Yassin’s Falafel House
If you’re looking for good, cheap Mediterranean food, Yassin’s is the place for you. We had the gyro and the falafel platter and both were great. The best part is the prices. There are a couple tables to dine in, but we took ours to go.

Cruze Dairy Farm Ice Cream
With at least three ice cream places on the street, you know Cruze is good based on their out-the-door lines. Don’t be intimidated if there’s a line – it moves super fast. Cruze has some of the creamiest ice cream I’ve ever had – their ice cream is made fresh with milk from their cow herd. You can get soft serve swirls of unique flavors – the Carrot Cake  and Cream Cheese twist was divine. The Sweet Cream soft serve was also fantastic. If you want something a little different, they have ice cream floats, thicker milkshakes that you eat with a spoon, and fresh milk available for purchase.

Pretentious Beer Co
If you like sours, you need to try a flight at Pretentious Beer Co. Our favorite is their famous Peach Sour, which tastes like the peach ring candy. The Key Lime Cheesecake and Raspberry Whips were also tasty. If you visit, you’ll notice that they have cool, curvy glassware, all of which they hand make (and it’s available for purchase)!

Schulz Brau
This German beer garden is the perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon sipping beer and eating schnitzels, warm pretzels, or wood-fired pizzas – classics like cheese or pepperoni or German-inspired pizzas like the Wurst Pizza which has sweet mustard sauce, sauerkraut, mozzarella & provolone, diced wurst, red onion. Bourbon and wine are available if you want something other than beer. Another cool thing about this brewery is that the outside looks like a castle! Check it out for yourself.

MUST-SEE SIGHTS IN KNOXVILLE

Rowing Man Statue
Walking through downtown Knoxville, you might notice a statue of a man rowing. Depending on where you’re standing it can look like he’s either rowing or sinking. Up to you to decide!

Gay Street
Gay Street is one of the main streets in downtown Knoxville. Here you’ll find restaurants, bars, the theater, and SO MANY ice cream shops, like Cruze Dairy Farm.

Charles Krutch Park
Charles Krutch Park is a small park with some cool sculptures and ponds. It even has a little waterfall. As you walk through the park, it will naturally open up to Market Street.

Market Street
Market Street spans about two blocks and is filled with restaurants, bars, and shops. There’s even a couple rooftop bars with bistro lights. It’s kind of like the main street (Pearl Street) in downtown Boulder, Colorado.

Strong Alley Mural Street
If you’re looking for the mural of Dolly Parton, you’ll find it here, as well as a bunch of other cool murals. Strong Mural Alley is a little bit hidden, but you can find it by walking away from Market Street and towards Gay Street.

Old City
The Old City is where you’ll find a lot of the bars, as well as a few more restaurants. If you’re walking on Gay Street, you’ll see a sign directing you towards the Old City. The two sections of the city naturally connect. 

ACTIVITIES IN KNOXVILLE

Ijams Nature Center
Ijams Nature Center was a highlight of our time in Knoxville. The River Trail is a short trail with a boardwalk jutting out over the Tennessee River. The whole trail is a little under 1.5 miles and will take around 40 minutes if you are walking slowly and enjoying the scenery. The trail is mostly flat, but does have a short uphill section at the end. There are a couple other trails you can choose from if you want to extend your walk.

Ijams also has some other activities, like a ropes course, that you can do.

Walk around the World’s Fair Park
In 1982, Knoxville hosted the World Fair, hence the creation of World’s Faire Park. Here you’ll find the Sunsphere, which is a tall, spherical observation deck. It was built by the same sculptor that built Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains. They also have an amphitheater, splash pads, a colorfully painted bridge underpass, and a veteran’s memorial.

Hike at Fort Dickerson Park and Quarry
Fort Dickerson Park has three short trails ranging from 1 to 3 miles. They’re all pretty flat, easy and not heavily trafficked, so there’s a good chance you’ll have the trail to yourself. The trails overlook the bright blue waters of the Fort Dickerson Quarry. A great way to stretch your legs overlooking beautiful nature.