Gemini Loop: A Fun Weekend in Knoxville

We leave Knoxville today to backtrack 400 miles on the Tennessee River. We will go back through all the same locks and definitely through Chattanooga again. Some of the marinas may be different, just for a change of pace, but our choices are somewhat limited. Our goal is the Tennessee/Tom Bigbee waterway, which will take us south to Mobile, AL, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Our stay in Knoxville has been lots of fun. Knoxville was site of the 1982 World's Fair (which Steve and I happened to attend!). The remnants of an old fort are just at the top of the hill from our marina. Down the road is the mansion of the first governor. For a time Knoxville was the state capital. The Cherokee lived here, and the first Europeans here were the Spanish (briefly). There is a wonderful museum that chronicles the history of the area from earliest times through post-World War II.

Not too far from our marina is a section of town called Market Square. It is where farm goods were brought and sold, and is now full of shops and restaurants. In the middle, there is plenty of room for activities and entertainment. On Friday night there were a few people in costumes and a big group of people were dancing to Rocky Horror Picture Show music. On Saturday, we got there just as vendors were closing up. A bluegrass group was playing awesome music - children were dancing and the grownups were trying hard not to. We were also treated to a zombie parade in honor of a Saturday night showing of Rocky Horror. It was a hoot! Whole families were dressed up! I've tried to choose the best ones for you from the photos, but there were hundreds of them!

Food here has been great too. We went to a pasta place at Market Square on Friday night and had a fabulous lunch at The Crown and Goose - an English pub in the old town section. There is a free trolley that runs around downtown. Just above the marina is an old train that gives 30 minute tours along the waterfront. We didn't take the trip, but we heard the whistle - many times. There is sculpture all around downtown, created by art students from the University of Tennessee. The senior projects are displayed in the spring and left up through the year. Finally, Knoxville is a dog-friendly town. We saw dogs (and one wild cat) on leashes everywhere! In the Market Square area, almost every restaurant had outside seating where your dog could join you. This was certainly worth the side trip.

Blount Mansion - Home of Governor William Blount, Revolutionary War veteran and signer of the US Constitution.

The Bijou Theater has been in business for 102 years!

This is the train at the top of our hill. It toots frequently.

James White Fort - built in 1786

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame is here in Knoxville.

The free trolleys are pretty cool.

One of the original trolleys in the East Tennessee Historical Center.

Display of an old pharmacy

I got some photos in the museum, but most were too blurry to use. I had to do it flashless and that messes with the photos.

This is a display about Sequoyah. He created a written version of the Cherokee language.

This arch was built in honor of Dr. Boyd by a grateful community.

A tribute to Tennessee Volunteers

A monument to Governor Sevier.

And one to his wife, Sarah.

On Friday night, there was a young man in a kilt riding a bicycle with an advertisement for this place. We didn't get to go there, but it sure looks interesting.