Here are 10 fun things to do outside in Knoxville:

1. Hiking in the Smokies: Just a short drive from Knoxville, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park beckons with over 800 miles of hiking trails. Alum Cave Trail and Clingmans Dome are must-visit destinations for breathtaking vistas.
2. Knoxville Urban Wilderness: This unique urban wilderness offers a network of trails, parks, and waterways for hiking, biking, and paddling, right within the city limits.
3. Ijams Nature Center: Explore the 300-acre natural area at Ijams, featuring hiking trails, a quarry lake for paddleboarding and swimming, and educational programs for all ages.
4. Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum: Immerse yourself in the beauty of diverse gardens, walking trails, and themed areas, making it a perfect spot for a leisurely day outdoors.
5. Whitewater Rafting: Venture down the Pigeon River for an exhilarating white-water rafting experience, suitable for beginners and seasoned paddlers alike.
6. Bike Along the Tennessee River: The city’s greenways offer miles of scenic riverside biking trails. Rent a bike or bring your own to enjoy the ride.
7. Knoxville Zoo: For a family-friendly outdoor adventure, visit the Knoxville Zoo, where you can stroll through beautifully landscaped grounds while observing a wide variety of animals.
8. Sunset at the Sunsphere: Ascend the Sunsphere for panoramic views of the city at sunset. It’s an iconic spot for capturing memorable moments.
9. Fishing in the Tennessee River: The Tennessee River is teeming with a variety of fish. Spend a peaceful day fishing off one of the many piers or embark on a guided fishing tour.
10. Outdoor Concerts and Festivals: Knoxville hosts numerous outdoor concerts and festivals throughout the year. Enjoy live music, art, and food in beautiful outdoor settings like Market Square.

In Knoxville, the possibilities for outdoor fun are endless. Whether you’re an avid hiker, water sports enthusiast, or simply looking to relax amid nature, this vibrant city offers a wealth of opportunities to embrace the outdoors. So, pack your hiking boots, grab your paddle, and get ready to explore the natural beauty of Knoxville, Tennessee.

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Next time you visit a new town, check what rock climbing options are available for your group. Start the young ones early, as climbing is a great and fun way to exercise for all ages. 

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Improves Muscle and Endurance

Climbing requires more than just upper body strength. It relies on various physical factors that include lower body strength, lean muscle mass, and footwork. It is one of the activities that can get your heart pumping, just like how jogging or climbing the stairs does. One-hour session of rock climbing can burn more than 700 calories. And when you encounter tricky situations, your flexibility is developed in the process.

Fosters Brain Development

Aside from being a cardio workout and building up different muscle groups, climbing can also improve how your brain functions. You need to have good problem solving skills in order to conquer a wall. Aside from problem-solving, it also involves body awareness. The best way to go up is often not the direct path. You need to focus on the rocks to find where to grab and where to place your foot before moving.

Stress Reliever

A lot of people go on rock climbing tours because they want to let out stress. It is one of the best activities that allow you to lose yourself in the flow, and enter a state where the pain is not a factor. Spending time outdoors can also lower stress levels, which makes rock climbing tours the best way to get rid of stress.

Teaches Life Skills

For intermediate and advanced climbers, rock climbing is more than just relieving stress or having a good workout. It is also a way to learn skills that are applicable to their daily lives. Some of the life skills that can be learned through the activity include determination, balance, and focus, just to name a few. Overcoming challenges become second nature to climbers.

And while rock climbing can be seen as an individual sport, it can also be regarded as a team sport. That’s because you will never be alone when doing it. You also need to learn how to trust the person holding your rope.

If you are interested in trying out the sport, then go on one of the adventure tours in California. You can choose to go on a trip that will take you to the Joshua Tree National Park, where you will learn how to do rock climbing outdoors. It is definitely one of the things to do whenever you are in California.

