Considering a trip to Kingsport, and you want to note down the things to do in Kingsport (TN) before you leave? Well, this should be your perfect guide.
This city is known as the Mountain Empire.
The name “Kingsport” is a rearrangement of “Lord’s Port,” initially referring to the area on the Holston River, popularly called the King’s Boat Yard, leading the route to the Tennessee Valley.
Kingsport, Tennessee, is a small town on the Holston River in Northeast Tennessee.
The city and the surrounding region have a rich history and typical picturesque perfection.
Guests in Kingsport can immerse themselves in nature or spend the day at one of the city’s exhibition halls or restaurants.
Check out some of the best things to do in Kingsport (TN).
Fun Things to Do in Kingsport (TN)
1. Go Shopping at Fort Henry Mall
Fort Henry Mall is initially known as Kingsport Town Center in Kingsport. The Mall is the only regional shopping center serving Kingsport.
Fort Henry Mall opened its doors to guests on March 10, 1976, as a two-story store located at Fort Henry Drive and Memorial Blvd. Hull Property Group owns Henry Fort Mall.
Visit Fort Henry Mall and experience your favorite shops and restaurants in Kingsport, Tennessee.
Friendly vendors offer items from shoes, clothing, accessories, and more at the mall. The mall also provides fashion tips, seasonal style ideas, gift guides, and more.
Fort Henry Mall has everything you need, and there is a place to sit back, relax and enjoy the delicious food served.
2. Test Your Skills at Cattails at MeadowView
This spectacular golf course boasts Bentgrass Greens, Bermuda fairways, and scenic holes.
Designed by Denis Griffiths, the course opened in 1998 and soon became a local favorite and one of the best public courses in the entire state of Tennessee.
Golfers can expect to tee off to stunning views of Bays Mountain and navigate the rolling terrain and greenside hills.
The course has bunkers, an average amount of sand bunkers, beautiful streams, and also six amazing lakes.
Tee times and golf lessons must be booked in advance of tee time. For sports lovers, visiting Cattails at MeadowView is one of the best things to do in Kingsport (TN).
3. Enjoy Baseball at Kingsport Mets Minor League Baseball
Minor League Baseball has become more popular in the United States. They offer an inexpensive sports experience that is suitable for children and adults.
Tourists will be able to experience America’s best game by joining the Kingsport Mets, the city’s minor league team.
The Mets belong to the Appalachian League and are the minor league affiliate of the New York Mets.
They produced some great pro players like Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden.
Games are played at the 2,500-seat Hunter Wright Stadium from June to August.
Tickets can be purchased at the stadium or through the team’s website.
Things to Do in Kingsport (TN) at Night
1. Spend a Night at the Netherland Inn
The inn has been a Kingsport landmark for over 200 years, and the property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The inn was once an important destination for travelers going west, toward Tennessee or beyond.
It was used as a shipyard and stagecoach stop and was home to Presidents Andrew Jackson and James K. Polk.
The inn has now been renovated and is now a museum. The area has a school and kitchen wing, a children’s museum, and a museum of pioneering transport.
2. Watch a Game at Hunter Wright Stadium
Established in 1995, Hunter Wright Stadium was named after the famous multi-year previous City Hall manager.
Hunter Wright Stadium holds 2,500 people. Hunter Wright is home to the Kingsport Mets, the New York Mets affiliate in the Appalachian League.
The stadium is operated by the Kingsport Convention and Visitors Bureau. The arena is just a few miles from the Tennessee-Virginia line.
The Recreation Center at Hunter Wright Stadium highlights fantastic seating and reserved seating, baseball fields, concourses, full-assist concessions, batting cages, a press box, and group storage and practice rooms.
Just two or three miles from the Tennessee-Virginia line, Gate City High School’s arena area allows the field to be rented out for its ball games, making Hunter Wright the home field for the Blue Devils baseball club.
3. Unwind at Scott Adams Memorial Skate Park
Scott Adams Memorial Skate Park has approximately 10,000 square feet of concrete for skateboarding and biking.
There are two bowls, a street course with a grinding rail and steps, and dirt moguls (those little hills behind you that dirt bike riders like to tackle).
The park is only for children, but there is a section for spectators.
Kids can ollie, fakie, nollie, and heelflip to their heart’s content, and you can take pictures.
You will be the best when you take your child to this park. Scott Adams Memorial Skate Park is open daily from 7 am to 8 pm.
Things to Do in Kingsport (TN) For Couples
1. Check Out the Exchange Place
The area’s history is revealed at Exchange Place.
