cades Cove
- Learn about the Pioneers that depended on a train at the Little River Railroad
- Discover an 1840s Historic home at Evanswood Magic Mansion, learn magic and be amazed. Check out our visit here!
- Go deep underground and explore Forbidden Caverns
- Go to The Relic Room at Smoky Mountain Knife Works to see the largest history collection and it’s all for sale
- Go see America’s largest home at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC
- Learn the History of Cherokee by visiting The Museum of Cherokee People
- Watch a drama play at an open air theater in Cherokee called Unto These Hills
- Experience a walk through living museum of the Cherokee People at Oconaluftee Indian Village
Science
- Visit a Planetarium show at The Muse in Knoxville or Bays Mountain in Kingsport, TN
- Experiment at Wonderworks in Pigeon Forge, Come Check out our time there by Clicking HERE
- Ripley’s Believe it or not
- Learn about your body at Bodies Human in Gatlinburg
Fun/ Pop Culture
- Use your head Knowledge and try an Escape Game
- Tour some famous cars at the Hollywood Star Car Museum
- Have fun with over 150 interactive exhibits at Beyond The Lens
- While you are at Beyond The Lens do their Sky Flyer ride and fly over different parks of the USA
- See all the unique Salt and Pepper shakers at this fun Museum
- When you are at Dollywood go and learn about Dolly Parton at the The Dolly Experience
- Go see all the warbird and aviation memorabilia at the Aviation Museum in Sevierville
- Tour a TV Station
- See how a Radio Station works
- See your favorite celebrity at the Hollywood Wax Museum
Religious
- Learn more about the Bible at the The Bible Museum
- Listen to music and see a show at The Biblical Times Dinner Show
- Truth Traveler is coming soon to Pigeon Forge, TN
- You can see the Truth Traveler and The Ark in Williamstown, Kentucky
Children’s Museums
- Play and Learn at The Muse in Knoxville
- Check Out So Many Exhibits at The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge
- Create and Learn at Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga
- Hands On Museum in Gray TN has lots of exhibits to lean and explore
- Go where Blippi went and see the 40 ft tall Eddie at Edventure in Columbia, SC. Read about our time there HERE.
I hope you have a wonderful time Exploring
XOXO
