Ride & Shine

Wild attractions await you and your family when you visit the Knoxville Zoo. Enjoy seeing the many animals in their natural habitats as you walk through this impressive venue. The designers of the animal living areas have taken great care to make sure that the creatures are quite visible from several vantage points. The zoo also features a great petting zoo where the kids can feed the llamas. And, don't miss the mesmerizing bird shows as well as kid favorites like lions, bears, penguins and monkeys.

The kids love to skateboard and you feel better going out with them to watch and support their love of the sport. So, the obvious destination for this unique brand of family fun is the Knoxville Skatepark. This park has become one of Knoxville's most popular family attractions, and while the skateboard areas are unsupervised, safety is still the park's main priority. Helmets must be worn by skaters at all times and parents must also abide by the rules that include no smoking in the park area. Those guidelines are enforced to ensure that everyone has a great time when they visit this great family-oriented venue.

The Art Market is exactly what its title says. Local artists come from the surrounding areas to display their work. See some truly compelling pieces ranging from the contemporary to the traditional that include expressions in every medium. There's art rendered in watercolors, photography, basketry, ceramics and woodcuts, among many others. This is a great place to find a unique gift item, support local artists and celebrate their talents.

Clearly, Knoxville loves its football, and even though the Tennessee Titans are based in Nashville, there is still a devoted and rather enthusiastic following for the state's own football team. Whenever there's a game on, you can feel the excitement of hard-hitting sports action no matter what part of the state you may be in. NFL fever runs high every time the Titans take the field!