Some other interesting stops include:

East Tennessee Discovery Center — This hands-on children's museum comes complete with a planetarium. A 'Kidspace' area is designed specifically for the preschoolers. A wide variety of hands-on exhibits attracts the primary school ages. They even have a little zoo featuring live insects plus a tarantula.
  Open 9a to 5p daily. Closed Thanksgiving, the day of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and also New Year's Day. The planetarium has an erratic schedule. They say you have to make an appointment but we got in with another group because there were seats available. Admission charged.
  For more information phone 1-865-594-1494 or visit their web site: ETDC.
  From I-40, take exit 390. If you were eastbound, turn right; if westbound, turn left. Follow Cherry Street (southbound), turn left on Woodbine (4th street on your left from the exit) and drive to Bearman Street. Turn right and the museum complex is on your left in Chilhowee Park (516 North Beaman Street) just beyond the Knoxville Zoo.

Knoxville Zoo — Featuring 'Grasslands Africa' where they have assembled many of the animals of Africa (e.g., elephants, giraffe, zebra, kudu, gazelles, waterbuck and several earth-bound birds) to a emulated African grasslands habitat. Other emulated environments include Chimp Ridge, Gorilla Valley, Penguin Rock and Pridelands (lions and other felines).
   Zoo Hours vary with the season. Admission charged.   For more information phone 1-865-637-5331 or visit their web site: KnoxvilleZoo.
   From I-40 eastbound take exit 392 to US-11W south and follow the signs.
   From I-40 westbound take exit 392A, merge onto Rutledge Pike (TN-1/US-11W) and follow the signs. Actual address: 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive.

Frank H McClung Museum — Primarily a geological (with emphasis on the East Tennessee area), anthropological and archeological (specializing in Egyptian and Native American) museum. On the campus of the University of Tennessee, the museum has received much national and world-wide recognition for its excellence.
   Open Monday through Saturday from 9a to 5p; Sundays 1 to 5p. Closed New Year's Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Admission to the McClung Museum is always FREE!

(continued top of column 2)

(continued from column 1)

   The museum is the first building — just beyond the University of Tennessee's Knoxville Campus Information Center on Circle Park Drive — in the heart of the Knoxville campus of the University of Tennessee.  From I-40 eastbound, take exit 386 and follow US-129 (Alcoa Highway) south (toward the Airport) to the Neyland Drive exit. Turn left onto Neyland Drive and continue straight through the next two traffic lights. At the third traffic light turn left onto Lake Loudon Blvd and drive to end. Turn right onto Volunteer Blvd and the Campus Information Center will be on your right.
   From I-40 westbound, take exit 388A (left hand exit) and get onto the James White Parkway (TN-158). When the James White Parkway reaches the Tennessee River the freeway ends and you will be on Neyland Drive. Continue to the second traffic light (next to arena) and turn right onto Lake Loudon Blvd. Drive to end of Lake Loudon Blvd and turn right onto Volunteer Blvd. The Campus Information Center will be on your right.

Women's Basketball Hall of Fame — A tribute to all women who play and have played basketball. A 'timeline' exhibit traces the last century of the game; a video adds to the historical information. One, rather grandiose, attraction is a 30 foot diameter, 10 ton basketball at one end of the building. And, of course, there is a 'Hall of Honor' in which each of the inductees is profiles and their special achievements highlighted.
   Open Monday through Saturday from 10a to 7p; Sundays 1 to 6p. Closed on Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day and Easter. Other holidays may have abbreviated hours. Admission charged though children ages 5 and under are free.
   For more information phone 1-865-633-9000 or visit their web site: WBHOF.
   From I-40, take exit 388-A and follow the James White Parkway to the Summit Hill Drive exit. Turn left onto Summit Hill Drive. At the traffic light, turn right onto Hall of Fame Drive. Drive to the fourth traffic light and turn left onto Hill Avenue. The Hall of Fame will be to your left. Parking is available next to the building.

Tennessee Riverboat Cruises — Just can't leave Knoxville without mentioning the Tennessee River cruises. Yes, you can cruise the Tennessee River on a genuine sternwheeler! Lunch cruises, Sunday brunch cruises, deluxe dinner cruises and even late night cruises under the Tennessee stars are all offered.
   For more information, schedules and fares, phone 1-800-509-2628 (toll free) or visit their web site: Riverboat.
   From I-40 take exit 388-A (if westbound, this is a left hand exit) and get onto the James White Parkway (TN-158). When the James White Parkway reaches the Tennessee River the freeway ends and you will be on Neyland Drive. 1st traffic light you come to will be a Walnut Street/Volunteer Landing. Turn LEFT at this light and enter Calhoun's on the River Restaurant. Drive carefully through Calhoun's parking lot to the end where you will see the Star of Knoxville.

Knoxville is served by Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport which is actually in Alcoa, about 12 miles south of Knoxville.