Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Tagged: Field Trip Ideas in TN do you have any?, Western NC Nature Center Pass use all over USA

This topic has 11 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 9 months ago by ChristLifeAcademy.

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

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July 14, 2011 at 3:01 pm
ebcsmom
Participant
Does anyone have any fun field trip ideas that are free or cheap in TN? I am planning our upcoming year and would LOVE to be able to include some fun things to do. We would love some really great Nature field trips. We will be studying Module 1 as well, don’t know if there is anything in TN that would go along with that but maybe some great “WEB based sites” that we could use for extras??
thanks
July 14, 2011 at 3:14 pm
joannarammell
Participant
Chimney Top in the Smokey Mountains…wonderful free place to picnic and play…nice streams with rocks to climb…one of my favorites as a child and as an adult.
jo
There are tons of things to do in TN…there are some campgrounds that are cheap too…and camping out and being in nature is fab. my best memories.
July 14, 2011 at 7:10 pm
RobinP
Participant
I’m in upper East TN an hour or so from the Smokies. Wonderful place. Lots to do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. If you go to the Aquarium in Gatlinburg, homeschoolers get a significant discount if you show them proof that you homeschool. Knoxville has a nice zoo.
July 14, 2011 at 7:56 pm
artcmomto3
Participant
In Chattanooga there is the Nature Center and the TN Aqarium. Chickamauga Battlefields are just over the state line in Georgia, and if you time it right you can see a reenactment. The Creative Discovery Museum is good for young ones.
My cousin’s wife gives educational tours in the Smokies. I’ve been thinking of having our oldest do one now that she is old enough. I may be able to get a link, or at least some info, if you are interested.
July 14, 2011 at 8:24 pm
ibkim2
Participant
We like the Gatlinburg Aquarium more than the Chattanooga one….but near Chattanooga there’s the Lookout Mountain…..haven’t been there though…….I think its a spot where you can view all the neighboring states from the top. Nashville’s botanical garden “Cheekwood” has some free days each year (not sure which ones, but I’m sure you could research it online)……..the annual zoo membership for Nashville zoo is reciprocal for free admission to Memphis zoo (and maybe Knoxville zoo)… the annual family membership to “Cheekwood” ($75) is reciprocal for the botannical garden in Knoxville and the art museum in Knoxville. In Nashville there is a Nature Center at Edwin Warner Park that has free nature classes you can register for. It also has lots of trails, creeks, and a small “pioneer village” type “dirt” park area complete with child size pioneer cabin and tepee. Inside the Nature Center building there are some animal education activities. Also just outside the Edwin Warner Park Nature Center there is a walk through vegetable garden, a library house with LOTS of nature books for kids and grown ups, and a pond where the kids can try to catch tadpoles. I hear some weekdays the “Frist Center” in downtown Nashville has free admission with a canned good (I haven’t gone yet since my kids are still preschool aged, but plan to do this sometime when there is an exhibit I like).
July 14, 2011 at 10:15 pm
artcmomto3
Participant
ibkim2 is thinking of Rock City that is on Lookout Mtn. That is a great nature-filled place to see. Lots of rocks and plants to see along the path, and you can see 7 states from the overlook.
July 15, 2011 at 1:32 am
ebcsmom
Participant
Thank you all so much! We are in middle TN so we are smack dab in the middle of Knoxville, and Nashville quiet aways from both places, and about 3 hours from the Smokies. We aren’t extremely far from Chattanooga about and hour. This are all great suggestions!
I looked up state parks close to us as well, and was amazed to find some good “hiking” and “nature” ones that were within 45 minutes. I am needing things not very far from home, as we are on a limited budget. I love the suggestion and will write them down for sure! Thank YOU!
July 15, 2011 at 1:46 am
sheraz
Participant
If you will sign up on an email list that the parks have (if they do this in TN) they will email you about special events and activities. We have enjoyed the State Capitol in private tours by calling our state representatives (they love homeschoolers) and touring the Govenor’s Mansion. Maybe you can google day trips around you – that is how I found some around us. =)
July 15, 2011 at 10:40 pm
LDIMom
Participant
ebcsmom,
Please PM me if you’d ever be interested in a meet-up at a park or nature center or something. We are in TN as well. I have YET to meet in person another CMer in our area, though I’m sure they are here.
We have passes to the zoo in Nashville and the aquarium in Chattanooga. We have 5 children so the educator’s passes are a great deal for our family.
We have recently done several of the classes at Edwin Warner Nature Center and they have been great. They are FREE. They have a Model Aviation class next week, but I think it might be full. They have a nightime Spider hunt coming up next weekend and some other classes as well.
The park itself is WONDERFUL for nature walks!!! Nashville has 3 other nature centers as well all with free programming incl. Junior Naturalist programs: http://www.nashville.gov/parks/nature/index.asp
I would also highly recommend Radnor Lake State Natural Area for a day hike. It is wonderful no matter the time of year.
We camp a lot in the TN State Parks. Some of our favorites (though we have liked all we have visited) are Nathan Bedford Forrest, Rock Island, Fall Creek Falls (we spent a week there recently and never got bored!), Mousetail Landing, Harrison Bay, and David Crockett. We hope to visit all of them.
If you are interested in history at all, there are tons of places to visit: Civil War sites in and around Middle TN–Stones River National Battlefield Park in Murfreesboro, Carter House and Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Shiloh National Battlefield in Hardin County, Battle of Lookout Mtn. near Chattanooga; other sites–The Hermitage in Nashville (home of Pres. Andrew Jackson), Forts Negley and Donelson in Nashville, the Parthenon in Centennial Park in Nashville, TN State Museum in Nashville has an Egyptian exhibit through early September …
I have been planning some things for us to do for state history and other sites as mentioned above. These are just a few things we are planning to do, most of it is free. HTH
July 15, 2011 at 10:43 pm
LDIMom
Participant
Burgess Falls State Park (day use only) is wonderful near Cookeville.
July 15, 2011 at 11:40 pm
ebcsmom
Participant
LDIMOM
Thank you for all your suggestions, I will be looking into those things for sure! We LOVE Burgess Falls!!

