5 Unique Outings Near Ocoee Tennessee

Apr 14, 2019

5 Unique Outings Near Ocoee Tennessee

Tennessee is known for its beautiful landscapes, historical events, country music, and tourist attractions. These include the Grand Ole Opry, Graceland, and Dollywood. The state is also a hot spot for anyone seeking one-of-a-kind thrilling outdoor adventures. Explore an underground lake, raft the Olympic Whitewater Course, visit a mountain bike resort or soar above Tennessee in a glider plane.

If you’re looking for something really exciting to do on your next vacation, these five unique outings near Ocoee Tennessee are guaranteed to thrill and create wonderful lifetime memories.

Full Day Ocoee River Rafting Trip

Enjoy rafting through some of the most exciting whitewater in the United States. The upper and middle sections of the Ocoee River is the perfect trip. Located in the National Forest, rafters will experience the thrill of a lifetime. You’ll ride through a continuous flow of class III and IV white water, large waves, major rapids, and exciting drops.

Quest Expeditions offers a full-day trip of Olympic size fun white water rafting that takes you through the same river that was used for the 1996 Olympic Whitewater Competition Course. This full-day river rafting adventure will take you and your group through big waves, bolder strewn rapids, deep holes, and the famous beast of rapids appropriately called Humongous. Quest Expeditions white water rafting trips are perfect for family adventures or group outings.

Mountain Bike Resort

Nestled in the Chattahoochee National Forest, Mountain Bike Resort offers several exciting adventures. The resort caters to guided mountain bike tours for outdoor enthusiasts and groups. The resort is in the middle of a 15-acre area designated the “Mountain Bike Capital.” Adventure seekers can spend one or several days in the area by renting one of the cabins or bringing their own camping gear.

Chilhowee Gliderport

Feel the freedom of gliding above the breathtaking scenic landscape of the Tennessee countryside. Soar above the Hiwassee River in one of Chilhowee Gliderport’s motorless sailplanes. Chilhowee Gliderport offers 20- and 30-minute aerial tours all year round for single or small, two-passenger groups.

Cherokee Indian Capital Red Clay State Park

Cherokee Indian Capital Red Clay State Park is a beautiful historic place along the Tennessee-Georgia border. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of this 263-acre expanse while hiking on miles of moderately graded trails. There are also annual festivals, several nearby attractions, cultural and historic sites, and numerous planned programs throughout the year. The park has a 500-seat amphitheater, a smaller theater space, a Visitor’s Center, and a pavilion. Spend a day learning about the historical significance of the area while in awe of its natural beauty.

Lost Sea

Lost Sea offers a most unique and exciting cavern tours. This adventure takes place in the country’s largest underground lake, a Registered National Landmark. Located in Sweetwater, Tennessee, Lost Sea offers daily excursions include a ¾-mile round trip tour down sloping pathways to an underground lake.

Once you reach the lake, a boat will take you on a tour through the caverns. Here you can learn the history of the caves and see rare anthodites and other geological formations. Each tour takes 85 minutes, and special overnight tours are also offered to groups.

Waterfalls in Polk County Tennessee

Oct 19, 2018

Explore Beautiful Waterfalls Near Quest Expeditions

There are several waterfalls near Quest Expeditions located in the Cherokee National Forest. Several with easy to moderate access and some more remote involving a longer hike. Just minutes from Highway 64 near Lake Ocoee is Benton Falls.This is a beautiful waterfall with a pool at the bottom. The hike to the falls is just a beautiful. The drive to this area was the nations first designated scenic byway in the National Forest, be sure to make a stop at the overlook on your drive back for a great sunset. From Quest Expeditions take Highway 64 east into the Cherokee National Forest. Turn left onto Forest Service Road 77  drive to the top of the mountain and follow the sign to the Chillowee Recreation Area.

Gee Creek Falls, on Tennessee State Park trail 191. An easy walk and a great hike for those camping at Gee Creek campground. The falls are 25 feet, during the spring the area is full of wildflowers and a nice pool is at the bottom of the falls. Located just off highway 411 near Delano, TN. There is a state park welcome center and campground that can give you all the information.

