Wahoo Ziplines

Wahoo Ziplines was Tennessee's first zipline course back in 2008, and honestly, they still do it better than most of the newer places. Six lines stretch over 2 miles through the forest canopy, with the highest platform at 250 feet — you'll hit speeds up to 40 mph while getting incredible views of the Smokies. What we love is the side-by-side setup that lets you race your friends instead of going one at a time like other places.

The whole experience takes about 2 hours, and here's the thing most people don't expect — there's a good bit of walking between lines on trails that can get muddy after rain. Our kids were fine with it, but I've seen some folks struggle, especially if they're not expecting the hike. They take kids as young as 5, which is rare around here, but the 275-pound weight limit has caught some people off guard.

You've got to book ahead online — we learned that the hard way when we showed up without reservations last summer. The guides are fantastic though, really patient with nervous first-timers and they'll even teach you tricks like going upside down once you get comfortable. Just wear closed-toe shoes and long pants because they're strict about that.

Fair warning on the cancellation policy — it's pretty harsh. You only get a full refund if you cancel 48 hours ahead, and after 6pm the day before, you're out of luck completely. We've had to call the morning of rainy days to see if they're still running tours, and sometimes it's a gamble.