12 Whimsical Places to Visit in Tennessee

The magic of Anakeesta in Gatlinburg is like no other in the Smokies. Nestled within the mountains and located above and in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg, Anakeesta adds an element of magic to the majesty of the mountains. The newest attraction, Astra Lumina, offers an enchanted night walk among the stars with illuminating encounters of lighting, projection and sound. Plus, with the quaint Firefly Village, canopy skywalk and the Treeventure Challenge Course for the kiddos, Anakeesta is the perfect whimsical place to entertain folks of any age and one of the coolest places to visit in Tennessee.

• Operating Hours: Anakeesta is open from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., though on Fridays and Saturdays they open at 9 a.m.
• Admission
• Parking Information: Paid parking is available in downtown Gatlinburg. Anakeesta provides transportation from various parking lots to their entrance. Details can be found on their website
• Reservation Policies: Reservations are generally not required for general admission, but you< can pre-purchase tickets for certain experiences such as Astra Lumina

Step into a realm of fantasy and storytelling at Ancient Lore Village. This lodging destination offers an immersive experience unlike any other and is among the most unique places to stay in Tennessee. From a hobbit hole to Elven Treehouses to the Fairy Family Cottage and Waterfall Villa, this village has meticulously crafted miniature homes nestled in a whimsical landscape, each with its own enchanting tale waiting to be discovered. Explore the village, let your imagination soar, and uncover the secrets hidden within this captivating world. It's a perfect setting for families, fantasy enthusiasts, couple getaways, and anyone seeking a touch of magic.

• Operating Hours: Check-in is from 4-7 p.m. EST
• Parking Information: Free private parking is available for guests
• Reservation Policies: Room reservations are required to explore the village; make your reservations online or call 865-200-2434

When in Knoxville, you'll want to head to the Knoxville Convention Center to snap a photo with the "world's largest" Rubik's Cube on display. A gift from the Hungarian government for the 1982 World's Fair, the cube is 10 feet tall and weighs 1,200 pounds. Each panel weighs 300 pounds, making it one of the most interesting places to visit in Tennessee.

• Operating Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. every day
• Admission: Free
• Parking Information: Parking is available at the Knoxville Convention Center for a fee
• Reservation Policies: Reservations are not required to view the Rubik's Cube

Gnomes, fairies and fables – oh my! As you wander through the beautiful rock formations, gardens and tunnels at Rock City in Chattanooga, you may find yourself transported to another land. All of a sudden, as you peek through windows in the tunnels, you see jolly gnomes playing, castles in miniature and beloved fairy tale tableaus. Once you’ve surfaced from this colorful wonderland, make sure to explore the rest of Rock City, including the breathtaking “See 7 States” panoramic view. A truly special place, Rock City stands as one of Tennessee's most whimsical places to visit and one of the most beautiful places in Tennessee.

• Operating Hours: Hours vary by season
• Admission
• Parking Information: Free parking is available at Rock City
• Reservation Policies: Reservations are generally not required for general admission, but advance tickets are recommended as time slots do sell out

Have an unforgettable whimsical adventure at the largest underground lake in the United States – The Lost Sea. Located in Sweetwater, your tour begins with a 3/4-mile round-trip walk through the caverns. As the grand finale, you will take a boat ride on The Lost Sea where you can touch the chilly water, see cave-dwelling rainbow trout and multiple cave formations. It’s one of the true places of interest in Tennessee for adventurous explorers.

• Operating Hours: Hours vary by season
• Admission
• Parking Information: Free parking is available at The Lost Sea
• Reservation Policies: Reservations are recommended, especially during peak season

Unlock that sense of mesmerizing childlike wonder that stargazing brings at Pickett CCC Memorial State Park, the first state park in the southeast to be listed as a certified dark sky viewing location. The park, along with Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area, earned the Silver-tier International Dark Sky Park designation in 2015 for their commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the night sky. A must-visit place and one of the true cool places to visit in Tennessee to visit if you want to see the beautiful night sky in perfect clarity.

