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There are other changes as well.
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It's time to move on and move forward.
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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this!
We are headed to Knoxville next month. My 8 year old son and I will be free during the day, and then my husband will join us in the evenings. Any suggestions on what to do while we're there?
I've found lots of info online, but would really trust a PassPorter's recommendation!
Thanks!
~Kimber
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My hometown is just west of K-town. There's not a whole lot to do in the city itself. People like to shop and eat a lot, so there are several nice (very large) shopping centers and a nice mall on the west end of town. The Knoxville Zoo is on the east end of town - I havent been there in several years but enjoyed it when I was younger. If your family is into sports, the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame is in the downtown area. I have never visited the Knoxville Museum of Art, but have heard it is very nice, and is totally free so no loss if you don't care for it, lol.
If you are willing to drive 30-45 minutes, that is a whole other ball game as far as entertainment. The Pigeon Forge/Sevierville/Gatlinburg area is a major tourist mecca just east of the city, and there is lots to do. The Great Smoky Mtns. Natl. Park is there. Dollywood amusement park (owned by Dolly Parton, who is a local resident) is in Pigeon Forge- it's not Disney, but it's probably one of the nicest small parks in America (very clean, very good food). You have all the regular tourist stuff available - putt-putt golf, tacky tourist traps, large outlet malls, etc., as well as some more unusual stuff like zip-line tours (fun, fun, fun!). The home of the Tennessee Smokies minor league baseball team is in Kodak (between K-town and Sevierville) - that could be a good family activity one night. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is in Gatlinburg, one of the most (if not the most) visited aquariums in the country. It is tourist season now, so do be prepared for crowds if you visit that area, especially certain areas of the Natl. Park.
That's what I can think of off the top of my head! LOL If there's anything in particular you want more info on, or if you need recommendations for hotels or dining, just let me know! And have fun planning!
Oh remembered another one - 30 minutes to the west is the City of Oak Ridge, which housed a lot of the work on the Manhattan Project back in World War II. The American Museum of Science and Energy there definitely deserves a visit, especially if your son is into science.
I love Pigeon Forge which isnt to far from Knoxville...There is so much to do there including Dollywood and in Gatlinburg there is the Ripley's aquarium. There is Wonderworks in Pigeon Forge and lots of mini golf and go carts and shopping. Have fun while you are there.
Thanks for the info!
Our town doesn't have a zoo, so we thought we'd give the Knoxville one a try since we have nothing to compare it to! LOL!
I didn't realize that the Museum of Art was free, thanks!
We're staying at a hotel downtown. (Near the convention center) Any suggestions on shopping/movie theaters near there?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katara81
My hometown is just west of K-town. There's not a whole lot to do in the city itself. People like to shop and eat a lot, so there are several nice (very large) shopping centers and a nice mall on the west end of town. The Knoxville Zoo is on the east end of town - I havent been there in several years but enjoyed it when I was younger. If your family is into sports, the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame is in the downtown area. I have never visited the Knoxville Museum of Art, but have heard it is very nice, and is totally free so no loss if you don't care for it, lol.
If you are willing to drive 30-45 minutes, that is a whole other ball game as far as entertainment. The Pigeon Forge/Sevierville/Gatlinburg area is a major tourist mecca just east of the city, and there is lots to do. The Great Smoky Mtns. Natl. Park is there. Dollywood amusement park (owned by Dolly Parton, who is a local resident) is in Pigeon Forge- it's not Disney, but it's probably one of the nicest small parks in America (very clean, very good food). You have all the regular tourist stuff available - putt-putt golf, tacky tourist traps, large outlet malls, etc., as well as some more unusual stuff like zip-line tours (fun, fun, fun!). The home of the Tennessee Smokies minor league baseball team is in Kodak (between K-town and Sevierville) - that could be a good family activity one night. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is in Gatlinburg, one of the most (if not the most) visited aquariums in the country. It is tourist season now, so do be prepared for crowds if you visit that area, especially certain areas of the Natl. Park.
That's what I can think of off the top of my head! LOL If there's anything in particular you want more info on, or if you need recommendations for hotels or dining, just let me know! And have fun planning!
Thanks for the info!
Our town doesn't have a zoo, so we thought we'd give the Knoxville one a try since we have nothing to compare it to! LOL!
I didn't realize that the Museum of Art was free, thanks!
We're staying at a hotel downtown. (Near the convention center) Any suggestions on shopping/movie theaters near there?
