Travelers from the north are sometimes surprised that Knoxville, Tennessee, here in the Sun Belt, has an ice culture. But it’s not a novelty, or something new we’ve created to please northern tourists. The Holidays on Ice skating rink has been a feature on Market Square since the 1980s, albeit much…
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Country music has never been more popular than it is now, thanks to several current figures who had their starts in or near Knoxville, from Dolly Parton to Kenny Chesney to Kelsea Ballerini. But the national country-music phenomenon has much deeper roots, with a dramatic story that unfolded in…
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Knoxville is very proud of its seven Historic House Museums, and they all have many opportunities to learn about life in this region from various eras. The holiday season is especially festive with open houses and other events. Let’s get to it to see what each of these homes have to offer during the…
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On Nov. 8, 2025, Ijams Nature Center celebrates a remarkable milestone: 50 years of serving East Tennessee and beyond as a nonprofit organization dedicated to nature, education, and stewardship. Fifty years of walking trails, watching birds, and learning. Fifty years of caring for and restoring the…
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East Tennessee’s landscapes are full of beauty, history, and just a touch of mystery — making fall the perfect time to explore with a little spooky spirit. From eerie cemeteries to ghostly legends, these hikes and walks blend outdoor adventure with spine-tingling stories from the past. Lace up your…
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Maybe Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell never lived here, though they did both work with a future UT scientific scholar Brown Ayres, honoree of Ayres Hall, early in his career. Still, for at least 150 years, the city has seen its share of innovative thinkers. One of the most celebrated in…
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Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness is a 1,000-acre outdoor playground just minutes from downtown, perfect for adventures year-round. Whether you’re into paddling calm waters, chasing adrenaline on mountain bike trails, or simply exploring nature with the family, you’ll find your perfect fit here. To make…
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When did Knoxvillians start drinking coffee? It’s always fun to see how Knoxvillians first responded to things we now take for granted: football, pizza, opera, steamboats, bluegrass, soft drinks, Halloween, beer, etc. We can’t do that for coffee. Coffee was always here. And that fact is surprising…
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Tucked just beyond the heart of downtown Knoxville but still a part of the buzz, the Old City invites you to look closer and immerse yourself in one of East Tennessee’s most character-rich neighborhoods. You’ll find 100+ year-old original brick pavers down Jackson Avenue, historic warehouses turned…
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When did Knoxville become known for ice cream? Ice cream has become one of downtown’s reliable attractions, and Knoxville has several fine ice-cream makers, some of which are so notably famous they form lines on the sidewalk on a summer day, but none of them more authentically old-fashioned than…
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