EXPERIENCE THE TOP 15 ATTRACTIONS IN KNOXVILLE
Knoxville is located on the Tennessee River, roughly an hour's drive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Sunsphere, a rising structure topped with a gold sphere that dots Knoxville's skyline, is a visible remnant of the 1982 World's Fair.
In Knoxville you will find some beautiful attractions that you just cannot miss! Places like Seven Islands State Birding Park, The Bijou Theater, and Knoxville Food Tours and many more. Continue reading to know more.
1. Seven Islands State Birding Park
Seven Islands State Birding Park, located in Knoxville, is perfect for those who love nature. It offers 8 miles of natural trails as well as beautiful and captivating views of the Smoky Mountains. The park is well known for being the best place in Knoxville to go bird watching.
2. The Bijou Theater
Built in 1909, Bijou Theater is a theater of performing arts and a movie hall. Today the theater has a capacity of 757 and after reopening in 2006, it is considered to be the best in sound and stage among the theaters hosting several concerts and performances during the year.
3. Knoxville Food Tours
Knoxville is well-known for its delicious Southern cuisine and also houses some of the best eateries in the South. These guided tours take you through the best local eateries and also offer a great fun way to learn more about the city and its history as well as traditional roots.
4. Feed The Animals At Zoo Knoxville
Spread in 53 acres, Zoo Knoxville is the major attraction for animal lovers. The zoo houses approximately 800 animals ranging from African elephants, Asian lions to birds like exotic cranes. Bring your children to Clayton Family Kids Cove and Wee Play Zoo which is a play area.
5. East Tennessee Historical Society
The East Tennessee Historical Society is a non-profit group devoted to researching East Tennessee heritage, preserving historically important objects, and educating Tennessee residents. The society was founded in 1834, just 38 years after the state of Tennessee was born, to document the area's growth and settlement.
6. Dancing At The Laurel Theater
Knoxville's renowned hospitality can be witnessed firsthand at the Laurel Theater. Their famous dance nights featuring live music are a special attraction. The theater itself incorporates the warm, welcoming feel of an old church with the joyful ambience of an art center.
7. Knox County Old Gray Cemetery
Established in 1850, Knox County Old Gray Cemetery is spread on 13 acres and is the second oldest cemetery in Knoxville. The well landscaped and forested hilly area is a paradise for walkers. People love to drive through meandering paths watching sculptures and beautiful monuments passing by.
8. Sunsphere
Sunsphere, located in Knoxville, is a famous building known for its unusual building materials. The Sunsphere stands at 26 stories high and features 24 karat gold in its design and architecture. The tower is really unique and visitors should not miss snapping a picture with it.
9. World's Fair Park
The park is located on the former fairgrounds of Knoxville's 1982 World's Fair. The Sunsphere and the Tennessee Amphitheater are the two remaining structures housed in the park. Apart from the two, there was a fountain in the park as well. Previously, the Candy Factory sits in the west side border of the park.
10. West Town Mall
Located in the West Hills community, it is home to a diverse selection of stores as well as eateries. Their anchor stores include Belk, Dillard’s and JC Penney’s but they also house cute local shops such as The Princess Diaries. Other stores include chain stores such as Pottery Barn and Bath and Body Works.
11. Knoxville Museum Of Art
Knoxville Museum of Art is a museum in Knoxville that features a Neoclassical Revival architecture. It houses different historical and contemporary art pieces. The museum is also know to feature the world's largest figural glass installation, Richard Jolley's "Cycle of Life."
12. Sailgating At The University Of Tennessee
The next time you plan to watch a game at the University of Tennessee's Neyland Stadium, ditch the car and go there by boat. Whether you own a vessel or not doesn't matter as there are boat rentals in Knoxville that can help you socialize in sailgating celebrations. Many docks and slips near the university are also available for the parking convenience of "sailgaters." Instead of the conventional bumper-to-bumper side parties in games, sailgating is more like a bow-to-stern type of deal. This is a new and nautical way of socializing while enjoying some good old sporting fun.
13. Tennessee Theatre
Built in 1928 in Burwell Building, Knoxville's first skyscraper, Tennessee Theater is a theater of performing arts and a movie hall. After getting restoration in 2005, the Tennessee Theater hosts 150 events each year including Broadway shows, classic films, opera shows, concerts and dance shows.
14. William Blount Mansion
President George Washington appointed Constitution signer William Blount as governor of the Southwest Territory. This paved the way for the inclusion of Tennessee into the union of the United States of America. Mr. Blount's house, which was built in 1792, served as the territory's capital back during his time. His house is made of timber, unlike many houses of that era which were made from rough logs or hand-hewn beams. Though initially simple in construction, the residential complex eventually grew and had two wings added as time went by. Touring this place is like moving into an architectural time capsule. The detached kitchen is modeled after a common 18th-century kitchen. The Governor's Office, meanwhile, looks like a typical law office of the 1790s. Aside from all this, many seasoned travelers say that the guides working here are knowledgeable and friendly.
15. Sharp's Ridge
A steep limestone ridge in Knoxville with a park, fire tower, an antenna farm and several hiking and biking trails is Sharp's Ridge. The Sharp's Ridge Memorial park is spread in 111 acre of the ridge's area. The Great Smoky Mountains is nearby. The place is popular for hiking, biking, picnicking and bird watching.