Traveling to Knoxville or the Gatlinburg area? It is pretty overwhelming once you get there; it is a town full of adventures, from hiking to go carting or even seeing the Titanic!
Let us guide you on what to do in Knoxville, Tennessee!
We had a very exciting weekend!!! Megan’s very best friend got engaged, such a happy life moment to share. The proposal took place on the shore of Lake Douglas in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. Have to share some pictures with you all… They may have invited us just for our camera skills 😉
So obviously our first stop was not in Knoxville but in the Great Smoky Mountains. If you haven’t been here and love the mountains it is a must stop in the USA!
Take at least one day of relaxation in a mountainside cabin. Most have a hot tub, which is the absolute BEST in cooler weather! Probably the only part of cooler weather that I enjoy.
If you are traveling to the Smokies you have a lot of choices of mountainside towns; the top stays are Gatlinburg, Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. We were in Sevierville, which is probably the least touristy and more secluded.
Little travel tip: if you are going to Sevierville for any celebrations or fun getaways, it is a “damp county” meaning they only sell beer, oh and I managed to find the one place with wine. So get your celebratory drinks in Gatlinburg so you don’t have to venture back into town.
The great thing on Lake Douglas was the BEAUTIFUL sunset and sunrise!
Make a mountain stop
Our goal the next day was to hike Mount Laconte but one of us maybe celebrated a little too hard the night before! It happens! Always have a backup plan.
Ours happened to be to just have a lovely viewing of Mount Laconte, it was just perfect for our day!
Explore the City Streets
Now, what to do if you are traveling only to Knoxville, Tennessee and you don’t have time for the mountain escape?
Knoxville was actually a really cute town! This is not where we would have chosen to visit if we were planning a vacation but since we had an event here, we wanted to make the most of it!
Knoxville had the most adorable downtown square with charming local restaurants.
Eat A Lot of Great Food!
Enjoy some good southern cooking in Knoxville…
Tupelo Honey was our first foodie haven. And O M G!
From the mimosas to the mouthwatering brunch food, we were in absolute heaven! I had a “grownup” grilled cheese, which is one of my personal favorite menu items to try. This was the best I have had complete with pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, ham and BACON! YUM!
My mouth is watering just reliving it. Andrew had some breakfast deliciousness, poached eggs with ham, cheese, and bacon on top of a biscuit with a side of home fries. I had a bite and yes it was INCREDIBLE.
Tupelo Honey gets a 5 star in our book and I would definitely go back if I had a chance.
We also went to “Downtown Bar and Grill” not so creative on the name. Food was good though, they do a good burger. They also have their own brewery which is kind of neat, we didn’t try any of their house beer but I have a feeling this place is fun on game days.
The Sunsphere
The final stop was the Sunsphere located in the heart of downtown Knoxville. If you are traveling to Knoxville make a stop here! It is what the city is known for, tourism wise. It’s really pretty to look at…. And make cool pictures out of…
The whole adventure itself is a little overrated but still fun. You’re about 230 feet up and you get a good contrast of the Smoky mountains and the city but the viewing glass is a little foggy so it makes your view not quite as pretty as you imagined in your head.
It’s really just a ten-minute activity to throw into your day before heading to lunch or something. We really wanted to eat on the restaurant on the 5th floor but they weren’t open on Sundays or Mondays. That’s what landed us in the Downtown Bar and Grill.
There’s a park with a great lawn and fountains right across the way, which offers a nice view of the Sunsphere and if the weather is nice, it is a lovely stroll.
If you’re looking for a quick and relaxing getaway Tennessee is a surprisingly great spot to visit!
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