Top Rated Parks to Visit in Townsend

"Patriot Park is a quaint park that’s dedicated to wartime veterans and sits along the river’s edge. It’s a perfect spot to go for a picnic, have some time of quiet reflection or respect the county’s veterans. The park isn’t huge, at only 16 acres, but its proximity to nearby shops and restaurants makes this green space perfect for a quick outdoor getaway in the middle of the day."

"For a slow, casual day out, spend it in Patriot Park along Old Mill Square. This park is dedicated to the veterans of war who lived in Sevier County."

"Next to Heaven Ranch offers unguided trail rides, so the duration varies. For children under the age of 5, the single-rider price is halved. If the scenic views that you get on horseback aren’t enough, you can check out its zip-lining operation too."

"The Wild Plum Tea Room is an amazing place to have lunch in the Arts & Crafts Community. Named one of the top 10 restaurants in the state of Tennessee, this unique cafe features scratch-made food in an idyllic natural setting. Be sure to make reservations at The Wild Plum at least 24 hours in advance."

"Vegan and vegetarian options are pretty plentiful in this laid-back and friendly pizza place. They have vegan cheese so you can gobble up a pizza topped with fresh veggies and there’s also hummus and pita to snack on to your healthy heart’s content."

"The Guinness World Records Adventure is another one of the best museums in Gatlinburg TN. This popular attraction is all about the incredible feats and stunts that have made their way into the famous Guinness Book of World Records. Highlights of the newly remodeled museum include the world’s largest Pac-Man game, seats from Wrigley Field, Joe Louis’s championship belt, and a wall dedicated to Peyton Manning. In addition to all of these amazing artifacts, the Guinness World Records Adventure also features around 50 interactive exhibits and challenges that allow families to compete against one another."

"See the amazing book come to life right before your eyes when you visit Guinness World Records Adventure!. Inside, you’ll find unbelievable exhibits, authentic memorabilia, intriguing displays, and themed galleries. You can test your skills and even attempt to break a world record in the new Largest Interactive Challenge Gallery!"

"See hundreds of exhibits at the Guinness World Records Adventure!. As one of the new Ripley’s attractions in Gatlinburg, it’s sure to be popular and something you don’t want to miss!. They also have trivia, galleries, authentic memorabilia, and a ton of displays for you to see."

"This is one of the more popular hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to the sheer beauty of the waterfall. Abrams Falls is only 20 feet (6 meters) in height, but it is the most voluminous waterfall in the park. The trail begins by passing over Abrams Creek by bridge and then turning left to head towards the waterfall."

"A moderate 5 mile hike leads to one of the most dramatic waterfalls in the Smoky Mountains near Cades Cove. From the trailhead near the halfway point in Cades Cove, hikers will descend down a stunning river gorge to this high-flow waterfall in the park. Otters are known the frequent this section of the river on Abrams Creek."

"This 5-mile round trip trail ends at the 18-foot high Abrams Falls named after a Cherokee chief whose village was downstream. The pool at the bottom of the falls has an undertow, so don’t swim there."

"At the 25-foot-high Grotto Falls, you can enjoy the unique experience of walking behind the falls, which can be a welcome refreshment on hot, humid summer days. The trail leading to the falls is beautiful as well, as it passes through old-growth forests and ecosystems and gives visitors opportunities to see animals such as black bears, elk and deer. To access the falls coming from Gatlinburg on the parkway, turn onto the Historic Natural Trail at traffic light #8, which will lead to Great Smoky Mountains National Park."

"Grotto Falls is accessible via the Trillium Gap Trail, the trailhead of which can be found on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. On the 3-mile round trip, which is of moderate difficulty, hikers will traverse old hemlock forests in a peaceful atmosphere until they reach the falls. The trail actually leads directly behind the cascading water of Grotto Falls, offering a unique and gorgeous point of view for visitors, and the 25-foot-tall waterfall is a cool and beautiful destination."

"We thoroughly enjoyed our hike to Grotto Falls, and excitingly on this hike we had our first bear sighting, at a safe distance off the trail and there was a ranger nearby. The hike is a 1.3 mile round trip and our kids handled it easily. And the cool thing about this waterfall is you can walk right behind the falls."