Information for participants of the LECM 2024
In 2024, the Low Energy Community Meeting for nuclear physics in the US is being held in Knoxville, hosted jointly by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee. For official conference information, please see the official indico site of the LECM. This website is an informal guide to things to do in Knoxville and the East TN area to help participants make the most of their vIisit.
Downtown Knoxville (food, drink and entertainment)
Downtown Knoxville has an abundance of restaurants, soffee shops, breweries, bars and music venues within walking distance of the meeting.
The Evil Dr has put together a small personal guide, free of charge, for your deepest delight.
Areas worth a visit:
- – Market square
- – Gay Street
- – The Old City
- – South Knox
- – Happy Holler/Broadway/Central
Inside of Knoxville has info on all things Downtown, including a constantly updated comprehensive event list.
The historic Tennessee Theatre hosts concerts, plays, films, comedieans, and Broadway shows. It is home to the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and the Knoxville Opera, the Knoxville Choral Society. and the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra.
The Bijou Theatre is a superb intimate theatre venue, hosting concerts, opera, comedians, and more. Downstairs is a bistro, which hosts live jazz four nights a week (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat).
The Appalachians
Knoxville lies in the Tennessee Valley, surrounded by areas of natural beauty, with numerous mountains, rivers, lakes and waterfalls.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee National Forest lie to the South-East.
To the North-West are the Cumberlands (including Big South Fork National River and Recreational Area), and the Cumberland Plateau.
Nearby to Knoxville is the major tourist destination of Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville (home of Dolly). These areas host numerous tourist attractions, including the Dollywood amusement parks (suprisingly less kitch than you’d imagine, and home to several great rolloercoasters), and Ober Mountain (including an aerial tramway from downtown Gatliburg).
Mountain biking
The East TN area offers an excellent mountain biking opportunities, ranging from some classic East coast chunky terrain to XC to groomed flow trails. There are several lift-operated downhill options available within a few hours’ drive.
Local trails
Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness a huge interlinked network of mountain biking trails in South Knoxville, maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club. See their website for details, and daily trail status.
Haw Ridge is a 780-acre park hosting a complicated network of ~30 miles miles of singletrack, located on the outskirts of Oak Ridge and maintained by the Clinch Valley Trail Alliance. Generally, the high ground along the ridge and toward the West are gnarlier, and the South and East are flowier (and more prone to waterlogging)
Lift-assisted Downhill
– Windrock Bike Park. The steepest, gnarliest East coast park – a place to be taken seriously. About an hour from Knoxville (1/2 hour from Oak Ridge)
– Ober Mountain in Gatlinburg, on the edge of the Smokies. In winter, a ski resort, in summer, mountain biking, plus other attractions. Currently undergoing lift renovations, so uphill shuttles are in place this season. About an hour from Knoxville. Beginner trails, and bike and kit rentals.
– WildSide in Pigeon Forge is the newest lift-assisted park in the Knoxville region.
Paddle sports
The East TN area offers some excellent watersports, including flat water and white water kayaking, and rafting. Much of the water (both lakes and rivers) are controlled by the TVA dams. The TVA water release schedules and the TVA Lake Info app are both very useful resources.
Whitewater
The Ocoee River has some world-class whitewater (including class III and IV), with a section developed for the 1996 Olympics.
A personal recommendation for rafting trips
Flatwater kayak rentals
Knoxville Adventure Collective
River Sports (Knoxville)
Oak Ridge (Melton Lake)
