Four Fun Activities for Families in Kingsport, Tennessee

Are you in need of a fun destination in Kingsport that the whole family will love? You’ll find more than a few lively and unique places around the city ideal for a day out. Whether you’re jotting down ideas for an upcoming free weekend or school break or you’re simply interested in exploring the recreational wonders around Kingsport, these top four places are great suggestions for both indoor and outdoor amusement.

Kingsport Carousel

Located less than 10 minutes away from Ocean Quest within the Lynn View Community Center is our next attraction, the Kingsport Carousel. This indoor merry-go-round is gorgeous and grand from the ground up. It’s also family-friendly and offers affordable fun for only $1 per ride. The carousel is elegantly adorned in gold trim and features more than 20 bird murals, two chariots, and 32 hand-painted and wood-carved animals, including a majestic horse, cougar, and Siamese ballerina cat.

Bays Mountain Park 

With nearly 3,500 acres of land and water ecosystems, Bays Mountain Park is one of many great hangouts for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. It’s surrounded by a 44-acre lake that’s open for pontoon boat rides, features diverse hiking and biking trails spanning 40 miles, and houses diverse animal habitats with residents like native fish, owls, red foxes, snakes, turtles, and white-tailed deer.

Thrill-seekers will find lots of activities to keep them entertained as well. The park features an Adventure Ropes Course with a 310-foot zip line, obstacle challenges, and four high-rope courses where you’re suspended up to 40 feet off the ground. Round out the experience with something fun for aspiring astronomers — a planetarium theater with a 40-foot dome and star projector.

Ocean Quest Mini Golf and Driving Range

Bring your best game to the green and compete against family members in a thrilling round of miniature golf. Ocean Quest features two 18-hole courses to test your skills, surrounded by a mini bridge and colorful sea-themed decor. You might see a stunning blue dolphin flanking one hole and a majestic sea turtle at another.

You’ll also have a chance to practice your swing at the driving range and sign up for golf lessons while you’re at it. Need tips for beating the summer heat at Ocean Quest? Wear a hat and sunscreen and pay a trip to the on-site snack bar for cold drinks and ice cream to keep you cool.

Exchange Place

If you’ve ever wondered what life was like on the farm back in the early 19th century, this next spot has plenty of era-themed attractions for history buffs. Exchange Place takes you back to a time when bartering goods and tending to plants and animals were a must for Kingsport residents.

Here you’ll find a 62-acre working farm that’s home to animals such as American guinea hogs, Tunis sheep, and a Tennessee buggy horse. Other on-site attractions include a collection of historic homes and buildings such as a quilt barn, schoolhouse, granary, and Gaines-Anderson house dating back to 1796. You’ll also pass by gorgeous gardens where daffodils, roses, shrubs, and wildflowers bloom in colorful abundance.

Are you searching for fun activities the entire family can get behind? Kingsport has more than a few options to check out this year.

Image by Hands off my tags! Michael Gaida from Pixabay

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