In nearly 160 years of existence of the Exchange Place, this attraction has served as a manor, a stagecoach relay, and a post office.
Today, the 62-acre site is a “living history” farm where visitors can see the life of farmers and settlers from the 1850s.
Visitors can tour structures such as the primary residence, schoolhouse, blacksmith’s forge, granary, and barns.
The farm is also home to various breeds of chickens, cattle, sheep, and horses.
It is open from May to October and hosts several events and festivals throughout the year.
2. Go Swimming at Kingsport Aquatic Center
The Kingsport Aquatic Center is a state-of-the-art facility open year-round to tourists and locals alike.
It is home to an indoor area of 46,000 square feet, housing about three amazing multi-purpose swimming pools.
One of these pools is the only Olympic-sized indoor swimming pool in the region.
For those taking lessons or wanting to do something, there is a 50m swimming pool with eight lanes specially designed for recreational swimmers.
You can use the indoor water obstacle course if you want to swim or the outdoor pool with two slides and a water playground.
If that wasn’t enough, the center also offers a 900-foot lazy river for those who want to enjoy a relaxing swim in the sun.
3. Don’t Miss a Performance at Renaissance Arts Center and Theatre
The Renaissance Arts Center and Theater is managed by the city’s Cultural Arts Authority and is a community center for all arts and culture.
It hosts various events, including art and music performances, making it the perfect place for visitors or residents looking to experience entertainment.
There is a theater called the Renaissance Art Theater, which seats 350 people.
Other facilities include an art gallery with new exhibits every month, a gymnasium, and a stunning three-story sky-lit atrium with 50 seats on each level where guests can sit and relax.
The art center provides many places outside where you can relax with your loved ones, such as horseshoes, picnic tables, and also green spaces.
Things to Do in Kingsport (TN) For Kids
1. Take Them to Kingsport Carousel
The Kingsport Carousel started with the idea of local citizen Gale John who recruited other local civic leaders, volunteers, and donors to join his dream.
In 2015, his dream came true, and the Kingsport Carousel finally opened its doors to visitors.
With 32 animals, 24 sweeping animals, and two wagons, each hand carved and painted. The carousel is genuinely a work of art.
Located inside Pat’s Roundhouse, available to rent for birthday parties and other events.
The carousel operates from Wednesday to Sunday. Hours vary by season.
2. Don’t Miss the Fun at Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium
This is a spectacular nature preserve owned by the City of Kingsport and spanning 3,500 acres of land.
Bays Mountain Park also features a 44-acre lake and 38 miles of biking, hiking, and running trails.
Wildlife habitats allow visitors to observe bobcats, reptiles, birds, and much more up close.
For those who love adventure, take a spin on the park’s cable car, which includes 300 feet of cable cars, and then finish off the excitement with a tour of the state-of-the-art planetarium exhibit.
Bays Mountain Park is open daily; however, operating hours vary depending on the season. Start planning your visit to this beautiful attraction to enjoy what it offers.
3. Give Them a Time of Their Lives at Putt-Putt Fun Center
Founded in 1954 in Fayetteville, Putt-Putt Fun Center has become a worldwide protected and designated miniature golf event.
Putt-Putt has taken the lead with great outdoor flooring, aluminum sheets, and unique obstacles for reliable rolling.
The skill-based game at the center gave rise to the Professional Putters Association (PPA) that exists today, offering honors to some of the best putters worldwide.
The entertainment center offers a protected, clean and reasonable environment for diversion for families within their community.
The organization has developed and added various attractions for complete entertainment.
For example, classic games, go-karts, bumper boats, indoor bumper cars, batting cages, laser tag, modern arcades, and more.
This is a fun place to enjoy a family activity, and you can also host birthday parties and get-togethers with your loved ones at the Putt-Putt Fun Center.
Indoor Activities to Do in Kingsport (TN) For Adults
1. Watch a Performance at Lamplight Theatre
LampLight Theater is a non-profit agency that provides quality entertainment and promotes family and Christian values.
LampLight Theater seeks to transform itself into America’s debut Christian Performing Arts Center and develop artisans of all kinds to use their gifts.
The theater functions as a setting for dramatic creations, evening theater, performances, meetings, and other occasions.
The LampLight Theater functions as a theatrical expression aimed at enhancing the skills of trained artisans, training new entertainers, and developing their talents and abilities.
Expanded program advancements include a diversion for transport visit organizations and travel packages with nearby accommodations and restaurants.
