The Sunsphere is an amazing architectural wonder and remnant from the 1982 World's Fair in…read moreKnoxville. My visit to the Sunsphere made my day. The 342' steel structure was designed by Don Shell and completed in 1982. The glass on the 75' sphere is coated with gold dust. During the World's Fair, a small restaurant operated at the top and visitors could visit the observation deck for $2. We were passing through Knoxville and my daughter wanted to visit. Today, visitors can pay to go up to the observation deck of the giant structure. ($10 for adults). You can buy tickets on line or at the Sunsphere. When we arrived, the Sphere was closed until 1:30, so we did not go up in it. But we enjoyed walking around and taking photos. There is parking a block south and the walk through the park is lovely. There is a drop off circle near the Sunshpere as well. Let's are not allowed in the structure.

Knoxville wanted to do something truly special for the 1982 World's Fair. The result was the…read moreSunsphere. The theme for the fair was "Energy turns the world" and Knoxville showcased solar energy by creating a replica of the Sun. I was fortunate enough to visit the Sunsphere during their "free local days" and all you need to show is your license to prove you're local to Knoxville. More free local days will be announced throughout the coming year, so stay tuned. Definitely recommend elevating your view of our little city by visiting the Sunsphere. Know Before You Go: ~ $10 tickets per adult and also annual passes can be bought in person. $40 for an individual annual pass or $120 for a family pass. Both passes are good for a calendar year. ~24 kt. gold panels are actually glass layered with gold dust. ~The Sunsphere observation deck was re-opened on February 22, 2022. The floor offers a 360-degree view of the Great Smoky Mountains, World's Fair Park, the Tennessee River, and the UT Campus. ~There is a small gift shop offering everything from Sunsphere Christmas ornaments, tee shirts, Sunsphere coffee tumblers, stickers, postcards, and more.

A very busy part of the Market Square area, this pedestrian bridge runs from Locust Street and…read moreacross Henley Street alongside the convention center. It brings together the Market Square retail and restaurant area with the World's Fair park and the Sunsphere. The bridge is wide enough for a golf-cart and definitely wide enough for four people to walk abreast. At Locust Street, the bridge is at street level. At the other side near the Sunsphere, there is a set of stairs and an elevator. There's also a nice view of the World's Fair park. If you're not interested in crossing Henley Street at street level, which I completely understand as it is a very busy road, this bridge will help. [Review 12898 overall, 214 of 2020.]

This is a neat bridge that takes you from one part of Knoxville to another part of Knoxville it's…read morenot a very long bridge but it has some cool sites all on the way and it's nice how it's covered and it takes you right over to the stratosphere sons here in the Knoxville world fair so that's cool to see but this is a nice little bridge that wasn't expecting to come upon while we were there so it's definitely cool walk across instead of walking across the street's

Not that long ago, the United States Congress finally past the 19th Amendment, "The right of…read morecitizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." A very simple sentence that conveyed a lot of rights to half of the citizens of our country. Once Congress approves a Constitutional Amendment, it must be ratified by a percentage of States. At that time, it needed to be at least 36 to reach the requirement. Thirty-five other states ratified the Amendment before Tennessee did. It took them a year and much debate before a tie vote in the state house of representatives was broken by a single vote. Looking back now, you really have to wonder about Tennessee's elected representatives! This monument is dedicated to the suffragists who made it possible and has a prominent spot in Knoxville's Market Square. [Review 12892 overall, 208 of 2020.]

Neat little statue that holds a lot of history behind it. I'm not sure why this statute is here in…read moreAsheville maybe it took place here? But it is a nice representation of women's rights and I am all for that and equality. It is nice to show my daughters how far women have come over the years

This was a great little side trip that we had drove by and decided to stop and look around. They…read moreare only open certain days so check before you go. They have guided tours which cost ($5 for adults and $4 for kids), but worth it since you actually get some history and get to go in the different buildings. You can also just walk around and look for free, you just can't go in the buildings. Our tour guide was really informative and patient with my son who had a million questions. We plan on going back and walking around more since we only got to do the front part because of the time (we had somewhere else to be at a certain time). There is about 35 acres total. They also have a small gift shop and restrooms.

Cute spot to watch waterfalls and drink a beer, for non beer people, there's sodas and some snacks…read more Very cheap to do.

