I’ve lived in Knoxville since I was less than two years old, and I’ve been planning my escape probably 68 percent of that time.

“There’s nothing to do here,” I used to groan from the suburbs of West Knoxville (where there quite truly is nothing to do). My eyes were locked upon fantastically far-away destinations from a young age, and my high school self laughed dubiously at the idea of staying here for college. Why ever would I? Knoxville, Tenn., was a dreadfully dull place to grow up, I thought.

There were a couple reasons I reluctantly ended up at UT. And today, there are countless more reasons I am grateful I did. I still plan to move fantastically far away upon graduating, but staying in Knoxville enabled me to remember and fully appreciate how lovely the landscapes of my upbringing are. We are incredibly lucky to be surrounded by so much natural beauty at every turn, down every side road, during every season.

This Earth Day, rediscover Knoxville’s natural beauty for yourself. These five locations are sure to inspire:

1. Sequoyah Greenway: A mere jaunt from downtown in the historic Sequoyah Hills neighborhood, a 2.6-mile greenway offers plenty of riverside lure. Bring your bike, your dog or a book, and kick back on the sloping grassy lawns by the Tennessee River. This greenway is so tranquil, you’ll soon forget you had to drive down the Strip to get there.

2. The UT Arboretum Project: A creation of the UT Forest Resources Research and Education Center, the Arboretum encompasses 250 acres in Oak Ridge and is home to more than 2,500 native and exotic woody plant specimens. Bikes and picnics aren’t allowed here, but the grounds are open daily and include several miles of walking trails.

3. House Mountain Natural Area: House Mountain may only be 30 minutes from downtown, but finals will seem a world away atop the 2,100-foot crest known as Knox County’s highest point. The 5.8 miles of fairly steep trail are moderate to difficult, but the views along the Crest trail are worth the ascent. On a clear day, other mountain ranges like the Great Smoky Mountains or Unaka Range are visible in every direction.

4. The Cove at Concord Park: Head about 25 minutes toward West Knoxville and check out River Sports Outfitters at the Cove on Fort Loudon Lake. Open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday noon to 8 p.m., the store rents kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards. This summer, River Sports is even offering yoga classes — while on paddleboards. The Cove’s park offers variety for landlubbers, as well.

5. Pick your own berries: Strawberry season is fast approaching, and several local berry patches allow customers to pick their own. Grab a basket and head to The Fruit and Berry Patch for strawberries, Clift Orchard for blueberries, and Beauchene’s Berry Farm for blackberries. Top the outing off with some homemade jam or fruit tarts. A complete list of farms and harvest scenes can be found on knoxvilletennessee.com.