Exhilarating for newbies like me! We hiked the way up in pitch black with headlamps and the way…read moreback in the morning sun. Be ready to get scratched up by blackberry thorns and have a few falls. Still have bruises. So worth it if you love feeling like you're actually climbing and not just walking pavement.

The Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park is the newest Tennessee state park. It is a…read morestraight line from the top border to the bottom, and cuts through 11 counties and two time zones. It encompasses 31,000 acres of land, and 200 miles of hiking at this time. But there are currently another 300 miles of hiking trails planned and in progress. Because of this, there are a lot of places you can fish, hunt, rock climb, or do back country camping. It's named after Justin P. Wilson, who was the deputy governor for a while. We hiked about two mile around the Tennessee Gorge area in Chattanooga that had some stunning overlooks.

I will have to go back again to see the gorgeous sights of the Yahoo Falls. However the sun was…read moregetting close to setting so myself and my hiking buddy (aka my dog) we went the overlook and what a gorgeous site that is to see. That overlook area is to the left of the hiking trail and just for a minute you get to take in the beauty that nature gives us and forget everything else. I hope to visit again in the spring with the pupper to see the magnificent sight of the Yahoo Falls and Arch

Very pretty dog friendly hike. Luckily it was a rainy day so the waterfall was flowing. It's the…read moretallest waterfall in Kentucky.

Absolutely a hidden gem! We stayed in cabin 10, which has a sneaky water view, amazing screened in…read moreporch, a porch swing, fireplace, fire pit, chairs, grill, and television with over air channels! It was spacious and rustic, historic yet modernized with ac and heat as well as a small kitchen with all the necessities. The park has a ton to offer, too! Multiple areas to explore, lots of trails, a museum, and the dam, which has a pedestrian path and several cool overlooks! It was very pet friendly, the dog came with me, and near enough to Knoxville and other sites to not feel too out of touch, but still private and woodsy with a view!

Norris Dam and the surrounding marinas offer beautiful lakeside fishing, tubing and boating. We had…read morethe opportunity to reserve a cabin near the Sequoyah Marina and spent the day enjoying the views. Don't miss the short drive to the Norris Dam visitors center and walk over the bridge for spectacular overhead views of the dam.

This is a really nice state park. It has good trails for running/hiking. The camp ground has 2…read moreloops and is nice. One loop is on Norris lake and offers fishing and boating. There's also a small separate lake for non-motorized craft. You can rent kayaks or bring your own for a small fee. Note that the segregated lake does not permit inflatable craft. There are several picnic pavilions and tables throughout the park. The swimming area is nice and has a paved bottom that slopes in towards a platform for jumping off etc. the bottom of the swim area can be slippery. There are also cabins for rent that look nice though we didn't stay in one. It's about 45 minutes from Knoxville. It's worth a visit.

The park itself is amazing. Nice trails, nice views, nice swimming area, a playground, even saw…read moresome people fishing. Camping -- Cheap at about $35 after taxes for water and electric. Late arrivals are allowed which is hard to find sometimes. Camping area is not well marked, some people got lost and I helped them find the right area while I was camping here. You'll get to the big parking lot and then see some large brown trash dumpsters on the left, that's where the turn for camping is. That's also the only area I found to throw your camping trash. Bathrooms are very run down, but clean. Showers are cold even after waiting a few minutes hoping it would warm up. Lots of cigarette trash on the ground, especially around the bathrooms. Dogs are allowed, on leashes.

I never met a waterfall that I didn't like. We did a driving tour along Little River in Great Smoky…read moreMountains National Park to see if we could spot some wildlife. The Sinks is a lovely waterfall along the river. There is a small parking lot with about a dozen spaces where we found parking. An observation area is a short walk from parking. A sign describes the area and that the falls were manmade. During the late 1800's the river was used to transport logs/timber to the nearby town of Elkmont. After a storm, flood waters caused a jam in the river. Dynamite was used to restore water flow. The blast resulted in a twist in the river and creation of the waterfall. A set of stone steps leads up a hill, offering lovey views of the falls. There are dozens of waterfalls in the Park. Sinks is one of the few that is drivable, which is great for people that cannot hike. I picked up a Waterfalls map at the visitor center that I found interesting and informative. Parking passes are required to park in the lot. There are no amenities at the falls. Plan 15-30 minutes for a stop and photos.

We found a prime parking spot at The Sinks and looked at the area from above the bridge. People…read morewere cliff jumping from the cliffs using ropes, and just free jumping into the water below. Saw the waterfall, but we did not venture into the water. Very small parking lot, but worth a quick stop if you can find a spot to park the car.

A great public park for kids of all ages and right off the main parkway in Pigeon Forge. My kids…read moreenjoyed the see saw and climbing areas. There are also picnic tables and public restrooms available. Perfect activity for kids to burn off some energy.

Great park and playground right in Pigeon Forge. Well designed and all apparatuses appear fairly…read morenew and in good shape. Fun stop for anyone with wee ones.

What a lovely park! We've been making our rounds to all of the parks in the area and this one was…read moreperfect to explore in the morning before it gets lava hot. Many mature trees and the surrounding pond cool down the playground area. There is ample parking and a large restroom facility which are both convenient. Pavilion area that you can rent and a few docks jutting out into the water are nice touches, as is the extensive walking trail that goes around the park and surrounding neighborhoods. As for the play area, it is well-maintained and there is a large sandbox that is clearly very popular (hence, why I didn't take a photo with so many littles enjoying it). The playset has lots of stationary toys on it as well as an abundance of slides. The swing area is separated from the playground and has some unique swing options. Note that the sandbox and playground is directly next to the pond, so if you get high anxiety with young kiddos around bodies of water or have runners, you may want to forgo this park (or at least ensure you have an extra set of eyes/hands with you).

Great parking spot for the bike and walking trail here, also there is a soccer field and a pond to…read morefish in. Our kids have lots of luck catching sunfish, or during the Bob Watt Fishing rodeo once a year here CATFISH! The playground is well maintained and there are plenty of picnic tables and benches to sit and rest at. We are so glad to have this park in Farragut!

Lakeshore is a wonderful public park situated along the Tennessee River and offering some…read morespectacular views of the Smoky Mountains. I finally got a chance to come here with my neighbor and her toddler on a weekday and I was surprised how many kids were at the playground. However, we never felt crowded here and there are several playgrounds in the park, with one being in a slightly wooded section. Besides children's playgrounds, the park offers extensive greenways, sports facilities, and even, event spaces. Sports facilities include: baseball/softball fields, soccer field and an outdoor fitness center. On my next visit, I'm going to explore even more of the greenways and try to find the steel sculpture in the park called the "Quantum Embrace." Know before you go: 1) Lakeshore is open daily: 6 am - 10 pm 2) Plenty of parking spaces 3) There are public restrooms onsite 4) Events at the park hosted by the Roots & Revelry Group. Some events coming up are Paint & Sip (April 28th) and Mahjong in Garden (May 12th)

Gorgeous park! They have all kinds of sports courts including pickleball. Perfect place to take a…read morewalk, work out, or just chill by the lake.