A true gem off the side of the road in Wears Valley. If a beer garden and a waterfall had a baby,…read moreyou'd find yourself gem mining at Friendly Falls. They're under new ownership, beers are cold and cheap, and you can relax at picnic tables, play in the waterfall, or play disc golf or darts while the rushing sounds of the waterfalls soothe you into a relaxing state. You'll know you're in the right spot if the Christmas lights are twinkling and the chain rope is open. Can't recommend this little spot enough

FORT SANDERS HISTORICAL MARKER…read more Nothing remains of the site known as Fort Sanders. Just a few years following the war, homes were being built on this historical site. However, I was determined to locate the historical marker and stand on the site that serves as a reminder of this famous . So as we are following the address in the GPS, we see nothing. We are clearly in a residential area and I know that I am looking for a marker. As traffic starts to back up, I decide to just get out and walk. I'm looking all over and eventually catch up to the car because there was nothing at the indicated address As we turn the corner, I see a sign. OMG, I tell my husband to pull over quickly and I literally jump out of the car. SCORRRRRRRRRRRRRRE!! I was so excited and a bit shocked to realize that the markers and monument are located in the most random spot you could ever imagine. It is literally in a mixed use area next to a side walk. If you didn't see the specific signs that actually border this landmark, you might assume that this is just a large misplaced rock. Fort Sanders has an important place in history because it represents a significant battle in Civil War history, and especially the city of Knoxville. On November 29, 1863, approximately 180 men were killed while hundreds more were injured during a battle that only lasted for 20 minutes. Next time you drive or walk by that big rock, THINK about that. ***The stone marker was erected by the Knoxville Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy on November 29, 1914. It is inscribed with the following words: Nor wreck, nor change, nor winter's blight, Nor Time's remorseless doom, Shall dim one ray of glory's light That gilds your glorious tomb.

A nice kept up historical buildings and the older gentleman was very nice and informative…read more Nice place. Recommend

We are slowly making our way through Knoxville's historical sites. We stopped by the fort on a cold…read moreweek day. The office had a lovely fire going that made checking in/paying cozy and comfortable before heading back outside. They offer discounts for a variety of folks including students and AAA members. The gentleman at the desk gave us some papers with information about each building and mentioned that each location had a QR code if we want to scan and listen to the history instead of reading. There was only one other group there so we went the opposite direction so that our audio wouldn't be distracting. The audio was a great addition and made the viewing so much more interesting!

Market Square in downtown Knoxville has so much to offer. There are numerous shops and restaurants…read moreto explore, or you can simply sit on one of the benches and watch life go by. I highly recommend a visit. The atmosphere is more lively and safe than some cities I've been to, and it gives big city energy with small hometown hospitality.

The square is really cute and has shops and restaurants all along the perimeter. It has a stage…read moreand hosts lots of different types of events.

An amazing and unforgettable experience - perhaps the crowning jewel of our entire trip. Olivia was…read morea knowledgeable and personable guide. I loved hearing about how the cave was discovered by little kids - brothers - who spent their childhoods playing in it, and how they later grew up to save enough money to buy it outright and keep it in the family thereafter (and it's still privately owned by the family to this day!) At the start, we were a bit concerned about the amount of walking - and in particular, the steps. Our youngest is at the age where he wants to be independent, but he needs extra time to manage stairs (and some of those passages were narrow and steep enough to where we didn't feel comfortable carrying him) but we needn't have worried. Our large group had some adults who needed extra time with stairs, as well as people who took full advantage of our pace to snap more photos (and I've been on another cave tour where we were rushed through and unable to take many photos at all); nobody seemed to mind. I was also worried about not bringing a sweater, as the cave is 58 degrees year round, but it's a little bit of a workout which keeps you warm. If you have any health issues like a heart condition or anything affecting the function of your lungs it might be too intense (I'm just fat, and it was mildly strenuous: just when your heart starts to pound and you're breath is coming in faster you've reached your next destination and you return to resting state - this happens a couple times.) The cave is like being on another planet. We snapped some amazing photos. When it was time to return to the world above, my kids were sad that it was over.

If you're heading to Townsend. Tuckaleechee Caverns is a must-do…read more This place is absolutely worth the visit. Pricing is reasonable, and the experience is unforgettable. We had Kash as our tour guide and he was fantastic, energetic, kind, and amazing with kids. He kept everyone engaged, answered every question, and clearly knows the caverns inside and out. Even in a large group, you could still hear him clearly throughout the walk. The tour runs about 1.5 hours and covers over a mile underground. Be ready for stairs, lots of them (around 87 steep steps on the way out), and this is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. The cave floor is wet, so good shoes are a must. You'll also duck in a few spots, but not constantly. The views are unreal: a waterfall, a stream, stalactites, stalagmites, and massive natural columns you get to see up close while learning the history behind them. It stays cool inside, but you'll warm up from all the walking. It's well organized even when multiple groups are passing each other, and everything flows smoothly. The gift shop is also a win: well stocked, fair prices, and they accept cards. Bottom line: if you love nature, caves, geology, or just want a unique family experience, this is 100% worth your time.