Places to go and things to do around Knoxville to help boost your happiness

It's been hard to shake off the pandemic blues, but there are ways to find new experiences close to home in East Tennessee to help alleviate that.

A recent Oracle Happiness Report found that 45% of people worldwide have not felt true happiness since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. The report also shows that 88% of people are seeking new adventures and activities to make them smile and laugh.

Let's try to change that. The report shows that 88% of people are seeking new adventures and activities to make them smile and laugh.

So, if you’re looking for something to put a smile on your face, here a few places to go and things to do in Knoxville and East Tennessee that may bring you some joy. And tell a friend, too.

Let the sunshine in

Stop a smell the flowers. No really, stop by the Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area in South Knoxville and admire the thousands of sunflowers standing 3 to 5 feet tall, some over 6 feet.

With their blooms, they bring more than a sense of calm to those who walk through the maze. The acres of sunflowers are planted to benefit the ecosystem and critters inhabiting the area, including deer, 30 species of birds and thousands of bees.

This majestic place for summertime joy is at 3140 McClure Lane, just past Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville.

Picnicking, hiking and biking in the Smokies

Having a picnic in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is another place to find joy. The peaceful valley with expansive views is surrounded by mountains and offers opportunities to spot wildlife like white-tailed deer, turkey or even a black bear.

Of course, there are also mountains to hike if physical activity boosts your spirits. It only takes 40 minutes from Knoxville to get there when you access the park through Townsend.

If you want to ride the trails instead of merrily walking them, there are several mountain biking trails located throughout Knoxville for beginners like Sharp’s Ridge Veterans Memorial Park, which is just 10 minutes north of Downtown.

You may even want to check out some of the bike clubs such as the Knoxville Easy Riders Bicycle Touring Group or Appalachian Mountain Bike Club, and regularly share the happiness of biking with others.

Adorable pandas and goofy chimpanzees

From rough trails to cuddly tails, how can anyone not find some happiness hanging with adorable red pandas, cute otters, and funny chimpanzees and gorillas? Zoo Knoxville just might be too much happiness in one place. The zoo has activities for kids and visitors of all ages.

Zoo Knoxville is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. Tickets are $19.95 for children 3-12, seniors 65+, and college students with a current student ID. Tickets are $24.95 for adults and children 2 and under can enjoy the zoo free.

Glassblowing, sculptures and more

For some seeking a mood elevator, art and live entertainment is the way to go. The Knoxville Museum of Art near World's Fair Park has free admission and currently has exhibits highlighting women artists, exploring the wonders of dreams and infinity through glass and steel, and honoring a century of visual arts in East Tennessee.

The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. On Sundays, the museums opens its doors at 1 p.m. and closes at 5.

Art is all around Knoxville. You can check out the changing sculptures in Krutch Park, watch professional glassblowers at Pretentious Glass Co. (for free!), enjoy a live performance at the Bijou Theatre, Beck Cultural Exchange Center or maybe just stop and admire the artistry of a street performer.

Yoga in the park

Treating the body good will naturally trigger a positive feeling. Releasing endorphins through exercise will bring a little happiness to your day. But you can make it fun, like trying a yoga session at Edgewood Park.

Yoga in the Park is on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month and is a partnership between Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association, the Knox County Health Department and the City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation department. It's free, but a $2-$5 donation is suggested.

There are also other ways to exercise in Knoxville, like joining recreational sports teams, joining Facebook or social media workout groups, or even looking to the list of other Programs in the Park the city offers by visiting knoxvilletn.gov.

The Volunteer State

And let’s not forget the joy in giving back. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Happiness in 2020 found that volunteering makes people happier. Regardless of initial well-being, the study showed that people who volunteered over a regular period had improved mental health and reduced distress.

Volunteer East Tennessee is great resource to discovery new ways to volunteer at local organizations and events. You can find opportunities based on need, interests, organization, date, distance, and other ways.

Devarrick Turner: Trending news, from pop culture to politics in East TN
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Things to do in Knoxville to make you feel happy