The temperatures are dropping, but there are lots of cool activities going on at the Knoxville Zoo.

Celebrate the cooler weather during the Zoo’s Penguin Discount Days. Penguin Discount Days include half-price admission for all zoo guests through Saturday, February 28, 2009. Make sure you visit the zoo during the winter and check out the animals who keep cool.

For more information about the Knoxville Zoo, visit knoxville-zoo.org

The circus is coming to the Knoxville Coliseum from January 22nd – 25th, 2009. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey present BOOM A RING, an action-packed circus spectacular where energy bursts out of the ring, into the audience, and bounces back to electrify the Ringling Bros. performers. Circus-goers will enjoy an up-close and personal experience as they sit feet away from beautiful white tigers, majestic Asian elephants, and thrilling acrobats from around the world. The action in Boom A Ring bounces from one high high-energy act to the next, featuring a daring crossbow demonstration that takes archery to new extremes, a gravity-defying performance on the whirling Wheel of Steel, a high wire extravaganza that tests the limits of human balance and breathtaking aerialists gracefully soaring over the audience’s heads. Boom A Ring is a one-of-a-kind experience that engages all of the senses while providing children of all ages with a day at The Greatest Show On Earth they never imagined possible!

Arrive an hour before show time for the All Access Pre-show – FREE to all ticketholders, and meet Ringling Bros. performers and animals, learn circus skills and enjoy a taste of the circus before the show even starts!

Event Info:
Show Time: Jan 25th 5:00 PM
Show Time: Jan 25th 1:00 PM
Show Time: Jan 24th 7:00 PM
Show Time: Jan 24th 3:00 PM
Show Time: Jan 23rd 7:00 PM
Show Time: Jan 22nd 7:00 PM

Ticket Info:
Ticket prices listed above are the per ticket price at the Knoxville Coliseum Box Office. Tickets may be purchased through the web site or at any of the following outlets: Coliseum Box Office, Charge by Phone – Tickets Unlimited (865) 656-4444 or toll free (877) 995-9961.

Knoxville Zoo is lending a hand to Santa this holiday season!

Santa is busy getting ready for the holidays and has asked the Knoxville Zoo to prepare his reindeer for their annual trip on Christmas Eve.

Stop by Knoxville Zoo between now and January 31 to see some of Santa’s favorite reindeer friends.

For directions, times and more info visit www.knoxville-zoo.org

Now you have no excuse for not taking your family to the Knoxville Museum of Art. From now until the end of 2008 the museum will not charge any admission fees. There are multiple exhibits that can help you bring art to your kids.

Currently there is an exhibit about the quilts of Gee’s Bend. They are beautiful tributes to the women who created these masterpeices with a needle and thread. To learn more about upcoming exhibits you can check out the museum’s website.

Just make sure you take advantage of the no admission fee offer. In a time when most of our budgets are feeling crunched this is a great activity to take part in. Combine it with a trip to the Fort Kid playground across from the museum and your family can make a day of it!

As a mother of a two year old and four year old I am in the constant pursuit of family friendly places to dine. Most of the time this exasperated, over-worked momma prefers to eat at home in the privacy of her own kitchen where, when asparasgus is not well-recieved, no other diner is disturbed by large quantities of the vegetable being hurled in their direction. That being said, Knoxville is home to many unique eateries that are the perfect place to share with your family.

Our latest favorite is Sunday Brunch at The Tomato Head. Both Tomato Head locations serve up this culinary high point of my week from 10 to 3 on Sundays. I love the laid back atmosphere of the Tomato Head and that my family, no matter how noisy or how raucous, seem to fit right in. There are no linen tablecloths for my children to ruin and they offer up coloring sheets and get this…triangular crayons so I don’t spend my entire meal fetching crayons off the floor. Pure genius my husband and I declared! It has plenty of high chairs and a baby changing station in the bathroom (who knew these could be so hard to find at times!) and plenty of booster seats as well.

Perhaps the best part of the Tomato Head is their variety. My picky eaters can dine on plain cheese pizza while I get to enjoy more flavorful fare. Everything is fresh as the restaurant’s motto “Food’s gotta cook” might suggest. There is no rush here and I feel like I am eating at home, only with much better food. The Tomato Head is just an extension of my own kitchen where family togetherness and good food are at the top of the menu. So next week after church when my four year old says “What’s for lunch?” I can confidently reply “We’re heading to the Tomato Head!”

