Sharing Nature with Children: Hands-On Smoky Mountain Discovery
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Designed for curious kids and families, Exploring Nature with Children turns the forest into a living classroom. This hands-on guided nature walk helps children slow down, look closely, ask questions, and connect with the natural world in a meaningful way through nature games, stories and fun activities. Depending on the season and trail conditions, children may explore streams, plants, salamanders, animal signs, textures, forest sounds, leaves, insects, and small wonders along the trail. The goal is not to rush or cover big miles, but to help kids build confidence, curiosity, and a deeper connection to the outdoors. Caution: Side effects may include dirty knees, happy faces, deep curiosity, and stories they’ll still be telling at dinner. Best for: Families with children, homeschool groups, young explorers, first-time hikers, and kids who enjoy hands-on discovery.
Inclusions
What's included
- Professional guide
- Snacks
- All Fees and Taxes
What's not
- Gratuity for your guide.
- Transportation
- Drinks are not provided. Bring plenty of water.
- Rain Gear - We have emergency ponchos on hand if needed.
- Parking Tag not included
Itinerary
Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. The sprawling landscape encompasses lush forests and an abundance of wildflowers that bloom year-round.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 540
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 40 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5Educational as well as Fun!
Kellie was a fabulous. She was very knowledgeable about the Smoky Mountains having grown up there. She took the time with the children to answer any of their questions as well as listening to their stories. As a grandmother I learn a whole lot, from names of the different types of plants and trees to what they were used for. We found spiders, crawfish and different types of rocks. We learned about how and where bears lives and how to get away from them. It was a fun outing.
5A Must-Do Family Adventure in the Smoky Mountains!
Ms. Debbie was absolutely fantastic! We did her kids-guided Smoky Mountains tour with our 7- and 10-year-olds, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. She made learning about the Smokies fun and engaging by letting the kids play in the creek, teaching us how to safely find salamanders, and sharing fascinating information about the history of the land, conservation efforts, and the local plants and wildlife. She also gave us practical bear safety tips that made us feel prepared. The most memorable moment was when we actually encountered a bear on the trail. Ms. Debbie remained calm, confident, and reassuring, helping all of us stay calm and safely enjoy the experience. If you’re visiting the Smoky Mountains with children, I can’t recommend Ms. Debbie enough. She has an incredible way of making nature come alive while creating a safe, educational, and unforgettable adventure for the whole family.
5Fun morning in the woods for families.
We had a wonderful family hike. We did the bear hike. It was perfect for my 6 y.o. She enjoyed the story, crafts, and all the fun facts we learned about bears on our hike. Luci was an absolutely fabulous tour guide. Perfect for families with younger children.
5Great hike with kids
We are so glad we booked this guided hike. Debbie is a fabulous guide and she kept our 7 and 4 year old interested in everything around them. Highly recommend!
5My son wanted to go on a hike. So we found this activity. Our tour guide was very informative and my son loved her.
Very informative and fun. Will do again.
5Private Tour of the Smokies
Ms Debbie was awesome and very patient with us. My two grandsons are a handful, and she was great with them. She did a great job of differentiating information about the area between the adults and kids. Would highly recommend the experience!
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Meet your guide under the flagpole in front of the Visitors Center. From here you will follow your guide, in your own vehicle, to the trailhead.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 11 travellers
- Operated by
- A Walk in the Woods
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note that, while we do our best to follow the itinerary listed, we may need to pivot due to road closures or events outside of our control. We require a minimum of 2 people to operate this tour. We operate rain or shine.
- Parking Tag not included.
How it compares in Gatlinburg
- Its from-price is close to the median of the 39 experiences we list in Gatlinburg.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 14 of 39.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg is a Tennessee mountain town at the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with craft studios, scenic drives and Appalachian woods.
Gatlinburg sits in a narrow valley of eastern Tennessee at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the United States. Its main street is lined with shops, candy makers, pancake houses and attractions, and an aerial tram climbs to a ski area on the mountain above.
Top-ranked sights in Gatlinburg: Gatlinburg Space Needle.
Special offers in Gatlinburg
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
