If you should ever find yourself in the area of Knoxville on a nice sunny day with nothing to do, give Volunteer Landing a try. It's along the north shore of the Tennessee River in the downtown area and contains a 2-mile river walk. The Landing contains many things; among them are man-made waterfalls and fountains for the kids, young and old, to play in on the hot days of summer. There are three restaurants where you can relax and dine while watching the river traffic float by. As you explore the walk way be sure to watch out for their "Secret History," these include stories and facts about the city's history. They can be carved into the paving bricks or in slabs of marble and limestone along side the path in the landscaping. Also keep a sharp eye out for the "Windows to the past," a series of pictures showing the river and downtown when paddleboats ruled the river and skyscrapers were an unknown thing.
When you're done walking the river take the elevated walkway across the parkway to the Historic downtown area. Here you will find the information center / Blount House. Blount was governor and a signer of the Constitution, he was also elected to the Senate where he was impeached and expelled from congress, after this he returned to state politics until his death.
From there it's on to White's Fort. White was the founder of Knoxville; the fort will give you a look at what daily life would have been like when it was built (1780s). The original home, a few log cabins, museum, and blacksmith shop are a few of the things you will see. If you stand by the small garden you get a great view of the modern downtown Knoxville and get a chance to reflect on the changes that have taken place over the centuries.
When you're done here drive East along the river for about a mile until you see the signs for the University of Tennessee's Agriculture Gardens; follow the signs to the visitors parking. Here the students take plants from all over the world and see if they can adapt them to grow in the Tennessee climate. We were here in spring and the garden was bursting with color everywhere we looked; there were also a dozen or so sculptures through out the gardens. Allow about an hour to an hour and a half to take in everything.
Right next door to the Agriculture School is the Veterinarian School. There is an interesting monument in front of the building, The War Dog Memorial, dedicated to the hundreds of dogs that served in the US Marine Corps during WWII; it also list the names of the dogs that gave their lives in the service of their country. Just something you're not going to run across everyday.
Cost for the day not counting lunch on the river, $5 per adult at both the Blount House and White's Fort.