This past week my family took a quick road trip to Knoxville, Tennessee to the Ijams Nature Center. Located only 3 miles from downtown, this is a must see on any family vacation destination. It?s still amazing to me when I find these ?hidden jewels? that don?t cost a penny and offer so much to my family. Whether you?re looking for a place to hike in the woods, discover nature, stretch your imagination, learn about wildlife or find great family photo opps, Ijams delivers!
Nature Center
There is an interactive indoor nature center with animals, exhibits, tanks, and things to explore.
Make sure you check out the birds eggs collection, and the activity table.
Hiking Trails
Ijams Nature Center is a 275-acre wildlife sanctuary and natural area featuring 10 miles of natural surface trails plus a stretch of the Will Skelton Greenway. All of the trails are hiker friendly, although 3.5 miles incorporating Mead?s Quarry and the Ross Marble Natural Area serve both hikers and mountain bikers.
The trails are well developed. There is a gentle hike down through the woods and beside the river. It is about a mile loop trail; you could probably even take a stroller. There are a few areas where they have added wooden ?speedbumps? to help you navigate some of the trail that are not level. You wind through the woods down to the river.
Jo?s Grove
A nature playscape designed just for children to imagine, explore, and find whimsy and merriment; a special place for children to touch the earth, and in turn be transformed by it. The annual fairy house and gnome home competition is held here.
This is the most creative playground area I?ve seen in a long time. It is completely natural with houses made of sticks, stepping stones from tree trunks and a small cabin to play in. Our kids loved this area.
Mead?s Quarry
Once the murkiest spot in all of Knox County, this important Tennessee Marble Quarry, and later illegal dump, has been transformed into a rugged post-industrial natural area with 25-acre Lake and gorgeous views. Stone from Mead?s was used in numerous local national buildings and monuments.
This is a much more ?natural? undeveloped part of the Nature Area. There were hiking trails and beautiful views. But it is not as developed or well marked as the other section of Ijams. We were disappointed that we we couldn?t find the Keyhole that is pictured on the site, but loved our time over near the quarry. We just ran out of time to keep exploring. It was a beautiful area.
Have you been to Ijams? I?d love to hear your favorite part!
Cost for admission: free ( donations are accepted)
Hours:
Monday -Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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