Stuff to do (besides eat) in Knoxville (Oak Ridge, Maryville: amusement parks, credit)

[rpmgatech]

Hi Everyone,

My wife and I moved to Knoxville (around Cedar Bluff) from Atlanta about 3 months ago. We have enjoyed the area so far. We love how there is practically no traffic, we like how people are really friendly, and we love the low cost of living (relative to Atlanta).

What is there to do in Knoxville? Since we have been here, we have noticed that there are tons of restaurants and we enjoy eating at plenty of them, we like the Regal Pinnacle, and we like being close to the Smokies. I have come to somewhat of a rut. I am trying to find other stuff to do. It may be right under my nose, but I feel like my wife and I are spending more and more time sitting around our house.

To give you some examples of stuff we did in Atlanta: go walk around Atlanta Station and shop, go ice skating, go to Braves games, Thrashers games, Falcons games, Georgia Tech games, go tubing, go to Six Flags Whitewater, go on walking trails, go to the Botanical Gardens, go to the zoo, the aquarium, Stone Mountain, etc. Can you give me some Knoxville equivalents. I am sure there are plenty of them, I am just new and don't know what there is to do. Also, do you have any suggestions for social groups around here where I can meet some friends (other young professionals)? Thanks!!

[VolDude]

UT football starts 9/5, Ice Bears hockey in the civic center downtown in the winter (although they are minor league and play on a smaller rink), UT men's and women's basketball in the winter, walk around Market Square/Gay Street/Old City, Fountain City duck pond and the area itself, Sequoyah Hills park, go tubing on the Little River in Townsend, Tennessee Smokies games in Kodak (AA minor league baseball), Frisbee golf in Concord Park near/in Farragut (amongst other locales, one being Sequoyah I believe), Knoxville Zoo, hike House Mountain (on a non-muggy day you can see all the way to downtown), the Disc Exchange in SoKno, Ijams Nature Center, Sundown in the City concerts in the late spring/summer (free), and of course the Great Smokey Mountains.

[hiknapster]

TONS of stuff.

It would be a good idea for you to plug into knoxnews.com and metropulse.com

This Saturday, there is a historic festival downtown. There will be a historic timeline with the Cherokees, Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War II eras represented as well as a cop from about 1900.

The East Tennessee Historical Society will have two beautiful exhibits.

Live music will be presented all day at Market Square.

The trolley will bring people around to several different historical homes.

And it is all free!

And if that completely bores you, head over to World's Fair Park for the Irish Festival.

[knoxgarden]

In addition to those great recommendations, get a copy of the Knoxville Visitors Guide mailed to you. It's free.
Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation | Get The Knoxville Visitors Guide
The Market Square website will keep you up-to-date on what's going on downtown.
Market Square District Association
If you like walking trails, head to the Greenways. There's 41 miles of them in the city.
City of Knoxville - Greenways
We have a great zoo.
KNOXVILLE ZOO
And there are tons of amusement parks out in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, with Dollywood topping the list.
To meet people, go to event in Market Square, like the free movies. And try Alive after Five at the Knoxville Museum of Art. It combines good food and good music at a low cost.
Knoxville Museum of Art
And try some non-credit courses at UT. They have excellent programs. Learn about anything from redecorating to quickbooks.
University Outreach & Continuing Education
If you're interested in ceramics, the Raku firings at Mighty Mud are fun. They also have classes.
Mighty Mud Raku Firings
For Sports, we may not have the pro teams Atlanta has but we've got the Ice Bears minor league hockey and the Vols. Football tickets can be hard to come by but you can usually get basketball tickets -- men and women -- and other sports are supported well here, too.
Great women's softball and men's baseball. Several UT swimmers were at the Olympics. Also a good way to meet people.
The University of Tennessee: Athletics and Recreation
And the UT Gardens are a great place for a stroll and a picnic on the river.
UT Gardens | Home Page
And check out Slow Food Knoxville. They have some great events.
Slow Food Knoxville
That should keep you busy. There's no reason to be bored in Knoxville. There's always something going on.

[hiknapster]

I always have the opposite problem. Too much going on and not enough time.

[Kitties of Domination]

Brewer's Jam in October. Live bands and about 30 beer companies from all over the country. Go outlet shopping at 5 Oaks in Sevierville. Go to the zoo. Do the tastings at the wineries in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. If you do all of them, you get a free wine glass. Go to the Farmer's Market on Tuesday and Friday. Art and bands downtown on First Fridays. Go to Boomsday on Labor Day. Knoxville now has a minor league basketball team. Check out the Old City on the weekend.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by Kitties of Domination

Go to the Farmer's Market on Tuesday and Friday.

That's the one at Sequoyah. Then there's the downtown farmer's market on Wednesday and Saturday. And let's not forget the Harvest market on Thursday.

That's not even counting the one out in or near Farrugut, plus the Oak Ridge and Maryville ones.

Just chasing fresh veggies, meat and eggs can occupy all of your free time.

[georgialee]

There's so much going on in Knoxville at all times of the year! There's always something going on in Market Square (sundown in the city, farmers market, concerts, etc.). We have hockey, baseball, football, etc... though some will be college and not professional. There's the aquarium down in Gatlinburg, Dollywood and tons of stuff to do in Pigeon Forge. Plus the HUGE outlet mall there. There's also festivals, etc. in Townsend about every month. You just need to get the Sunday paper and check out the events section as well as go on different city/county websites for events.

[William Sold]

Wow, I think you've just got your next 6 months planned out.....I know I just did! Thanks everyone for all the great ideas. You may want to check out the Knoxville Tourism and Sports Coporation, (Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation | The Official Site of Knoxville) to find out a lot of stuff in the area to do.

Also, for alot of other like minded young professionals, you may want to check this page out. They get together pretty often, do some fun stuff, and are a very open and friendly large group that welcomes newcomers. (Knoxville Night Out (Knoxville, TN) - Meetup.com)

[oldmanbob]

We have a small zoo, several greenways for walking or biking,the first Friday of each month, downtown has several artist on display, called First Fridays, Wild Wings, has a pretty good water show each Thursday evening, surrounded by a dozen state parks, Gatlingburg is always fun, surrounded by 5 good lakes, and plenty of parks to walk. Several Knoxville Chamber events, and Farragut events, great place to network and tons of networking oppurtunities, and if you like, you can dm me, for tons of groups to visit. Several large churches, have all kinds of group and outdoor activities. Good luck and just keep getting out.