Getting to Knoxville
By Air
Knoxville is served by multiple major airlines through McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), about a 20-minute drive from downtown. There’s no public rail or bus from the airport, but rideshares like Uber and Lyft are available. If you decide to rent a car while you’re here, be extra careful on the highway outside the airport - people are always in a rush!
By Land
Getting to downtown Knoxville by car is a breeze (provided there’s no traffic on I-40)! The city sits at the intersection of I-75 and I-40. Once you’re in town, navigating to “Old City” Knoxville will get you right to the neighborhood where Barley’s is located.
By Sea
For our enterprising guests - if you’re starting in the Gulf, you’ll travel northward up the Tombigbee River from Mobile, transitioning to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway before hanging a right on the Tennessee River. Follow it east through Chattanooga, and before you know it, you’ll be sailing up on Knoxville’s sunny shores! You may need these charts.
Lodging
Knoxville is busy in the summer!
There’s a lot going on in Knoxville the weekend of June 21-23 (to include the Olympic Diving Trials), so we recommend looking for a place to stay ASAP. Airbnb is probably your best bet, especially if you put together a small group to share a place. Look for listings in the Old City (closest), Downtown, or Fourth & Gill neighborhoods. The hotels are pretty booked up, but if you’re lucky you might be able to snag a room at the Crowne Plaza (closest), Hyatt Place, or Embassy Suites Downtown. If that fails, have no fear. If you have a car or can rent one, there are tons of options a little further out. We’re happy to help you look!
Getting to the Reception
By Foot
Downtown is very walkable, and has plenty of options for hailing a ride (Uber, Lyft etc.) if it’s a bit too warm for you to make the trek to Barley’s by foot, and Knoxville has a free trolley system that serves the downtown and UT area.
By Car
If you’re driving to the reception, Barley’s has a mid-sized asphalt parking lot, and a large gravel lot right next door, all free. There’s also an “SP Parking” lot a block or two away in the middle of the Old City, which may run you anywhere from $8 - 12.
To Do/To See While You’re Here
Knoxville is known as the “Scruffy City.” It has pretty mountain views, a huge college football scene, and an ever-increasing number of cool local businesses and restaurants. Here are a few of our recommendations.
Skate at the Ice Chalet. This long-time Knoxville staple is where Ella grew up skating. It was built in the 1960s and still has its charming old Swiss chalet vibe.
Get outdoors! We’re already planning a morning at Ijams Nature City, but if you have more time we highly recommend you try to make it up to the mountains. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have all the touristy stuff (including Dollywood), but the real magic is beyond them in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And yes, there’s a Buc-ees on the way…
Explore Market Square in downtown. There are lots of independent shops and restaurants in the square, as well as regular live music, festivals, and farmer’s markets. Also walk down Gay Street and pop into Mast General Store.
Browse McKay’s Used Books. A huge building full of all sorts of treasures, from books to CDs, games, and more. You can also bring old books to sell! Ella and Nathan have both spent a LOT of time here.
Check out World’s Fair Park, site of the 1982 World’s Fair. Above the lovely walkways and lawns, the Knoxville Sunsphere offers a stellar view of the city (just take the elevator to the observation deck)!
To Eat While You’re Here
Good Golly Tamale. They started out selling at the farmer’s market but became so popular they needed a storefront. Pro tip - take some frozen ones home with you!
Cruze Farm Ice Cream. Locally produced dairy and the cutest checkered outfits. Try the milk too, if you get a chance! Bonus: run down the street to Ham’N Goody’s for the amazing lemon cookies.
Cannot recommend Yassin’s Falafel House highly enough! It was started by a Syrian refugee and has been voted the Nicest Place in America by Reader’s Digest and Good Morning America. He regularly gives back to the community, and the food is delicious, too! There are 3 locations in town now, but the OG is downtown.
Balter Beerworks. A restaurant and beer garden downtown. The potato chip nachos are Ella’s fave. (Used to be an auto service station, the conversion won architectural awards!)
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar. Great Southern food in Market Square. The biscuits with blueberry jam are a specialty, but everything is yummy. A go-to brunch spot!
Other great downtown restaurants: Sweet P’s Barbecue, Chivo Taqueria, and Babalu (tapas style, with out-of-this-world guac).
To Drink While You’re Here
Old City Java. Regarded as one of the best cups in the city, and, conveniently, is just steps away from many of our other recs in the Old City!
Crafty Bastard Brewery. Worth a visit just for the name and logo alone! There’s outdoor seating and often food trucks.
Suttree’s High Gravity Tavern downtown has a great selection on tap, plus a collection of old pinball machines, and ramen!
Honeybee Coffee Co. Across the river from downtown, this is the place for a strong cup (you won’t need any more the rest of the day). Good stop on the way to Ijams!
Pour Taproom. They give you a bracelet when you go in that you use to scan and pour your own drinks, then pay by the ounce at the end. Cool for trying lots of different things. They have beer, wine, mead, and some cocktails.
Honorable mentions within walking distance: Mahalo, Coffee and Chocolate. Driving distance: CommonPlace, South Press, and Capybara.
Peter Kern Library. A speakeasy in Market Square with literary-themed cocktails. If your parents ask, just say you were at the library! (It’s a little tricky to find, so let us know if you’re interested.)
Pretentious Beer Company. In the heart of the Old City, and right next door to its own glassworks (where every glass used at the brewery is blown)!
