Huddled between the Great Smoky Mountains and the mighty Tennessee River, Knoxville, Tennessee is a modern and exciting city, famous as the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains. The city is home to the East Tennessee History Center, World’s Fair Park, Tennessee Theater, Ijams Nature Center, Blount Mansion, and many other wonderful attractions. The best things to do in Knoxville, TN with kids can be the Knoxville Zoo, the Knoxville Muse, the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, and the Knoxville Children’s Theater.
World Fair Park
World’s Fair Park, home to the 1982 Universal Exposition, is the perfect location in Knoxville for outdoor activities and one of Knoxville’s biggest attractions. The park has been refurbished and features beautiful lawns, walkways and water features. Innovative fountains and geysers lure tourists to cool off in the summer, and the manicured lawns serve as a venue for festivals and live performances year-round.
East Tennessee History Center
History comes alive year-round at the East Tennessee History Center, where award-winning exhibits, educational programs, and events showcase East Tennessee’s rich history. The museum, operated by the East Tennessee Historical Society, displays many intriguing artifacts and stories that make up 300 years of life in Tennessee.
Highlights of the annual events are the Blue & Gray Reunion, which runs from April to May, and the East Tennessee History Fair in August.
Tennessee Theater
The fantastic Tennessee Theater opened its doors in 1928 as a “cinema palace”. Designed in the magnificent Hispano-Moorish style, the theater was decorated with the finest pieces available at the time: Czech crystal chandeliers, Italian terrazzo flooring, and Asian details in the draperies and carpets. The theater was meticulously restored in 2005 and today offers something for everyone: period movies, classical music concerts, Broadway shows and rock concerts. If you’re looking for romantic dating ideas in Knoxville, check out a show at the Tennessee Theater.
Ijams Nature Center
Certainly nature lovers have enjoyed the Ijams Nature Center for over a century. Designed by Harry Ijams as a bird sanctuary, the 300-acre park has become a major wildlife sanctuary and environmental learning center. Visitors travel just three miles from downtown Knoxville to explore its trails, creeks, groves, boardwalk, farmhouse, and more.
My advice is to spend an adventurous day at Knoxville’s only outdoor rock climbing area, take in the natural landscape on a slow canoe trip, or relax with a picnic at a lookout point. The award-winning attraction offers a wide variety of events and programs for both adults and children and is one of the best things to do in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Take a trip to the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture to take a selfie with Monty, the famous dinosaur on the front lawn. Then you can go inside and see the rare and unique dinosaur bones found in Tennessee. Located on the UTK campus, the museum displays Tennessee’s historic and artistic past and ancient civilizations around the world.
The civil war and human origins exhibits are usually a favorite with visitors. The museum holds an eclectic collection of special exhibits from around the world. Research opportunities are available in the museum’s laboratory, and educational programs for students, adults and families are planned throughout the year.
Clarence Brown Theater
Enjoy a taste of Broadway at the Clarence Brown Theater, a gem on the UT Knoxville campus since 1970. The stunning setting was made possible by the work of theater teacher Dr. Paul Soper in the 1940s and the legendary’s generous donations movie director. sixties. As a cultural resource for the East Tennessee area, the theater thrives on community involvement and offers educational programs and school performances, as well as general auditions and volunteer opportunities.
The award-winning shows have won national theatrical recognition. Housed in three impressive structures, the theater offers visitors a rare East Tennessee Broadway experience.
Thompson – Boling Arena
Thompson-Boling Arena is more than UTK’s premier basketball venue. The arena is also known as the premier entertainment center in Eastern Tennessee. Many fun events take place here throughout the year, including concerts, NBA performances, conventions, and more. Located on the banks of the beautiful Tennessee River, it attracts crowds of men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball.
If you visit, you may find that the mansion has been converted into a concert stage, monster truck, or exhibition hall. One of the main attractions of the University of Tennessee, the Thompson – Boling Arena is the perfect place to find world-class entertainment.
Neyland Stadium
Neyland Stadium is home to University of Tennessee volunteers and is the fifth largest football stadium in the country. With a capacity of around 102,000 fans, it is considered the benchmark for college football. It is named after legendary CEO Robert Neyland, head coach from 1926 to 1952, and is credited with building a football tradition of volunteering.