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Things to do to make your summer outing more enjoyable:

• Find or make shade – yes, find it or make it. If you are going to the beach, bring a beach umbrella or canopy. You will find it so easy and relaxing to have the option to step under the sun for a few minutes and step right back under the shade. Bring a cooler with lots of cold treats and drinks, stay out there all day, bring games, beach chairs, towels, even a picnic blanket. Same for when you go anywhere else – camping, fishing. Find a tree, or bring your own shade.
• Stay hydrated – summer months call for margaritas and beer. Well, it is very easy to drink alcohol AND water! Water is vital for our daily lives, but during the summer months it is every more necessary than what we often think. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Not all at once, don’t try to play catch-up because you didn’t drink enough all day. It is best to drink a glass here and there throughout the day, whenever possible. Water is key. I am drinking a glass while I am typing this.
• Sunscreen – so many people think sun screen is only for the beach. Well, not these days! Now a days it is important to use a light base sunscreen even if you are just going to the grocery store. If you plan a day out, and you know you will be exposed to the sun, then put some on before you leave home. Re-apply throughout the day. Sunscreen doesn’t last forever, so if you have a moment to reapply your sunscreen throughout the day, do it.
• Sun hats and sunglasses – when you squint you speed up the process of getting wrinkles around your eyes! So if you want to keep your facial skin looking young, get yourself a pair of sunglasses. A baseball cap or sun hats work great for being outdoors. Ball caps usually protect your eyes and sun hats protect your entire face, plus your neck.
• Let your body acclimate to the area – don’t blast your car’s a/c at 68 degrees while driving to a place you know is going to be hotter than the Sahara desert. Allowing your body to gradually change temperatures is way more comfortable than the “shock factor”.

It is really not that difficult to find better ways to avoid the summer heat while being outside. So if you want to get out, find ways to stay cool this summer, don’t let the heat stop you, don’t let it win the battle, make the best out of your day in combination with these tips and have a wonderful time outside.

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We love sharing the joy our outdoor adventures bring everyone, but we want to take it to the next level and share some other great outdoor activities you both may enjoy. Starting with our very own, of course! And moving on to other favorites….

Here are a few ideas:

1. Beginners Intro Rock Climbing Class –  includes 4 hours of hands-on training in all basics and fundamental skills needed for rock climbing outdoors.  Whether you are new to rock climbing or want to graduate from an indoor gym to rock climbing outdoors. All equipment is provided and you get the opportunity to practice with professional rock climbing instructors. No previous experience is required.
2. Half-Day Rock Climbing Adventures – 4 hours of clip-and-go fun climbing as much as you can! Adrenaline rush is often part of the experience. No previous experience is required. You and your loved one can cheer each other to success!
3. All-Day Rock Climbing Experience – this works just the same as a half day adventure, but it includes a picnic lunch and full 7-hour day of climbing. This is for the rugged and those with more endurance than average individuals. Usually, a half day adventure would be enough to tire you out, but if you’re already athletic and don’t tire easily a full-day will be perfect.
4. Batting Cages – lets face it . . . men and women love hitting things, so what better way to let it all out than to enjoy a day out at the batting cages. Make it even more exciting and find one that is not too busy, has picnic tables, has some shade, and take breaks to have some snacks/lunch.
5. Archery Class – cupid does it better, but you can still give it a shot! Haha
6. Horseback riding – is not as difficult as it used to be. Now a days, there is lots of places with more availability than ever. Horses need people’s attention too. Most are trained to follow a trail, so you don’t even need to know how to ride them. Most places also have a great little restaurant next door you can visit after your horseback ride.
7. Golf – you can play grown up golf or miniature golf, but you both need to prepare to stand up and walk all day (bring comfortable shoes!).
8. Ice skating – there is nothing more romantic then falling on the arms of your lover, or not. Just make sure is an outdoor skating rink! They usually play great music and have awesome outdoor lighting.

There are many great activities in Los Angeles available for everyone. No matter what you pick, great outdoor activities for couples bring the perfect sceneries to take photos and capture great moments, so make sure to pack your camera and don’t forget all the little add-ons that can compliment your day (snacks, picnic, etc… and a big smile).

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If you are searching for great places to rock climb for beginners, we have found a local place that might be perfect for you. Now let’s break down the greatness of one of our favorite indoor gyms, Top Out Climbing located in Santa Clarita, CA. Top Out thrives at making their location, not just a gym but a community. There is no better place for a beginner to practice climbing technique, than an indoor gym that requires no belay partner or testing. It mostly consists of bouldering areas, but it offers a great variety of top rope routes. They have 7 “auto-belay” machines that make it easy for those who do not have a partner. Each auto-belay machine offers a variety of routes that range in all levels from beginner to advance. If you still don’t know your knots or how to belay, not a problem – it is not required for you to know them, because they have machines that allow you to clip-and-go, which makes them the great place for beginners to start learning technique. You can also rent a harness, shoes and chalk bag for a small fee.

