Local favorites and easy escapes in Knoxville
Curious about what you'll do when you live in Knoxville? If you like the idea of hiking in the Smokies, sampling great local dining, getting artsy in downtown galleries, following Civil War history trails, and are daring enough to try whitewater rafting on rapids, Knoxville is calling you home! This list of fun things to do will take you from mountain trails to urban streets and give you a full taste of The Marble City's outdoor and creative energy.
Mike, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Michael is a Tennessee native who has lived, worked, or worn out tires in all three divisions of the state, from Memphis to Nashville to Johnson City, plus plenty of small towns that never make postcards. He once moved from the far northeast corner of Tennessee to the far southwest for college, stayed twenty years, then somehow boomeranged right back to Appalachia. He knows the difference between mountain quiet and river loud, will defend Memphis BBQ like its a birthright, and can point you to everything from out of the way eateries to where locals actually hunt. We are not all barefoot moonshiners, but yes, some of us know where the real stuff is. At Snappy Scout Michael uses that deep statewide mileage to refine Tennessee moving guides so they're as real as a proper BBQ smoke ring, not some oven baked liquid smoke waste of calories.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What Will You Do in Knoxville?
From weekend adventures to iconic road trips, here's how locals spend their time off.
on a Saturday with perfect weather
Urban Wilderness trails before brunch crowds claim every mimosa.
when the gals come to town for the weekend
Market Square wine bars and Old City bar hopping.
dude hangout
Tailgating at Neyland Stadium with ninety thousand orange friends and afterparty at Calhoun's On the River.
rainy dreary day
Museum of East Tennessee History or cozy brewery crawl.
artsy
Knoxville Museum of Art overlooking the city skyline.
outdoorsy
Ijams Nature Center where town meets actual wilderness fast.
fitness oriented
Running the Gay Street Bridge loop with river views.
with your dog
World's Fair Park where pups outnumber the Sunsphere visitors, and plenty of dog-friendly restaurants and hangouts.
family oriented
Zoo Knoxville red pandas and surprisingly decent exhibits overall.
in need of a selfie
Sunsphere golden ball because tourists gonna tourist proudly.
you have to see this
Neyland Stadium on game day turning entirely orange statewide.
on a budget
Free concerts at Market Square all summer long or the McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture, which features an exhibit on the Civil War in Knoxville, including a 3D map of the city’s defenses.
My Favorite Local Spot in Knoxville
Calhoun's On the River has been THE tailgating, postgame, and docking center for The Vol Navy since 1988. It is also the frequent host of the "Vol Calls" Radio Show for Tennessee Athletics on Monday nights. I always start out with Fried Pickles or Southern Fried Green Tomatoes, then dive into Calhoun's own award-winning Hickory Smoked Bar-B-Q Ribs with Smoky Mountain Baked Beans, and end with Macadamia Nut Banana Pudding. The best coctails are the Hot Tennessee Toddy or the Peanut Butter Conspiracy.
— Mike Stover
Tennessee Local Expert
Ready to See If Knoxville Fits You?
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