What to do in Knoxville, TN?

[Rhea]

My husband, mom, dad, and I are going to Knoxville for two days this weekend. We''re meeting my extended family on my mother''s side to celebrate an early Christmas at about the halfway point. I''m excited! I haven''t seen my extended family in a few years. None of the 15 of us is too familiar with Knoxville. Any recommendations on things to do for both large and small groups? I believe that we have we eating thing covered, but need other ideas.

 

[swimmer]

Knoxville is fantastic!
OK, Downtown, you can book a dinner on the riverboat the Star of Knoxville, or just watch the river from Calhoun's on the River, which has the best ribs. Order the spinach maria as a side, yummy. The sunsphere is fun, sort of pointless, but fun to go up. For hanging out and hearing live music there is always something going on at Market Square -and free parking on weekends. Lots of cute boutiques there. The KMuseum of Art is nice, so is the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. There are some pre-civil war mansions to tour, (stuffy, but interesting and Atlanta sure doesn't have many), for local fast food hit up Buddy's bbq all along Kingston Pike. Yummy! There are two great estate jewelery places if you are interested I will google for you to figure out which ones. Ijams nature center is fun, but its winter...not that it will be very cold. Hiking is close by, Dollywood is about 45min drive and she will be all tarted up for Xmass. UTk is a neat campus, lots of bars if that is your scene...what do you want to do? Line dancing? Antiquing? what are your interests?
This Sunday night is the Lady Vols vs Stanford, it will be quite a show, I will be there on the floor seats!

eta: you said you had food covered, but can you tell what is on my mind? Hey, you can't have ALL food covered right?

 

[Rhea]

Thanks, Swimmer!

I''ve made some notes.

My uncle has been planning the trip. We''re there for two nights. The first night I think is pizza and card night so we''re just ordering in. Our family likes card games and pizza! For the second night my uncle has made plans for all of us to have a Christmas dinner someplace. I don''t know where, to be honest. Breakfast is a slow start for many of us so it''s just whatever the hotel does in their breakfast. That really only leaves about 3 days of lunch, I think. Any ideas for that? And I''m a coffee fiend so I''d love a good coffee place!

 

[Rhea]

I'm having trouble with my internet so trying to do shorter post so I lose less.

My four aunts, mother, and I love our antiques. Not that we have many, but antique shopping is easily the best way to spend entire days. I probably won't be hitting up any jewellery stores unless they are antique. It's only my mother, one aunt, and I who like it. And we get made fun of for our little obsession. Other interests are mostly just walking around, hiking, being outside, the river sounds nice. I imagine my grandfather and one cousin will be interested in the basketball. Both are really big fans so I'll let them know about the museum and game! Dad will like the civil war houses. I really think you covered all the bases for our family!!

DH and I are vegetarian so that makes eating out in the South difficult. Any ideas for a vegetarian lunch?