Are you looking for field trip ideas in Sevier County that will be educational for students of all ages? Look no further! We have compiled a list of the best places to go in the Pigeon Forge area to have fun and learn new things.
1. Titanic Museum
Doesn’t every child go through a phase of being obsessed with learning everything about the Titanic? If this phase feels too familiar, try taking the kids to the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge. This spring, they are focusing on honoring the lives of the children who were aboard the Titanic. See children’s clothes from the 1910s, photos of families, and learn about what an ocean voyage would look like for children at the time. This museum is packed with interactive experiences and artifacts from the real ship. For any class learning about the sinking of this historic ship, a trip to this museum is a must!
2. WonderWorks Museum
For any classes learning about weather, space, gravity, and other forces in our universe, WonderWorks would make for a great field trip. Visitors get to feel hurricane winds, get shaken by a 6.0 earthquake, learn about space exploration, and more. WonderWorks holds over 100 hands-on exhibits, so this will definitely kick in the kinesthetic learning style. Science is always better when you can get involved with it, right?
3. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
When learning about plants and animals, it would make sense to visit one of the most biodiverse places in the country! With over 1,5oo species of plants, 67 species of fish, 68 species of mammals, Cades Cove historic loop, and more, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers endless learning opportunities. They offer Ranger-led field trips that align with Tennessee’s educational standards, or teachers can guide their class on their own (make sure to get the proper permits!). Whether your students are learning about aquatic life, various biomes, biodiversity, geology, or local history, something relating to all of these topics can be found within the park.
4. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Another great place to learn about aquatic life and various biomes is Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. Take students on a field trip for the day, or sign them up to sleep with the sharks! This is a great place for students to encounter new kinds of wildlife that they would not otherwise see. Visitors can also enjoy the touch tanks and pet a stingray! This is a field trip they would never forget (trust me, I still remember my field trip from kindergarten). Ripley’s Aquarium provides fun for all ages!
5. Parrot Mountain
If you want your students to see beautiful tropical birds in a whole new way, take them to Parrot Mountain. Students can see over 146 species of birds, and they can even feed some straight from their hands! Students can also pet baby birds and see them in an incubator. Parrot Mountain also hosts live educational bird shows for students. This place isn’t just about birds though; they also have hundreds of exotic trees and flowering plants that are labeled for educational purposes. Take a trip to Parrot Mountain to show your pupils the residents that live among the forest canopies.
6. Beyond the Lens
Home to the Smokies’ #1 spot for “techno-tainment,” Beyond the Lens has plenty of hands-on activities for kids to enjoy. From virtual reality games to exhibits about the most popular conspiracy theories, this could be a good field trip for learning about the importance of digital technology in our world and how powerful of a tool it can be, for better or for worse. They also have an exhibit for culture and trends through the decades, so students can see how quickly technology has progressed in the past 100 years or so. If you want to take a field trip where your students will be looking more toward the future than the past, this is the place to go!
7. Alcatraz East Crime Museum
For students learning about the criminal justice system and forensic science, Alcatraz East in Pigeon Forge is a must-see. This museum is full of artifacts and possessions from famous serial killers. See Charles Manson’s guitar, one of John Wayne Gacy’s clown suits, and other items throughout the museum. Learn about DNA testing, fingerprinting, and all the parts of a criminal investigation. This museum is perfect for students who are curious about law enforcement and want to learn more about how the TV shows they watch compare to real life.
8. Xperia: Ocean Journey
