Family Activities In The Tri-Cities

If you’re looking for a fun day trip or weekend destination for your family, don’t overlook the Tri-Cities area. Comprising Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol, the Tri-Cities is a great location to explore with kids. I am lucky enough to have in-laws in the Johnson City area, so my family finds ourselves there often.

Here are some of our favorite activities and items on our bucket list for family fun in the Tri Cities:

Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium

Bays Mountain is a beautiful place to spend the day. You can hike, fish, visit with the animals, play on their new playground, and so much more. My favorite time to visit is in the fall because the leaves are spectacular.

Tweetsie Trail

The Tweetsie Trail is a railway that has been converted into 9.6 miles of trail. It’s perfect for biking, running or walking. With a few small detours along the way, you can visit points of interest such as Jacob’s Nature Park, Milligan Depot, Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park, and Sabine Hill State Historic Site. You can check out a map of the trail here.

Warrior’s Path State Park

Warrior’s Path has an almost endless list of activities. There is disc golf, regular golf, fishing, boating, hiking, and biking. You can rent paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks or bring your own to use. My personal favorite part of the park is the playground. It’s the only Tennessee state park to have a “Boundless Playground” that is made to include children of all physical and mental abilities. The playground has a “Lion’s Narnia Braille Trail” that tells the story of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, complete with scenes straight from the book. 

Roan Mountain State Park

Located near the North Carolina and Tennessee border, this destination is a little further but definitely worth the drive. I love it because just a short hike from the parking lot gives you a breathtaking view. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can extend your hike for even more beautiful overlooks and scenery. The option of hikes makes it perfect for both younger and older kids.

Hands On Discovery Center

The Hands On Discovery Center is a great place to take the kids for some educational fun. They offer a wide variety of exhibits including a 3-story Paleontology themed climbing tower, a discovery garden, and lots of opportunities to create and explore. You can even view an active Paleontology dig site. For a small, additional fee you can have a guided tour of the dig site and watch a Guinness record-holding musical, bi-polar Tesla Coil Show. The center also puts on special events and programs so be sure to check their calendar.

Bright’s Zoo

This zoo is so fun and has a few animals that our zoo here in Knoxville doesn’t, like kangaroos and penguins. They offer train rides, sloth encounters, penguin encounters, giraffe feeding, and more. You can’t bring food inside the zoo, but there is a picnic area just outside the entrance where my family likes to eat our packed lunches.

Bristol Speedway

If you’re a NASCAR fan, you’ll want to visit Bristol and maybe catch a race. If you are in the Tri-Cities around the holidays, make sure to check out Speedway in Lights. It’s an annual event that features hundreds of light displays you can drive through. Then, the light trail ends with you getting to make a lap in your car around the speedway and visit with Santa.

Jonesborough

This historic little town is maybe more for the adults or older kids in your family, but I had to include it because it’s such a sweet place to visit. If you’re a history buff, I think it’s an absolute must. Stop in and explore the shops and have lunch at a local eatery like Main Street Cafe. It also happens to be the storytelling capital of the world and is home to the International Storytelling Center. The National Storytelling Festival takes place there each fall. Check out Jonesborough’s calendar of events to catch a fun festival or event. Jonesborough has Stars Hollow vibes and I’m obsessed. 

I feel that I have to also mention that a visit to the Tri-Cities isn’t complete without a trip to Pal’s for a burger with some frenchie fries and a peachie tea.

What are your favorite family activities to do in the Tri-Cities area? Drop them in the comments below.