Visit The Tomato Head online (including menu and prices) at www.thetomatohead.com

What do you get when you combine an outdoor ice-skating rink with a cup of hot chocolate, a dash of holiday music, and a pinch of festivities? The recipe for a perfect date night! Holidays on Ice returns for the second year at Market Square in downtown Knoxville. Beginning November 24 and continuing through January 7, Market Square is transformed into a winter wonderland with an outdoor ice-skating rink for children, adults, and groups to enjoy. You can rent skates or bring your own. Get some Christmas shopping done at one of the hip and trendy stores at Market Square. Enjoy dinner at one of the many eateries, ranging from Indian to Italian, and don’t forget to spend some time at the pavilion where you can enjoy the sounds of the season courtesy of the Knoxville Choral Society. Guaranteed to put even the biggest Scrooge in the holiday spirit (not to mention a second date)!

I believe that Thanksgiving gets the shaft in terms of holiday celebrations. My sister’s house is lit up like a runway before Halloween. I rebel against Christmas music played in Pottery Barn in October, and I refuse to try on that Christmas taffeta party dress at Ann Taylor before Thanksgiving (even though they do have my size, and it is gorgeous)…nope, not gonna do it. I want to celebrate Halloween with all the candy and costumes and Thanksgiving with family and friends. However, I have to share a must-do Christmas holiday event now, because it sells out every year before December.

The Three Rivers Rambler becomes the “Christmas Express” where children of all ages experience the magic of a holiday train ride through Knoxville. During this 90-minute, 11-mile train ride, passengers are served Christmas cookies and refreshments while a local celebrity reads a holiday story. Santa and his elves board the train at the halfway point to talk to the children and give each one a special gift. Visit their website for more information and to book your reservation online. My husband and I have taken our four-year-old daughter for the past three years, so it has become a holiday tradition for our family, and I hope it will become one of yours as well. Now start working on those pilgrim hats.

Knoxville Tennessee is a town that punches above its weight. Don’t believe us? With a population of only 170,000 it’s the smallest city to ever host a World’s Fair–putting it in the ranks of Paris, London, New York and Chicago. It’s home to the Tennessee Valley Authority, one of the largest government projects in the world, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory which was instrumental in producing the first atomic bomb. And its impact doesn’t end with cheap electricity, atomic weapons and international events. Where would popular culture be without Quentin Tarantino, Johnny Knoxville, Kenny Chesney and Mountain Dew?

Knoxville is a youthful town as well thanks to the 27,000 students who attend the University of Tennessee there. And Knoxville is also a town blessed by geography. It sits between the Cumberland and Appalachian mountain ranges; seven lakes surround the city; and the headwaters of the Tennessee River begin in Knoxville. Close proximity to mountains and water make Knoxville a great place for outdoor activities and sports.

With so much to offer, it is no wonder that Knoxville attracts Clever Parents. To find out the inside scoop on Knoxville, Clever Parents caught up with Vicki Preston, president of a local moms club in the heart of Knoxville and uncovered “11 Clever Ideas for Knoxville Families.”

Ijams Nature Center
160-acre park located in Knoxville, encompassing woods, trails, meadows, and a spring-fed pond, enjoy preschool nature day camps, walking trails, searching for tadpoles in the pond, events range from Bug Nights to Day Camps, School Field Trips to River Rescue and everything in between, Ijams has the programs to excite and entertain you and your family.
www.ijams.org
865.577.4717

Knoxville Zoo
Besides seeing the amazing animals at the zoo, you may never make it out of Kids Cove! Kids Cove is the newest and most popular addition to the Knoxville Zoo. Kids can ride the wild animal carousel, slide through a waterfall, build a sandcastle in a giant sandbox, become a zookeeper or a farmer with costumes and toys, learn how to milk a cow, interact with the Kids Zoo animals in a new and fun environment, and climb into a giant bird nest with eggs. The Knoxville Zoo has been rated as one of the best zoos in America. It is open year round and offers special programs such as Bedtime with the Beasts. Bring your sleeping bag and spend the night at the Knoxville Zoo!
www.knoxville-zoo.org
865.637.5331

Knoxville Museum of Art
Founded in 1961, the Knoxville Museum of Art is a 53,000 square foot concrete and Tennessee pink marble building featuring five galleries. It has activities and exhibitions for the entire family. Each month they have a Free Family Fun Day with music, arts and crafts, and more for the kids. There is an arts and crafts center located in the lower level of the museum where kids can learn about the museum through interactive exhibits and make things to take home. 18 & under are free!
www.knoxart.org
865.525.6101

Three Rivers Rambler
The Three Rivers Rambler highlights East Tennessee’s unique history and beauty. Guests aboard the excursion train enjoy a ninety minute trip along the Tennessee River. Beginning the journey in Downtown Knoxville, the Rambler travels past historical sites to the “Three Rivers Trestle” where the French Broad and Holston Rivers join to form the Tennessee River. During the fall, they offer Railgate packages for football fans to have tailgate parties among friends and family. During October, enjoy the changing leaves and fall weather during a train ride. When December arrives, come aboard the Christmas Express train ride with story telling, holiday treats, and a visit from Santa.
www.threeriversrambler.com
865.524.9411