Every year, new opportunities offer something fun and fascinating for all ages.
The vision of the LampLight Theater is central to God’s Bonus for Billy Wayne Ministries.
Lamplight Theater is committed to fulfilling God’s mandate through dramatic creations, theatrical evenings, performances, and gatherings.
The LampLight Theater is open every Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.
2. Visit the Gypsy Circus Cider Company
Tennessee’s first specialty cider uses a signature methodology with natural supplements, no concentrate, no adulterated flavors, and no sorbates.
Gypsy Circus Cider Company is Tennessee’s first artisanal cider in Kingsport, TN.
Wanderer Circus uses privately sourced apples and natural supplements to deliver a range of specialty juices.
Gypsy Circus is the most recognized cidery in the South.
Gypsy Circus is a small place with friendly staff, a great environment, and lots of places to sit and play inside or outside.
The food served at Gypsy Circus Cider Company is delicious.
You will enjoy the great music playing in the background.
3. Appreciate the Art Displays at Kingsport Art Guild
Are you an art lover? If so, add a visit to the Kingsport Art Guild to your list of things to do in Kingsport (TN).
Explore and encourage local talent in Kingsport art at the Kingsport Art Guild.
The Art Studio and Gallery provides opportunities for its members and the entire Kingsport art community to showcase their talents through several exhibitions, as well as hands-on classes and talk shows.
The art gallery invites visitors to visit the two rooms of the Art Guild, located in the Renaissance Center, to see paintings created using various media.
The Kingsport Art Guild is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 8 pm, and Saturday from 9 am to noon.
Romantic Things to Do in Kingsport (TN)
1. Shop Together at Kingsport Farmers Market
Kingsport Farmers Market got its humble beginnings in 1977 due to the need for alternative methods of delivering fresh produce to customers.
A small group of farmers gathered to attend various fairs for food. In the early 1990s, farmers officially established the Kingsport Farmers Market.
Even today, the Kingsport Farmers Market continues to offer fresh produce from Kingsport farms.
The market also has various activities that customers can participate in, such as baking and cooking classes.
The Kingsport Farmers Market also hosts a variety of events. It is usually a great place to find great food.
The Kingsport Farmers Market is held every Wednesday and Saturday from April through November and is well worth adding to your list of things to do in Kingsport.
2. Check Out Mountain Music Museum
The Mountain Music Museum is a history center dedicated to the historical background of music in East Tennessee, North Carolina, Southeastern Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia during the nineteenth century and progressed into what is now commonly known as bluegrass and country music.
The historic center is owned and managed by the non-profit Appalachian Cultural Music Association (ACMA).
The museum features exhibits such as historical musical instruments, bills, photographs, and other memorabilia.
Notable twentieth-century entertainers at the gallery include the Carter Family, Stoneman Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Flatt and Scruggs, Mac Wiseman, the Stanley Brothers, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Mel Street, Archie Campbell, and others.
Explore the Mountain Music Museum, where there are cool things to discover and other frequent live shows to promote contemporary music.
3. Visit GRIP Outdoors Kingsport
At GRIP Outdoors, visitors can enjoy a ride on the river on various boats of their choice.
GRIP provides rentals of kayaks for two, one, four, eight, or two-hour increments.
Customers can also enjoy a day trip down the river in an inner tube equipped with floating coolers for easy access to drinks.
The rental fee includes life jackets, transportation to drop-off and pick-up locations on the river.
Fishing equipment rentals are also available but must be booked in advance.
Free Things to Do in Kingsport (TN)
1. Take a Walk Along the Kingsport Greenbelt
The Greenbelt is an eight-mile scenic trail that passes through the town and surrounding forest.
The trail is totally asphalted and accessible to cyclists, runners, walkers, and skaters.
The trail is open year-round, and the views change with the seasons, so there’s always something exciting at the Greenbelt Trail.
Hikers along the trail will see a protected wetland area, wildflowers, and a native tree, as well as two historic sites, a natural spring, a skate park, several picnic spots, and lots more.
The Greenbelt trail is accessible through several other locations in Kingsport.
2. Go on a Tour of the Allandale Mansion
If you’re interested in history or architecture, add a visit to the Allandale Mansion to your list of things to do in Kingsport (TN).
Built in 1953, Allandale Mansion is a crucial East Tennessee landmark and beloved Kingsport treasure.
Although the castle is an ideal place for holding events, visitors who just want to wander around the grounds are allowed to do so.
There is a lot to explore at Allendale Mansion. The Allendale Mansion features a stylish interior and is often called the “White House of Kingsport.
