A vibrant public art scene, an urban wilderness, plenty of history, and a park that once hosted the world, all make Knoxville a great place to explore on a budget. Tennessee’s third largest city sprawls out along the Tennessee River in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains. Here are ways you can experience what the city has to offer without draining your wallet.

a tall blue steel structure with a golden sphere on top called the Sunsphere was the centerpiece of the 1982 Worlds Fair in Knoxville — There are few landmarks in Knoxville more recognizable than this one. The Sunsphere was the theme structure for the 1982 World’s Fair. A year later, the reigning Miss USA stood on top of it to open up the broadcast of the pageant from the Knoxville Civic Center.

The world at your feet

It’s difficult to pass through Knoxville and not notice the golden orb towering above much of the city. Sitting atop a framework of blue painted steel, the Sunsphere served as the key theme structure for the 1982 World’s Fair. Although it’s not the tallest structure in the city, this 266-foot tall tower stands out from nearly everything around it.

Today, you can drop in to the Visitor Center near the base and purchase tickets to ride up to the 4th floor Observation Deck. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and the Sunsphere is open daily. From the observation deck you can learn a lot about the World’s Fair and the surrounding area, all while enjoying 360 degree views of the city and the Smoky Mountains off in the distance.

A circular sign with the words the Sunsphere on it. Windows above and below it reveal a city skyline and mountains — Since 1982, people have been taking a look at this view from the observation deck of the Sunsphere in Knoxville. At one time the Sunsphere also had a restaurant on one of the floors.

After a trip up into the Sunsphere, wander around World’s Fair park and check out the court of flags (representing all the countries that were part of the fair), enjoy the splash pad and playground, walk under the Tennessee Pavilion, and check out different markers showing what the site was like when the world came to Knoxville. You can also step into the Knoxville Convention Center to see the larger than life Rubik’s Cube that stood in front of the Hungarian Pavilion.

In the early 1980s, a cube shaped puzzle invented by a Hungarian professor took the world by storm. This Rubik’s Cube sat in front of the Hungarian Pavilion at the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville. Today you can see it in the Knoxville Convention Center.

Museums showcasing art, history, sports and more

Most cities the size of Knoxville have a museum or two and Knoxville’s museums cover a wide range of subjects. These institutions are great places to spend time without spending much money.

If you’ve been up in the Sunsphere, take a walk over to the Knoxville Museum of Art. Much of what is on display at KMA is modern, but its first permanent exhibition has pieces dating back a hundred years. It’s called “Higher Ground: A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee.” The artists whose work appears in this collection drew their inspiration from the natural beauty of the region.

a large room filled with brightly colored modern art pieces — The Knoxville Museum of Art features a mix of permanent and traveling exhibits showcasing local art and much more. Admission is free and you’ll find it in Knoxville’s World’s Fair Park.

Throughout Downtown Knoxville and the Old City you’ll find remnants of the days when streetcars moved people around the city. Now, there’s just one place to see one and step inside. The East Tennessee History Center along Gay Street tells the story of the region with a wide array of exhibits, including the streetcar near the entrance. Museum admission is $10 for adults, but there are days when you can get in for free. Visit the Museum website for details.

At one time you would have caught a streetcar to make your way around Knoxville. And while they are long gone as a form of public transportation you can step inside one at the East Tennessee History Center.

Knoxville is home to the University of Tennessee and hidden away on the campus, you’ll find the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture. This free museum displays everything from a bronzed dinosaur skeleton to artifacts from when the Native Americans were the only people in East Tennessee.

Large panel displays depicting the early history of East Tennessee — Located on the campus of the University of Tennessee, the McClung Museum takes a look at the history of the region through culture and nature.

The biggest basketball in the world marks the spot of a museum telling the story of Women’s Basketball. This interactive attraction gives you a chance to shoot a few hoops and get your dribble game on all while learning about the sport and its greats. The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame is close to downtown. Admission is under $10.

