Cram in more summer fun before school begins

Two year-old Nathan Whitehead of Louisville waits for the start of the home opening game for the Tennessee Smokies baseball team at Smokies Park on Wednesday. Nathan's mother Lauren Whitehead says " Money's tight, but you still have to enjoy yourself ."

Two year-old Nathan Whitehead of Louisville waits for the start of the home opening game for the Tennessee Smokies baseball team at Smokies Park on Wednesday. Nathan's mother Lauren Whitehead says " Money's tight, but you still have to enjoy yourself ."

When August begins, school is close behind. Mothers start mumbling about bedtimes and school supplies and if the youngest child really needs new tennis shoes. Children will cram in more swimming and sleeping late before summer ends.

This year Knox County students get a little later start on the school year. School starts with a half day Aug. 17. So there's still two weeks for late summer fun. Here are a few ideas:

Dollywood's family-focused KidsFest ends Sunday, Aug. 2. The festival includes stage shows, musical shows and a ride based on "Journey to the Center of the Earth." The Pigeon Forge park is open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Daily admission is $53.65 for ages 12 -59, $50.30 for ages 60 and older and $42.45 for ages 4-11.

Some exhibits are ending soon at local museums with free admissions. Contemporary paintings and sculptures comprise "Birds in Art" at the Frank H. McClung Museum through Aug. 16. The museum at 1327 Circle Park Drive on the University of Tennessee campus is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. At the Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park Drive, the furniture exhibit "Arms, Legs, Feet, Heart & Soul: The Cumberland Furniture Guild" ends Aug. 9. This collection of items ranges from the beautifully functional to the amazingly unusual. The KMA is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays throughThursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday.

Another free adventure is outdoors. Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave., includes trails, meadows, ponds and exhibits. It's free. The visitor building is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. The outdoors are accessible during daylight hours. Take a picnic and a blanket. You can bring the dog too if you keep the pup leashed.

Photomicrographs of "Nikon's Small World" exhibit are on display at the American Museum of Science and Energy through Aug. 9. The museum at 300 S. Tulane Ave. in Oak Ridge is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens 65 and older, $3 for children ages 6-17 and free for ages 5 and younger.

For many folks nothing says summer like a baseball game. The Tennessee Smokies are in town at Smokies Park Aug. 1-5 against the Carolina Mudcats. Games are at 7:15 p.m. except for Sunday's 5 p.m. start. The Smokies host the Jacksonville Suns 7:15 p.m. Aug. 11-15. Tickets are $7 for bleacher and $9 for field level seats for adults; $6 for bleacher and $8 for field level for children age 12 and younger and senior citizens 55 and older. Smokies Park is just off Interstate 40's Exit 407.

Had a trip to the Knoxville Zoo on the family to-do list all summer? The zoo is open 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission is $16.95 for adults, $12.95 for children ages 2 to 12 or senior citizens 65 and older. Parking is $5. The zoo is located off Interstate 40's Exit 392. One fun zoo standard is the bird show that performs during 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Enjoy the antics of Einstein, the park's African grey parrot who's been on the "Tonight Show" and whose vocals include impressions of a space ship and various animals.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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