Surrounded by the backwoods wilderness of the Great Smoky, the Cumberland, and the Blue Ridge mountains, KNOXVILLE, the original capital of Tennessee, is a rather quiet city of 180,000. Modern skyscrapers, older brick buildings, and riverfront at the bottom of steep bluffs combine to give downtown an attractive edge. On the northern fringe, the Old City centered on Central Street and Jackson Avenue, is a small area of shops, galleries, restaurants, and nightspots in Victorian warehouses.
Knoxville, Tennessee is a stunning mountain town. Visit this location to take in a natural beauty and a few other tourist attractions.
Popular Attractions in Knoxville, Tennessee
#1 – World’s Fair Park
World’s Fair Park is an amusement park located in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is the only operating world’s fair park in the country.
The World’s Fair Park was originally built to house the 1982 World’s Fair and was expanded to include a waterpark, a convention center, and an amphitheater. The original World’s Fair buildings were demolished in 2007.
The World’s Fair Park has been recognized as one of the most visited parks in Tennessee with over 3 million visitors each year.
It has many great features such as a planetarium, museums, and gardens that are perfect for people of all ages. World’s Fair Park also hosts many events throughout the year that are free for anyone to attend like concerts, festivals, and more!
#2 – Knoxville Botanical Garden
Knoxville Botanical Garden is a botanical garden in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was founded in 1981 and is one of the most popular attractions in Knoxville with over 500,000 visitors every year.
The Knoxville Botanical Garden has a wide variety of plants and flowers from all over the world. The garden also features an arboretum, a water garden, and a conservatory.
#3 – Dollywood Theme Park
Dollywood is a theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It was founded by the late country music entertainer Dolly Parton. The park contains rides and attractions that are based on Parton’s film and TV roles, as well as her music.
Dollywood opened in 1986 with just a handful of rides and has since grown to include more than 40 attractions. Some of the most popular rides at Dollywood include Wild Eagle, a roller coaster; Twister II, a steel coaster; Thunderhead, an inverted coaster; Blazing Fury, a wooden roller coaster; and Mystery Mine Ride.
#4 – Museum of Appalachia
The Appalachian Museum is a museum that was opened in 1987 and it has been dedicated to the history of the Appalachian Mountains.
The Appalachian Museum is located in Appalachia, Tennessee, which is also known as the “Museum of Appalachia”. The museum has been open since 1987 and it showcases the history of Appalachia. The museum covers a total of 7 acres and features more than 50 buildings.
#5 – Market Square Park & Market Place
Market Square Park is a public space in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. Market Square Park is located at the intersection of Gay Street and Market Street, just north of the Market Place shopping center. The park was inaugurated in 1854 and has been used as a civic square, an outdoor market area, and a significant site for public events.
The Market Place shopping center includes retail stores along with office space for businesses like the Knoxville Museum of Art and the Knoxville Area Transportation Study.
#6 – Knoxville Zoo
One of the most popular attractions in Knoxville is the Knoxville Zoo. The zoo has over 400 animals and provides visitors with an opportunity to see different habitats from around the world. The Knoxville Zoo is also home to the largest herd of white rhinos in North America.
Enjoy your vacation in Knoxville, Tennessee.
