Named one of the top breakfast spots in town by the Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corporation, Pete’s Coffee Shop serves up such hearty breakfast fare as grits, cinnamon French toast, blueberry pancakes, three-cheese omelets and biscuits and gravy. The casual diner lies within the direct vicinity of the Knoxville Convention Center.
Based in the historic Market Square region, Tomato Head offers a wide variety of pizzas, calzones, sandwiches and salads. The Sunday brunch menu features such fare as huevos rancheros, Belgian waffles, chorizo breakfast burritos and egg sandwiches with tofu. In 2011, Metro Pulse dubbed the eatery the best lunch and brunch in Knoxville.
Deemed the best bakery in Knoxville by Metro Pulse in 2011, MagPies sits near the Downtown North District. Although the bakery specializes in wedding and other special occasion cakes, the menu also features a variety of cupcakes, such as chocolate raspberry, classic coconut and almond apricot.
The University of Tennessee Gardens features more than 4,000 different trees, bushes and perennial and annual flowers. The setting also includes sprawling meadows, as well as a rose, herb and vegetable garden. The gardens offer scheduled and special guided tours.
Situated upon 275 acres of land, Ijams Nature Center includes 10 miles of hiking and biking trails along quarries, ponds, meadows, woodlands and the Tennessee River Boardwalk. An on-site wildlife sanctuary features an amphitheater, greenhouse, gardens, a raptor enclosure and natural playscape for children. The center offers bike and canoe rentals as well.
Located in a wooded region, The Knoxville Zoo sits upon 53 acres. Animal exhibits on hand include red pandas, chimpanzees, meerkats and African elephants. The Wee Play Zoo, an imaginary zoo-like playland, allows kids to dress up like veterinarians, prepare meals for animals and sell tickets.
The Museum of East Tennessee History features more than 10,000 artifacts from the region’s 35 different counties. Permanent exhibit items detail such historic moments in time as frontier living, the Civil War and the civil rights movement, as well as native groups such as the Cherokee Indians.
Based in Knoxville, The University of Tennessee offers premiere sports programs. The powerhouse Tennessee Volunteers football team plays at least six home games a year at Neyland Stadium, which seats more than 102,000 people. Outfitted with 32 luxury suites and a capacity of 21,678, Thompson-Boling Arena plays host to the renowned Volunteers women’s and men’s basketball team.
The Tennessee Smokies serve as the Chicago Cubs’ Double-A affiliate. With a schedule running from April through August, the team plays in Smokie Stadium, in Kodak, Tennessee, just 20 miles outside Knoxville. The stadium features an all-you-can-eat buffet, discounted grass seating on the outfield lawn and fireworks displays on some evenings.
