This publish might include affiliate hyperlinks. We might obtain a small fee, for free of charge to you, in the event you make a purchase order. Learn Disclosure.
Let me let you know, Knoxville will shock and delight you. It’s a mountain city not removed from the Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park and is stuffed with unimaginable sights (and some hidden gems).
It’s an artsy place with a laid again vibe. On any go to to Knoxville, you’ll be blessed with outside journey, good meals, civil struggle historical past, and heat Southern hospitality.
We had a enjoyable stuffed three days exploring all of the enjoyable issues to do in Knoxville and felt we received to know town rather well.
On this information, we share the most effective sights and actions that we personally preferred on our journey, plus embrace some solutions for the place to eat and drink and locations to remain.
1. Discover the Historic Market Sq.
You can’t go to Knoxville with out making a cease by the Historic Market Sq.. It’s primarily the guts, or the hub, of downtown and has an ideal vibe. It’s surrounded by cozy cafes, fashionable eating places, and reside music on choose nights.
There’s the odd busker within the sq. too – little Savannah was fortunate sufficient to get a lesson on the violin. What can we are saying in regards to the locals? They’re pleasant of us round right here. She loves her music so she loved this second.
Market Sq. is a cool vacation spot at any time of day, however actually comes alive within the night.
We witnessed some reside music one evening, which supplied for a household pleasant ambiance and was enjoyable. Individuals had been kicked again of their camp chairs having fun with the tunes, and the close by outside diners might take part too!
The place to eat in Market Sq., Knoxville?
There’s no scarcity of eating choices round Market Sq., from informal to a bit fancier.
Our high two picks must be The Tomato Head and The Inventory & Barrel.
Each morning, we’d hit up the Juice Bar for a wholesome smoothie or acai bowl. Yeah, it’s a series with areas across the nation, however they’ve a superb collection of smoothies and juices and their department in Knoxville’s Market Sq. has a welcoming vibe.
And in the event you can’t discover one thing to fulfill your wants in Market Sq., there’s loads of different choices positioned across the nook and on close by Homosexual St (principal road Knoxville).
2. Eat and store at Nourish Knoxville (Market Sq. Farmers’ Market)
Nearly everybody we talked to earlier than visiting Knoxville advised we needed to go to the Nourish Knoxville Farmers Market, which got here with excessive expectations.
When you’ve been following our travels through the years, you’d know that we’ve been to our justifiable share of Farmer’s Markets and I’ve no hesitation in saying that the Knoxville Farmers Market is without doubt one of the finest we’ve been to!
We love open-air markets with an emphasis on native produce and neighborhood, and at this market, all the things is grown or made by the seller within the East Tennessee area.
We at all times do our greatest to buy native when touring and if we lived in Knoxville we’d positively be right here each Wednesday between Might and November!
There was such an ideal vary of merchandise on supply from scrumptious native meals and low, to artisan crafts and far more.
With a vibrant neighborhood ambiance, it’s a pleasant approach to kick off your weekend and a wonderful child pleasant attraction!
3. Go boutique bowling at Maple Corridor Bowling
Being from Australia, we’re not used to bowling alleys being all fancy and enjoyable and so in style.
Again residence bowling is a factor you’d do possibly every year, at most, on a wet day if you’ve run out of different concepts. In reality, I can’t bear in mind the final time I went bowling.
So after we heard about Maple Corridor, it gave the impression of enjoyable and the children had been particularly excited.
On the few occasions we’ve been bowling they beloved it and we had been all intrigued with the situation.
Maple Corridor is positioned within the coronary heart of Knoxville within the historic J.C. Penney Constructing and is that this tremendous cool boutique bowling alley. It’s underground with a full-service bar, cozy lounge areas, and even has a VIP room.
It’s greater than only a bowling alley, it’s an expertise, and we had a good time as a household.
Kalyra was in tremendous bowling type, flattening pins like she’s an everyday, as was Mummy. And little Savannah had enjoyable progressing from utilizing the kiddy help steering factor (I don’t know what they’re known as) to bowl all by herself.
Maple Corridor is in style and lanes get stuffed on a primary come first serve foundation, so in the event you come right here in peak hour count on a little bit of a wait – you’ll be able to at all times grasp on the bar – or they’ll textual content or name you as quickly as one opens up!
Households word that that is an all ages facility till 9:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, then they turn into 21+.
4. Watch free reside music at Knoxville Guests Heart
Each time we go to a brand new vacation spot, we make an effort to drop into the guests middle to talk with the locals within the know and to select up any free maps or helpful info.
