Some of my favorite zoo experiences have all been getting up close to animals. It is one thing to see an exotic creature but it's a whole different experience to pet one. The Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo specializes in just that very sentiment with fun interactive experiences. Drive around the park and see dozens of animals from all around the world come right up to your car! If you love animals then this is one place you will not want to pass on.
The Tennessee Safari Park is a 7.5-mile drive-thru zoo where you don’t have to look at animals through the glass. The animals have free range to roam along the grassy grounds, but you will typically find them coming right up to your vehicle.
The animals in the park come from a wide range of backgrounds and habitats and represent every continent in the world apart from Antarctica (sorry -- no penguins here, but you can find them at the Ripley’s Aquarium).
Grab a bucket of food when you enter and keep your window rolled down because you might make a new friend in the park. There is nothing quite like feeding a hungry buffalo or watching an excited ostrich peck into the bowl for his dinner.
You can also get out to stretch your legs in the 20-acre zoo. Visit the petting zoo and meet the adorable pygmy goats or watch the (very active) spider monkey exhibit. One of my personal favorite animals is a bit on the slower side, so if you are anything like me you will be pleased to visit the Sloth Barn.
Love birds? They even offer close-up encounters with their feathered friends. See the birds flying around and you can even feed the parakeets. Many of these excited creatures will often land on you as they seek out what you have in your cup.
Have you ever fed a giraffe before? I can tell you firsthand that it is a fun and thrilling experience, but the Tennessee Safari Park takes it to a whole new level... literally! You can hold a carrot in your mouth as the giraffe takes it, but you will get a wet sloppy kiss from an 18-inch-long tongue. So romantic.
The Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo is a one-of-a-kind zoo in which the walls are removed and you can get up close and personal with the animals. For more information please visit the Tennessee Safari Park website.
Keep the animal-themed fun going by staying on a nearby llama farm.
If you have been looking for Tennessee salamanders then there is no better place to go than the Great Smoky Mountains! The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited national park in the United States, and it welcomes over 12 million visitors a year. That’s a lot of people wandering the 800 miles of trails! The Smokies play host to tourist towns like Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, and you can drive through its natural beauty on scenic byways like the Newfound Gap. Of course, what folks may not know about the Great Smoky Mountains, is that it is home to one of the most diverse populations of salamanders on the globe. The "salamander capital of the world" is right here in Tennessee, and if you find yourself hiking through the Smokies you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled.
The Great Smoky Mountains have a stellar reputation as one of the most diverse natural areas in the United States. The park boasts a variety of ecosystems that welcome varied plant and animal life, and it feels like a different park when the seasons change. You may find yourself hiking through fields of wildflowers in May and along icicle-studded bluffs in December.
Of course, you won’t find salamanders along the rocky ridges of the mountains. No, you must look closer to the ground, at the mossy base of trees, along mountain streams, and in soft piles of leaves.
There are two key groups of amphibians found in the Great Smoky Mountains - salamanders and toads. Thirty species of salamanders in Tennessee naturally occur in the southern Appalachian region, which contributes to the "salamander capital of the world" moniker. There are also 14 species of frogs and toads.
You may hear salamanders referred to as "spring lizards" by the locals. Of course, lizards and salamanders are very different. Salamander skin is slimy and soft, usually moist, and potentially sticky. These little amphibians don’t have scales, which separates them from their reptilian lizard cousins. Lizards lay leather-like eggs, and salamanders lay eggs that are covered with a sticky, jelly-esque substance.
Amphibians are an animal group that is made up of frogs, salamanders, toads, and some types of worms. They are carnivorous, so the salamanders in the Great Smoky Mountains eat small insects. Amphibians love moisture and water, so if you’re seeking salamanders, you’ll find them near creeks and waterways. Make sure to peek at those small puddles after a rainstorm, too.
These quirky little creatures can be found all over the Smokies, and on any given day there are more salamanders in the park than humans. Southern Appalachia is teeming with these tiny creatures, but we’d recommend keeping your distance and giving them space. There’s no need to pick up a salamander, and none should be removed from the park.
Did you know that eastern Tennessee is home to such a strange capital? Have you seen salamanders in the Great Smoky Mountains? There’s nothing quite like a hike through the "salamander capital of the world" in the springtime, especially if you stay alert and search the moist creek beds for these neat little creatures.
What a wild fact about Tennessee Salamanders! Most folks expect to find horses, squirrels, and the odd wolf and bear throughout the state, but salamanders are quite the find. You can learn more about amphibians in the Great Smoky Mountains on the official Great Smoky Mountains National Park website. To see more about the park and learn more about the Smokies check out this OnlyInYourState video.
Looking for more wildlife? Head to Cades Cove where you can drive a scenic one-lane road and I see wildlife every single time, including multiple bears. We love salamanders and if this is one of your favorite amphibians too check out these life-like salamander figures.
When the leaves start to change it's time to make our annual trip to some of the best pumpkin patches in Tennessee. It's the season for pumpkin spice, which is oh so nice. Now you might not need actually pumpkins to make this iconic drink (sorry if that ruins the fun for some of you) but pumpkins are the inspiration nonetheless! So yes, it is that time of year again when everyone’s favorite orange gourds grow to full size and are proudly displayed on every front porch. To get the full fall effect, though, you have to go to a good pumpkin patch. You might ask “Where are all the best pumpkin patches near me?” And to that question, I say: read on! We have you covered, friends, with the following list of the best Tennessee pumpkin patches:
For many years, Lyon Family Farm has hosted an epic kick-off to autumn with their annual Fall Festival. The fun starts on September 20 with a plethora of activities. Farm classics like pig racing and a petting zoo will all be available. There will be a corn maze, a zip line, live music, and so much more. For more information, please visit the Lyon Family Farm website.
