Located in the heart of the Music Statе, Knoxville Tennessee makes a great stopover location in the exciting American southeast. With many attractions near and around the city, not to mention to some great country music, this city is worth at least a dayеs stop if you’re touring the region with a rental car.
Getting there
If you’ve decided on a self-drive trip with car rental via National travel deals, your major routes into Knoxville areе; the I-40 from east Winston-Salem, NC and west from Nashville, I-75 from the north Lexington, KY and from the south, Chattanooga and Atlanta. I-81 comes to the city from the northeast. It is also possible to fly to the city directly. McGhee Tyson Airport offers daily flights around the state and to Atlanta Georgia, and rental cars can be had on the complex. Rail service is also available to the city via Amtrak.
Key attractions
The cities premier attraction is the renowned Knoxville Zoo. This is one of the only places in the world outside of China where it is possible to see the adorable red panda. The zoo also has an assortment of other exotic animals including rhinos, hippos, lions and a great petting zoo for kids! Downtown Knoxville offers some great offbeat country bars and soul food dining. Near downtown is Morningside Park, which contains an enormous stature of local celebrity Alex Haley, author of Roots and ghostwriter of The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Also near downtown is the Knoxville Museum of Art.
Out and about
Easily accessed with car rental and not far from Knoxville, just over the border in North Carolina, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park protects this amazing environment and is open for hiking, mountain biking, and camping. With abundant wildflowers, wildlife and waterfalls, it is no wonder this is one of the most popular parks in America. South of the city, in Chattanoogaеs Bluff View Art District you will fine the Museum of Decorative Arts and the Hunter Museum of American Art.
Leisure options
Fishing on the Tennessee River is a favorite here, especially in the area where the river backs into the basin of Kentucky Lake. Nearby creeks and backwaters are great as well, and Ljams Nature Center has a wildlife park, hiking trails and a plethora of endangered and rare species of flora and fauna. National travel deals make renting your car fast and economical.
Safety
Knoxville is rates as a reasonably safe city for visitors, much as the rest of the USAеs small and mid-sized conurbations, but the area around the university should be avoided at night. As always, travel insurance is a must.