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Let me tell you, Knoxville will surprise and delight you. It’s a mountain town not far from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is full of incredible attractions (and a few hidden gems).
It’s an artsy place with a laid back vibe. On any visit to Knoxville, you’ll be blessed with outdoor adventure, good food, civil war history, and warm Southern hospitality.
We had a fun filled three days exploring all the fun things to do in Knoxville and felt we got to know the city really well.
In this guide, we share the best attractions and activities that we personally liked on our trip, plus include some suggestions for where to eat and drink and places to stay.
1. Explore the Historic Market Square
You cannot visit Knoxville without making a stop by the Historic Market Square. It’s essentially the heart, or the hub, of downtown and has a great vibe. It’s surrounded by cozy cafes, trendy restaurants, and live music on select nights.
There’s the odd busker in the square too – little Savannah was lucky enough to get a lesson on the violin. What can we say about the locals? They’re friendly folks around here. She loves her music so she enjoyed this moment.
Market Square is a cool destination at any time of day, but really comes alive in the evening.
We witnessed some live music one night, which provided for a family friendly atmosphere and was fun. People were kicked back in their camp chairs enjoying the tunes, and the nearby outdoor diners could join in too!
Where to eat in Market Square, Knoxville?
There’s no shortage of dining options around Market Square, from casual to a bit fancier.
Our top two picks would have to be The Tomato Head and The Stock & Barrel.
Every morning, we’d hit up the Juice Bar for a healthy smoothie or acai bowl. Yeah, it’s a chain with locations around the country, but they have an excellent selection of smoothies and juices and their branch in Knoxville’s Market Square has a welcoming vibe.
And if you can’t find something to satisfy your needs in Market Square, there’s plenty of other options located around the corner and on nearby Gay St (main street Knoxville).
2. Eat and shop at Nourish Knoxville (Market Square Farmers’ Market)
Almost everyone we talked to before visiting Knoxville suggested we had to visit the Nourish Knoxville Farmers Market, which came with high expectations.
If you’ve been following our travels over the years, you’d know that we’ve been to our fair share of Farmer’s Markets and I have no hesitation in saying that the Knoxville Farmers Market is one of the best we’ve been to!
We love open-air markets with an emphasis on local produce and community, and at this market, everything is grown or made by the vendor in the East Tennessee region.
We always do our best to shop local when traveling and if we lived in Knoxville we’d definitely be here every Wednesday between May and November!
There was such a great range of products on offer from delicious local food and coffee, to artisan crafts and much more.
With a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s a nice way to kick off your weekend and a fabulous kid friendly attraction!
3. Go boutique bowling at Maple Hall Bowling
Being from Australia, we’re not used to bowling alleys being all fancy and fun and so popular.
Back home bowling is a thing you’d do maybe once a year, at most, on a rainy day when you’ve run out of other ideas. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I went bowling.
So when we heard about Maple Hall, it sounded like fun and the kids were especially excited.
On the few times we have been bowling they loved it and we were all intrigued with the location.
Maple Hall is located in the heart of Knoxville in the historic J.C. Penney Building and is this super cool boutique bowling alley. It’s underground with a full-service bar, cozy lounge areas, and even has a VIP room.
It’s more than just a bowling alley, it’s an experience, and we had a great time as a family.
Kalyra was in fine bowling form, knocking down pins like she’s a regular, as was Mummy. And little Savannah had fun progressing from using the kiddy assist guidance thing (I don’t know what they’re called) to bowl all by herself.
Maple Hall is popular and lanes get filled on a first come first serve basis, so if you come here in peak hour expect a bit of a wait – you can always hang at the bar – or they’ll text or call you as soon as one opens up!
Families note that this is an all ages facility until 9:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, then they become 21+.
4. Watch free live music at Knoxville Visitors Center
Whenever we visit a new destination, we make an effort to drop into the visitors center to chat with the locals in the know and to pick up any free maps or useful information.
The folks working here always offer great insider tips into their hometowns and are passionate about sharing their advice.
