Knoxville is my hometown and there are definitely some fun things to do! Be sure to spend some time in the Old City and Market Square, near downtown. There are some great little restaurants and shops to visit. The Tomato Head is a popular spot to grab some fresh and inventive pizza or sandwiches. Also make time to check out the Smoky Mountains and Cades Cove since they are so close by. Knoxville is certainly not a major cultural city, but it's an up and coming city full of friendly people and beautiful scenery.

Posted By Emily Utt on December 17, 2007, 12:43 PM

Restaurants in Knoxville:

Calhouns hands down.

Posted By Marge on December 17, 2007, 12:52 PM

Tip:
If you have a sense for the challenging and love sports cars or motorcycles, while in Knoxville you should visit the Deals Gap area. US 129 has an 11 mile strech of road with 318 curves. Very popular and they have locally owed rental houses/cottages too. The Cherahola Parkway is said to be amazing too. The scenery is outstanding even if you don't care for the challenging roads. The "dam scene" from the movie "The Fugitive" with Harrison Ford was taped in this area as well.
Enjoy.

Posted By Todd Daniels on December 17, 2007, 1:04 PM

I stayed at Knoxville last year for a conference. I appreciated how compact it was, easy to walk around. In my limited free time, I had a nice couple of hours at the smallish Knoxville Museum of Art just between the University campus and downtown. I was the only person in the gallery, and the person at the door was a UT art student who was very knowledgeable about the pieces on display, and gave me a guided tour. Ate at Nama Sushi bar, and had 1/2 price sushi before 6 pm.

Posted By Paul Prew on December 17, 2007, 1:23 PM

For an excellent sandwich-head to Sam and Andy's! A must stop for me everytime I stop through.

Posted By Stephanie Fox on December 17, 2007, 3:18 PM

We stopped at Knoxville's Downtown Grill and Brewery on Gay Street (www.downtownbrewery.com) while on vaction last year largely because it was one place we could take our dog who was camping with us (they have outdoor seating). We got our food and a growler of beer to go. The staff was wonderful, the food and beer were delicious. I highly recommend it.

Posted By Kim Yavorski on December 17, 2007, 3:51 PM

Restaurants: There are tons. Calhoun's on the River, Downtown Grill and Brewery, Patrick Sullivan's in the Old City. Museums: The Dulin Art Gallery, Knoxville Museum of Art, McClung Museum (UT campus, Ewing Gallery (also UT Campus). Theatre: Clarence Brown (UT campus), Tennessee Theatre. I've included a great link to a visitor's site that you might like.
http://www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/visitors.asp

Posted By Deanna Ingersoll on December 17, 2007, 5:49 PM

There's a quaint b&b called maplehurst inn (http://www.maplehurstinn.com/) that you can stay at that is close to town. Eating places I would recommend is Kan Pai of Tokyo (http://www.kanpaioftokyo.com)on Downtown West Blvd. We have a small museum that you might find entertaining (http://www.knoxart.org/). I would take some time to go downtown as well to market square which has some small shopping areas (http://www.knoxvillemarketsquare.com/). I hope this helps you out with your visit.

Posted By Ramsey Greene on December 17, 2007, 6:15 PM

If you are in to sports, see the Basketball Hall of Fame. Knoxville is as old as our country. See the Blount Mansion downtown (18th Cent) and the Bleak House run by the Daughters of the Confederacy just west of downtown on Kingston Pike. If you like French cuisine, go to The Orangery. By The Tracks Bistro is good. For Asian: Stir Fry Cafe (2 locations).

Posted By Janet Michel on December 17, 2007, 6:26 PM

I've been going to Knoxville to visit friends for years. One of my favorite restaurants is the Bistro (5200 Kingston Pike). It's got a great wine list, some extraordinarily interesting French-inspired cuisine, and friendly and efficient service, all at a mid-range price.

For a casual coffee with or without a muffin or pastry, I like Old City Java (109 S Central St). It's pretty funky, but free wifi and a great cup of joe will keep you happy for a long time. And right around the corner is the Complex, a treasure trove of unusual gift items that prove Knoxvillians have both a sense of humor and some style.

My favorite little treasure in Knoxville is the Joseph B. Wolffe Gallery (1914 Andy Holt Blvd, I think this is the Physical Education building of the Univ. of Tennessee), though it OUGHT to be called the R. Tait McKenzie Museum. It contains over 100 of McKenzie's exquisitely crafted bronze sculptures, medals and medallions, all showing nude male athletes jumping, swimming, playing ball, even ice skating (nude!?). You'll quickly see why McKenzie is known internationally as "the sculptor of athletes." Some of the most stunningly beautiful sculpture in American history.

And let's not forget the Knoxville zoo -- it's smaller than many, but beautifully landscaped and a wonderful place to spend a day with the kids (though I prefer to go on a cold winter day when there are no kids to get in the way).

Posted By Deacon Maccubbin on December 17, 2007, 6:55 PM

Also, if you have time for a side trip, be sure to visit the Smoky Mountains area. It doesn't take that long to get there from Knoxville. The Smokies has great shopping and entertainment, not to mention the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Posted By Ross on December 17, 2007, 8:14 PM

A must restaurant is Foothills Milling Co., in near by Maryville. Family owned, large portions of New Southern styl cooking.
David
Atlanta GA

Posted By David Janssen on December 18, 2007, 11:51 AM

Two fascinating museums near Knoxville are:

1) Oak Ridge, a short drive to the west, has exhibits explaining the WWII development of the atom bomb.

2) Townsend, at the edge of the Smokies south of Knoxville, has an intriguing railroad museum with artifacts and explanations of lumbering by rail in what is now the national park, and how the Park area was donated to the government by the lumber company when lumbering was no longer profitable.

Posted By L. E. McBride on January 7, 2008, 2:29 PM

Visit the great smoky moutains and rent a bike to cycle the cades cove loop, a very easy and beautiful 8 mile ride. Nearby museums include the Appalachian museum just north of Knoxville in Norris TN., the McLung museum on the UT campus, and the Knoxville museum of art. As for dining try the barbeque at Calhouns, for seafood try Chesapeakes, or try the whole wheat pizza at Stephanos. If you're able try to visit in the spring and check out the Dogwood Arts Festival. Also, in the spring, Dollywood in nearby Pigeon Forge, hosts the festival of nations bringing in entertainment from all over the world.

Posted By mark doig on January 7, 2008, 10:30 PM

In downtown Knoxville at the East Tennessee Historical Society there is a small permanent streetscape of Knoxville as it as in the early 1900s. Children will like climbing on board the real streetcar and seeing the old drugstore. There are also temporary exhibits of interest...all free. East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S Gay Street.
865-215-8830 Just half a block east of Market Square.

Posted By Merry Bryant on January 14, 2008, 9:02 PM