The world's largest basketball sits on top of a big hoop atop a museum dedicated to Women's basketball. In the distance is the skyline of Knoxville Tennessee — Each year a new class is inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Exhibits on the current year’s Women’s Final Four are also changed out each year.

A city filled with public art

While you could go to an art gallery, Knoxville provides plenty of opportunities to see artwork without ever stepping inside. For starters, an entire alley downtown, between Wall and Union Streets, is filled with murals, including one of East Tennessee native, Dolly . Parton. The murals change from time to time, which makes visiting the alley even better.

a mural on a brick wall depicting singer Dolly Parton — It just wouldn’t be East Tennessee without seeing Dolly Parton. A mural of her is just one of the many you might find in Downtown Knoxville along the alley between Wall and Union Streets.

There are plenty of other murals to see including Knox Walls at Emory Place. Artists from across the country created the large scale murals in this 7,000 square foot area. You’ll also want to snap selfies at the postcard mural on N. Broadway and the massive Knoxville mural on the side of the city’s visitor’s center on Gay Street.

A large green sculpture with curved tops circular cutouts and flowing movement — You’ll find this “pier” near the end of Gay Street in Knoxville. Called Pier 865, the sculpture was part of a grand overhaul of the small Cradle of Country Music Park which celebrates Knoxville’s strong roots in Country Music history.

While Knoxville is well known for its connections to the Country Music world, this statue marks an important event in the classical world, the last concert given by Russian composer, Sergei Rachmaninoff was on the UT Campus.

If you’re into sculptures, Knoxville has plenty of those too. One of the most inviting ones can be found in Morningside Park. This larger than life statue is a likeness of the author Alex Haley, who wrote the book “Roots.” Haley lived out the last years of his life at a farm in nearby Clinton, TN which is now home to a training center for the Children’s Defense Fund. And on the U.T. Campus you’ll find statues of legendary coach Pat Summitt and the Torchbearer, a work with an active flame.

One of the newest sculptures (and probably the largest) you’ll find is inside the Cradle of Country Music Park at the corner of Gay Street and Summitt Hill Drive. Called Pier 865, this stunning green and blue work has a very modern feel and is nestled among many buildings dating back to the 1800s.

Tucked away in a wooded area of World’s Fair Park is an 11-foot high statue of a man next to what appears to be a piano. According to a report in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, this statue actually resided inside a local home for some time. This bronzed piece is a likeness of Sergei Rachmaninoff, a Russian pianist and composer. So, why is it in Knoxville, you ask? The last concert Rachmaninoff gave was on the U.T. Campus in Knoxville in 1943.

Natural Wonders

With Knoxville’s proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains and its location where the Tennessee River begins, it’s no wonder you can find so many natural wonders to explore.

At the heart of it all is Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness, home to Ijams Nature Center., an educational center where you can see some local wildlife and learn about the environement around you. With a massive slice of forest, waterways, and old marble quarries you could spend days here.

One of Knoxville’s biggest assets is the abundance of natural areas in and around the city. You can find places to hike along the Tennessee River, swim in an old marble quarry or bike deep into the woods and still be just minutes from downtown.

You will find 60 miles of trails to explore, places to swim and some history along the way. The Urban Wilderness is not far from Downtown Knoxville and there are plenty of nearby places to grab a meal to fuel your journey.

Other places to enjoy Knoxville on a budget

While you could certainly spend a lot of money shopping and dining downtown, just walking arts around Market Square, Gay Street and the surrounding area can keep you entertained. The area is home to several festivals, a farmer’s market and a lots of things to do during the holidays.

Whether it’s the Farmer’s Market, a Dogwood Arts Festival event or just a UT Football Game Day, there is almost always something happening in Downtown Knoxville that makes it a great place to just walk around and enjoy what’s happening around you.

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! You can find them all at Zoo Knoxville, one of the city’s top attractions. Tickets start at around $22. There’s also Muse Knoxville, a children’s science museum with tickets starting around $12.

Just 30 minutes away from Knoxville you’ll also find the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge and the Museum of Science and Energy as well as the Manhattan Project National Historic Park.