The Knoxville Visitor Center is no different and well worth a visit. It’s also different from other visitors centers in that they offer something special – the Knoxville Visitor’s Center has live music playing at midday from Monday to Saturday.
It’s called the Blue Plate Special. They were doing a live radio cross featuring an acoustic duo from Asheville who were entertaining the crowd – so cool!
Oh, and on the exterior wall to the center is a cool mural about Knoxville and of course taking a pic is compulsory.
Definitely something you want to do when you visit Knoxville.
5. Watch a Vols Game at Neyland Stadium
As you may have guessed, I’m a big college sports fan, and every local we spoke to in Knoxville raved about the University of Tennessee’s Football games that are played at famed Neyland Stadium.
They certainly LOVE their college football around Knoxville, which is another reason why this is my kind of town!
“You have to come back in the fall to a Vols game,” they said. “The whole town shuts down and the tailgating and atmosphere is off the charts”.
I have now penciled in a Vols game and would love to see a big rivalry game against either Florida or Georgia – off to check the schedule now!
For those who care, Peyton Manning played college here. As did Reggie White, two greats of the #NFL.
And in case you don’t know, Neyland Stadium is the 5th largest stadium in the US with a capacity of 102,000 – and me being me, I just had to find a way inside.
I’m not going to give away too much info on how we managed to make it inside, and we didn’t do anything illegal, but where there’s a will there’s a way, and we were able to sneak in for a quick pic thanks to someone in the know!
If you want to do an organized tour of Neyland Stadium, check out more info here.
6. Witness the best Knoxville views at The Sunsphere
You can’t miss the Sunsphere in Knoxville. It’s the big orange sphere sticking out above the skyline.
The Sunsphere was constructed for the 1982 World’s Fair and served as the symbol to the Fair. It’s famous for its unique hexagonal design and glass panes, each coated in 24-karat gold, making the entire building look like some kind of vintage microphone.
After the Fair finished, the Sunsphere closed to the public and remained vacant for most of its life.
Until the Observation Deck on the 4th level re-opened in 2014. You can pay a small fee of $10 to ride the elevator up to the observation deck, which has a 360-degree view of World’s Fair Park, downtown, the Tennessee River, the University of Tennessee, and the Smoky Mountains.
The World’s Fair Park is also a lovely place to picnic, stroll, and includes other attractions like the Knoxville Museum of Art.
7. Hiking at the Ijams Nature Center
Getting outdoors in nature is what we love most, and located a mere three miles from downtown Knoxville is the Ijams Nature Center!
Ijams features 10-miles of trails, rock formations, lakes and stunning overlooks and is a much-loved sanctuary away from the city by the locals and visitors.
We did a lovely short walk along the Tennessee River and next time we are back in town for a longer stay we’ll be up for exploring more hikes plus bike rides and paddles on the river.
There is loads of family fun to be had at the Ijams Nature Center. Keep reading to discover more family activities you can do here.
Pop into the Ijams Visitor Center for a trail map and to learn about all the activities on offer, including Navitat and Meads Quarry (see below).
8. Fly High with the Navitat High Ropes Course
The Navitat Canopy Experience was Kalyra’s favorite activity in Knoxville and if it was up to her we would have stayed there all day AND night.
I must admit, it was hard to leave and I loved it too!
We’ve done a few of these high ropes challenges amongst the tree canopy around the world and this one was definitely fun, and challenging. We only had time to complete 4 out of the 6 courses so there’s a good reason to come back for more!
Navitat is part of the Ijams Nature Center and each course consists of 10 to 12 challenges, and each course is designed with varying degree of difficulty from beginner to advanced.
If you get freaked out about heights like me, don’t worry, I felt incredibly safe and secure in their harnessing system which is the most intuitive and easy to use one I’ve experienced.
And if you are like Kalyra and want to stay all day AND night, during spring and summer Navitat at Night is offered every Friday and Saturday night!
Definitely one of the most fun things to do in Knoxville with kids especially!
9. Go swimming and kayaking at Mead’s Quarry Lake
If you’re visiting in the summer, Meads Quarry is also not to be missed. Just down the road from Ijams Visitor Center is Mead’s Quarry where you can go canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.
