East Tennessee Attractions to Enjoy this Summer
July is Anti-Boredom Month, so it's a great opportunity to spend some time with your family exploring things around East Tennessee. And when the heat is extreme, as it has been lately, outdoor fun isn't always ideal. But what about some of the other great options right here in our back yard that allow you to stay cool AND have fun? Here in East Tennessee we have several great museums that are both educational and fun. They’re an affordable and entertaining way to fight off the summertime boredom. Check out a few of our favorites and share some of your own!
McClung Museum Of Natural History And Culture (Knoxville - UT Campus)
Located in Circle Park on the University of Tennessee campus is a fantastic museum that’s always full of great exhibits and is always open to the public and free of charge. McClung Museum has permanent exhibits that feature ancient Egypt, the archaeology and native peoples of East Tennessee, human origins and searching for our fossil ancestors, the Civil War (including the battle of Fort Sanders), and Tennessee freshwater mussels.
Blount County Historical Museum (Maryville)
Located at 1006 East Lamar Alexander Parkway inside the historic Thompson-Brown House beside the Cades Cove Museum, the Blount County Historical Museum is a great way to avoid boredom and learn a little bit about our region’s history. Their displays are always changing and new artifacts arrive pretty frequently. See artifacts from before the time of the Cherokee and items from the American Civil War. The Blount County Historical Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is three dollars but children eight years old and under are free.
Farragut Museum (Farragut/West Knoxville)
Learn about the history of the Farragut and Concord communities with a visit to the Farragut Museum. Enjoy the display which features an extensive collection of Admiral Farragut artifacts, as well as artifacts from the battle of Campbell Station. Check out the Admiral Farragut statue and read about his life on the historical markers on the Farragut Memorial Plaza. You can also see a Civil War Trail Marker about the battle of Campbell Station. There’s also a great museum gift shop featuring several great publications about our region during the civil war. The museum is located at 11408 Municipal Center Dr., Farragut, TN, 37934, and it’s open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Take the rest of the month of July and explore some local spots you might not have visited before. Beat boredom with fun activities the entire family will love!