Tennessee’s Scruffy Gem

Words by Jennifer Simonson

This “scruffy little city” is blossoming into a polished destination for outdoor adventurers and craft-beer enthusiasts. Tennessee’s third largest town often flies under the radar for weekend getaways, but it is perfect for those who are reminiscent of Austin’s more carefree days.

Day One:
Start with a nature hike at the Ijams Nature Center. Explore the 300-acre wildlife preserve on foot as the urban park has more than ten miles of trails that lead through wetlands, around rock formations, and along gently sloping woodlands. After relaxing nature strolls, head next door for a heart-pounding treetop adventure. The Navitat Knoxville Ijams Canopy Experience sets up ropes courses high in the trees, allowing visitors to explore the forest with a whole new perspective as they zipline, cross wobbly bridges, test their balance on tight ropes, and swing through the trees. 

At night, unwind with a glass of Scotch at Boyd’s Jig and Reel musical pub. With more than 800 whiskeys, they have one of the most extensive Scotch selections in the world. If you do not know your way around this peaty liquor, pony up to the bar, and the bartender will walk you through the wide world of Scotch. If you are lucky, local musicians will circle up on stage and jam out for an hour or two. 

Day Two:
Spend the morning walking around the pedestrian-friendly downtown to work up an appetite for lunch at Balter Beerworks. The popular brewpub doles out a long list of Southern-inspired dishes along with handcrafted beer. After lunch, walk next door to Knox Whiskey Works for a sampling of locally produced spirits like the award-winning Old City Heirloom Corn Whiskey. Continue the stroll down the street to Post Modern Distillery where guests can take a distillery tour before sampling a flight of their modern twist on traditional spirits like citrus gin, corn vodka, and chamomile liqueur.  

End the boozy portion of your day just around the corner in Old Knoxville at the Pretentious Beer Glass Company. Local artisan and craft beer lover Matthew Cummings first opened the shop to hand blow beer-drinking glasses. Once he started selling those glasses in mass, he began making a rotating list of craft beers to put in the one-of-a-kind glasses. The result is a 16-tap craft beer brewery with an adjacent glass blowing studio. 

Day Three:
Start your final day in town with crepes at Knoxville’s first and only creperie, The French Market Creperie. Choose between sweet salted caramel, s’mores, or Nutella crepes, or go with a savory grilled cheese: Monte Cristo ha, or smoked salmon savory crepe.  

End your trip with a late morning hike at House Mountain. Just outside the city limits is a four-mile loop through wooded terrain leading up to Knox County’s highest point. The view at the 2,100-foot crest is worth the calf-burning hike. On a clear day hikers can see the Smokey Mountains to the south, the Cumberland Mountains to the north, and parts of downtown Knoxville on the western outlook. 

If You Go: Stay at The Oliver Hotel. The historic hotel is in the heart of downtown making it a perfect jumping off point to explore the area by foot. It also has the Peter Kern Library, Knoxville’s only speakeasy, hidden inside its first floor.