Unfortunately, board hire was closed on our day of visiting Mead’s Quarry, but Caz and the kids still jumped in for a swim, and regardless the scenery was beautiful.
And apparently, in the summer you can catch a glimpse of freshwater jellyfish in the lake!
10. Stroll The Knoxville Riverfront
The best time to walk, or if a run if you’re up to it, along the Knoxville Riverfront is at sunrise. Check out these images of the bridges reflecting on the Tennessee River that Caz took during her morning sunrise run.
Otherwise, do as we did as a family and take a peaceful afternoon walk along the riverfront and end up at Calhoun‘s for a drink and early dinner.
Along the way, you’ll get views of Neyland Stadium at the University and any watercraft enjoying the river – apparently on a Vols football game day they even tailgate along here and on the water.
It’s a simple, serene and free thing to do.
11. Visit the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
We’ve all heard of men’s NBL players such as Coby Bryant and Michael Jordan, but there are some incredible female players who have been underrepresented in the sport.
You can find out all about the biggest names in women’s basketball from the Basketball Hall of Fame.
It opened in June 1999 and is the only museum dedicated to all levels of women’s basketball.
The Hall of Fame was added to the museum in 2019 and has so far honored 171 players.
The museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the game as well as representing the female players who dominate the sport.
12. Visit the Mcclung Museum of Natural History and Culture
Located on the campus of the University of Tennessee, the Mcclung Museum of National History is a museum that showcases exhibits on natural history, local history, archaeology, anthropology, and the decorative arts.
It was built in 1963 and has always been a place that fosters education, research, and ideas. The goal was to help visitors gain an understanding and appreciation of the earth and its people.
It also offers programmes for K–12 students and families interested in learning more about our natural history.
13. Catch a performance at one of Knoxville’s Theaters
There are several places where you can get cultured in the evenings by attending the theater, including attending a Knoxville Opera, which runs for several nights in a year at their theater on Depot Ave.
You can also catch the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra a few nights a week at their theater on Gay Street.
And you will find Broadway productions and performing arts at historic theater, The Tennessee Theatre, which is just as stunning as its performances.
It was built in the early 19th century and the hall has been lovingly restored.
The theater has a little something for everyone; you can watch classic movies, watch musicals or drama productions.
14. Picnic at Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum
Another great place to spend time with the family is at the Botanical Garden and Arboretum.
It’s a free park to explore and covers 47 acres. The space is made up of manicured gardens, trees & lawns, as well as some old walls and stone buildings.
It’s a great place to sit and have a picnic or eat some local produce bought from the Farmer’s Market you visited earlier.
15. Cruise on the Star of Knoxville Riverboat
The Star of Knoxville is an authentic paddlewheeler boat that was used by the United States Coast Guard.
There are two decks, inside and outside, and the inside deck is fully enclosed and air conditioned in the summer, and heated in the winter. This makes it a fun activity all year round.
It also has two bars, a dance floor, and a band stage, and can be hired out for events. Though you can join regular evening cruises, party cruises, or our favorite, Blues Cruises, where you can enjoy music from blues musicians as you sight see from the deck.
16. Step back in time at the Museum of East Tennessee History Center
Another important museum in Knoxville is the Museum of East Tennessee History Center, which is dedicated to preserving the past of Tennessee. You can learn about its important people, places and events that shaped the state.
The Voices of the Land: The People of East Tennessee exhibit is a particular favorite. It’s an interactive display that allows visitors to hear first-person accounts of life in the past Knoxville.
Top tip: The museum is open seven days a week, but it’s FREE on Sundays. Make sure to plan your visit for then.
17. Stroll around William Blount Mansion
William Blount was the former Governor of the Southwest Territory, and he owned this lavish home. It was built in 1792, the year Knoxville was made a capitol.
The mansion’s nickname is actually “the house with many eyes” because it gives visitors an inside glimpse into his life, in the most visual and in-depth way.
The Blount Mansion was the first frame house built west of the Appalachians, making it one of the oldest houses in the Southern interior.
