Five Fun Things to Do at Lakeshore Park Right Now

If you’d asked me a year ago what I thought about Lakeshore Park, I wouldn’t have had much to say. The only thing I knew about it was that it used to be the home of the Lakeshore Mental Institute. So, it wasn’t on the top of my list of things to do. But now… let’s just say I’m a fan and I want to share it with you. That’s why I want to tell you about five fun things to do at Lakeshore Park right now.

Managed by the Lakeshore Park Conservancy and the City of Knoxville, Lakeshore Park is a 185-acre park located along the Tennessee River. Open daily from 6am – 10pm, it has paved walking trails suitable for wheelchairs and strollers (although there are some steeper trails).

In addition, it has four baseball fields, an inclusive universal playground, a brand-new Woodland playground, and the Jim Haslam Sports Center. And that’s just a few of the things Lakeshore has to offer. Coming this fall…pickleball courts.

It’s no wonder Lakeshore Park has the distinction of being the most visited public park in Knoxville. Now my fellow introverts, please don’t allow that to turn you off. During the times I have visited, I have never felt like it was overly crowded. Besides, I’ve got a list of five fun things to do at Lakeshore Park right now. So, let’s get started

This idea isn’t for the faint at heart, or for you night owls. But if you can manage to drag yourself out of bed and head to Lakeshore Park before the sun rises, you are in for a treat. Once you get to the park, head for the HGTV Overlook. (You can access a map of the park here.)

There is limited parking in this area, but that’s no problem because there isn’t a big crowd here for sunrise. And that’s why this is such a treat. This panoramic view of the Smoky Mountains and Fort Loudon Lake lies shrouded in darkness while you await the sunrise.

Then suddenly, the sky begins to lighten, you see the shadows of the mountains.  As you watch the sun peak over the trees, and the sky explodes with color, you’ve got the best seat in the house.

You’re not having to jockey for a good position amongst the crowd.  Because there isn’t a crowd. In fact, as you look around, you realize you are one of only three people who are witnessing this extraordinary sunrise. So you lean back in your chair and relax and enjoy this exquisite display God has put on for you.

Since there are tables and chairs at the Overlook, make sure you grab a thermos of coffee on your way out the door. Better yet, head down the road a couple of miles and get some donuts or some famous cronuts from Richy Kreme Donuts. You might remember I mentioned how much I enjoyed them when I wrote about Kern’s Food Hall.

Now that the sun doesn’t rise till after 7 you’ve got time to pick up a couple of their mouth-watering donuts and still make it to the park by sunrise.  They’re located at 7699 S. Northshore Drive.

If you’re a night owl and can’t face getting up that early, you still haven’t completely missed out.  Recently I met a friend at Richy Kreme Donuts at 830 and we headed to the park. While there were a few more people out, we were still able to enjoy the peace and solitude of the park.

Once you’ve enjoyed the sunrise, you can drive down to the parking area beyond the Hank Rappe playground and head towards the 300-foot shaded boardwalk which runs along the Tennessee River. This raised boardwalk allows you to walk through the riverfront woods and the marsh area without getting your feet wet, which is a big plus for me.

Make sure you follow the boardwalk to the elevated pier that runs from the boardwalk to the edge of the river. Take a few minutes and enjoy the view of the water. If you’re lucky, some boats may be passing by. There is very limited seating here.

Just a note. You’ll probably notice that most of the river access is separated from the park by a built-up embankment. I was a little bummed about this because I thought it would be so much prettier without this rather ugly embankment. But then I read the embankment was designed specifically to protect the park from erosion caused by the nearby water.  So, I guess we’ll put up with it and just try to look around it.

While the elevated pier offers very limited seating, you can still picnic along the water. To do this, follow the trail to the Fourth Creek Pier or do like I did and drive to the parking lot near the Tower Playground or the parking lot near the Northshore entrance.

I was delighted to see the small picnic area near the water on Fourth Creek. In addition, there is a 50-foot pier that looks out over the secluded cove. Bear in mind, these picnic tables don’t have umbrellas so in the summer you might want to have an evening picnic.

Regardless of that, if you like eating beside the water as much as I do, this is the perfect place to bring that fried chicken and potato salad.

There are plenty of places to walk at Lakeshore Park. You can try the newest hill in the park called the Sculptural Mound. It’s about 35 feet high with paved pathways that curve up to the top.

Once you’ve made it to the top, take a few minutes and sit in the provided seats and soak up the view. If you’re a dog lover, it won’t be long until you’ll see at least two or three of “man’s best friends” making their way up the “mound”.  

Regardless of where you choose to walk, beauty surrounds you. Lakeshore Park has over 95 “labeled species” of trees, some of which are over one hundred years old. In addition, you’ll find a wide variety of colorful flowers throughout the park. Walking here sure beats walking on a treadmill.

While I was walking around Lakeshore Park recently, I met a woman who told me the picnic area near the water on Fourth Creek was her “happy place”. At first, I didn’t think much about what she said. But the more I thought about it, the more I understood what she meant. We all need a place we can go that brings us joy… a place of beauty…somewhere we can go to when we’re in a bad mood and it lifts us out.

I guess in a way, that’s what this blog is all about. It’s my opportunity to share my “happy places” with you.  It’s my opportunity to introduce you to places that might just become that “happy place” for you.

I’m enjoying this opportunity to explore Knoxville, and I hope you’re enjoying exploring with me. And I hope you’ll share my blog with your friends, and we can all find that “happy place” that enriches our lives.

If you’ve visited Lakeshore Park recently, please leave a comment below.