What to do near Knoxville, TN? Places to eat? Challengers that need help?

So this afternoon my work told me they need me to go to Knoxville for two weeks, leaving tomorrow. I work for an insurance company, and when there are big property losses, they pull some of us from other lines of business (I'm in auto liability, dealing with injuries) to go and help.

I've never spent any time in TN, only driven through on the way to Deal's Gap. What is there to do around Knoxville? I'll be staying near the airport and working a lot and traveling all around the area, but hopefully some folks around here will know of a good place to eat or three, or perhaps some evening I'll have some time to help wrench on a Challenge car or something.

I'm sure you know your not far from the dragon if your near the airport Tons of excellent driving roads in the area besides that one.

Calhouns is not a terrible place to eat. Wild Wing Cafe is good if you like a lot of variety for wings and you get up near Turkey Creek. Puelo's grill is not bad. My personal favorite is The Irish Times cafe in Turkey Creek. I'm pretty sure jhaas has a bar that I think is near UT, If someone can remember the name of it please help me out I am having a brain fart right now.

Yea, I just mapped out the distance to the dragon, about an hour. Hopefully I can get a rental that is not an SUV. I'll make sure to have a day where I have my claims for the day end a little early down in that area, hopefully.

Thanks for the recommendations

BTW I heard the rental places around were low on inventory due to all the damaged vehicles in the area.

See if the knoxville roller derby team has a game.

I stopped in Knoxville on my way back to OH from the dragon a few months ago. I ate at the downtown brewery which was pretty good.

I believe jhaas's bar is the Fort Sanders Yacht Club.

You won't be far from the Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg area. Lots of different things to do there. Including some Go-kart tracks and a muscle car museum on the edge of Sevierville.

Get a hold of Jon Haas (I think he may be jhaas here). He's a good dude, and owns a bar. The Fort Sanders Yacht Club. He also has a E36 M3-ton of cars that got flooded.

If you are an old Simpson's fan, you can visit the Sunsphere.

"Remember, we parked under the sunsphere."

Rob_Mopar wrote: If you are an old Simpson's fan, you can visit the Sunsphere. "Remember, we parked under the sunsphere." That is exactly what sprung to mind the second I saw this thread. The World's Fair and the Simpsons episode.

The Sunsphere is near the UT campus and will contain your best bet for fun: UT coeds. You however will be staying out at the Airport in Blount County and there aint much going on out there.
There are lots of good roads and if you are working for State Farm and can get my claim processed quickly I will be glad to show you all the good roads. It is my understanding that 31,000 cars were damaged in the day of storms that had already wiped out Tuscaloosa Ala and Ringgold Ga. We were lucky by comparison.

In reply to fastmiata:

Yes we are, I've seen ringold and I can't even imagine what it must be like in Alabama.

Gay St downtown is the culture spot. Theaters, museums etc.

UT campus has all the cool bars. (and coeds) (and associated sporting events) (This also lends itself to a couple of very pleasant Hooters and one Spice Rack)

Great Smokey Mountain National Park close by

Plenty of lakes if you like to fish

If you are a fan of Boats, Vonore TN (just past the turn for the Dragon) You have MasterCraft, SeaRay/Bayliner (Bruinswick), and Yamaha jet boats

Roller derby

Smokey's Baseball (minor league team)

Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville if you like the tourist trap and shopping (hey we got voted tackier than Branson one year!!!) It also has one really Kick-A$$ Bass Pro Shop

Lot's of stuff to do. Get a car with respectable handling and you should have some fun. Great roads around here, that is what we spend our tax money on! (Kids can't read but we got good roads!)

Thanks for the tips. I think I'll go need to park near the sunsphere and take a picture just because. I wonder if it is still full of wigs.

Fastmiata, sorry I'm not with SF, and I'm sure that my rental Dodge Charger would be absolutely no match for anything in your garage!

Yea, folks in Alabama really got hit hard, so the full time property damage people are there dealing with the big losses, leaving those of us who are normally not property people to deal with the fairly minor claims like hail damage to the roof and siding, etc.

how could I forget!!! We have the greatest flat water boats in the world here!

Allison Boats build the fastest bass fishing boats and some world record holding race boats. Built down by the airport. These things are wicked fast. Lotus of the boat set. To ensure a good hull they leave them in the mold for 2 weeks to ensure proper curing!

hey berkeleyer...still in town?

im drunk