Free entry to museums, best shortcuts

by Arthur · November 24, 2022

It’s the little things that make life better, and sometimes it’s life hacks that make all the difference.

For those who are not aware, life hacks are strategies and knowledge that not everyone knows. These can help save time, money and energy.

Originally inspired by this Reddit post by user u/LightningBoot, here are six Knoxville life hacks compiled by Knox News to make life a little easier.

The Sunsphere stands in front of the Smoky Mountains on a clear day as seen from Sharps Ridge Memorial Park in North Knoxville on Monday, May 1, 2017.

Table of Contents

Read the City Explorer Pass

Knox County residents who have a library card have an additional way to gain knowledge and explore Knoxville.

The Read City Explorer Pass gives library cardholders access to several museums, historic houses and Knoxville activities for free or at a discount. All you need to do is book a visit on the day you wish to travel up to six weeks in advance and a confirmation email will be sent with instructions. There is a limited number of passes for each location, but it is updated with new passes every week.

These kids—and their moms—received their Discovery Passes at Zoo Knoxville as part of READ CITY USA, a collaborative project launched by Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs in January 2019. They'll be able to choose from even more library books thanks to a recent significant increase in government funding. 19 August 2021.

Participating institutions include the Clarence Brown Theatre, the Museum of Appalachia, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Blount Mansion and the Knoxville Zoo. This life hack is especially useful for families looking for something new to try, so get out there and start exploring!

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Back roads in Knoxville and Knox County

The Hardin Valley Road exit at Pellissippi Parkway is dangerously backed up into the right shoulder during rush hour on Tuesday, January 15, 2019.

Just about everyone in Knoxville knows the value of the back roads, but here’s a reminder just in case.

The interstate is fine until it gets backed up with traffic. But if you’re aware of Knoxville’s traffic patterns, you can usually get around it by taking the back roads. For example, there is Westland Drive onto Lyons View Pike which takes you from Concord Park in West Knoxville straight to Sequoyah Hills, bypassing Kingston Pike entirely.

This hack was submitted by reader Frances McMillan.

“I’ve lived here all my life, but my life is back roads,” McMillan wrote in an email to Knox News. “I’ve never used freeways in the last few years. I hate them. So I always use back roads.”

It takes years of driving in Knoxville to know the back roads like the back of your hand. If you want to make the most of the roads, plan an hour to detour from the regular route. You can shave just a few minutes off your commute.

Tennessee football home games are the best times to grocery shop

An important part of living in Knoxville is knowing the perfect times to run errands and get some shopping done.

One of those times almost all Knoxvillians are familiar with is during University of Tennessee football home games. Avoid downtown Knoxville during the game, but it’s a great time to visit the grocery store and other businesses.

A bus from Knoxville to … NYC?

Planning trips takes a lot of time, energy and money. But what if you could go to New York City and not have to break the bank just to get there?

Reader Jeff Taylor shared his favorite Knoxville life hack, which is taking a bus from the Scruffy City to the Big Apple.

Tickets for the bus can be bought at gotobus.com or nytnbus.com. It costs about 100 dollars each way. The bus picks up at 8511 Kingston Pike and takes about 12 hours to drive to 28 Allen St. in New York City.

According to Taylor, buses sometimes have Wi-Fi and charging ports, but travelers should bring tissues for the bathroom on the bus.

“If you have no bags (carry-on only) and you want to save time, ask the driver if you can get off as soon as the bus exits the Holland Tunnel and before it gets onto Canal Street right after the NYPD’s 1st Precinct,” Taylor wrote in an email -mail to Knox News. “You’ll be at the entrance to the 1 train which can take you north to Penn Station or Times Square, or south to the Staten Island Ferry.”

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Find the best view in Knoxville

No matter where you go, Knoxville always has some beauty to find. And what better way to experience the scenic views than from some of Knoxville’s best vantage points?

One of the best spots with a view of the city can be found in South Knoxville. The iconic JFG Coffee sign at 414 Sevier Ave. is a great place to sit down and watch the Knoxville skyline with some friends, especially as the sun starts to set.

Another great spot in the center of downtown is the Radius Rooftop Lounge atop the Embassy Suites hotel. Enjoy cocktails while overlooking the city. It’s not the tallest building in the city center, but you can see everything from the rooftop bar.

On the north side of Knoxville, Sharp’s Ridge Veterans Memorial Park offers views of the city with the Smoky Mountains in the background. It is quite accessible to the scenic platform, but there are a few trails as well.

For those looking for a reward at the end of the trail, the River Bluff Wildlife Area at 1050 Cherokee Trail is a great way to get outdoors. At the end of the short trail, an overview of Knoxville and the Tennessee River closer to the campus side of town awaits hikers. It’s a great way to spend time outdoors while getting a unique view of the city.

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One last life hack from a Knox News reader…

This latest hack was submitted by reader Lucinda Denton. We agree!

“One strategy/activity that saves time, money and energy is my Knoxville News Sentinel subscription!” Denton said in an email to Knox News. “I’m amazed at those who drop the daily delivery as I can’t do without my morning reading. Sure, ‘big news’ on TV/radio, and later KNS gives detailed details.”

She added that she gets “daily mental stimulation” from the riddles and horoscope included in each paper, as well as a perfect fire starter for her fireplace.