What a great night cheering on Lady Vols Soccer. The stadium opened 1.5 hours before the game and…read morethey had a tons of giveaways and promotions as they tried to beat their attendance record. I wouldn't be surprised if they did because that was the most people I have ever seen at a collegiate soccer game. There were programs, signed pics of Smokey, orange and white Pom poms, t-shirts for first 500 in line, pic opportunities with Smokey 10, bounce house, concession stands, food trucks (Goodwins). Overall, lively atmosphere and a lot to see and do. Parking and accessing stands was easy and cost to attend was free! Can't get much better than that. We sat in the second row up (you have super obstructed views of the field in 1st row) due to small kids who don't do stairs well. I would recommend 4th row and up if you can with so many people walking and stopping in front of you. Very family-friendly, with the exception of no mask mandate for kids in the crowded bounce houses. Can't wait to come back!

I don't go lower than 3 stars often but this is one of those times…read more We were hanging in Knoxville doing a few things before heading to our cabin. We checked out the museum, a food spot, a few spots around town, and this (garden)? They have a ton of space and there is a thoughtful layout. The trail to walk through a forest area is probably the best thing about the place. Worth a stop? Maybe, but realize that this botanical gardens has a long way to go before it's ready for primetime. Being a smaller market, I assume it's a funding issue. There were some workers/volunteers there trying to make the place alluring and presentable. This will be an asset to Knoxville as/if it gets built out with a clear vision.

Late Sept, 2023. We were using Pigeon Forge as a base to explore the Great Smokies when we decided…read moreto take a road trip to Knoxville. We tend to enjoy outdoor spaces, so the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum was on our itinerary for the day. Driving the short distance from downtown through residential neighborhoods, we certainly wouldn't have found the Gardens without our GPS -- and even then we questioned whether we were going the right way! Upon reaching, the plentiful parking spots were nearly full. It turns out that there was a wedding reception going on so a (relatively small) part of the gardens was closed to the public. We started in the Visitor's Center, where a very helpful staff member (or volunteer?) told us about the gardens, gave us a map, told us what areas were off-limits, and sent us on our way. Note that there are restrooms in the visitor's center. The gardens are located on 47 acres of the former Howell Nurseries, and feature walking paths, display gardens, unique and historic horticulture, and over two miles of distinctive stone walls and timeless buildings. The Garden is privately owned and operated and supported through donations and membership. Admission was FREE. We enjoyed walking around the well-maintained gardens but, given that it was already late September, there were few plants in bloom. It was a peaceful place to walk and to relax, and to enjoy a view of the Smokies in the distance. If we lived in the area, we would likely return at different times when flowers are blooming, and full likely attend some of their events. For instance, on Nov 14th, there's a class on "Forages Wreath Making", wherein participants walk around the gardens to forage for plants and materials to make a festive and natural holiday wreath.

Wonderful place to see God's creation. The beautiful animals are friendly and all around. The store…read morepart is great with things to buy from the past. The restaurant serves the old country food from years ago. I do wish they'd expand their menu some but it is still good. Lots of vendors on special days there as well.

Surprised at how well exhibited the museum is! It's a fairly large outdoor exhibit. If you're a…read moresenior, you might want to ho when it's cooler out. Highly recommended!

Many interactive games/exhibits, cool facts, history, and photo opportunities. However, the…read moremachines that are supposed to take the photo for you were all down with a paper that pretty much said use your own phone.. so if you don't mind asking strangers to take a photo for you, it's not a big deal. I thought the ride was a nice feature.

Are your kids obsessed with video games like mine are? Do they love all-things virtual reality?…read moreThen they will absolutely love Beyond the Lens. This is a great place for all ages, but I think older kids will get the most out of this interactive museum. Which was perfect for my family, as my kids fit into that "older kid" category. Packed with more than 150 interactive exhibits, we had a blast checking out all of the VR games, as well as the four-story-high, state-of-the-art Flyride, a flying adventure that makes you feel like you're really flying! What else? There are old-school video games to play, Big Foot exhibits to explore, skee-ball and basketballs to shoot in the game area, a giant white ball pit to jump into, and lots more. This is a very hands-on, interactive museum. I highly recommend Beyond the Lens for families with older kids. Sometimes, it can be hard to find things that older kids will like. But older kids will like this place! And it's also suitable for younger kids, too, so the whole family can enjoy.

