Take the Car and Check Out These 4 Kid-Friendly Activities Near Kingsport, TN

Kingsport, TN is packed with fun-filled, kid-friendly activities. Take the kids for drives in the Toyota Camry, Corolla, or Highlander to explore nature, experience the thrill of zip lining through the treetops, discover farm life in the old days, ride a historic carousel, and play a challenging round of authentic putt-putt.

Discover the Wonders of Nature

The 3,750-acre Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium is a beautiful place for kids to explore nature and catch glimpses of indigenous wildlife. The pristine area has a picturesque 44-acre lake, animal habitats with wolves, bobcats, reptiles, and raptors, over 40 miles of hiking trails, more than 32 miles of biking trails, and a state-of-the-art planetarium.

There is much to do and see, including visiting the nature center, flying through the trees on the thrilling 310-foot Flying Squirrel zip line tour, fishing for catfish, and looking at the night sky or watching a show at the planetarium.  

Address and Hours

Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium is at 853 Bays Mountain Park Road in Kingsport. Please visit the website for seasonal opening hours.

Experience Farm Life in the 1850s

Take the kids to experience farm life in the 1850s at Exchange Place, a 62-acre living history farm where there’s always something going on. Watch the farmers tend to their daily chores, from shearing sheep and feeding the chickens to milking the cows.

See strong and tough Suffolk and Belgian draft horses, American Guinea hogs, and Durhams and Shorthorn cattle and pop in at the historic Preston House, the School House, Log Barn, Blacksmith Forge, Cooks Cabin, and Gaine’s Store to learn more about what life was like in the 1800s.

Address and Hours

Exchange Place is at 4812 Orebank Road in Kingsport and is open Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Go on a Magical Carousel Ride

Take the kids for a spin on the historic Kingsport Carousel, a renovated 1956 Allen Herschell Carousel inside the temperature-controlled Pal’s Roundhouse. The magical carousel boasts a hand-carved and hand-painted unicorn, ballerina cat, frog prince, flying pig, and horses turning gracefully to calliope music that will surely bring back a lot of fond memories for grandma and grandpa.

Address and Hours

The Kingsport Carousel is at 350 Clinchfield Street in Kingsport and is open from Wednesday to Sunday all year. For other seasonal hours, please visit their Facebook page.

Putt-Putt Around a Classic Course

Challenge your family to classic games of putt-putt on two authentic 36-hole putt-putt golf courses at the Putt-Putt Center. The courses are beautifully laid out and perfectly maintained, and you and the kids can play as many games as you like between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. for only $6 per person.

Address and Hours

The Putt-Putt Center is at 346 W Stone Drive in Kingsport and is open Monday to Saturday between 9 a.m. and 12 a.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Go on fun-filled family outings and have a blast with your kids around town. Take the kids along and pop in at Toyota of Kingsport today to check out the new 2023 Toyota models on display.

Image by David Mark from Pixabay 

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