It’s in some ways a museum and in other ways a lovingly preserved home, but it’s definitely worth visiting if you’re interested in learning about the former politics of the city.
18. Feed the animals at Zoo Knoxville
Many of our readers suggested we check out the Knoxville Zoo whilst in town to see the wildlife, and our kids will never say no to feeding the giraffes.
It was great timing as well, as the Zoo was proudly showing off their cute baby gorillas!!! They are so funny and human-like, we could sit and watch them interact for hours.
We also got up close with a tiger and elephants, and there are also some fun play areas for the kids to enjoy too making it one of the most family-friendly attractions in Knoxville.
19. Experiment and learn at The Muse Knoxville
Got younger kids? The Muse is located in the historic Chilhowee Park (close to the Zoo) and Savannah enjoyed herself at this center.
It offers hands on activities for the kids to play, learn, and discover with activities for kids of varying ages.
One cool thing at Muse is the planetarium, which has a variety of shows playing throughout the day on their dome projection system.
If you like your kid’s to have engaged learning experiences, then the Muse is one of the best things to do in Knoxville with kids.
20. Get historical at James White’s Fort
James White was one of the founders of Knoxville, and his small log cabin, called James White’s Fort, has been transformed into a museum and is one of the most visited historical sites in Knoxville.
You can walk around the original 1786 residence of James White, which has been restored and filled with traditional antiques and interiors.
The museum is open from Monday-Friday from December until March, and Monday-Saturday from April to November.
21. Take the kids to Volunteer Landing Park
We usually avoid parks with our kids when we travel, but we also know that they can be a great way for mom and dad to have a break while the kids run around.
In Knoxville, the best playground is at Volunteer Landing Park, overlooking the Tennessee River. This waterfront park has a playground, fountains and a splash pad, and also hosts regular events.
If you’re lucky, you may be able to catch a festival or concert in the evening.
Where to eat in Knoxville
There’s a lively culinary scene in Knoxville with a diverse selection of restaurants, cafes, bars and brew pubs. You’d certainly need longer than the three days we had to eat your way around town.
Below are our recommended places to eat in Knoxville.
The Tomato Head
Located in Market Square, the Tomato Head has yummy and fresh pizzas with lots of toppings available (gluten free bases on offer), a nice range of sandwiches, salads, and sweets.
There’s a designated kids menu and overall good value for money with a nice casual atmosphere.
The Stock & Barrel
Several of our readers suggested we go eat at The Stock & Barrel for great burgers. Thank you for that, we ate lunch here and it was a great suggestion!
It offers amazing burgers and I thoroughly enjoyed my turkey burger and the duck confit fries were delish! If you go for dinner, might be a good idea to book ahead as this place isn’t huge and is popular!
Calhoun’s
Calhoun’s has several locations in Tennessee, but we only experienced the one on the Tennessee River.
As mentioned, we stopped in here for a drink and bite to eat after a walk along the riverfront and this place is all about location, location.
I mean the food was fine and all, nothing that memorable but you’re right on the water and we chose to sit outside and enjoy the fresh air.
Kids menu and gluten free menu available.
Pete’s Coffee Shop & Restaurant
If you love a classic American style diner for breakfast serving up eggs, pancakes and omelettes consider Pete’s.
This place is a bit of an institution for breakfast in Knoxville and we love that it’s a family owned.
We even got to chat with Pete who was super friendly and took a particular interest in us as Aussies – turns out he watches a bit of Aussie TV and documentaries.
Balter Beerworks
Did you know there’s an Ale Trail in Knoxville? So if the craft beer scene is your thing, there are currently 10 breweries operating with more on the way.
Whilst our visit wasn’t focused on breweries, we do love a couple of beers and a bite to eat at a brew pub, so again we have another reason to come back to Knox – hello Fall Football game!
We did get to one brewpub though, the Balter Beerworks which has a nice outdoor seating area and friendly staff – our waitress had just returned from living in Australia so we had lots to chat about.
The menu was quite extensive, we had the salmon and an open burger, and washed it all down nicely with a brew.