The parents working right here at all times supply nice insider suggestions into their hometowns and are obsessed with sharing their recommendation.
The Knoxville Customer Heart is not any completely different and nicely value a go to. It’s additionally completely different from different guests facilities in that they provide one thing particular – the Knoxville Customer’s Heart has reside music taking part in at noon from Monday to Saturday.
It’s known as the Blue Plate Particular. They had been doing a reside radio cross that includes an acoustic duo from Asheville who had been entertaining the group – so cool!
Oh, and on the outside wall to the middle is a cool mural about Knoxville and naturally taking a pic is obligatory.
Positively one thing you wish to do if you go to Knoxville.
5. Watch a Vols Recreation at Neyland Stadium
As you could have guessed, I’m an enormous faculty sports activities fan, and each native we spoke to in Knoxville raved in regards to the College of Tennessee’s Soccer video games which might be performed at famed Neyland Stadium.
They definitely LOVE their faculty soccer round Knoxville, which is one more reason why that is my form of city!
“It’s a must to come again within the fall to a Vols recreation,” they mentioned. “The entire city shuts down and the tailgating and ambiance is off the charts”.
I’ve now penciled in a Vols recreation and would like to see an enormous rivalry recreation towards both Florida or Georgia – off to test the schedule now!
For many who care, Peyton Manning performed faculty right here. As did Reggie White, two greats of the #NFL.
And in case you don’t know, Neyland Stadium is the fifth largest stadium within the US with a capability of 102,000 – and me being me, I simply needed to discover a method inside.
I’m not going to provide away an excessive amount of data on how we managed to make it inside, and we didn’t do something unlawful, however the place there’s a will there’s a method, and we had been in a position to sneak in for a fast pic due to somebody within the know!
If you wish to do an organized tour of Neyland Stadium, take a look at extra data right here.
6. Witness the most effective Knoxville views at The Sunsphere
You possibly can’t miss the Sunsphere in Knoxville. It’s the large orange sphere protruding above the skyline.
The Sunsphere was constructed for the 1982 World’s Honest and served because the image to the Honest. It’s well-known for its distinctive hexagonal design and glass panes, every coated in pure gold, making your complete constructing appear to be some form of classic microphone.
After the Honest completed, the Sunsphere closed to the general public and remained vacant for many of its life.
Till the Commentary Deck on the 4th degree re-opened in 2014. You possibly can pay a small payment of $10 to experience the elevator as much as the commentary deck, which has a 360-degree view of World’s Honest Park, downtown, the Tennessee River, the College of Tennessee, and the Smoky Mountains.
The World’s Honest Park can also be a stunning place to picnic, stroll, and contains different sights just like the Knoxville Museum of Artwork.
7. Mountaineering on the Ijams Nature Heart
Getting open air in nature is what we love most, and positioned a mere three miles from downtown Knoxville is the Ijams Nature Heart!
Ijams options 10-miles of trails, rock formations, lakes and gorgeous overlooks and is a much-loved sanctuary away from town by the locals and guests.
We did a stunning brief stroll alongside the Tennessee River and subsequent time we’re again on the town for an extended keep we’ll be up for exploring extra hikes plus bike rides and paddles on the river.
There’s a great deal of household enjoyable available on the Ijams Nature Heart. Hold studying to find extra household actions you are able to do right here.
Pop into the Ijams Customer Heart for a path map and to study all of the actions on supply, together with Navitat and Meads Quarry (see beneath).
8. Fly Excessive with the Navitat Excessive Ropes Course
The Navitat Cover Expertise was Kalyra’s favourite exercise in Knoxville and if it was as much as her we might have stayed there all day AND evening.
I need to admit, it was onerous to depart and I beloved it too!
We’ve carried out just a few of those excessive ropes challenges amongst the tree cover all over the world and this one was positively enjoyable, and difficult. We solely had time to finish 4 out of the 6 programs so there’s an excellent purpose to come back again for extra!
Navitat is a part of the Ijams Nature Heart and every course consists of 10 to 12 challenges, and every course is designed with various diploma of problem from newbie to superior.
When you get freaked out about heights like me, don’t fear, I felt extremely protected and safe of their harnessing system which is essentially the most intuitive and straightforward to make use of one I’ve skilled.
And in case you are like Kalyra and wish to keep all day AND evening, throughout spring and summer season Navitat at Evening is supplied each Friday and Saturday evening!
Positively one of the enjoyable issues to do in Knoxville with youngsters particularly!
