Must See Sights and Landmarks in Walland Area

"In 1982, the city of Knoxville hosted the World’s Fair, sloganed Energy Turns The World. The organizers worked together with architects local to the area to create an impressive structure that would thematically bring the sun – the greatest source of energy – down to earth and into what we now call World’s Fair Park. The result of this project was The Sunsphere, a huge round object fitted with reflexive glass pane panels, layered with dusted gold, balanced on a tower of hexagonal shape."

"Made in Tennessee Photo Ops: Volunteer Landing + The Sunsphere These days, few people pass up a good photo op. In a city filled with such opportunities, two stand out in particular: the scenic Tennessee River at Volunteer Landing and the undeniably picturesque landmark, the Sunsphere. Down at Volunteer Landing, the backdrop of the river and the river bridges creates a perfect image, especially as the sun begins to set."

"This Knoxville landmark was built for the 1982 World’s Fair. It became a local favorite and stands to this day. After the World’s Fair ended, the Sunsphere closed its doors and remained vacant until 2007."

"James White was the founder of Knoxville, and now you can see how he would have lived by visiting his former house, known as the James White Fort. The home is the perfect place to learn all about frontier life, and you can enjoy hands on displays here like cooking, spinning, and even blacksmith workshops. There are also special holiday events here at this working life museum such as ghost tours around Halloween, so make sure to check out what is on when you are in town."

"The James White Fort was built for James White as he led an expedition into the upper Tennessee Valley to reach the land of what we know as Knoxville. The fort was chosen as the capital of the Southwest Territory in 1790 and was donated in 1791. In 1970, the place was converted to a museum and since then the place holds the tools of wars, houses and other facets of the frontier life."

"The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame is worth visiting for a few reasons: 1) girl power!. ; 2) it’s home to the world’s largest basketball; 3) the Hall of Fame is a sub-contractor for the Center for Sport, Peace, and Society. The society’s mission is “to use sport to change lives, communities, and the world through teaching, research, and service.” As travelers, how could we not want to support such a mission?"

"Once you’re fitted up, wind through downtown and enjoy the 6.5-mile ride via the Neyland, Third Creek, and Bearden Village Greenways to Bearden Beer Market. Then kick back, relax, and reward yourself with the local brew of your choosing."

"Established to conserve Knoxville’s black history, the Beck Cultural Exchange Center features the history of African Americans in Knoxville and East Tennessee from the late 1800s to present through photographs, newspapers, biographies, audio and video recordings, books and artwork. The center is located at 1927 Dandridge Ave. and open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm. This post was updated by Alexandra Olsen, a college student intern for TravelingMom.com, in May 2016."

"The Beck Cultural Exchange Center is loved for its permanent collection including The Pioneer Stairway (which includes the names and history of the earliest black achievers), The Hastie Room (includes reminders and personal items of William H. Hastie) and the United States Postal Stamps. The exhibitions pay tribute to some of the individuals in Knoxville’s past which helped shape the worl...Read more"

"The Beck Cultural Exchange Center is the primary repository of Black history and culture throughout East Tennessee. The museum’s historical archives include books written by African-American authors, and exhibits feature people and events that have played an important role in building up Knoxville’s African-American community. It’s an important place to visit."

"The Harrisburg Covered Bridge is one of those hidden gems that is right under your nose. Many folks that have been coming to Sevierville their entire lives have never heard of the bridge. It’s only recently, with the advent of blogs and review sites, that the bridge has gained more notoriety."

"Explore the timeless faces of Southern Appalachian mountain folk and the rural farmers in the pencil and paint artwork at the Paul Murray Gallery!. This art gallery is located on Gatlinburg’s historic 8-mile loop road and is one of the highlights of the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community. Artist Paul Murray records the timeless faces of the pioneer lifestyle, and he has several art collections available, including the Appalachia Series, Mirrored Souls Collection, the Ouellette Series and The Last of the Legend Series."

"The Paul Murray Studio & Gallery displays the work of one of Gatlinburg’s most accomplished artists. After dropping out of school at age 13, Paul Murray became a professional painter and sketch artist. Murray’s work focuses on the rural residents of the Appalachian mountains."

"Just a block away from Market Square and diagonal to the East Tennessee History Center, it’s a great place to start the day with some caffeine and pleasant conversation with your barista. And if you like the neighborhood already, that’s greater than great since you’ll be looping back around to it later in the day."

"If Mayfield’s is your favorite ice cream of all time, then you need to go to the Mayfield Dairy Bar in Gatlinburg. You can get your favorite flavor served any way you want, whether that’s in a cup, cone, milkshake, banana split, or another way. You’ll find classics such as vanilla and strawberry, as well as other favorites such as turtle tracks and birthday cake."

"Mayfield Dairy Bar is located right on the Parkway and specializes in creatively flavored ice cream that will bring a smile to your face!. You can decide from all your favorite Mayfield ice cream flavors, like Vanilla Chocolate Strawberry and Moose Tracks. No matter what flavor you decide on, you’ll get the true taste of Southern homemade ice cream!"

"If you want a scoop of a favorite flavor you know and love, head to the Mayfield Dairy Bar. They have every flavor imaginable, from vanilla to moose tracks. Not only will you find ice cream cones, milkshakes, and sundaes, you will also find slushies, deep fried oreos, and more!"

"At Rita’s we take pride in making all treats fresh in house, nothing frozen off a truck. We offer a wide variety of delicious treats: Homemade Hand Scooped Fr..."