In addition to the mansion, the 25-acre grounds are home to the stunning Heron Dome, the amphitheater, Harvey’s Barn, and the beautiful Brook’s Pavilion.
3. Take a Walk Along the Warriors’ Path State Park
This is a 950-acre nature preserve located next to the Patrick Henry Reservoir, and it’s worth adding to your list of places to visit in Kingsport (TN).
The park consists of 12 miles of hiking trails that take visitors through the beautiful Tennessee wilderness and is named after The Cherokee War and Trading Path.
It also has an 8.5-mile mountain bike trail, a 134-site campground, an 18-hole golf course, a picnic area, and pavilions.
Fort Patrick Henry Lake is located in the park and is an excellent place for fishing, swimming, and boating.
The park’s playground has trails and equipment accessible to blind or handicapped children.
Cheap Things to Do in Kingsport (TN)
1. Don’t Miss a Thing at Riverfront Park
This 19-acre community park along the Holston River has many recreational features.
The park consists of bike paths, boat access, benches, hiking trails, water fountains, well-maintained restrooms, and picnic tables.
Enjoy planning a fun picnic with your loved ones in a friendly environment, as there are grills, picnic shelters, picnic tables, and benches at Riverfront Park.
Explore the park as you can access the Kingsport Greenbelt, bike racks, flatboat replicas, fishing piers, historical markers, and more.
Take your kids with you as there are multi-station playgrounds for all ages to play and have fun. You can sit under a shady park bench near the garden and watch your children play around.
Riverfront Park is also pet-friendly.
You will discover the swing bridge connecting Long Island and the water fountains in Riverfront Park.
2. Learn About Local History at Kingsport Public Library
Looking for a great place to get historical information about the city of Kingsport? Visit the Kingsport Public Library and discover incredible and exciting things about the city.
The Kingsport Public Library is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 7 am and on weekends from 8 am to 6 pm.
The City of Kingsport Archives works to consult and study the documentary heritage of the City of Kingsport, TN.
The City of Kingsport Archives is on the lower level of the Kingsport Public Library in downtown Kingsport.
Archives contain household papers and photographs of people, associations, industry, commerce, and stationary city records relating to the historical background of the City of Kingsport for preservation and research purposes.
The Kingsport Public Library hosts events for children and teens, such as story times, paws to read, teen book league, and more.
The library also organizes other events and meetings for adults.
3. Visit the Castle Playground
Located on the grounds of Andrew Johnson Primary School, The Castle playground is a wonder to behold.
The large wooden playground structure resembles a castle and has plenty of slides and climbing frames for an afternoon of fun.
Visit the castle on weekends and after the school day.
Cool Places to Visit in Kingsport (TN)
1. The Inventor Center
At the Inventor Center, you can try arts and crafts, including wood and metalworking, visual arts, animation, and coding.
The Inventor Center is aimed at building an artistic community of artisans and thinkers who can contribute to the betterment of their community and the entire region.
Residents or regular visitors to the area can also choose a monthly membership that offers different degrees of access to the Inventor Center (Maker, Artisan, or Innovator) according to their requirements.
Inventor Center members have access to the facility 24 hours a day.
Non-members can use the facility on weekdays from 3 to 8 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm.
The Inventor Center is one of the city’s top educational attractions worth adding to your list of things to do in Kingsport.
2. Gazebo Party & Gift Shop
This Shop offers cake decorating, candy making, and custom candy workshops for children and adults.
Participants can also make mint patties, candies, and peanut butter cookies.
Now and during the holidays, you can also make gingerbread and Christmas cookies. Gazebo owner Jo-Rita Clayton tells us that all the classes offered at the Gazebo Party & Gift Shop are hands-on, and participants take home what they make.
Now that’s great fun! The Gazebo Party & Gift Shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm.
3. Escape Room Kingsport
The Escape Room in Kingsport is an adventure gaming arena perfect for visiting with a large group of friends.
The place has different themed rooms where you are locked, and you have to find clues, solve puzzles, work as a team and escape your locked rooms before your time runs out.
The Escape Room is filled with fun and interactive games, allowing you to connect best with people. It also has a variety of games to choose from; the Sherlocked game room is a favorite among many.
You must reserve the empty seats in advance and arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time.
Conclusion
Kingsport promises to be the unique and incredible destination you’ve been looking for to experience a fun and engaging vacation with your friends and family.
So why not start planning your next trip to the beautiful city with our guide on things to do in Kingsport (TN)?
