Best of Knoxville: 24 Hours in Knoxville

Best of Knoxville

What to do With Only 24 Hours in Knoxville

We have lived in the Knoxville, Tennessee area for almost 4 years and we are still discovering all the wonderful things that make this city and the surrounding areas unique. However, we have discovered some amazing things and want to make sure that we share all of these with you. We want to help you see all that you can, no matter how short of time you are here, so we have come up with our “Ultimate List” of things to do with only 24 hours in Knoxville. 

Since we feel that Downtown Knoxville has a lot to offer and is convenient to most places on our list, we want to start with a hotel suggestion. Holiday Inn World’s Fair Park is located adjacent to the convention center and is walking distance away from many attractions and restaurants. We stayed here recently during a mother/daughter staycation and were impressed by all that the hotel has to offer. They offer a on-site restaurant/lounge, indoor pool, fitness center, complementary coffee, and more. 

If staying at the Holiday Inn World’s Fair Park, you will want to make sure you go on over and check out World’s Fair Park and the Sunsphere. If the observation deck of the Sunsphere is open make sure you go on up and take in the view of the city. 

The next thing you want to plan for is where you are going to. While the Holiday Inn does have an on-site restaurant, we have several places that we recommend if you want to truly enjoy the culinary experience that Knoxville has to offer. From local coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, food trucks, and food tours; the food scene at Knoxville has grown over the years and we don’t want you to miss out on a single bite. 

If you are looking for a fresh baked bagel to go with your coffee, head on over to K Brew and discover why this is a gathering place year round. At K Brew you will also find the postcard mural pictured above. For coffee with a larger menu then you will want to make sure you stop at Vienna Coffee at the Regas Building. 

One of our favorite ways to enjoy the food scene in Knoxville is with a food tour from East Tennessee Tours. You get to enjoy delicious food from several restaurants while exploring the city on foot. We have never left a tour hungry and usually have a few leftovers to eat on the way home. Read our review of our last tour here.

You also won’t go wrong for lunch or dinner when you stop by Yassin’s Falafel House. This authentic Mediterranean restaurant is a testament to what hard work can do. The owner Yassin is an immigrant to our country who fought against the odds to make it a success. He opened up downtown in 2014 and now has two locations in the city. The food is amazing and you won’t go wrong with whatever you order. However, we strongly recommend the Gyro Sandwich and Fries. 

 

For an experience you will never forget, make sure to book a seat at the Chef’s Table at Rebel Kitchen. We had the opportunity to sit there while celebrating my 40th last year and it is an evening we won’t forget. The food was delectable and watching the process is amazing. Read about our experience here.   

Lastly, to satisfy your sweet tooth head over to Magpies Bakery for their amazing cupcakes and baked goods or visit one of the ice cream shops downtown which include Kilwins Knoxville, Cruze Dairy Farm, and The Phoenix Pharmacy. 

If you want to discover even more fabulous places for food and coffee in Knoxville check out Best of Knoxville: Top 5 Coffee Houses and Top Knoxville Restaurants for more inspiration and ideas.  

Now that we have your stay and food covered, we have some fabulous attractions for you to visit. These attractions are all located in Downtown Knoxville so they are within a few minutes walking distance to the Holiday Inn World’s Fair Pack. 

To enjoy a bit of “green space” in the city, take a walk through the glorious Krutch Park . Located in the heart of downtown, this park has walking paths, works of art that rotate with the season, waterfalls, a beautiful stream, seating areas, and splash pads adjacent to the park for keeping cool on hot days. This beautiful space is a wonderful place to take pictures and enjoy some time relaxing during a busy day. It is adjacent to Market Square, where you will find multiple restaurants, a variety of stores, the farmer’s market (Wednesday and Saturday), and numerous activities throughout the year. 

After Krutch Park, wander over to Strong Alley  (located between Market Square and Gay St) to discover the Strong Alley murals, These murals were a  brainstorm of the artist collective “Artist Alley Revamp” and came about after business owners and artists agreed to work together. Almost every day you will find the alley filled with people taking in the artwork and the murals make a fantastic back-drop for photographs. 

To learn a little bit about the area, make sure to stop in the East Tennessee History Museum. Admission is only $5 and on Sunday admission is free (they do ask that you make a donation but it is optional.) Here you can learn about the people, places, and events that have shaped the East Tennessee through exhibits, videos, and more.  

For one last photo opportunity and to learn more about things to do in the area, make sure you visit Visit Knoxville. Here you will also find restrooms, a small shop featuring local goods, and it is the site of First Friday Live with WDVX) located at 301 South Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. To learn more information about the area, find out about upcoming events, and more make sure to visit Visit Knoxville online . 

We hope you enjoy all these fabulous places in Knoxville and would love to hear how your visit goes and if you have discovered a favorite restaurant or attraction of your own. Let us know in the comments below. 

Make sure to come back each Friday to discover even more things that we love about Knoxville,TN and discover all that this amazing city, and the surrounding areas, have to offer. You can also check out all the Best of Knoxville posts anytime by clicking BEST OF KNOXVILLE!