When it comes to climbing outdoors for beginners there are two options; (1) Find a climbing friend (and if he/she is not your friend – MAKE them your friend) that has extra gear (if you don’t have any), experience, knowledge, skills, and can take you with them to local places that offer easy routes. (2) Hire a company (like us heehee) to take you out for a guided tour, or better yet – a beginner’s class, so you can learn how to tie in to a rope, how to belay a partner, and all the other information that you would need to pass an indoor gym test with confidence. Rock Climb Every Day thrives at making beginners feel welcome and become part of the climbing community. All gear and equipment rentals (shoes, harness, and helmets) are included in the different packages offered.

Where ever you decide to go, indoor or outdoor, make sure that your local facility or company provides the community environment that helps promote learning, making new friends, and being a safe climber. Most places will have the walls, machines and equipment you need, but having that personal friendly atmosphere makes all the difference in finding great places to rock climb for beginners.

Climb on and stay safe!

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Most try rock climbing and once they like the sport enough to invest in it, they start shopping for gear around town or online. Like I mentioned on a previous post, “Spending a little, saves you a lot…”, it is in the best practices to purchase your own equipment.

Beginner Rock Climbers

The first few items a beginner rock climber often buys are a rock climbing shoes, a harness, a belay device and a locking carabiner. For some reason, beginners stop here, because they do not feel confident enough to have sufficient information regarding what rope length, rope diameter, or even rope brand to get. Most beginner rock climbers go indoors to practice their technique. While they develop their skill, they find time to do research or ask around others who own ropes (if you haven’t started this process, you should start now). Others go outside with friends that already have equipment to test the different ropes and make a more educated decision based on feel, look, or others’ opinions of ropes. As a beginner, it is your responsibility to find that rope that works best for your needs.

Intermediate Rock Climbers

Intermediate rock climbers are those who move on building natural anchors, pro anchors, and fixed anchors. Also know sport lead, trad lead, and lead belay. At this point, we hear the same question once again: What gear will I need to rock climb? Move on to reviewing and purchasing anchoring gear such as; locking carabiners, slings, cordelettes, webbing, static rope, cords, etc. All you will need, will depend on the specific areas you want to climb. Then move on to purchasing sport lead gear such as 10-15 quick draws (depending on the routes you are going to climb). For Trad Lead the bills start rolling out of control with things such as; cams, tri-cams, more slings, a sling to carry all your Trad gear, a good pack, etc.

Advanced Rock Climbers

Advanced Rock Climbers train hard to keep themselves fit enough and study to be educated on the overall sport of rock climbing. Pulling a hard or difficult climb does not put you in this category. Advanced rock climbers spend good amount of time educating themselves on more than just how to move your feet or pull a crimpy 5.12b. Becoming an advance rock climber requires patience and dedication, reading and hands on training of wilderness awareness and first aid, self-rescue and rescue techniques. In this category, just like at the intermediate level, advanced rock climbers spend time and money on training, certifications, and even more equipment such as; first aid kits, extra ropes, and anything else you can possibly need during an emergency.

No matter what level of climber you are, the information on what equipment you need, is always going to be available to you – all you have to do is ask or search online. This all goes hand in hand with another previous blog post’ “Rock Climbing…Educate yourself”. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Stay safe.

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From beginning to end… there is a lot of information to be learned and practiced with each step you take in your climbing routine and preference. You can choose to stay at a certain level, or choose to move on to learning more things. If you choose to stay in the middle, that is ok too – climbing is an individual choice and every person needs to follow their level and preference, but even if it is not your preference to move forward in your climbing routine, it is best to know as much information as possible so that you can be well prepared to help someone else in case of an emergency. Take an even bigger step and learn rescue, or how to rescue yourself. With limits, you will still be able to climb many routes, at many different locations. When you choose to move up on the learning curve, what you will gain is a higher amount of options and an even safer environment for you and everyone else around you. So when you ask yourself ,”What rock climbing class should I take?” take all that matters into consideration.

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