Travel: Knoxville, TN

This past month we made our yearly pilgrimage home to Tennessee. Each holiday season, we get a chance to fly back to our home state and split the better part of two weeks between my family and Josh’s. This year, we went into Knoxville first to see my family.

Growing up in Knoxville was great but there was very little to do, especially downtown! Around the time that I graduated high school, downtown Knoxville started to make some wonderful changes. There were better restaurants and bars that were starting to open up. Now everytime I make the trip back home, I end up going to Market Square several times over the trip.

If you find yourself in downtown Knoxville, make sure you walk about the World’s Fair Park and check out the Sunsphere. Make a trip to The Old City to get a pizza and beer at Barley’s or grab a cup of coffee at Old City Java. Gay street has an endless list of places to go: great beer at Suttree’s High Gravity Tavern, movies at Regal Rivera 8, bowling at Maple Hall, sushi at Nama, dinner and a pint at Downtown Grill and Brewery, or crepes at The French Market.

Now to make you way to Market Square and eat you little heart out, every restaurant on Market Square is delicious. You have Tupelo Honey, Soccer Taco, Blue Coast Grill, Not Watson’s and Cafe 4 for food; Peter Kern Library, Preservation Pub and Scruffy City Hall of drinks; Earth to Old City and Earthbound Trading for a bit of shopping; Coffee and Chocolate for some coffee; and finally the Oliver Hotel to rest your little head from visiting all of those places. I could go on all day telling you about all of the great eats around the city, but we don’t have time for all of that.

Our Top Recommendations:

Do:

Watch a Show at the Bijou Theatre
Drink and Get Your Pinball Wizard on at Harrogate’s Lounge
Bowl and Socialize at Maple Hall
Catch a Game at Historic Neyland Stadium, GBO!

Eat:

Southern Comfort Foods at Tupelo Honey Cafe
Eat Local at Blue Coast Bar and Grill
Get Your Morning Started with Maker’s Donuts

Drink:

Say Ale Yes! (With a Side of Ramen) at Suttree’s High Gravity Tavern
Have a Pint (and Take One to Go) at The Casual Pint
Get Caffeinated at Old City Java

Stay:

The Oliver Hotel – Market Square

If you find yourself in Tennessee, or anywhere in the Smoky Mountains area, check out this great little city! Where did you guys travel over the holiday? We’re busy planning our next out of town trip, and would love some suggestions!