Cycle One

Sometimes you realize you have to get a gift for someone and you have no time to find one, let alone wrap it and make it look like you actually put some thought into it. That's where Earth to Old City comes to your rescue. They make gift-buying easy as they offer a free year-round gift wrapping service. But the gift that will eventually get wrapped is impressive, too, as the store features spectacular photographic art that can be custom framed on-site, as well. There's also a great selection of one-of-a-kind gift items that includes jewelry, books, toys, posters and items for the home and garden.

The Hola Festival is held in Knoxville every September as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. The month-long celebration of all things Hispanic has been observed in the United States since 1968. This day-long event is a salute to the cultural diversity of East Tennessee. The Hola Festival's goal is to welcome visitors and familiarize them with new flavors of food as well as culturally diverse music, arts, crafts and much more. Hola means "hello" in Spanish, so come greet your new friends and have a great time!

The East Tennessee History Center has both a broad and personal scope when it comes to history. On a larger scale, the museum contains various pieces and exhibits that tell the story of various aspects of the region. The museum is maintained by the East Tennessee Historical Society and the group has done an incredible job of recreating early 20th century life with an interesting collection of exhibits. History then becomes personal as the center also offers a genealogy research library where you can trace your own history to see how it may be connected to previous residents of Knoxville and its surrounding areas.

The kids will love learning about flowers, plants and all the other natural wonders that inhabit the Knoxville Botanical Gardens and Arboretum. This 44-acre garden features an historic landscape that is adorned with foliage and plants that are not only indigenous to the area, but also combine to create a natural oasis that is as relaxing as it is beautiful. There is also a plant nursery on site that houses even more picturesque greenery.