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10 Top Rated Things to Do in Knoxville, Tennessee

Market Square
Photograph by Brian Stansberry, via Wikimedia Commons

Market Square

#1 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Knoxville

Located in downtown business district, Market Square is a pedestrian mall and popular venue for concerts and events throughout year. The square is a popular gathering place for artists, street musicians, and activist.


Ijams Nature Center
Photograph by Scott Basford, via Wikimedia Commons

Ijams Nature Center

#2 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Knoxville

Ijams Nature Center is popular for recreation activities such as hiking, biking, paddle & swim, and rock climbing. The 315 acres nature center features 12 miles of hiking trails. The River Boardwalk overlooking the Tennessee River is the most popular attraction at Ijams. The Visitor Center features animal exhibits to educate people about nature. Canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards on Mead's Quarry Lake is the most popular recreation activities.


Zoo Knoxville
Photograph by zooknoxville.org

Zoo Knoxville

#3 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Knoxville

Located east of downtown Knoxville, Zoo Knoxville is home to about 800 animals. The 53 acres zoo features indoor exhibits and natural outdoor habitats. The exhbits include Black Bear Falls, Boyd Family Asian Trek, Chimp Ridge, Clayton Family Kids Cove, Gorilla Valley, Grasslands Africa, Reptiles, River Otter Habitat, The Boyd Family Red Panda Village, Tiger Forest, and Valley of the Kings.

Hours & Admission

Knoxville Museum of Art
Photograph by Wikimedia Commons

Knoxville Museum of Art

#4 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Knoxville

Knoxville Museum of Art located in World's Fair Park presents art and artists of East Tennessee. The museum collection includes more than 1500 works on paper, paintings, mixed media works, and sculpture. It includes art history of East Tennessee from the mid 19th century to the present. Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) permanet exhbits include Thorne Rooms, Higher Ground : A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee, Currents: Recent Art from East Tennessee and Beyond, Facets of Modern and Contemporary Glass, and Cycle of Life: Within the Power of Dreams and the Wonder of Infinity.

Hours & Admission

World's Fair Park
Photograph by AppalachianCentrist, via Wikimedia Commons

World's Fair Park

#5 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Knoxville

World's Fair Park located in downtown is a popular public park known for Sunsphere and the Tennessee Amphitheater. Both structure were constructed during the 1982 World's Fair. The park is home country music and classical music concerts. World's Fair Park is known for hosting festival and performance throughout year. The 5-acre performance lawn provides natural amphitheater setting for concerts, festivals, parties and other events. Other attractions of the park include splash pads and fountains.


Muse Knoxville
Photograph by themuseknoxville.org

Muse Knoxville

#6 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Knoxville

Muse Knoxville located in Chilhowee Park is a popular children museum of Knoxville. The museum exhibits include Outdoor Space PLAYce, Augmented Reality Sandbox, Inspiration Wall, Planetarium, STEM Station, Sound Play, U.S.S. Muse, Book Nook, Live Smart: Stay Well, Make Space, A-Mazing Airways, Science Garden, Outdoor Playground, and Music Garden. The planetarium offers shows on full dome projection system every hour on the half. The museum can be rented for birthday and private events.

Hours & Admission

James White's Fort
Photograph by Wikimedia Commons

James White's Fort

#7 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Knoxville

James White's Fort was the 1786 residence of James White the founder of Knoxville. Today, the historical site serve as the museum home and offers opportunity to tour the fort. The tour includes main court yard, house and kitchen, dog trot area, the house, the well and smokehouse, outhouse and weaving house, guest house, and blacksmith shop. Special events held throughout the year include Knoxville Homecoming, Junior Docent Day, Statehood Day, HearthScares Ghost Tours of Downtown Knoxville, Annual Halloween Bash, and Christmas Open House.

Hours & Admission

Botanical Garden

Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum

#8 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Knoxville

Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum (KBGA) is a 47 acre public garden located in downtown. The botanical garden features walking trails, display gardens, unique & historic horticulture and over two miles of distinctive stone walls. KBGA hosts a variety of events throughout the year. The garden can be rented for wedding and private events.

Hours & Admission

Sunsphere
Photograph by Ɱ, via Wikimedia Commons

Sunsphere

#9 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Knoxville

Sunsphere located in World's Fair Park is a 266 ft glass sphere that served as the symbol of the 1982 World's Fair. The 4th level of the Sunsphere houses the Observation Deck that offers 360-degree view of the park, downtown, Tennessee River, University of Tennessee, and the Smoky Mountains. The 6th and 8th levels of the Sunsphere house can be rented for private events.


Museum

McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture

#10 in Best Top 10 Places to Visit in Knoxville

McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture is located on the campus of the University of Tennessee. The museum exhibits focus on natural history, archaeology, anthropology, decorative arts, and local history. The history museum also offers academic programs and provide educational programming. Permanent exhibitions include Ancient Egypt: The Eternal Voice, Archaeology & the Native Peoples of Tennessee, Edmontosaurus Annectens, Geology & Fossil History of Tennessee, Human Origins: Searching for our Fossil Ancestors, Tennessee Freshwater Mussels, The Civil War in Knoxville: The Battle of Fort Sanders, and The Decorative Experience.

Hours & Admission

Knoxville Parks

  1. World's Fair Park