Eat & Drink
Plan the Perfect Family Vacation
McMinn County is an ideal vacation destination if your kids have seemingly endless energy. There are plenty of activities to fill a weekend – or longer – along with kid-friendly restaurants with their favorite items on the menu. McMinn is also an affordable vacation option. Large families can easily find the accommodation they need without going over their recreation budget.
Here’s a suggested itinerary if you want to cater to kids while still finding fun options for the whole family.
If your kids love trains, a visit to McMinn County is a must. Start your vacation with a visit to the L&N Depot in Etowah or the Niota Railroad Depot —the oldest depot in Tennessee. See what it was like traveling by train, and learn about the impact railroad stops like these had on local communities. Kids will love exploring the depots, while parents can appreciate the look back in time.
Once your family is done with the trains, head to the Swift Museum, which is open Monday through Friday. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to confirm a tour guide will be available. Kids will love viewing the small planes and learning about their technology.
After all this travel, it’s time for lunch. Pack a picnic and let your kids play at McMinn County Bicentennial Park, or stop at one of several family-friendly restaurants around the county.
Afternoons are for ice cream, and McMinn County has one of the sweetest activities in the country. The Mayfield Dairy Farms Visitor Center is the perfect place for sampling ice cream flavors and learning about farm life. Don’t forget to say hi to Maggie the Cow before you leave!
End the day with a family-favorite movie at the Swingin' Midway Drive-In or the Athens Movie Palace. After such a busy day, your kids might fall asleep before the credits roll.
Day two in McMinn County promises more fun for families! If you’re ready to explore farm life, head to Mayfield Farm Park or the Guthrie Pumpkin Farm and Corn Maze. Both of these farms have seasonal schedules, so check ahead of time to make sure they are open.
If it’s not farm season, head to the Hiwassee River to connect with the outdoors. There are plenty of fishing spots, kayak launches, piers, and hiking trails along the river. Your kids can discover cool bugs and unique plants that they have never seen before.
Take a poll and let your kids pick how they want to spend their afternoon. They can choose between Midway Mini Golf, bowling at Classic Lanes, or the Niota Skateland.
McMinn County is packed with unique animals. Kids can visit farms to learn about cows and even pet goats and chickens. They can discover their new favorite bugs and listen to birds while hiking. On day three, stop by Creature Features and discover even more animal friends! Make an appointment beforehand to meet the animals and hear their stories. If your kids have never seen a kangaroo or capybara before, now is the perfect time.
Before you leave, stop by one of the nearby farmers markets for lunch, and to pick up healthy snacks for the drive home. Your kids probably worked up an appetite after everything they did in McMinn County!
