When to Arrive and Depart

Arrive in Knoxville on December 2nd. TYS is the airport symbol and the cheapest fares can usually be found through kayak.com Some of the best programming is scheduled for the afternoon of December 5th, so plan to stay through Friday night and depart no earlier than December 6th. If you want to spend a day in area, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, golf, retail, colonial era Jonesboro, and many other attractions are nearby. The special $86 rate at the downtown Hilton is good through December 6. To make reservations go to the special Hilton website for the convention.

Other Attractions

Historic Cades Cove in the Smokies is a favorite destination about 40 minutes from the airport and an hour from downtown. For a guided tour of historic Cades Cove contact Cades Cove Heritage Tours. Hike to the top of Gregory Bald (about 5,000 feet elevation) to get stunning views of the cove and the nearby mountains. Another favorite trail in clear weather is Charlie's Bunyon (6122 elevation), which runs along a high ridge at 6,000 feet. Check with the Park on weather conditions before departing. Click here for a map of the 800 miles of trails in the Smokies. Mountain biking and other attractions are also nearby. River runners may enjoy seeing the Olympic whitewater course on the Ocoee River two hours from Knoxville, although no water release is scheduled at that time. The Tennessee Theater is one of the architectural gems in downtown Knoxville within walking distance of the hotel and will likely have concerts on Friday or Saturday night; also, checkout the upcoming events at the Bijou Theater downtown. An exhibit at the East Tennessee Historical Society Museum near the hotel currently features the 250 year history of East Tennessee.

For more information on what do in Knoxville: Area Information

Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Smoky Mountains National Park

Historic Tennessee Theatre