In May, Karen and I took a road trip to Willow Springs, MO to help Ma and Pa Lyon with auctioning their house. Our first stop was Knoxville, TN to spend a day with my niece, Allison. Ms. Allison (Al) landed her first job at nearby Blackberry Farm after graduating from culinary school in New York. Blackberry Farm is an intimate luxury hotel situated on 4,200-acres in the Great Smoky Mountains. It was a rare day off for Al as we set out to explore her new hometown together.
The 266-foot Sunsphere towers above Knoxville’s skyline and the viewing deck on the fourth level is free. The big, gold ball was created for the 1982 World’s Fair.
The commanding view from inside the Sunsphere makes it a perfect place to get the lay of the land for our walking tour of the Old City. A 7-mile stretch of the Tennessee River snakes through Knoxville’s historic buildings and rolling landscape.
Running through the Court of Flags Fountain would be the perfect chiller for a hot day. The 70-acre Worlds Fair Park includes Volunteer Landing, the Tennessee Amphitheater, the 2-football field-size Performance Lawn and the 2-acre Festival Lawn. The park was a great replacement for the crumbling Louisville and Nashville Railroad yard.
Our next stop was Market Square, which began as a showcase for regional farmers’ goods in 1854. The square was bustling with vendors when we arrived. Cool restaurants, shops, pubs and clubs line the square on both sides. Buskers and musicians take over at night.
The Welcome sign at the Tennessee border proclaimed the state as the source of, “The Soundtrack of America.” Live music was abundant and Bluegrass a staple in Knoxville.
One day was not enough to sample all the fine food, craft beer, and local distillers’ wares that Knoxville had to offer. We barley scratched the surface of the city’s historic past and thriving present. Reflecting on our visit Karen and I decided another trip to hang out with Allison is in order.