Travel: Knoxville, Tennessee

Distance from Greenville: 170 miles
By car: 3 hours, 15 minutes

Sunlight glints off Knoxville’s gleaming office towers, and the place seems awash in summer color—appropriate for a city that boasts a thriving arts scene. Born along the banks of the Tennessee River, the city has long been known for its technology, but today it has become a cultural hub for the arts. If you’re looking for a relaxed weekend getaway to feed the eyes and the soul, Knoxville is your destination.

For quick access to the city’s heartbeat, check into the downtown Marriott. Then, take a quick stroll to Market Square, the center of downtown. The square is rich with restaurants, but for a unique flavor-kick, try laid-back La Costa for a Latin-Southern fusion. Settle in the tavern-like room and skip the main courses for a sampling of tasty small plates: ceviche, smoked duck-breast quesadilla, cornmeal-dusted calamari, and oven-roasted, sweet-potato burrito.

The next day, start your adventure back at Market Square. Flanked by shops and restaurants, this pedestrian thoroughfare gives the city a small-town feel. Playful fountains amuse children in summer, while a variety of shops present offerings from unconventional women’s clothing to kitchen gadgets. In summer, the square is home to a farmer’s market each Wednesday and Saturday.

Adjacent to the square, Krutch Park is the natural place to wander next, amid a changing display of contemporary sculptures scattered throughout its creek-laced space.

After a dose of shade-dappled sunshine, move on to Gay Street, the core of the arts renaissance in Knoxville. If you meander toward Clinch Avenue, you’ll discover the fifty-six-foot-tall marquee of the Tennessee Theatre, the grand dame of Knoxville performance venues, restored to its 1928 splendor.

To cap off your day, drive out to suburban Season’s Café to enjoy summer’s best fare and a surprising connection to Greenville—Executive Chef Deron Little and his wife are Greenville natives. Feast well here on a grilled pork tenderloin glazed with honey and ginger, and a piece of parmesan-battered lemon sole served atop a thyme and corn biscuit.

Gallery hopping will surely be on tap for the next day, and your first stop should be Ironwood Studios, in the up-and-coming Downtown North district. Home to woodworker John McGilvray and metalsmith Preston Farabow, this two-part studio, located in a former automotive body shop, showcases sculptures made from scrap metal and race-car parts on one side, while displaying lovely moldings, arched doors, and furniture on the other.

The Art Market Gallery’s handmade jewelry, glass objects, ceramics, textiles, painting, and sculpture all attest to the talent that abounds in these parts. “There’s a vibrant arts community in Knoxville,” boasts one painter who works at the cooperative. Finally, to round out your arts tour, make a visit to the Knoxville Museum of Art, which will provide you with a historical context to appreciate the region’s fine art.

Spend your last night savoring hickory-smoked barbecue ribs at Calhoun’s, gazing out at the Tennessee River. No doubt your taste of Knoxville’s artsy side will leave you hungry for a bigger bite of this captivating city.

Eat

Calhoun’s on the River
Hickory-smoked barbecue and river views star at this local favorite on Volunteer Landing.
400 Neyland Drive
(865) 673-3355, calhouns.com

La Costa
“Latin-Southern fusion” cuisine.
31 Market Square
(865) 566-0275, lacostaonmarketsquare.com

Season’s Café
Fresh, American fare.
12740 Kingston Pike, Suite 106
(865) 671-3679, seasons-cafe.com

Sleep

Hotel St. Oliver at Market Square
Twenty-four-room historic hotel with a view of Market Square.
407 Union Avenue
(865) 521-0050, hotelstolivertn.com

Knoxville Marriott
Snappy service and walking distance from the downtown core.
500 Hill Avenue, S.E.
(865) 637-1234, marriott.com

Maple Grove Inn
Eight Georgian-style rooms on 15 acres.
8800 Westland Drive
(865) 951-2315, maplegroveinn.com

Seek

Art Market Gallery
Local artists' paintings, pottery, jewelery, photography, and more.
422 South Gay Street
(865) 525-5265, artmarketgallery.net

Bliss
Great gifts, jewelry, and clothing.
24 Market Square
(865) 329-8868, shopinbliss.com

Vagabondia
Women’s fashions in natural fibers.
27 Market Square
(865) 525-4842, vagabondiaonthesquare.com