Sustainable Summer Bucket List
Summer is almost here, and we are looking forward to the longer, warmer days and all the fun things that they can entail. When many of us were children, we created summer bucket lists of all the things we wanted to do in the summer – go swimming, have a slumber party, catch fireflies. But just because many of us are adults now, that doesn’t mean we can’t create fun summer bucket lists! At Keep Knoxville Beautiful, we want to inspire your bucket list with ideas that don’t involve spending lots of money or creating copious amounts of waste. Instead, we want to focus on activities that encourage low waste habits, embracing the environment and natural surroundings, and enjoying the simple things in life!
The Sunsphere. Photo by Visit Knoxville.
Be a Knoxville tourist
Whether you are a local or a transplant, there are always new corners of Knoxville to explore! Most of us become so caught up in day to day life, that we don't often take advantage of all the things to do in this city. Whether it's visiting one of Knoxville's museums or historic houses, going to the top of the Sunsphere, or catching the Blue Plate Special, spending an afternoon exploring Knoxville as if you are a tourist is always a great way to make the city feel exciting and new. I love checking out travel blogs to see what is recommended to tourists coming to Knoxville - and then I see how many of those things I have actually done!
Visit your local library
On days when it is too hot or rainy to be outside, there is no better place to be than curled up with a good book! The Knox County Library has 18 branches across the city, and each summer, readers of all ages can participate in the Summer Library Adventure. Readers can track their progress across a game board and earn prizes for completing various missions. If you aren't sure what you want to read, the librarians are a great resource for recommendations, and it is always exciting to try a new genre or topic.
Browse a yard sale
Saturday mornings in the summer are prime yard sale shopping time! Yard sales are a great way to thrift shop and can feel like treasure hunting across the city. Often, you can find yard sales by just driving past neighborhoods on Saturday mornings and looking for colorful signs advertising the sales. (However, remember if you post a yard sale sign to remove it once your sale is over – it is litter otherwise!) Shoppers can also check the local paper or online for upcoming yard sales.
Azaleas in the Smoky Mountains. Photo by Smoky Mountain Living Magazine.
Visit the Smokies or a local park
The summer months are a great time to get out in nature – the trees are lush and green, the flowers are in full bloom, and the wildlife are out and about. Whether you go on a hike or simply taking a drive through the mountains, being amongst nature is good for both your physical and mental health. Discover a trail in the mountains you’ve never hiked before through apps like AllTrails. Or if you want to stay in Knox County, visit a new park in a different part of the city. Live in Powell? Head to Ijams! Live in Farragut? Check out Seven Islands State Birding Park! Check out this interactive KGIS map to find a new park or greenway to explore.
Listen to the cicadas while watching (or catching!) fireflies
You might have heard about the new brood of cicadas, Brood XIX, that will be emerging this summer. Unpopular opinion – but I don’t think summer would be complete without the sound of cicadas. They are the noisy music of the summer, and hearing the cicadas in the evening is a classic sign that summer is truly here. You can also pair the sound of the cicadas with another timeless summer activity – catching fireflies! Whether you choose to just sit and watch the fireflies flicker or you choose to run around in the grass, catching and releasing the fireflies, fireflies can bring out the kid in all of us. Listening to the cicadas and watching the fireflies are also two activities that connect you to nature by encouraging you to pay attention to the wildlife around you.
Grow a summer fruit or vegetable
You don’t need to be a farmer to be able to grow your own produce! Whether you have a garden plot or a small container garden, it is easy to grow your own fruit or vegetables. If you’ve never grown produce before, start small with strawberries, blueberries, or tomatoes. You can buy seedlings from a local nursery and then with sunlight, water, and care, watch as your produce grows! It is very exciting to harvest your homegrown fruit and/or vegetables, and then find new ways to cook with them or share your harvest with friends, family, and neighbors! Check out UT Extension’s Home Fruit and Vegetable Garden calendar which includes detailed information about frost dates, planting times, and task lists for growing a bountiful garden.
Visit the farmer’s market or local produce stand
Knoxville Farmers’ Market. Photo by Downtown Knoxville.
Even if you try out growing some fruits and vegetables yourself, it is always exciting to check out the local produce and vendors at the Market Square Farmers’ Market. Nourish Knoxville also has a Local Food Guide for those wanting to go to U-Pick farms, where visitors can pick and take home the produce. With all this fresh produce, another sustainable activity is trying a new recipe! You can try making summery dishes and drinks homemade lemonade, blackberry cobbler, or fried green tomatoes all with fresh, locally grown produce.
Spend time in the water
Tennessee summers are no joke, and we have many of hot and humid days ahead of us. One of the best ways to stay cool without cranking up the air conditioning is by hitting the water! Whether it’s visiting one of the quarries in South Knoxville, paddle boarding or kayaking on the Tennessee River, or checking out one of the city’s swimming pools, there are lots of ways to get out onto the water this summer.
Have a great summer, Knoxville!