20+ Things to Do With Your Family in Knoxville, TN

Muse Knoxville 

Muse Knoxville is a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) children’s museum. My kids love the art exhibit where they can create any craft they can imagine. And it works out for me because I don’t have to worry about cleaning up the mess! Muse offers: 

• A planetarium 
• 14+ exhibits to explore
• Outdoor play areas 
• A gift shop 
• Special events 
• Birthday parties 

Muse Knoxville is open:

• Tuesday through Friday: 10 am – 4 pm
• Saturday and Sunday: 9 am – 4 pm.

Address: 516 North Beaman St, Knoxville, TN

Cost: 

• General admission (ages 1-64): $12
• Reduced cost admission: $6 
  • Senior citizens (65+)
  • Tennessee educators with valid ID
  • Military and guests of military personnel with valid ID
• Members and children under age 1: free 

Follow Muse Knoxville on Facebook for more details. 

The Sunsphere 

When visiting Knoxville, you must visit the iconic Sunsphere. Built in 1982 for the World’s Fair, the Sunsphere offers amazing views of Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains. 

The Sunsphere is open:

• Monday through Friday: 10am – 5pm
• Saturday: 9am – 5pm
• Sunday: 12pm – 4pm
• Please note: The Sunsphere Observation Deck is closed daily 12:30-1:30 (excluding Sundays).
• Ticket duration: 30 minutes

Address: 810 Clinch Avenue, Floor 4, Knoxville, TN

Cost: 

• Adults and kids over 12: $10
• Kids 12 and under: $5
• $1 off ticket price for veterans
• You can purchase tickets online or at the base of the Sunsphere 

Follow the Sunsphere on Facebook for more details. 

Knoxville Museum of Art

Knoxville Museum of Art is in World’s Fair Park and features contemporary and historical art pieces from the East Tennessee region. They host community events often.

The museum is open:

• Tuesday through Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm
• Sunday: 1 pm – 5 pm.
• Closed Monday

Address: 1050 World’s Fair Park, Knoxville, Tennessee 37916
Cost: Admission is free 

Follow Knoxville Museum of Art on Facebook for more details. 

Market Square 

Nestled in downtown Knoxville, Market Square is a perfect spot to savor a meal, shop, enjoy dessert, play in the splash pad, and enjoy the sounds of the city. There are several restaurants on Market Square including, Emilia, Not Watson’s Kitchen & Bar, Soccer Taco, Ruby Sunshine, and Tupelo Honey. There are also shops including Urban Outfitters, Tree of Life Salon & Spa, and Rocket Fizz. 

My favorite restaurant for date night is Emilia, but if you want a spot for your family to enjoy a meal, Myrtle’s Chicken & Beer is great!

After you eat dinner, walk over to Gay Street and enjoy ice cream at Cruze Farm Dairy! They have so many fun ice cream cone options for kids and a really fun seating area. Then stroll through Krutch Park in Market Square. 

• Market Square is open 24 hours Monday through Sunday, but shop hours vary.
• Parking garages near Market Square include Market Square Garage, Langley Garage, and Locust Street Garage. Parking is free on nights and weekends.
• The Market Square Farmer’s Market is a seasonal open-air market that lines the street every Wednesday from May through November.

Address: Market Square, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Free
Visit Downtown Knoxville’s website for more information. 

Cruze Farm Dairy 

Cruze Farm Dairy has several locations in East Tennessee. The downtown Knoxville location is on Gay Street near the Tennessee Theatre. Their ice cream experience is unforgettable, and its locally made at a family dairy. My kids love to beat the summer heat with a chocolate ice cream cone dipped in rainbow sprinkles.

The downtown Cruze Farm Diary is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm.

• They have inside dining at the downtown location. 
• There is a parking garage directly in front of Cruze Farm’s downtown location. 
• They sell merchandise and fresh milk.

Address: 445 South Gay Street, Suite 105, Knoxville, TN
Visit Cruze Farm’s website for more details. 

Tennesse Theatre

After your ice cream break, catch a show in the iconic Tennessee Theatre located on Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. The theatre offers many shows throughout the year. 

The box office is open Monday through Friday 10 am to 3 pm and closed on Saturday and Sunday. 

• You can tour the theatre by selecting a tour ticket on their website or request a private tour if you have 10+ participants. 
• Shows and show times vary according to the schedule. 

Address: 604 South Gay Street, Knoxville, TN
Visit The Tennessee Theatre’s website to book your show.

Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame

When driving around downtown Knoxville, you might notice a big basketball on the roof of a large building. That’s the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, and it’s the largest basketball in the world. You can take a tour of the facility, learn about famous women’s basketball players and coaches, and try your hand at basketball on one of the courts. 

The museum is open every spring/summer starting May 1st to August 31st from 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday. They’re open in the fall/winter starting September 1st to April 30th from 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Saturday. 

Address: 700 Hall of Fame Drive, Knoxville, TN
Cost: 

• Adults: $7.95
• Seniors (62+): $5.95
• Youth (6-15): $5.95
• Youth under 5: Free
• Group discounts available 

Visit The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame website to plan your visit.

Neyland Stadium 

You can tour the iconic Neyland Stadium while visiting Knoxville. Home of the Tennessee Vols, Neyland is the sixth largest college football venue in the United States. They offer 60-minute guided tours of the facility. 

• Tours available Monday through Thursday ONLY.
• Tours are only offered at 10 am and you must pre-book online.
• No walk-ups are allowed as booking is limited. 
• Tour check-in is at Gate 21 Plaza at Neyland.
• Parking is available at Volunteer Hall Garage at 1525 White Avenue, and the cost is $1 per 30 minutes. 

Address: 1235 Phillip Fulmer Way SW, Knoxville, TN
Cost: 

• Adults are $20 
• Children (13 and under) are $10
• For large groups, please call the office at 865-974-1205

Visit Neyland Stadium’s website to book your experience. 

Knoxville Ice Bears Hockey Team 

If you’re visiting Knoxville in the fall, you can enjoy a Knoxville Ice Bears hockey game. Their season runs from fall to early spring each year. They offer an electric experience that is sure to keep your family entertained. The Ice Bears have a kids zone, concessions, merchandise, and plenty of photo opportunities with their mascot, Chilly Bear. 

My kids are particularly sensitive to loud noises, but we didn’t have an issue at this hockey game. It’s loud when the fun music plays but not overbearing. However, if you have little ones who are sensitive to noise, bring headphones. Don’t forget to buy popcorn and enjoy the kids’ fun zone before the game ends!

The Knoxville Ice Bears play seasonally starting in the fall.

Address: Knoxville Civic Coliseum, 500 Howard Baker Jr Drive, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Tickets are $15+
Visit the Knoxville Ice Bears website to learn more. 

Tennessee Smokies Baseball

If you love baseball, a Tennessee Smokies baseball game is fun for the whole family. They have activities for kids, food vendors, fun events, and more.

We love getting to the game right as the gate opens so we can take advantage of the kid’s activities and grab dinner.

• A game day schedule is available online. 
• Get to the game early to get a good parking spot. 
• Some of the stadium is shaded, but take a hat and sunscreen just in case.

Address: 500 East Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN
Cost: General admission starts at $11 a ticket 
Visit The Tennessee Smokies’ website to buy tickets and learn about their promotions

Ijams Nature Center 

Ijams Nature Center is an urban nature park right outside of downtown Knoxville that features over 10 miles of trails perfect for hiking, walking, biking, and bird-watching. They also offer swimming, climbing, natural playgrounds, canoe rentals, and more. My kids especially love the natural playgrounds and the indoor animal exhibit.

Grounds are open daily from 8 am to dusk. The visitor center is open Sunday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm.

• Bathrooms are located in the visitor center. 
• Ijams is dog-friendly, but dogs must be on a leash and you must clean up after them. No dogs are allowed in the visitor center.
• They have a gift shop, hallway art gallery, and an exhibit hall with some animals on display that you will find in the park.
• Ijams offers many educational opportunities, including field trips, homeschool opportunities, camps, nature preschool, and more.
• You can rent their facility for birthday parties, weddings, meetings, retreats, and more.
• Don’t forget bug spray, a towel if you plan to swim, comfortable tennis shoes or sandals as you will walk a lot, and water.

Address: 2915 Island Home Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee 37920
Cost: Admission is free, but donations are always welcome. Parking is $5 per car per day.
Follow Ijams Nature Center on Facebook for more details.

Navitat Knoxville 

Located in Ijams Nature Center, Navitat is an aerial adventure park with zip-lines, swings, nets, climbing, bridges, and more. Enjoy one of six adventure trails with your family.

Navitat Knoxville’s hours vary. Visit their website and click Book Now for available times.

• They have two ticket options (a daytime ticket and a nighttime ticket) that include all of the adventures in the park.
• You must be 7+ years old and weigh between 30-265 pounds to participate.
• An adult is required to attend with all children under the age of 17.
• Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toed shoes.
• Book in advance to be sure you get the date(s) you are visiting. 