Unfortunately there is not alot of shopping on the east end of town (where the downtown area is). That side of town is a little run-down. But, Knoxville is not that big, and if you are downtown you are going to have direct access to I-40. So I would suggest going to the Turkey Creek area on the west end - it's at the Lovell Road exit on I-40W - it has several shopping centers on one road, plenty to choose from. And they have a spectacular movie theatre! Lots of good restaurants in that area too - Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse, Smoky Mtn. Brewery, Calhouns are all good. If you decide to visit the West Towne Mall (try to if you have time, it is nice and they have a Disney Store!), it is at the West Hills exit off I-40W. There is also a good movie theatre inside the mall, it's a six-screen I think so it's quite a bit smaller than the one at Turkey Creek though.
I don't know a whole lot about the downtown area - it always confuses me to drive in it, lol. DH was at the Marriott for a conference a couple years ago, and I went for a couple days, and I never did get my bearings in that area. It might be fun to walk around that area one afternoon though - a visit to the World's Fair Park might be interesting (forgot to mention that one before, lol, Knoxville hosted the World's Fair many years ago now). I'm not sure if you can still go up in the Sunsphere or not, but might be worth looking into to see if you can.
Let me know how you like the zoo! I saw that they have a new exhibit for their red pandas, my DD would LOVE to see that!
Alissa! You are a life saver!
Turkey Creek is exactly what I was looking for!!
I'm also glad you mentioned the Disney Store...we absolutely must go there! =)
Thank you so very, very much!!!!
~Kimber
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katara81
Unfortunately there is not alot of shopping on the east end of town (where the downtown area is). That side of town is a little run-down. But, Knoxville is not that big, and if you are downtown you are going to have direct access to I-40. So I would suggest going to the Turkey Creek area on the west end - it's at the Lovell Road exit on I-40W - it has several shopping centers on one road, plenty to choose from. And they have a spectacular movie theatre! Lots of good restaurants in that area too - Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse, Smoky Mtn. Brewery, Calhouns are all good. If you decide to visit the West Towne Mall (try to if you have time, it is nice and they have a Disney Store!), it is at the West Hills exit off I-40W. There is also a good movie theatre inside the mall, it's a six-screen I think so it's quite a bit smaller than the one at Turkey Creek though.
I don't know a whole lot about the downtown area - it always confuses me to drive in it, lol. DH was at the Marriott for a conference a couple years ago, and I went for a couple days, and I never did get my bearings in that area. It might be fun to walk around that area one afternoon though - a visit to the World's Fair Park might be interesting (forgot to mention that one before, lol, Knoxville hosted the World's Fair many years ago now). I'm not sure if you can still go up in the Sunsphere or not, but might be worth looking into to see if you can.
Let me know how you like the zoo! I saw that they have a new exhibit for their red pandas, my DD would LOVE to see that!
Thank you so much!
We have some friends who have season passes to Dollywood! We checked with them, and they advised us to wait until the temps come down and school is back in session.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Connieq288
I love Pigeon Forge which isnt to far from Knoxville...There is so much to do there including Dollywood and in Gatlinburg there is the Ripley's aquarium. There is Wonderworks in Pigeon Forge and lots of mini golf and go carts and shopping. Have fun while you are there.
Alissa! You are a life saver!
Turkey Creek is exactly what I was looking for!!
I'm also glad you mentioned the Disney Store...we absolutely must go there! =)
Thank you so very, very much!!!!
~Kimber
You are very welcome, and I hope you have a great time!
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You are very welcome, and I hope you have a great time!
Hi, Alissa!
We are back from Knoxville, and I am so, so grateful for your help!!
We saw Cars 2 at Turkey Creek, ate at both Calhoun's and Smoky Mtn, and managed to get our son "knighted" at a Cars 2 event at the Disney Store!
We also spent a few hours (and a lot of money!) at McKay's Used Books, upon the recommendation of one of our waitresses. If you like books, it's pure heaven!!
Thank you again for all your tips!! They turned a good trip into a great one!!
Blessings,
Kimber
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There's not a whole lot to do in the city itself. People like to shop and eat a lot, so there are several nice (very large) shopping centers and a nice mall on the west end of town. The Knoxville Zoo is on the east end of town - I havent been there in several years but enjoyed it when I was younger. If your family is into sports, the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame is in the downtown area. I have never visited the Knoxville Museum of Art, but have heard it is very nice, and is totally free so no loss if you don't care for it, lol. 
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