9. Go swimming and kayaking at Mead’s Quarry Lake
When you’re visiting in the summertime, Meads Quarry can also be to not be missed. Simply down the street from Ijams Customer Heart is Mead’s Quarry the place you’ll be able to go canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.
Sadly, board rent was closed on our day of visiting Mead’s Quarry, however Caz and the children nonetheless jumped in for a swim, and regardless the surroundings was stunning.
And apparently, in the summertime you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of freshwater jellyfish within the lake!
10. Stroll The Knoxville Riverfront
The very best time to stroll, or if a run in the event you’re as much as it, alongside the Knoxville Riverfront is at dawn. Take a look at these photos of the bridges reflecting on the Tennessee River that Caz took throughout her morning dawn run.
In any other case, do as we did as a household and take a peaceable afternoon stroll alongside the riverfront and find yourself at Calhoun‘s for a drink and early dinner.
Alongside the best way, you’ll get views of Neyland Stadium on the College and any watercraft having fun with the river – apparently on a Vols soccer recreation day they even tailgate alongside right here and on the water.
It’s a easy, serene and free factor to do.
11. Go to the Ladies’s Basketball Corridor of Fame
We’ve all heard of males’s NBL gamers akin to Coby Bryant and Michael Jordan, however there are some unimaginable feminine gamers who’ve been underrepresented within the sport.
You’ll find out all in regards to the largest names in girls’s basketball from the Basketball Corridor of Fame.
It opened in June 1999 and is the one museum devoted to all ranges of girls’s basketball.
The Corridor of Fame was added to the museum in 2019 and has thus far honored 171 gamers.
The museum is devoted to preserving the historical past of the sport in addition to representing the feminine gamers who dominate the game.
12. Go to the Mcclung Museum of Pure Historical past and Tradition
Situated on the campus of the College of Tennessee, the Mcclung Museum of Nationwide Historical past is a museum that showcases displays on pure historical past, native historical past, archaeology, anthropology, and the ornamental arts.
It was inbuilt 1963 and has at all times been a spot that fosters training, analysis, and concepts. The purpose was to assist guests acquire an understanding and appreciation of the earth and its individuals.
It additionally provides programmes for Okay–12 college students and households all for studying extra about our pure historical past.
13. Catch a efficiency at one in every of Knoxville’s Theaters
There are a number of locations the place you may get cultured within the evenings by attending the theater, together with attending a Knoxville Opera, which runs for a number of nights in a 12 months at their theater on Depot Ave.
You too can catch the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra just a few nights every week at their theater on Homosexual Road.
And you’ll discover Broadway productions and performing arts at historic theater, The Tennessee Theatre, which is simply as gorgeous as its performances.
It was constructed within the early nineteenth century and the corridor has been lovingly restored.
The theater has a bit of one thing for everybody; you’ll be able to watch basic motion pictures, watch musicals or drama productions.
14. Picnic at Knoxville Botanical Backyard and Arboretum
One other good spot to spend time with the household is on the Botanical Backyard and Arboretum.
It’s a free park to discover and covers 47 acres. The area is made up of manicured gardens, timber & lawns, in addition to some outdated partitions and stone buildings.
It’s an ideal place to take a seat and have a picnic or eat some native produce purchased from the Farmer’s Market you visited earlier.
15. Cruise on the Star of Knoxville Riverboat
The Star of Knoxville is an genuine paddlewheeler boat that was utilized by america Coast Guard.
There are two decks, inside and out of doors, and the within deck is totally enclosed and air conditioned in the summertime, and heated within the winter. This makes it a enjoyable exercise all 12 months spherical.
It additionally has two bars, a dance ground, and a band stage, and will be employed out for occasions. Although you’ll be able to be part of common night cruises, social gathering cruises, or our favourite, Blues Cruises, the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from music from blues musicians as you sight see from the deck.
16. Step again in time on the Museum of East Tennessee Historical past Heart
One other vital museum in Knoxville is the Museum of East Tennessee Historical past Heart, which is devoted to preserving the previous of Tennessee. You possibly can study its vital individuals, locations and occasions that formed the state.
The Voices of the Land: The Individuals of East Tennessee exhibit is a specific favourite. It’s an interactive show that enables guests to listen to first-person accounts of life up to now Knoxville.
Prime tip: The museum is open seven days every week, nevertheless it’s FREE on Sundays. Be sure that to plan your go to for then.
17. Stroll round William Blount Mansion
William Blount was the previous Governor of the Southwest Territory, and he owned this lavish residence. It was inbuilt 1792, the 12 months Knoxville was made a capitol.
The mansion’s nickname is definitely “the home with many eyes” as a result of it provides guests an inside glimpse into his life, in essentially the most visible and in-depth method.
