by Emily Stooks | Aug 6, 2026 | All Articles, Downtown, Emilie Stooksbury, Lifestyle, West Knoxville
With Taylor Swift’s “august” on repeat, the countdown to the end of our Scruffy City summer has begun! BUT SHE AIN’T OVER YET. While there’s plenty to be excited for in the coming months (cooler temps and pumpkin spice, to name just a couple 😉), we can’t forget to cross some last East Tennessee activities off that summer bucket list. We’re here to help you take advantage of five things that are just plain better in the summer. Without further ado, here are five things to enjoy in Knoxville before summer ends!
1.) Get On the Water!
It isn’t summertime in East Tennessee if you’re not on the water! Meads Quarry is the perfect outlet if you’re looking for a change of scenery from the downtown area (and without having to travel very far.) At the quarry, you can rent paddle boards and kayaks or just jump in and swim for free. If that’s not your thing, bring a chair to soak up the sun, your favorite book, and even your pup. The water is sparkling blue and the tall rock cliffs make for an Insta-worthy story.
2.) Outdoor Eatin’
Warm weather means outdoor dining – that, my friends, is just a fact. Thankfully, Knoxville has plenty of restaurants with pretty memorable outdoor spaces. Babalu has a sidewalk dining area, perfect for observing the hustle and bustle of Gay St. Around the corner in the heart of Market Square, Oliver Royale has a stylish patio with French bistro chairs and twinkling string lights. Jacks is a fan-favorite coffee shop with two locations and two great patios. Take a seat outside while enjoying avocado toast and your favorite seasonal latte. (Or just pop over here to read about five more of the best patios in Knox!) No matter the occasion, Knoxville has the perfect outdoor setting to match your vibe this summer 🤩
3.) This Lil Piggy Went to Market
While there are technically indoor winter markets, nothing compares to a farmers’ market in the summer. In mid-August, you can find the most delicious tomatoes and other peak summer veggies. Knoxville’s most popular farmers’ market is the Market Square Farmers Market which runs every Wednesday and Saturday until 1 PM. Besides the freshest produce, you can find pastries, kombucha, art, plants, and much more. It’s honestly the best way to see what Knoxville offers – all while supporting your local makers and enjoying the summer air!
4.) Ice Cream From the Top of My Lungs
Listen, ice cream can be enjoyed any day of the year and that’s not up for debate. (We’ll scream it from the tops of our lungs 😉) However, there’s something extra nostalgic (and extra necessary 😂) about cold ice cream on a hot summer day. Knoxville has plenty of delicious ice cream spots such as Cruze Farm, Phoenix Pharmacy & Fountain, and the Sugar Queen Creamery (new to Knoxville as of this summer!) to help you cool down in the Tennessee heat. Treat yourself and check out those seasonal summer flavors before they are gone! I know I can’t get enough of anything peach flavored. (*pauses to wipe drool*)
Lakeshore Park
5.) Park It at a Park
Whether you like to hike, power walk with the gals, or enjoy a stroll with your dog, Knoxville has a park for you. Lakeshore Park is great because of the paved walkway, water views, and greenery. If you’re looking for something a little more woodsy, Ijams Nature Center has multiple hiking trails (some paved and some not) based on difficulty. Ijams is great in general if you’re looking to spend a good amount of your day outside. (Just be sure to check their website for trail closures/updates.) No matter which park you stumble across, stay hydrated and safe this summer!
Summer may be on her last leg, but we’re here to enjoy every last drop. And speaking of last drops, here are 10 Summer Cocktails you need to check off your list as well! 😉
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 8, 2026 | All Articles, Entertainment, Nena Potter, Our Writers