Fantasy of Trees
Wander through a magical forest of more than 300 beautifully decorated trees, holiday accessories, room scenes, fireplace mantels, swags, door designs, table centerpieces, topiaries, birdhouses, and “Adopt-a-Trees” decorated by local school children. There are tons of Christmas crafts for kids to make, an indoor carousel, tell Santa what you wish for, get your Christmas shopping done, and enjoy holiday entertainment all at the Knoxville Convention Center!
www.etch.com/fantasy.cfm
865.541.8385

World’s Fair Park
This historic park is the site of the 1982 World’s Fair. The big golden sphere still marks the spot! There is a performance lawn where great plays and musical events are held, as well as a festival lawn. You can throw a Frisbee, walk your dog, splash in the fountains, or enjoy a picnic under the many shade trees. Bonus: nice bathrooms are conveniently located throughout the park. Take a blanket to sit on or rest on the bench seating; friendly to joggers, walkers, and strollers; there is an events guide online, and many restaurant options within a five-mile radius of the park, several within walking distance.
www.worldsfairpark.com

Fort Kid
This elaborate play structure was built by volunteers during the city’s 1991 Bicentennial Celebration and is located between the Victorian Houses and the Knoxville Museum of Art. With its thousands of square feet of slides, rides, and swings, Fort Kid is a popular destination! It is located across from the Knoxville Museum of Art at the World’s Fair Park. A quaint little sandwich shop, McLain’s, sells ice cream and concessions from inside the playground. Open during park hours, a percent of the proceeds goes toward Fort Kid’s upkeep. Bathrooms are conveniently located with a diaper-changing station and kid-sized toilets. Picnic tables and seating are plentiful, too.

Volunteer Landing
A scenic one-mile paved riverwalk along the Tennessee River connecting a visitor center, attractions, restaurants, historical markers and refreshing waterfalls and fountains. Park visitors can meander paved paths, relax in a swing or climb an overlook tower to watch the University of Tennessee crew teams. Riverfront Park has a fountain that sprays from the ground, and the short “waterfalls” that get kids thoroughly drenched are fun…be sure to pack dry clothes! Feed the ducks and the fish from the decks of Calhoun’s Restaurant, and enjoy eating inside or outside while dining directly on the Tennessee River. Why not rent a boat while you are there at their full-service marina?
865.633.5004

Knoxville’s Market Square
The Market Square District is the site of the city’s original city market area founded in 1854. The Square has been revitalized with shops, restaurants and residences and frequently hosts outdoor concerts and other performances. The Market Square District has become the place to gather for events, shopping and dining downtown. From rock concerts to Shakespearean plays, farmers’ markets to exotic crafts, art shows to high fashion.. you’ll find it all in the heart of downtown Knoxville in the Market Square District. On their website you can find a calendar of events. The square also boasts beautiful fountains and lots of places to sit!
865.405.3135
www.knoxvillemarketsquare.com

East Tennessee Discovery Center
The East Tennessee Discovery Center is comprised of Science Discovery, a hands-on, fun learning adventure for children and adults, located in Chilhowee Park. There is the Discovery Space Shuttle where kids can enter the shuttle and explore the universe through interactive control panel switches, spacecraft dioramas and question & answer lightboxes. Step into the Space Room and find out how much you would weigh on another planet. The Computer Mini-Lab consists of five computers that will put the world of science at your fingertips. These computers feature science games for a variety of ages. Kidspace is an exhibit area designed to provide multiple experiences for young children. Touch, listen, build, create and learn while playing. Features include: Geoboard, Tangrams, Magic School Bus games, magnets and shape sorting. Lego Lab is a place where you can let your imagination go wild as you build simple machines, buildings, vehicles or whatever else you desire.
865.594.1494
www.etdiscovery.org

The Cove Concord Park
“The Cove” is by far the most popular spot in West Knoxville. It is a beautiful park located on Concord Lake. From the spectacular views, to the many things to do within the park, such as fishing and swimming to canoe and kayak rentals, there truly is something there for the entire family! From a sandy beach with lake swimming, two sand volleyball areas, large playground, a .7-mile paved walking trail, and a large picnic gazebo to accommodate 80 – 100 people, you can easily spend your entire day at this park. They also offer free concerts in the park during the summer months.
865.215.6604
http://knoxcounty.org/parks/park_shelters_cove.php