The Blount Mansion was the first body home constructed west of the Appalachians, making it one of many oldest homes within the Southern inside.
It’s in some methods a museum and in different methods a lovingly preserved residence, nevertheless it’s positively value visiting in the event you’re all for studying in regards to the former politics of town.
18. Feed the animals at Zoo Knoxville
Lots of our readers advised we take a look at the Knoxville Zoo while on the town to see the wildlife, and our youngsters won’t ever say no to feeding the giraffes.
It was nice timing as nicely, because the Zoo was proudly exhibiting off their cute child gorillas!!! They’re so humorous and human-like, we might sit and watch them work together for hours.
We additionally received up shut with a tiger and elephants, and there are additionally some enjoyable play areas for the children to get pleasure from too making it one of the family-friendly sights in Knoxville.
19. Experiment and study at The Muse Knoxville
Obtained youthful youngsters? The Muse is positioned within the historic Chilhowee Park (near the Zoo) and Savannah loved herself at this middle.
It provides arms on actions for the children to play, study, and uncover with actions for teenagers of various ages.
One cool factor at Muse is the planetarium, which has a number of exhibits taking part in all through the day on their dome projection system.
When you like your child’s to have engaged studying experiences, then the Muse is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Knoxville with youngsters.
20. Get historic at James White’s Fort
James White was one of many founders of Knoxville, and his small log cabin, known as James White’s Fort, has been remodeled right into a museum and is without doubt one of the most visited historic websites in Knoxville.
You possibly can stroll across the authentic 1786 residence of James White, which has been restored and full of conventional antiques and interiors.
The museum is open from Monday-Friday from December till March, and Monday-Saturday from April to November.
21. Take the children to Volunteer Touchdown Park
We often keep away from parks with our youngsters after we journey, however we additionally know that they could be a smart way for mother and pop to have a break whereas the children run round.
In Knoxville, the most effective playground is at Volunteer Touchdown Park, overlooking the Tennessee River. This waterfront park has a playground, fountains and a splash pad, and likewise hosts common occasions.
When you’re fortunate, you might be able to catch a pageant or live performance within the night.
The place to eat in Knoxville
There’s a energetic culinary scene in Knoxville with a various collection of eating places, cafes, bars and brew pubs. You’d definitely want longer than the three days we needed to eat your method round city.
Beneath are our really helpful locations to eat in Knoxville.
The Tomato Head
Situated in Market Sq., the Tomato Head has yummy and contemporary pizzas with numerous toppings out there (gluten free bases on supply), a pleasant vary of sandwiches, salads, and sweets.
There’s a delegated youngsters menu and general good worth for cash with a pleasant informal ambiance.
The Inventory & Barrel
A number of of our readers advised we go eat at The Inventory & Barrel for nice burgers. Thanks for that, we ate lunch right here and it was an ideal suggestion!
It provides superb burgers and I completely loved my turkey burger and the duck confit fries had been delish! When you go for dinner, could be a good suggestion to e book forward as this place isn’t big and is in style!
Calhoun’s
Calhoun’s has a number of areas in Tennessee, however we solely skilled the one on the Tennessee River.
As talked about, we stopped in right here for a drink and chew to eat after a stroll alongside the riverfront and this place is all about location, location.
I imply the meals was tremendous and all, nothing that memorable however you’re proper on the water and we selected to take a seat exterior and benefit from the contemporary air.
Youngsters menu and gluten free menu out there.
Pete’s Espresso Store & Restaurant
When you love a basic American fashion diner for breakfast serving up eggs, pancakes and omelettes think about Pete’s.
This place is a little bit of an establishment for breakfast in Knoxville and we love that it’s a household owned.
We even received to talk with Pete who was tremendous pleasant and took a specific curiosity in us as Aussies – seems he watches a little bit of Aussie TV and documentaries.
Balter Beerworks
Do you know there’s an Ale Path in Knoxville? So if the craft beer scene is your factor, there are presently 10 breweries working with extra on the best way.
While our go to wasn’t centered on breweries, we do love a few beers and a chew to eat at a brew pub, so once more we’ve one more reason to come back again to Knox – hiya Fall Soccer recreation!
We did get to 1 brewpub although, the Balter Beerworks which has a pleasant outside seating space and pleasant employees – our waitress had simply returned from residing in Australia so we had tons to talk about.
The menu was fairly in depth, we had the salmon and an open burger, and washed all of it down properly with a brew.
