When you live in a world-class tourist destination like Niagara Falls, where there are lots of things to do and with Canada’s largest city, Toronto, at your doorstep, it’s hard not to be critical of other seemingly less spectacular destinations. So, when an old school friend invited me to visit her new home in Knoxville, Tennessee, I was rather doubtful about whether or not it would be worth the visit.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Knoxville is a modern and an exciting city. It’s the gateway to the Smoky Mountains, which are really quite beautiful, and home to lots of interesting attractions. These are some of the things to do in Knoxville Tennessee.
Visit World’s Fair Park
This is an ideal place to visit and spend your time once you are in Knoxville. It is one of the best visitors’ attractions in the city. While it’s not exactly Niagara Falls, the park was recently improved to include beautiful lawns, water features, and walkways thus giving it a spectacular look. It now has fountains and geysers that enhance the look of the park and makes it a great spot to cool off in summer. The groomed lawns make the site a great place for live performances all year-round.
East Tennessee History Center
This site makes history come to life all year round with activities like shows, educational programs and historical events that depict the historical happenings in East Tennessee. The museum is run by the East Tennessee historical society.
Tennessee Theatre
The magnificent Spanish-Moorish theatre opened in 1928 as a movie palace. It was decorated with the most beautiful pieces that were available at that time. It is home to the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and Knoxville opera. This venue is often used for big parties, special events, and weddings. The Tennessee Theatre Is Now Part Of National Register Of Historical Places.
Ijams Nature Centre
An attraction for nature lovers, the center was developed by Harry Ijams as a bird sanctuary. It later grew to a leading environmental learning center and a wildlife sanctuary. It’s three miles from Knoxville downtown and is a lovely place of creeks, trails, grooves, a homestead and meandering boardwalks. It’s a great spot to spend the day canoeing, rock climbing or just relaxing out of the city.
Blount Mansion
Blount Mansion has been renovated to maintain Tennessee’s historic past. It was built in 1792 and is a display of Knoxville’s rich history. The mansion is open from Tuesday to Friday and hosts a list of events all year round.
Visit Knoxville Zoo
It’s a fun zoo with over 900 animals from all over the world. This is one of the best Knoxville tourist attractions and a great day out for the kids. You can ride camels, feed giraffes and relax in the forest theatre show.
The adventure play makes kids interact in the jungle as they catch an intimate view of the park. It is open every day and as you can see, Knoxville is a great place to visit with the family, as it has a good blend of history and family-friendly attractions.