• Operating Hours: State parks in Tennessee are generally open year-round from dawn to dusk, but specific facilities do have varying hours
• Admission: Free
• Parking Information: Parking is available within the state park.
• Reservation Policies: Reservations are required for overnight stays for camping and cabins

Hiding behind the Piggly Wiggly in Erin, Tenn., is a historic cavern carved as part of an old limestone quarry. A huge rock behind the grocery store looks out of place with the surrounding businesses, but the rock houses a large cave that was artificially constructed for the quarry. Inside is a soaring vaulted ceiling and a stunningly blue pool of water. Venture over to the other side of the store to see the furnace stacks and read a little more on the location’s history — one of the lesser-known Tennessee hidden gems.

• Operating Hours: The cave is open year-round
• Admission: Free
• Reservation Policies: Reservations or tickets aren't required for this cave

Come for the World’s Largest Cedar Bucket, stay for the historic village. The bucket is the most popular attraction within historic Cannonsburgh Village, the original name of Murfreesboro. In the days before indoor plumbing, buckets were a necessity for everyday chores. In 1866, the Tennessee Red Cedar Woodworks Company was the only industry in Murfreesboro and the only company in the U.S. that built cedar buckets. The company built this large cedar bucket as a marketing/promotional tool, which traveled from fair to fair in the late 1800s and early 1900s, finally returning to its original home in 1976. Explore this village, among the must-visit places in Tennessee. 

• Operating Hours: Cannonsburgh Village's operating hours vary by season and may be closed for special events
• Admission: Self-guided tours are free
• Parking Information: Free parking is available at Cannonsburgh Village

One of the original 252 houses built in Crossville, the Homesteads House Museum has been furnished to give guests an idea of what the daily lives of Homesteaders were like during the 1930s and 1940s. Many of the beds, chairs and mattresses are from original homesteader families, which would have been made on their property during the time they lived there. 

• Operating Hours: The museum has specific operating hours, which vary seasonally. Check their website or contact them directly for the current schedule.
• Admission
• Parking Information: Parking is available at the museum.
• Reservation Policies: Reservations are recommended for groups

Tucked away in a historic East Memphis cemetery, the Crystal Shrine Grotto is a handmade project eight years in the making – all lovingly created by one man, Dionicio Rodriguez, in the 1930s. This 59-foot man-made cave is carved into the side of a hill and features five tons of crystal covering the walls and ceiling as well as 10 scenes depicting the life of Christ from birth to the Ascension. While you wander through to the Grotto, make sure to stop by the Broken Tree Bench and 15-foot-tall Abraham’s Oak, also created by Rodriguez. It remains one of the most interesting Tennessee places to see.

• Operating Hours: Open from sunrise to sunset
• Admission: Free, but donations are often appreciated
• Parking Information: Parking is available within Memorial Park Cemetery

The only freshwater pearl culturing farm in the United States, the Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm is located at the Birdsong Resort in Camden. The freshwater pearl is Tennessee’s official state gem and is rarely found in the indigenous washboard mussel, but the founder of the farm and museum adapted a Japanese technique of farming freshwater pearls within Tennessee’s native waters and species of mussels. The museum is situated on Birdsong Creek, just off the Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake, making it one of the most fun places to go in Tennessee to explore by land or water.

• Operating Hours: 9am - 4pm every day
• Admission: Call Bob at 731-584-7880 for pricing
• Parking Information: Parking is available at Birdsong Resort
• Reservation Policies: Reservations are recommended for tours

The Mindfield is perfect proof that Brownsville artist Billy Tripp is a bit different from the rest. The life’s work of Billy, "The Mindfield" is a collection of steel soaring up to 13 stories high, each piece representing various events and periods of Billy’s life from 1989 – and it continues to evolve to this day. Among the salvaged pieces, Billy has added cryptic messages in metal letters and artworks within the artwork suspended by chains or mounted on weather vanes. The Mindfield remains one of Tennessee's most quirky and whimsical places to visit and one of the more unexpected places to see in Tennessee.

• Admission: Free
• Parking Information: Parking may be limited. Please be considerate of the surrounding area if parking on the street.

This 30,000-square-foot museum is dedicated to preserving hunting traditions, field trial and, of course, bird dogs. Within the National Bird Dog Museum, visitors can learn more about the art of bird dog hunting through the repository of art, photography, and memorabilia about field trials, shooting sports and more than 40 breeds of bird dogs. From Red Setter to Golden Retrievers, you’ll certainly learn about the fascinating history of the hunting partnership between man and dog. 

• Operating Hours: Tuesday through Friday: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday: 1-4 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
• Admission: Free, but donations are encouraged.
• Parking Information: Free parking is available at the museum