Center Hill Lake is a genuinely great destination for families — not in the "we found something to do" way, but in the "we can't fit everything into one trip" way. On the water, on the trails, at the park, or in downtown Smithville, there is no shortage of things to do with kids of every age. Here's the complete guide to family activities within easy reach of The Little Lake House at Center Hill Lake.
"The best family vacations don't happen at theme parks. They happen on a pontoon boat with nowhere to be and a lake full of coves to explore."
On the Water — The Main Event
All AgesFor most families, the lake is the whole trip — and Center Hill Lake delivers everything you need for a perfect day on the water with kids. The marinas surrounding the lake offer pontoon rentals sized for groups, double-decker party boats with slides, kayaks, paddleboards, and waverunners. The lake's clear, warm water (mid-70s°F in summer) and calm coves make it ideal for children of all ages — from toddlers splashing in the shallows to teenagers launching off a tube behind a ski boat.
Pontoon Rental
The definitive Center Hill Lake family experience. Load up the cooler, motor to a quiet cove on the Edgar Evins shoreline, drop anchor, and spend the afternoon swimming off the back of the boat. Available at Hurricane, Hidden Harbor, Pates Ford, and Edgar Evins marinas.
Double-Decker with Slide
Hidden Harbor Marina rents double-decker pontoon boats with water slides — the unanimous favorite with kids who want more than just floating. Book well in advance for summer weekends.
Kayak & Paddleboard
Available at Hurricane Marina, Horseshoe Bend, and Edgar Evins Marina. The calm Caney Fork arm near Puckett's Point — just 400 yards from The Little Lake House — is ideal for family paddling away from boat traffic.
Junior Fishing
Center Hill Lake holds bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, and more. The accessible piers at Floating Mill Park are perfect for kids learning to fish — easy bank access, no boat required, and plenty of bluegill willing to cooperate.
Floating Mill Beach
A designated swimming beach with two swim areas, playground, picnic shelters, and a boat ramp — all on the shores of Center Hill Lake. Perfect for families who want a beach day without renting a boat. Free day use with a $5 vehicle fee.
Rock Island Swim Beach
The natural sand beach at Rock Island State Park on the shores of Center Hill Lake offers supervised swimming in clear, calm water with the dramatic Highland Rim ridgelines as a backdrop. Lifeguards on duty in season.
State Parks Built for Family Days
All AgesEvery Tennessee state park is free to enter — and the parks surrounding Center Hill Lake are among the best in the state for families. Each one offers a different experience, and together they fill a week of activity without repeating yourself.
Edgar Evins State Park
6,000 acres of forested lakeshore 10 minutes from The Little Lake House. Hiking trails, a marina with rentals, picnic areas, a campground, and an observation tower with panoramic views of Center Hill Lake. Kids love spotting bald eagles, osprey, and great blue herons from the shoreline trails. Free entry.
Rock Island State Park
25 minutes away — waterfalls you can see from the parking lot, a natural sand beach on Center Hill Lake, swimming holes, hiking trails, a playground, and picnic areas. Great Falls (viewable from the parking area) earns an instant "wow" from kids of every age. Free entry.
Floating Mill Park
USACE day-use area on Center Hill Lake with two swimming beaches, playground, fishing piers, picnic shelters (reservable for up to 125 guests), boat ramp, and hiking trails. One of the most family-friendly spots on the lake — calm water, good facilities, and room to spread out. $5 vehicle fee.
Lost Creek Falls — State Natural Area
35 minutes away — a 40-foot waterfall that disappears into a limestone sinkhole, reachable by a 0.2-mile walk from the parking area with stairs. Kids go wild for the cave behind the falls. A Disney filming location. Free and completely uncrowded most days.
Waterfall Experiences Kids Actually Love
Ages 4+Kids and waterfalls are a natural combination — the noise, the mist, the sense of scale. All five of the easy-access waterfalls near The Little Lake House are kid-friendly, and three of them require no hiking whatsoever.
Smithville Fiddlers' Jamboree — July 3–4, 2026
All Ages · FreeIf your family visits during July 4th weekend, the 55th Annual Smithville Fiddlers' Jamboree is a must. Tennessee's official state festival fills the entire Courthouse Square in downtown Smithville with live Appalachian music, flatfoot dancing, clogging competitions, hand-juried crafts, and food vendors — all completely free. For kids, it's one of the most genuinely exciting live events they'll experience — fast fiddle music, colorful dancers, the energy of a crowd all doing something together.
Over 35 competition categories run across both days — fiddle, banjo, dulcimer, mandolin, old-time singing, buck dancing, clogging, and more. Kids are welcome to enter many competition categories, and watching the clogging and flat-foot dancing competitions is reliably the most enthusiastic moment of the weekend for young visitors. Gates open at 8:30am both days. No alcohol permitted. Parking is free throughout Smithville but fills up quickly — arrive before 9am.
When It Rains — Indoor & Covered Options
All AgesTennessee summer afternoons can bring sudden storms. Here's what to do when the lake isn't cooperating.
Cumberland Caverns
~45 minutes away near McMinnville. One of the largest cave systems in eastern America — underground rooms big enough to hold concerts, with waterfalls, gleaming pools, and a ¾-ton underground chandelier. Guided tours run year-round. Kids are reliably stunned. A perfect full-day rainy day escape.
Appalachian Center for Craft
~10 minutes from The Little Lake House. The gallery and retail store are free to browse and make for a surprisingly engaging rainy hour. Summer workshops run throughout the season for adults — the gallery's handmade glass, pottery, and fiber art gives kids something genuinely different to look at.
Downtown Smithville Shops
Cheryl's Beau Bees, the local boutiques, and the arts scene along downtown Smithville make for a relaxed rainy morning. Ice cream after a waterfall or a long swim is a Smithville tradition worth adopting.
Bumpers Drive-In
Tennessee's only Bumpers location — a classic covered drive-in for burgers, catfish, chili cheese fries, and fried pickles. The covered bays mean rain is not a problem. Kids love the format; parents love the price.
Wildlife Watching & Nature Discovery
All AgesCenter Hill Lake and its surrounding Highland Rim forests are extraordinary wildlife habitat — and for families with curious kids, the area is a constant source of discovery. Bald eagles are a regular sight on the Caney Fork arm of the lake, especially in the early morning. Osprey dive-bomb the shallows with stunning precision. Great blue herons stand motionless in the coves waiting for fish. Whitetail deer move through the treeline at dusk.
The forests around The Little Lake House are home to Eastern box turtles, wild turkey, and countless songbirds — including the rare Cerulean Warbler, one of Edgar Evins State Park's most celebrated residents. In summer evenings, fireflies light up the treeline in one of those genuinely magical displays that children remember for years. No screen, no app, no theme park produces the same effect.
Center Hill Lake is one of those places where families stop looking at their phones. The lake does that — it offers enough of the right kind of stimulation (water, wildlife, waterfalls, music, food, open air) that everyone from a toddler to a grandparent finds something that holds their attention. The Little Lake House at Center Hill Lake is your mountain-modern base camp for all of it. Come build the memory.
The best family trips start with the right place to stay.
Book The Little Lake House at Center Hill Lake and make this the summer they talk about forever.
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