by Emily Stooks | Jun 8, 2026 | All Articles, Emilie Stooksbury, Holidays, Kids2Knox
FIRST THINGS FIRST: I now have multiple friends who think of me when they eat hot dogs. Y’all, I can’t stress this enough: I. Love. Hot. Dogs. And there’s not a holiday out there that celebrates the hot dog like the 4th of July. Just like Jennifer Coolidge, it makes me want a hot dog real bad. If you’re new to Knoxville or just looking for some fun ways to spend the holiday, here are a few fun ways to spend the Fourth of July in Knoxville, Tennessee!
1.) FROM THE WATER:
If you’re new to the city and still on the hunt for a boat friend (because c’mon, everyone needs a boat friend), the Star of Knoxville has you covered. This riverboat is not only painted thematically, they serve up a meal, provide entertainment, and (most importantly) give you a rad view of the Scruffy City and the fireworks show a la the Tennessee River. Click here to snag tickets.
2.) TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD:
Another unique way to see the fireworks is by hikin’ to the top of the world. And by hiking, we mean driving, and by the top of the world we mean the top of the hill where the historic Mabry-Hazen House sits. You can enjoy a whole evening of good ole fashioned summer fun – and we dooo mean old fashioned 😂 Expect sack races, watermelon seed spitting contests, three-legged races, bocce, croquet, corn hole, tug-of-war, a cake walk, Victorian festival games and more. There will even be a reading of the Declaration of Independence before seeing the fireworks from your view overlooking the city. Snag your ticket here!
3.) FROM THE SUN:
This is the first year we’ve heard about this. Our jaws are still on the floor so we figured it’d be easiest to write it down 😉
DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN WATCH FIREWORKS FROM INSIDE THE SUNSPHERE?! Yes, you read that right. AND you get to pick the floor that sounds best to you. The 6th floor will cater more for a 21+ crowd while the 8th floor will have family friendly activities for all ages. The best part (besides, potentially, AC) is that the fireworks show will basically be right next to your face. Snag your tickets here!
4.) TO THE WORLD:
World’s Fair Park, that is. This is the main event, folks! If you’re lookin’ for a good ole fashioned (and free!) fireworks show and 4th of July festival in Knoxville, you need to get your cutie booty down to World’s Fair Park! There will be vendors, activities, and live music all evening. As the sun goes down, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will take the stage – paving the way for an amazing fireworks show at 9:35pm. Find details here!
by Emily Stooks | May 11, 2026 | All Articles, Lifestyle
Are you… tired? Oh gosh, no, you LOOK great. Refreshed, even! But May wasn’t nick-named May-hem on accident. Calendars are over-scheduled. Screentime is… well, frankly mine is embarrassing. And our blood has been replaced by coffee & matcha. It’s time for some self-care, babyyyy! And if you live in Knoxville, you’re in luck. It’s time to breathe in, babe, because here are five of our favorite spots for self-care in Knoxville!
Didn’t even know what ASMR massage was 6 months ago & now we’re obsessed LOL
WEST KNOXVILLE: Starting out strooong with an internet ✨sensation✨ right in our backyard. Seriously, Zenheads has over ONE MILLION fans across social media platforms. Hello? WHAT?! (Do a lil Instagram cyber-stalkin’ here if you’re curious.) People travel from ACROSS THE COUNTRY to experience this but lucky for usss, their dreamy, nervous system-soothing services are litttterally right in West Knoxville.
The Zenhead gals focus on light touch — think “crack an egg on your head & let the yolk drip down” from playground days but add in a gallery wall of tools to choose from, an airy, sunlit studio space, and a classic Swedish massage to wrap things up & send you on your way feeling oh-so-zen. We 👏 Are 👏 Obsessed👏
WEST KNOXVILLE: Fix Head Spa is in a strip mall in Cedar Bluff. We came in with very level-headed expectations & left… unwell?? It was an absolute dream. In short, our heads were fixed 🤪
But seriously, we did the 60 min Carl’s Crown Revival with a Neck & Shoulder Massage added on and I still think about the experience at least once a week. Treat yourself to Potchke Bagel afterward (they’re in the same strip mall) and thank us later 😉
NORTH KNOXVILLE: Sooo we have become just a touch obsessed with sauna-ing over the past couple years. Imaaagine our excitement, when Sauna House finally opened up in Downtown North Knoxville! (We even get to partner with them on our New2Knox Active Hop which is a TREAT.)
