My wife and I traveled to the Middle Tennessee State game in 2015 (where Jamaal Williams blew out his knee).  We flew in and out of Nashville, however, we drove to Knoxville for the first few days of our trip.  Dollywood is located in Pigeon Forge, about 45 minutes southeast of Knoxville.  Pigeon Forge is the mother of all tourist traps, but we really enjoyed Dollywood.  It's comparable to Knotts Berry Farm, but with many more musical performing venues and excellent southern food.  We were able to arrive there after 3 p.m. and stay until closing time, and then return the next full day on a one-day ticket, but that deal was discontinued in 2018.  Further to the southeast, Gatlinburg had a Park City atmosphere, and the Great Smoky National Park was spectacular.  Although there was a huge forest fire there in 2016, I hear that the burned area is recovering nicely.  

Oak Ridge, one of the sites of the Manhattan Project, is about 45 minutes northwest of Knoxville.  If you have any interest in the development of the atom bomb and nuclear technology, don't miss the American Museum of Science and Energy there.  And if that doesn't satiate you, there are also bus tours of the various Manhattan Project sites. 

If you can stay in Tennessee another day or two and like country music, don't miss Nashville.  Music Row has great music but the honky tonk bars weren't my thing.  However, the Country Music Hall of Fame was fantastic.  And I highly recommend taking in a performance at the Ryman Auditorium, the new Grand Ole Opry venue, or the Station Inn (exclusively bluegrass music).  It's Americana at its finest. 

If you have even more time and can make it to Memphis, don't miss the National Civil Rights Museum, located at the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated.  That was a real eye opener for me.  Beale Street was kind of meh, like Nashville's Music Row.  But you also can't go to Memphis without visiting Graceland.  

I was hoping to make it to the Tennessee game this year but my wife's health hasn't been good, so we'll see.  I hope all of you who go have a fantastic time!  Go Cougars!!!