Address: 2915 Island Home Avenue, Knoxville, TN
Cost: 

• Tickets for the Treetop Adventure Park are $59 + tax per person.
• Tickets for the Navitat At Night are $69 + tax per person.
• This admission price is the same for adults and children.

Visit Navitat Knoxville’s website to book your excursion.

Sir Goony’s Family Fun Center

Sir Goony’s Family Fun Center is in Farragut, about 35 minutes from downtown Knoxville. They have paintball, a splash zone, a mini-golf course, and golf carts. Sir Goony’s also offers birthday party packages. 

Sir Goony’s is open year-round (weather permitting):

• Monday through Thursday 1 pm to 9 pm
• Friday 1 pm to 10 pm
• Saturday 10 am to 10 pm
• Sunday 1 pm to 9 pm
• If you reserve the park for a party, they can open at any time for your event. 

Address: 10925 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Each attraction in the park is priced separately depending on how long you stay.
Follow Sir Goony’s Family Fun Center on Facebook for more details.

Main Event

At Main Event Knoxville, you and your family can enjoy bowling, gravity ropes, laser tag, arcade games, billiards, and good food.

Main Event is open: 

• Monday 11 am to 1 am
• Tuesday through Thursday 11 am to 12 am
• Friday 11 am to 2 am
• Saturday 9 am to 2 am
• Sunday 11 am to 12 am  

Address: 9081 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923
Cost: Varies by activity.
Visit the Main Event Knoxville website to book and buy activities. 

Bijou Theatre & The Bistro at the Bijou

Catch a performance and a meal at the famous Bijou Theatre in downtown Knoxville. They have a wide variety of music and performance art showings each year.

• This is a cashless venue.
• No large backpacks, purses, or duffel bags allowed. Clear bags not required, but all bags subject to search upon entry.
• There’s a concession stand and on-site bistro.
• Tickets and showtime are subject to the performance schedule. 

Address: 803 South Gay Street, Knoxville, Tennessee
Cost: Tickets start at $25 
Visit the Bijou Theatre’s website for more details. 

The Star of Knoxville Tennessee Riverboat 

Take a ride along the Tennessee River on The Star of Knoxville Riverboat. You can enjoy a lunch, dinner, or sightseeing cruise depending on what you’re looking for. They have several cruise options that include a meal and some options that do not include a meal depending on the date you select. 

Office hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.

• Make a reservation in advance. 
• No dress code required.
• Parking is at Calhoun’s on The River on Neyland Drive.
• Cruises are non-refundable. 

Address: 300 Neyland Drive, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Tickets start at $27.60 for adults and $15 for children. Pricing depends on the date and type of cruise you select. 
Visit the Tennessee Riverboat’s website to learn more and book your cruise. 

Maple Hall 

Maple Hall is a boutique bowling alley that offers 11 lanes of bowling, a cocktail lounge, life-sized board games, a full food and drink menu, and more. They are located in downtown Knoxville. 

Maple Hall is open:  

• Monday through Thursday from 4 pm to 11 pm
• Friday from 4 pm to 1:30 am
• Saturday from 11 am to 1:30 am
• Sunday from 11 am to 11 pm

• You must be 21+ after 9 pm on Friday and Saturday nights to attend.
• They do not take reservations. 

Address: 414 South Gay Street, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Bowling rates are per lane, per hour:

• Monday through Thursday: $25 per lane, per hour 
• Friday: $39 per lane, per hour
• Saturday: 11 am to 4 pm: $25 per lane, per hour and 4 pm to 1:30 am: $39 per lane, per hour 
• Sunday: $25 per lane, per hour

Visit Maple Hall’s website to learn more.

Craft Axe Throwing

Try your hand at axe throwing. You can book your experience (walk-ups welcome if availability allows), learn a few safety tips from the team, and then have fun throwing axes with friends.

Craft Axe is open:

• Monday from 5 pm to 8 pm
• Tuesday through Thursday from 5 pm to 9 pm
• Friday through Saturday from 12 pm to 11 pm
• Sunday from 1 pm to 8 pm
• Guests must be 16+ to enter after 8 pm on Friday and Saturday.

Address: 320 North Peters Road, Suite 107, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Tickets start at $20 per person

Visit the Craft Axe Throwing website to book your experience

Stay in Knoxville, TN

Wondering where can you stay near downtown Knoxville? Use the map below to find great chain hotels, boutique hotels, and vacation rentals near the attractions you want to visit.

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What is your family’s favorite thing to do in Knoxville?