New in town? Just curious about Knoxville? Our new Knoxpedia guide is for you!
Ready to call Knoxville your home? It's only natural to have questions, especially when our most famous structure is a giant golden sphere on a stick.
Enter: Knoxpedia, your one-stop guide to everything you must know to feel like a true Knoxvillian, whether you just moved here, plan to move here or have lived here your entire life.
That’s right, this guide is not just for newbies in the traditional sense. We understand even natives can feel new to a community as first-time parents, homeowners, professionals or generally curious people.
The launch of this Knox News resource has been a hard secret to keep, as our newsroom has worked for months putting it together in a user-friendly, mobile-friendly design that makes it easy to find what you’re looking for.
Just like Wikipedia, the content can be changed at any time. No, we won’t let just anyone edit the text. But you can always send an email to knoxpedia@knoxnews.com with suggestions for new questions, categories or stories that would help make life easier.
Now, I could keep describing it. But Knoxpedia is a dish best served in the palm of your hand, checking out the array of helpful links as you scroll through each section on:
In the meantime, below is just a small example of that last section. Check out the full Knoxpedia guide at knoxne.ws/knoxpedia.
Where are the best hikes near Knoxville?
You don't have to travel deep into the Great Smoky Mountains to take a scenic stroll, especially since some Smokies hikes are so popular there's a waiting list. But if you do visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park, make sure you're aware of the parking rules.
In 2022, Knoxville ranked higher than Nashville, Memphis and Chattanooga when it comes to park access, with more than half of Knoxville residents living within a 10-minute walk of public parks.
For some of the best views of downtown, head on over to the River Bluff Wildlife Area or, simply, the Bluffs. This hike made our Knoxville bucket list of must-do activities. But your best bet is exploring the Urban Wilderness, comprised of nine recreational areas connected by trails.
What are some family-friendly things to do?
Sometimes, the best fun happens when you go outside to explore. Ijams Nature Center in South Knoxville is home to 318 acres of natural beauty, including forests, meadows, walking trails and a quarry. You can also purchase tickets to try your hand(s) (and feet) on an incredible zipline with courses of varying difficulty.
For fun and education, there's Zoo Knoxville and its Red Panda Village, as well as the STEAM museum and planetarium at Muse Knoxville.
Want something more thrilling? West Knoxville has a handful of arcades and adventure parks, including Main Event Knoxville, Sir Goony's Family Fun Center in Farragut and the Urban Air Adventure & Trampoline Park.
If your little ones enjoy sports, check out the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in downtown Knoxville. (Pat Summitt made her name coaching the Tennessee Lady Vols to college basketball superstardom.)
Children also will enjoy Safety City, a child-size version of Knoxville complete with a Sunsphere model. Then again, why not head downtown to visit the actual Knoxville landmark, constructed for the 1982 World's Fair? (Useless but amusing trivia: The Sunsphere plays a central role in an episode of "The Simpsons.")
Does Knoxville have good music?
In addition to being home to a great local music scene, Knoxville is a popular spot for touring artists.
A lot of the credit goes to Ashley Capps, AC Entertainment founder and Bonnaroo cofounder. Capps helped encourage the revitalization of local theaters and familiarized artists with Knoxville through festivals on Market Square and at World's Fair Park. The Knoxville native is behind the internationally attended Big Ears Festival, which takes place each spring across more than a dozen downtown music venues.
On Gay Street you'll find the Tennessee Theatre, the official state theater, as well as the Bijou Theatre.
In the Old City adjacent to downtown, The Mill & Mine welcomes bands that can fill a 1,200-person room, while the nearby cash-only Pilot Light hosts the hippest up-and-coming groups in a small venue for standing-only shows.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center on the University of Tennessee at Knoxville campus hosts the biggest touring acts, with a focus on country and classic rock.
Additionally, between Preservation Pub, Scruffy City Hall, Boyd's Jig and Reel and Barley's Taproom & Pizzeria, you're bound to find quality live music almost any night of the week.
Two notable artists with Knoxville ties have experienced recent critical acclaim for their music. The New York Times wrote that Knoxville native Yves Tumor "redefines rock stardom," while the latest album from Knoxvillian Adeem the Artist has garnered praise by Rolling Stone, Billboard and Brandi Carlile.
What are the best Knoxville breweries?
Picking the best among Knoxville breweries is like picking your favorite child … if you had about 25 of them. The point is, there are plenty to choose from, and "the best" depends on your taste preferences.
Downtown has a handful of breweries, but it's the neighborhoods just north and south of the city's core that are hubs for craft beer. South Knoxville is home to Alliance Brewing Company, Hi-Wire Brewing and Printshop Beer Co. To the north you'll find Crafty Bastard Brewery, Yee-Haw Brewing Co., Schulz Brau Brewing Co. and Elst Brewing Company, among others.
The east and west sides of town have welcomed more breweries in recent years, so don't sleep on these neighborhoods. Want to know what fellow Knoxvillians think? Check out our Knox News brewery bracket!
Ryan Wilusz is a downtown growth and development reporter. Phone 865-317-5138. Email ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com. Instagram @knoxscruff.
Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Are you moving or new to Knoxville? Knoxpedia is the guide for you