A favorite among locals and visitors, the Lost Sea Adventure tour takes you deep underground to America’s largest underground lake. Learn about the history of the cave, and take an enjoyable boat ride on the lake while feeding the large fish. Remember to bring a light jacket and comfortable walking shoes, as it can get chilly underground. Discover animals you never knew existed, such as the Zonkey “half donkey, half zebra,” at Purdy’s Petting Zoo. A short drive from downtown, this zoo offers visitors the opportunity to feed and pet the animals, hold small animals and pony rides for younger children.
Science and history channel buffs will enjoy all of the interactive displays at the multi-floored, American Museum of Science and Energy. Welcoming visitors since 1975, you will learn about the “Secret City” of Oak Ridge, the Manhattan Project of WWII and have a “hair-raising” experience with the Van de Graaf generator at the AMSE. Stop by for some ice cream and learn about the process of producing milk at Mayfield Dairy Farms. Your tour will consist of a 10-minute video highlighting the history of the farm and finish with a short walk through the factory floor where they bottle and package the milk. Located in neighboring Vonore, situated on the birthplace of the founder of the Cherokee language, is the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum. Learn about East Tennessee and Native American history, including the story of the Cherokee and Sequoyah. Enjoy the beautiful lake and Smoky Mountains in the background. If you enjoyed the Mayfield Dairy Farms tour or are curious about the cheese-making process, visit the Sweetwater Valley Farm. With a tasting room of all the farms’ cheeses and a walking tour that offers a bird’s eye view of the machinery where the workers make the cheese, this 1,000-cow farm will provide you with a new appreciation of the unassuming cow. Sweetwater is a cozy city with antique stores lining its streets and an abundance of recreational activities only a short drive away.
Make one of the Sweetwater, TN hotels below your home base as you explore this East Tennessee city.