Restoration 101

Sometimes you realize you have to get a gift for someone and you have no time to find one, let alone wrap it and make it look like you actually put some thought into it. That's where Earth to Old City comes to your rescue. They make gift-buying easy as they offer a free year-round gift wrapping service. But the gift that will eventually get wrapped is impressive, too, as the store features spectacular photographic art that can be custom framed on-site, as well. There's also a great selection of one-of-a-kind gift items that includes jewelry, books, toys, posters and items for the home and garden.

Wild attractions await you and your family when you visit the Knoxville Zoo. Enjoy seeing the many animals in their natural habitats as you walk through this impressive venue. The designers of the animal living areas have taken great care to make sure that the creatures are quite visible from several vantage points. The zoo also features a great petting zoo where the kids can feed the llamas. And, don't miss the mesmerizing bird shows as well as kid favorites like lions, bears, penguins and monkeys.

The kids love to skateboard and you feel better going out with them to watch and support their love of the sport. So, the obvious destination for this unique brand of family fun is the Knoxville Skatepark. This park has become one of Knoxville's most popular family attractions, and while the skateboard areas are unsupervised, safety is still the park's main priority. Helmets must be worn by skaters at all times and parents must also abide by the rules that include no smoking in the park area. Those guidelines are enforced to ensure that everyone has a great time when they visit this great family-oriented venue.

A truly compelling cross-section of history is collected at the Frank H. McClung Museum. You'll want to set aside a whole afternoon to take in the various exhibits that range from extensive collections in archeology, natural history, anthropology, medicine, art, and local history. See special presentations and pieces that focus on the area's prehistoric times all the way to the present. The incredibly well-thought out exhibits and pieces make this far-reaching history lesson one that you will never forget.