AGAIN thank you all for you help I am writing these all down, and will check in to them all!
July 28, 2011 at 6:30 pm
ChristLifeAcademy
Member
http://www.wildwnc.org/ has an awesome membership which also allows you to go FREE or discounted to 275 reciprocal zoos, aquariums (AZA) and science centers (ASTC Passport) nationwidePass with great We will soon be moving to Cocke county and I’ve been using a pass that is good in your area too.
http://www.astc.org/passport/
http://www.aza.org/reciprocity/

The pass cost $62.00 for a family (2 adults & 4 kids) – with add on option for more children.
We will soon be moving to Tennessee and look forward to using this pass there also.
Adventure Science Center (IDs)800 Fort Negley Boulevard, Nashville 37203(615) 862-5160 http://www.adventuresci.com F: Two adults and their children living in the same household
American Museum of Science & Energy300 South Tulane Avenue, Oak Ridge 37830(865) 576-3200 http://www.amse.orgF: Two adults accompanied by their children, stepchildren, and/or grandchildren
East Tennessee Discovery Center516 N. Beaman Street, Chilhowee Park, Knoxville 37914(423) 594-1494 http://www.etdiscovery.orgF: Four people are considered a family
Hands On! Regional Museum315 East Main Street, Johnson City 37601(423) 434-4263 http://www.handsonmuseum.orgF: Parents and all children in the household
Hands-On Science Center101 Mitchell Boulevard, Tullahoma 37388(931) 455-8387 http://www.hosc.orgF: Parents, grandparents, and children at the same address
Pink Palace Family of Museums (IDs)3050 Central Avenue, Memphis 38111-3399(901) 320-6320 http://www.memphismuseums.orgF: Two adults and their dependent children/grandchildren under the age of 18 (up to 10 children)
Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park100% & 50% Jennifer Pyburn423-697-1339
Knoxville Zoological Gardens100% & 50%Carrie Blair865-637-5331 x 364
The Memphis Zoo50%Stacy Hayes901-333-6668NashvilleNashville Zoo, Inc.100% & 50%