Cruze Farm Ice Cream
The Cruze Farm on South Gay Street near the intersection with Union Avenue is an ice cream shop with a cool story and visually appealing shop that leverages off a family dairy farm in Knoxville – you’ll find their milk all around East Tennessee.
They milk Jersey cows and bottle their own whole pasteurized Jersey milk, as well as real churned buttermilk, light milk, and chocolate milk.
You may have seen their farm girls around town delivering milk to a market or possibly even milking cows. They’re hard to miss in their striking red and white dresses, inspired by their grandmother who wore a dress while she milked cows.
K Brew Cafe
How cool is this cafe in Knoxville?! Fancy a coffee whilst lazing in a hammock?
Even if you’re not a big coffee drinker, K Brew is a hit with the kids.
You might have to remind them that they’re not on the swings at a playground, and if you come without kids why not kick back with a good book and your latte and imagine you’re on vacation!
Well played K Brew!
Where to stay in Knoxville, TN
We stayed at the Tennessean Personal Luxury Hotel, which had a prime central location in downtown across the street from the Sunsphere and an easy 5-10 minute stroll to Market Square.
Just like with travel, it’s not always about the destination, but the people you meet – and the same goes for hotels, it’s not always about the facilities, but the staff who work there.
From the valet guys who greeted us upon arrival, and every day of our stay, to the friendly and attentive front desk staff, our stay was made very pleasant, comfortable, and personable.
And, we were minutes’ drive from the best Knoxville has to offer.
You can view more hotels and accommodation options on the following map of Knoxville:
Getting around Knoxville
We arrived in Knoxville towards the end of our Tennessee road trip. We’d just spent a few days exploring Nashville and Memphis, and were en route to the Smokies, so Knoxville felt like the perfect place to stop.
Since it has three major interstates running through the city, it’s not hard to miss, really. And if you don’t want to drive, The Mcghee Tyson Airport (Knoxville’s Airport) offers nonstop flights to 20 locations around the US. Search for flights here.
Getting around the city is pretty simple. In downtown Knoxville, you can walk to pretty much anywhere. It’s a small and compact district, and everything is within 15 minutes on foot, and is right next to the Old City which is really only a couple of streets.
There is also a free Knoxville Trolley that runs through downtown and to the University of Tennessee campus on Monday – Saturday if you don’t feel like walking. It has four color-coded routes and passes by hotels and Knoxville’s top attractions.
To get to the suburbs, there are buses and also bike rentals in the city. You’ll find plenty of bikes and they are relatively cheap to rent.
To get to the surrounding areas and the Smokies, you’ll need to hire a car. Bus routes don’t tend to reach these gorgeous nature spots, so your best option is to take a tour or drive yourself. You can find cars to rent using DiscoverCars.com, a car rental comparison site.
Is Knoxville worth visiting?
Lastly, if you’re wondering whether Knoxville is even worth visiting, the short answer is; yes!
For us, the inspiration to visit Knoxville started way back in 2006 whilst sitting in a bar in San Diego. We were chatting with two guys who had attended the University of Tennessee and they were doing an excellent job of entertaining us with stories of all the cool things to do in Knoxville.
To be honest, they didn’t have to convince us much and had us sold at tailgating and College Football – and being on the doorstep to The Smoky Mountains – if you know us well enough, that’s an easy sell.
One interesting fact we learned is that Knoxville is within a day’s driving distance from two-thirds of the population of the United States east of the Mississippi River, and Interstates I-40, I-75, and I-275 run through the city!
This means that it’s not only a great place to explore, but it’s a great place to base yourself to take day trips and cool getaways.
When we finally made it to Knoxville, we were pleased to discover the two guys in San Diego were right – it’s a fun and outdoorsy place to visit, and the locals certainly know how to embrace that and take advantage of where they live.
Be sure to include it in your Southern and East Coast road trip. It makes for a wonderful jumping-off spot.
Video: Watch us explore Knoxville with our kids
More Tennessee Travel Tips
Are you planning to visit other parts of Tennessee or Western North Carolina? Then check out these other guides on things to do near Knoxville:
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Are you planning to visit Knoxville Tennessee? What are you most excited to do? Let us know in the comments below.