For 2016: I LOVED this event. Luckily I was there when it…read moreopened so I didn't experience any beer shortages. The weather couldn't have been more perfect and I think that plays a huge part in its success. I'm not a huge beer drinker but I love cider...so I was able to target all of the booths that carried a cider. Plus I was given a cute souvenir beer glass to drink out of. I felt like it was pretty organized for it being so crowded. I loved the music playing - I found a spot on the grass and enjoyed listening and chilling. I would imagine that if you got there late it wouldn't be worth the price, so make sure you arrive on time and check for good weather. Will definitely return in 2017.

Geez... if you don't participate in this event, well, I have to question your fun-worth. Today was…read morecrazy warm, so the Blondes and IPAs were the cat's meow. I met a lot of great people - funny, cool, sassy and did I mention a melting pot of Knoxville's most attractive? I heard the after party is at Preservation Pub, but as I write this ... it's nap time. Anyway, without belaboring the point, if you're not allergic to fun... DO.THIS.EVENT! $60 per person for entry... it's a charity thing. And, let's face it... at $60, it's a great social filter. I applaud this! At $20, we'd get shirtless guys in jorts... so keep the filter going. Oh.., and the beer! And the food trucks. How in the hell did you miss this???? My DD had entry for $20 and had all the non-alcoholic drinks he could handle. Wonderful event all around for the drinker and non.

The Salt & Pepper shaker museum was the highlight of our Gatlinburg trip. Less than $4 to get in,…read moretake as much or as little time as you want. The admission fee is put towards your gift shop purchase, if you choose to take home a souvenir. Do yourself favor, if you come into town, stop by and enjoy this quirky museum.

Whooo hoo! The S & P Museum has been on my MUST SEE for the last 4.5 years and it did NOT…read moredisappoint!! I was so totally stoked and my face couldn't stop smiling! Their collection of over 20,000 salt and pepper shakers is so well curated!! They are grouped by theme and so totally organized! You just can't see everything the first time you go but at only $3.75 a person you can go back over and over. They give you a $3 discount in the store if you buy anything the day you visit. Such a fun kitschy place!

Part history museum, science museum, and children's museum. There's a little something for everyone…read moreat the American Museum of Science & Energy. The museum tells the story of Oak Ridge's role in World War II and the top secret Manhattan Project. The way the museum is laid out tells the story in a chronological way where you'll begin by learning about how Oak Ridge came to be, its role in the war, and its role in nuclear research in the years since the hydrogen bomb was first dropped over Japan. Plan to spend about 2 hours here depending on how hands on you want to be. As you progress through the musuem it becomes more hands on and reminiscent of a children's museum where you can get hands on with science theories. The space has multiple exhibits, an introduction video, and gift shop. On certain days/times a bus tour is offered to the plant sites that will also include admission to the museum but I was not visiting on one of those days but would like to check it out if Im ever in the area on the right day.

Good history of science and technology. I actually learned the concept of what it takes to keep us…read moresafe and comfortable.

The drive thru tour of seeing all the animals and feeding them from inside the wagon is so fun…read more There are goats, deer, ram, cows, longhorn steer and even a yak. All the animals are very docile and can easily eat from your hand. A lot of them are big cuddle babies according to the staff.The feed bucket is a good size to feed all the animals. The staff is good at rotating the animals so you get a chance to feed them all They also have a walk in area to see animals, a highland cow session you can book, a zip line and a self controlled mountain coaster. The highlight for me was Dozer the sweet highland cow and the baby alpaca. Thanks Skyland Ranch for the fun morning

My mom and I had a wonderful time on the Safari Hayride, meeting Doser the miniature Highland, and…read moreriding the Wild Stallion Mountain Coaster which was a longer ride than I anticipated. I think all of the attractions are well worth the cost!