Turtletown Fall is a 40 foot drop followed by another 20 foot drop. There is a moderately difficult trail to the fall. Use Forest Service trail 185. On Highway 68 turn west at Farner post office, go over the railroad track and turn left on Duggan Rd, bear right on Farner Rd. Forest Service Road 1166 is the first road on the right. Follow the dirt road about 1.5 miles tothe trail. Parking is available.

Goforth Creek is not a true waterfall but a beautiful creek cascading into the Ocoee River. A nice hiking trail runs along the creek for a beautiful hike. This is a nice area for photos, nature and playing the the cool pools. Goforth is located along Highway 64 near the famous whitewater section of the middle Ocoee. Look for the sign Goforth Creek.

5 Top Things to Do in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Jun 12, 2015

Located along the Tennessee River and nestled among the mountains, Chattanooga is a top tourist destination in the southeastern corner of Tennessee. The state’s fourth largest city, Chattanooga offers plenty for visitors to do, see, and enjoy, from a world-class aquarium to wild outdoor adventures. To get a great vacation started, every visitor should put these top five can’t-miss attractions on their list.

The Tennessee Aquarium

The beautifully-designed Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga is the largest aquarium in Tennessee. Sitting right on the banks of the Tennessee River, it offers close-up looks and interactive experiences with a wide range of fascinating creatures, from playful river otters to serene jellyfish to the largest number of turtle species in the United States.

There are touch-pools where you can touch stingrays, a reef cavern with up close views of cool sharks, a rainforest exhibit that invites visitors to walk amongst hundreds of beautiful butterflies, and a recently opened Alligator Bayou exhibit.

Spending a day at the Aquarium gives visitors an opportunity to discover a wide variety of water-based ecosystems, from deep sea to southern wetlands to sub-Antarctic.

The Aquarium even has an IMAX 3D Theater with a six-story screen, so there is literally something for everyone. The clean, well-organized layout makes it one of the city’s most visited and acclaimed attractions.

Lookout Mountain

Historic and beautiful Lookout Mountain offers a number of activities for visitors that cover a variety of interests.

For thrill-seekers, there is zip lining where you can fly around the forest canopy. History buffs will enjoy exploring Civil War history at the Battles for Chattanooga Museum, where a 3D presentation brings to life the battles that took place here.

The Incline Railway is the steepest passenger railway in the world, taking visitors on a ride into the clouds on tracks with an incredible 72.6 percent grade. Once you’re up on the mountain, it’s a great place to relax and just take in the view.

Whitewater Rafting Near Chattanooga

Only an hour outside of Chattanooga is the famous Ocoee River, site of the 1996 Olympic whitewater events. Visitors to the area can take a ride on rapids that have been voted the best in the nation. Chattanooga Whitewater Rafting offers a great day of excitement and only minutes from downtown Chattanooga. This is the most popular whitewater rafting adventure in the United States.

With commercial rafting expeditions available for most ages (must be 12 years old) and experience levels, all equipment is provided, anyone from families to singles can give it a shot. The Ocoee is one of the greatest destinations in the state and not to be missed on any visit to Chattanooga.

Raccoon Mountain Caverns

Visitors can explore amazing sights beneath the earth’s surface just ten minutes from downtown. With more than 5.5 miles of mapped passageways, visitors can see incredible rock formations hidden throughout the cave system.

Tours range from easy one-hour guided walking tours to more advanced tours for those wanting a more adventurous cave-exploring experience. Outside the caves, there are beautiful views of the area, opportunities to pan for gems, a go-karting track, a gift shop, and more to round out a perfect day trip.

Tennessee Valley Railroad

Take a trip back in history while soaking up the beauty of the Chattanooga area on board one of the oldest operating railroads in the nation. At the Tennessee Valley Railroad you will board at a historic train station that feels like a step back in time, filled with models and artifacts from the railroad’s past.

There are a variety of tours available, including a dinner ride where you can enjoy an excellent meal while you watch the scenery pass by and learn about the history of the tracks that helped build America. This trip will please kids of all ages, even those who are just kids at heart.