Honeysuckle Hill Farm doesn’t just casually put on a fall festival -- no, this farm goes big. Home of the famous Country Music Corn Maze where they take their massive corn field and feature a country music artist, this local farm also has over 30 attractions including giant slides, singing animatronics, and carnival-style rides. Kicking off the festivities on September 21, this is one of the best pumpkin patches near Nashville to visit. For more information, please visit the Honeysuckle Hill Farm website.
Lucky Ladd Farms is not only a working farm, but (as they like to call it) an "Ag-venture Farm Fun Park." I think that describes it pretty well because this farm is designed to be a whole-day experience; in fact, you could easily spend several days on the farm. There are so many activities and events planned throughout their fall festival that you could come back multiple times. So if you are looking for a good pumpkin patch near Nashville, this is the place for you. The festivities start on September 21 and this is one you will not want to miss. Make sure to check the schedule of events online before you plan on a trip. There are many things happening throughout the fall season so you wouldn't want to miss any of them. For more information, please visit the Lucky Ladd Farms website.
Walden Pumpkin Farm represents Tennessee farm life perfectly. Leaning more towards the "traditional" side of fun farms to visit, you will still experience lots to do. Browse the goods sold in the country store, let the kids play a wide range of farming-themed activities, or just sit and relax on the farm. Three generations of the Walden family live here and they are delighted to welcome guests to celebrate autumn together. The activities start in late September and make sure to check for updates on the Walden Pumpkin Farm website.
Cedarwood Pumpkin Patch is known as Middle Tennessee’s favorite pumpkin patch, and it’s easy to see why. Not only can visitors purchase their own pumpkins here, but there is plenty more fun to be had on the farm. Kids will be delighted to see the various playing areas that include jump pads, inflatables, and more. When you are looking for some fall festivities in Tennessee, this is a great farm to visit. The autumnal fun starts September 21, and for more information please visit the Cedarwood Pumpkin Patch website.
When it comes to getting into the spirit for the fall season, no one does better than Laurel Pumpkin Barn. They truly set an atmosphere that captures the very essence of autumn! The barn is filled with scores of pumpkins and there are classic set pieces that are picture-perfect for the season. I have visited this one a couple of times now and it always makes my family's list of must-do fall activities each year. The fall festivities start early in September, but make sure to check ahead for when the harvest of great pumpkins comes in; for more information, please visit the Laurel Pumpkin Barn Facebook page.
Looking for a good pumpkin pack near Jackson? Donnell Century Farm is a great place to take the kiddos. Not only can you walk away with your own pumpkins, but you can also spend the day in the corn maze, cruise along on the zip line, slide down the epic slides, or partake in any of the dozens of activities they have running on the farm. There is also a store with amazing donuts, but make sure you get one before they sell out. All of the fall fun begins near the end of September, and for more information please head on over to the Donnell Century Farm website.
Leave the city behind for a bit and get out into the country with this incredible pumpkin patch near Memphis, Tennessee. Falcon Ridge Farm is truly one of those gems when it comes to agricultural fun. We love the fresh veggies and the adorable animals on the farm, however, there is always something special about a farm in the fall. Enjoy a traditional farm experience during the harvest celebration with a giant corn maze, a petting zoo, and plenty of photo ops with beautiful fall decorations. The fall festival starts on September 28; for more information, please visit the Falcon Ridge Farm website.
Located almost perfectly between Knoxville and Nashville, McCulley’s Amazin’ Acres is a great centralized location for a pumpkin patch. Their fall celebration includes carnival-style ball games, a petting zoo, plenty of play areas for kids, and an epic corn maze. One year, the maze was even themed after Pac-Man! The Fall Festival starts on September 14, and for more information please visit the McCulley’s Amazin’ Acres website.
Each year, Fender’s Farm embraces the season with a whole array of fun activities. There is a playground, fun with animals, mechanical bull ride, games, and so much more for little (and big!) kids. For those looking for something a bit more spooky, they have a great selection of rotating Halloween events scattered throughout the harvest celebration, too... and they even have an escape room challenge for families to try! The fall harvest is open for the season around the later part of September, and for more information please visit the Fender’s Farm website.
There is so much to do during the season of pumpkin spice that you should never be bored. These are some of the best pumpkin patches in Tennessee so it’s time to start planning for a couple of road trips and get to these beautiful farms. If you plan on hopping in the car for a good old fashion trip make sure you bring along all the best road trip snacks you can. That way you can fill up in between stops at the local coffee shops to get your favorite fall lattes. One more suggestion if you are looking for an enchanting place to drive when the crunch leaves start to hit the ground. Our trip up to Backbone Rock Tunnel was simply magical and one I would suggest to anyone looking to get out during the fall.
For more fall inspiration for you check this out OnlyInYourState video of the top spots across the country for fall foliage. I will give you a hint at one of the locations, it starts with an "S" and ends with National Park...
