Discover Knoxville and its surroundings with your car rental
Knoxville, in the eastern part of Tennessee, borders on one of the most popular national parks in the USA, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This park, which was established in 1934, is covered with one of the oldest forests on earth. Not only that, but it is the largest virgin forest areas of the eastern United States. The national park is located in the wooded Appalachian Mountains and it is somewhere that you should definitely visit. Here you will find pure nature.
Knoxville, the city on the Tennessee River, is best explored on your own with a rental car. Maybe you can still remember that Knoxville hosted the 1982 World’s Fair? This brought the provincial city with around 174,000 residents, new parks, new buildings and good highway connections to the city center. At any rate, the city delights its visitors with a mix of modern skyscrapers with glass and steel designs and old Victorian brick buildings, as well as restored block houses from the time of the founding in 1791.
The landmark of the city remained after the World’s Fair, the 263 foot high Sunsphere Tower. The tower is located in the World’s Fair Park and offers and impressive view from its viewing platform in the 22nd story. From here you can enjoy a wide view of the city and the surrounding mountains. Since you’re already here, then a visit to the Knoxville Museum of Art, which is also located in the park, is worth your time. The museum offers besides modern art, constantly changing exhibitions on subjects relevant to Tennessee or the USA. A little bit further to the west you will find another museum, the Frank H. McClung Museum on the campus of the University of Tennessee. The museum has its own exhibits and exciting traveling exhibitions.
In this district of Knoxville you are already in the downtown area, a bustling inner city located very near to the Tennessee Rivers. While downtown you should visit the Market Square, which is a popular meeting place for young and old because of its central location. From here you can travel south, towards the Tennessee River, to the Museum of East Tennessee History. Here you can learn about the history of the region. You get insight into the last two centuries, a time that passed after the arrival of the first settlers and the pioneers.
Did you also already know, for example, that Knoxville was the birthplace of country music? Or that a seven year old Dolly Parton had her radio debut in Knoxville with the radio station WIVK? You will learn this and a lot more here.
Now it is only a stone’s throw to the Tennessee River, which is best explored with the Star of Knoxville. This small paddle steamer offers its passengers a great view along with dinner and entertainment.
After a beautiful day it is worth taking a drive to the „Old City“, in the northeast part of the city. Especially at night the restored warehouse district comes to life and a lot takes place in the many cafés, music clubs and restaurants. On top of that the wonderful smell of freshly roasted coffee beans flows through the Old City. Here you will surely find a souvenir for home, because the unusual shops and antique stores are also located here.
Especially female tourists can’t miss out visiting the „Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame“. This newer museum in Knoxville pays tribute to women’s basketball and is dedicated to the role of women in basketball. The museum was founded in 1997 after the American basketball championships were won by the University of Tennessee women’s team.
For children a visit to the internationally recognized Knoxville Zoo is a must. The zoo houses more than 100 exotic animals. Particularly attractive is the Chimpanzee House and the Prairie Dog Pass. This is an interactive exhibition for the children.
Due to the ideal location in the Appalachian Mountains and on the Tennessee River you can use your time discovering the historic side of Knoxville and participating in outdoor activities. With the rental car you can quickly combine different routes with each other. Whether you opt for white water rafting, golf or a city stroll, you can simply base your decision on your mood.