Cruze Farm Ice Cream
The Cruze Farm on South Homosexual Road close to the intersection with Union Avenue is an ice cream store with a cool story and visually interesting store that leverages off a household dairy farm in Knoxville – you’ll discover their milk throughout East Tennessee.
They milk Jersey cows and bottle their very own complete pasteurized Jersey milk, in addition to actual churned buttermilk, gentle milk, and chocolate milk.
You will have seen their farm women round city delivering milk to a market or presumably even milking cows. They’re onerous to overlook of their hanging purple and white attire, impressed by their grandmother who wore a gown whereas she milked cows.
Okay Brew Cafe
How cool is that this cafe in Knoxville?! Fancy a espresso while lazing in a hammock?
Even in the event you’re not an enormous espresso drinker, Okay Brew is a success with the children.
You may need to remind them that they’re not on the swings at a playground, and in the event you come with out youngsters why not relax with an excellent e book and your latte and picture you’re on trip!
Nicely performed Okay Brew!
The place to remain in Knoxville, TN
We stayed on the Tennessean Private Luxurious Lodge, which had a major central location in downtown throughout the road from the Sunsphere and a simple 5-10 minute stroll to Market Sq..
Similar to with journey, it’s not at all times in regards to the vacation spot, however the individuals you meet – and the identical goes for motels, it’s not at all times in regards to the services, however the employees who work there.
From the valet guys who greeted us upon arrival, and day by day of our keep, to the pleasant and attentive entrance desk employees, our keep was made very nice, snug, and personable.
And, we had been minutes’ drive from the most effective Knoxville has to supply.
You possibly can view extra motels and lodging choices on the next map of Knoxville:
Getting round Knoxville
We arrived in Knoxville in direction of the top of our Tennessee street journey. We’d simply spent just a few days exploring Nashville and Memphis, and had been en path to the Smokies, so Knoxville felt like the proper place to cease.
Because it has three main interstates working by means of town, it’s not onerous to overlook, actually. And in the event you don’t wish to drive, The Mcghee Tyson Airport (Knoxville’s Airport) provides nonstop flights to twenty areas across the US. Seek for flights right here.
Getting across the metropolis is fairly easy. In downtown Knoxville, you’ll be able to stroll to just about anyplace. It’s a small and compact district, and all the things is inside quarter-hour on foot, and is true subsequent to the Outdated Metropolis which is absolutely solely a few streets.
There’s additionally a free Knoxville Trolley that runs by means of downtown and to the College of Tennessee campus on Monday – Saturday in the event you don’t really feel like strolling. It has 4 color-coded routes and passes by motels and Knoxville’s high sights.
To get to the suburbs, there are buses and likewise bike leases within the metropolis. You’ll discover loads of bikes and they’re comparatively low-cost to hire.
To get to the encircling areas and the Smokies, you’ll want to rent a automotive. Bus routes don’t have a tendency to succeed in these beautiful nature spots, so your best choice is to take a tour or drive your self. You’ll find automobiles to hire utilizing DiscoverCars.com, a automotive rental comparability website.
Is Knoxville value visiting?
Lastly, in the event you’re questioning whether or not Knoxville is even value visiting, the brief reply is; sure!
For us, the inspiration to go to Knoxville began method again in 2006 while sitting in a bar in San Diego. We had been chatting with two guys who had attended the College of Tennessee they usually had been doing a superb job of entertaining us with tales of all of the cool issues to do in Knoxville.
To be sincere, they didn’t have to persuade us a lot and had us bought at tailgating and School Soccer – and being on the doorstep to The Smoky Mountains – if you understand us nicely sufficient, that’s a straightforward promote.
One attention-grabbing truth we realized is that Knoxville is inside a day’s driving distance from two-thirds of the inhabitants of america east of the Mississippi River, and Interstates I-40, I-75, and I-275 run by means of town!
Which means that it’s not solely an ideal place to discover, nevertheless it’s an ideal place to base your self to take day journeys and funky getaways.
Once we lastly made it to Knoxville, we had been happy to find the 2 guys in San Diego had been proper – it’s a enjoyable and outdoorsy place to go to, and the locals definitely know the way to embrace that and make the most of the place they reside.
You should definitely embrace it in your Southern and East Coast street journey. It makes for a beautiful jumping-off spot.
Video: Watch us discover Knoxville with our youngsters
Extra Tennessee Journey Suggestions
Are you planning to go to different components of Tennessee or Western North Carolina? Then take a look at these different guides on issues to do close to Knoxville:
Pin To Save On Pinterest
Are you planning to go to Knoxville Tennessee? What are you most excited to do? Tell us within the feedback beneath.
