American Museum of Science & Energy - 300 S. Tulane Avenue / Oak Ridge / Tennessee / 865-576-3200
An informative and educational science center connected with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lockheed Martin Energy Research and the US Department of Energy, the American Museum of Science & Energy is open to the public and offers innovative and hands-on exhibits geared to all ages. From the history of Oak Ridge and other major scientific discoveries, to the geology of the Tennessee Smokies, all is explored in this wonderful facility. / $

Biltmore Estate - Off I-40 / Asheville / North Carolina / 1-800 -624-1575
America’s largest private home sits among 5,000 acres of elegant parklands landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same man who designed Central Park in New York City. Built in the 1890s by George Vanderbilt, the “house” has numerous breathtaking interiors among its 250 rooms. The exterior has been featured as a stage setting in several films and TV productions. A restaurant is housed on the estate in some former dairy buildings, plus a vineyard and winery have been established on the grounds. Plan to spend the better part of a day exploring this amazing home. / $

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino® - Highway 441 / 45 miles south in Cherokee / North Carolina / 1-800-427-7247
Open 24 hours a day, the casino offers over 2700 video format games, jackpots and 3 restaurants on premises along with world-class live entertainment. It’s the only casino in North Carolina!

Fontana Lake & Fontana Village - Fontana Dam / North Carolina
At 481 feet, Fontana Dam, on the southern border of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina, is the highest dam east of the Mississippi. Fontana Village is adjacent to Nantahala and Joyce Kilmer National Forests. The village was built in the 1930s to house workers who came to construct Fontana Dam on the Little Tennessee River. / Fontana Dam, NC

Ghost Town In The Sky - Maggie Valley / North Carolina / 828-926-1140
Relive the days of the wild west in this Ghost Town theme park atop the Smoky Mountains. Shoot outs and shows are staged along the main street. Cherokee Indians perform authentic re-creations of time-honored ceremonial dances. Plus the Red Devil Roller Coaster and multiple thrill rides are all a part of this mountain-top Ghost Town scene. Open May through October. / $

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad - Dillsboro / North Carolina / 1-800-872-4681
A one hour drive from Gatlinburg and years into the past, a locomotive train journeys through the glorious mountains from Dillsboro, NC to Bryson, NC and back, for a day of scenic railway adventure. Weekend excursions include Dinner Trains and “3 in 1” Railfan Weekends. / $

Mount Mitchell - I-40 east / north of Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway / Mt. Mitchell State Park / North Carolina
Northeast of Asheville, North Carolina, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway is Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the eastern United States. At 6684 feet, it is only forty feet higher than Gatlinburg’s neighbor - Clingman’s Dome, however with its situation on the eastern side of the mountain range, clear day vistas can be quite amazing.

Museum of Appalachia - Off 1-75 north of Knoxville / Norris / Tennessee / 865-494-0514
It may appear that one man’s collection has gotten way out of hand, but this vast assortment of Appalachian artifacts includes memorabilia from all over the region. Among the finds are thousands of household items, folk art, tools, clothing, musical instruments, several log cabins, a few barns, a schoolhouse and even a church. All were saved from destruction and lovingly moved to this one site within a half hour’s drive of Knoxville. Children will enjoy the live farm animals, descendants of species once seen throughout the area. Occasionally, live musical entertainment is offered on weekends, homecomings and holidays. / $

Lost Sea Caverns - US 68 off I-75 / Sweetwater / Tennessee / 423-337-6616
At Lost Sea, a cavern tour culminates with a glass-bottom boat ride along America’s largest known underground lake. The section of the cave that contains the lake was not discovered until this century. Up to that time, the cavern was known to have been previously occupied in turn by Native Americans, Civil War soldiers, bootleggers and during a stint in 1920s, a portion of the cave was used as an underground Speakeasy! /

Oak Ridge National Laboratory - Welcome Center adjacent to Museum / S. Tulane Avenue / Oak Ridge / Tennessee
Only a 30 minute drive west of Knoxville is Oak Ridge, Tennessee, a place once known as America’s secret city. During World War II, the town was built literally overnight for workers and their families involved in the construction and testing of components for a new experimental weapon. Situated between two mountain ridges, the location was kept secret from the American public and was not included on any maps of the region. Today, we know that it was here the Manhattan Project constructed the first atomic bomb. The Department of Energy offers seasonal bus tours of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, however due to security concerns and road access closures, all tours must arranged by calling 865-547-7199.

Tennessee Aquarium - One Broad Street / Chattanooga / Tennessee / 800-262-0695
Home of the largest fresh water aquarium in the world, Chattanooga offers a great day trip for a family. Besides offering unique glimpses into many of the fresh water habitats from around the world there are also salt water tanks, including a Gulf Coast simulation. Nearby are several associated attractions including the Aquarium’ s IMAX®3D Theater and the Creative Discovery Museum for Children. / $

Tennessee Valley Authority Lakes - Eastern Tennessee
Within an hour’s drive of the area are several of the TVA lakes which offer multiple recreational opportunities. The dams which created the lakes were originally built to control flooding in the narrow river gorges that used to cause wide destruction. The TVA lake system was part of a Federal work project that provided jobs as well electricity to the region during the depression. The closest lake to the area is Douglas Lake, just north of Sevierville. Other lakes within an hour’s drive are Cherokee Lake, Ft. Loudoun Lake, Norris Lake, Tellico Lake and Watts Bar Lake.

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