These 7 Boat Adventures Will Show You A Side Of Tennessee You Didn’t Even Know Existed
By Meghan Kraft|Published July 27, 2018
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
Tennessee’s many waterways make for the perfect chances to get out and enjoy the beauty that Tennessee has to offer, all while (hopefully) giving you the opportunity to stay cool. But what’s a boring day at the lake when you can be taking boat ADVENTURES? That’s right, there are a few places you can go in Tennessee where the water turns in to more than just a relaxation spot – it’s entertaining, exhilarating, and enchanting. Sounds like a stretch, right? Well, you’ll just have to check out these adventures for yourself.
Tennessee's best hidden boat tour is completely underground. The Lost Sea is actually the second largest underground lake in the world, and you can see it from a glass-bottomed boat.
Nashville's favorite showboat is the General Jackson. They have nearly daily shows on the boat as it departs from Opry Mills and tours downriver to downtown Nashville, giving you great views of the skyline at night.
This one is more of a raft than a boat, but it's still one of the most unique experiences in Tennessee, especially for the adrenaline junkies out there. The Ocoee was used as the Olympic whitewater course in the 1996 Olympics, and you can still raft down them today with any number of guided tours in the area.
Since 1955, the Memphis Riverboat has been giving guest tours of the Mighty Mississippi, offering shows, dinner, and beautiful views of downtown Memphis. In case you were wondering, that IS the real Elvis, and he does approve of this cruise.
The Pontoon Saloon boasts that it is the only honky-tonk on water in the city of Nashville. You can ride up and down the Cumberland, enjoy a drink or two, and dance to the best country music there is, all with excellent views of the Nashville skyline.
Reelfoot Lake is just outside of Chattanooga, and the Reelfoot Lake State Park offers daily pontoon tours of the lake and its incredibly unique history and ecology. For those outdoor and history enthusiasts, this is a must.
Middle Tenenssee's Old Hickory Lake is home to the Cumberland River Cruises, which offer tours of everything from famous houses on the lake's shore to a popular fall colors tour. It's just outside of Nashville, so this is the perfect weekend activity for any Nashvillians looking to get out of town.
It’s a scientific fact that everyone loves dessert. Support science by visiting this old-school Tennessee custard shop that’s sure to take you back in time.
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