The space itself is airy & dreamy & unlike anything else in Knoxville. The hot sauna paired with the cold plunge is relaxing & refreshing & invigorating. But the best part? You have to put your phone in a locker. Phones simply cannot withstand the heat of the sauna, PRAISE, YES, SWEET RELIEF 😂🙌
DOWNTOWN KNOXVILLE: Tucked in Lox Salon’s previous space in the Old City neighborhood, Amulet Parlor quite literally calls itself a “sacred space for self-care.” They value your time & experience to the absolute highest degree. Expect space to slow down, drink tea, put your feet up, chit chat or be absolutely still. (Summer is the owner & we loved chit-chatting with her when we went!)
From hair cuts & manicures to finding your colors & dipping into the more Appalachian mystique, Amulet Parlor is a super unique space for self-care in Knoxville.
ALL OVER KNOXVILLE: NOTHING CAN BEAT TOUCHING GRASS. Literally. Plus it’s free. Add some sunshineeee?! Geez, stop flirting with me 😉
Our favorite ways to enjoy the great outdoors in Knoxville, Tennessee are as follows: floating in a quarry, walking around Lakeshore Park, picnic-ing at Island Home Park & watching the planes fly overhead, and birdwatching (VERY casually lol) at Seven Island State Park.
Well, we hope those are some helpful places to start when it comes to self-care in Knoxville! Obviously, there are way more where these came from — from good ole fashioned massages to catching up with a friend. Either way, we hope you get some time today to breathe, rest, and feel some sunshine on your face ☺️ Cheers!
by Emily Stooks | May 6, 2026 | All Articles, Emilie Stooksbury, Food & Drink, Our Writers
When the weekend finally rolls around, we prefer our pancakes with a side of friendship & fizz. ENTER: brunch with mimosas, obviously 😉 Knoxville has pleeeenty of spots for mimosas and it’s a pretty hard drink to mess up (simply juice & champagne? Just call us ✨minimalists✨) BUT we’ve scouted out some of the spots that make mimosa-sippin’ the most fun AND who give you the most mimosa for your hard-earned buck. YOU DESERVE IT, BABE. Without further ado, here are some of the best spots for mimosas in Knoxville!
by Emily Stooks | Apr 7, 2026 | All Articles, Emilie Stooksbury, Lifestyle
When it comes to late summer/early fall in East Tennessee, you can count on two things. First, University of Tennessee football will let you down. Second, the weather will lift you right back up🙌 We’re talkin’ temps in the mid-70s, refreshing breezes, even *a little less humidity.* You may find yourself asking, “Am I in California?” No, my friend. You have, in fact, stepped into prime patio season in East Tennessee. Don’t you dare go inside to drink your celebratory “I-Don’t-Watch-Football-So-This-Doesn’t-Affect-Me” beer. In no particular order, we’re here to share five of the best outdoor patios in Knoxville, Tennessee. (This will obviously be a multi-part series. How could we possibly narrow it down to five??)
Patio #1: Merchants of Beer
Neighborhood: Old City A couple years back, we heard Merchants of Beer (otherwise known as “MoB”) was going to renovate their parking lot into a back patio. We were distressed. We love an easy parking situation. WE WERE WRONG. This patio is 100% worth giving up parking (and yes, there is literally a parking lot across the street. We never claimed to be fitness buffs😂) From a permanent food truck to ping pong and other yard games to an ACTUAL BUBBLE MACHINE, this patio easily makes the “best patios in Knoxville” list for plenty of locals. Check, check, check.
Patio #2: Schulz Brau
Neighborhood: North Knox Schulz Brau is hands down the top biergarten in East Tennessee. The German decor gives us Oktoberfest vibes all year long. Just listen to this line-up: fire pits, big screen TVs, a stage for live music (or stein-holding contests if you come at the right time), and an outdoor bar so you literally never have to step foot inside. This German dream is a no-brainer.
Patio #3: Public House
Neighborhood: Old City-ish Tucked off the beaten path and just north of the Old City, Public House feels more like a secret garden than a downtown bar. The ingredients may seem standard – picnic tables, string lights, and vines – but trust us when we say, these things come together to make some patio magic. We recommend this experience with a Bee’s Knees and a good camera because your most-popular-Instagram-post-ever is just itching to be shot in that coveted vine-covered nook.
