Knoxville

The third-largest city in Tennessee and the location of its first capital, Knoxville, frequently goes unnoticed, but once visitors learn about the lovely and historic city, its approachable downtown, and its closeness to the Great Smoky Mountains, they frequently become admirers. The glittering Sunsphere, a 266-foot-tall, gold-tinted tower constructed for the 1982 World's Fair, is one of Knoxville's most recognizable monuments. It is one of the many attractions in the city and is now an observatory in the World's Fair Park.

Many of the noteworthy individual stores and eateries in downtown Knoxville branch out from the well-known Market Square. Many residents and visitors use kayaks, canoes, or riverboat cruises to get out on the Tennessee River, which runs beside downtown. There are several historical attractions, particularly Civil War sites, battlefields, and mansions. Knoxville is a desirable city to visit due to its welcoming population, abundance of green space, delicious southern cuisine, and simple-to-navigate downtown.

March through June as well as September through November are the ideal months to visit Knoxville. While Knoxville has four different seasons, the lovely dogwoods in the spring and the vivid leaves in the fall make these times of year particularly tempting for travel. Since summer is Tennessee's largest travel season and it may get fairly warm, hotel rates tend to rise during this time. Although it can get frigid, winter is usually very moderate, making it a less popular time to travel, which might result in lower accommodation costs.

Rankings:

• #4 in Best Places to Visit in Tennessee

Location: Tennessee