KNOXVILLE University Town

Knoxville is eastern Tennessee’s largest city and was the state’s first capital. Today, the city is a regional powerhouse of business and commerce, the headquarters for companies like the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the nation’s largest public power provider, and manufacturers like the Sea Ray Boats company.

The University of Tennessee (UT) has its sprawling flagship campus in Knoxville, with renowned colleges for the liberal arts, medicine, and science. Many UT graduates have taken their skills and created new cutting-edge businesses that are located in the city’s 7,000-acre Tennessee Technology Corridor.

Knoxville also has a lively cultural scene, historic residential neighborhoods, and new communities in the surrounding countryside. The Downtown Market Square hosts a seasonal farmers market every Wednesday and Saturday, and is home to more than a dozen locally-owned restaurants, nighttime music clubs, and annual events like the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Dogwood Arts Festival.

Transporation: McGhee Tyson Airport

Healthcare: Leading providers in the Knoxville area include the University of Tennessee Medical Center, Parkwest Medical Center, and the Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center.

Culture: The Knoxville Museum of Art and the Bijou Theatre are leading local sites for the visual and performing arts, respectively, while the Emporium Center houses multiple art galleries. The McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture features exhibits highlighting the region’s native wildlife and human history.

World’s Fair: Knoxville was the 1982 World’s Fair site that drew millions of visitors from around the globe and jump-started the city’s modern revitalization. You can still ride to the top of the 266-foot-high Sunsphere steel tower for sweeping views from the observation deck and enjoy a play or concert at the Tennessee Amphitheater.

We looked all around the country for a couple of years to find ‘the place’ for our next chapter. We visited Tellico Village, had a tour by a Villager, and decided instantly this was ‘the place.’ The natural beauty, accessibility to shopping and healthcare, four-season climate, all the clubs and activities, and great amenities—we could not believe we found it all in one location. We’ve purchased a lake lot and have started building our new home. We’ve met so many wonderful people during our planning visits; we cannot wait for our home to be completed.”

Dr. James Henry and Susan Kilday Oakton, VA

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Botanical Gardens

In a city with dogwood trees that bloom in nearly every neighborhood, Knoxville is home to a pair of the South’s best public gardens. The Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum is a 47-acre site that’s free to visit year-round, featuring stone-terrace flower beds maintained by volunteer local gardeners, a Dogwood Nature Trail for refreshing strolls, and a Butterfly Meadow for the young-at-heart of all ages. The University of Tennessee Gardens is a horticultural research facility that hosts annual cultural events like Art in the Garden.

KnoxGarden.org

Jackson Avenue

Located in the Knoxville area now known as the Old City district for its well-preserved Victorian architecture, Jackson Avenue today is a splendid example of successful urban renewal. All along the main drag and adjoining streets, you’ll find upscale restaurants and casual sidewalk cafés, boutiques, art galleries and antique shops, and nightlife entertainment with local performing artists. It’s also the site of the city’s annual Rhythm n’ Blooms Festival.

VisitKnoxville.com

Urban Wilderness

Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness is a unique 1,000-acre natural recreational destination just three miles from the heart of downtown. More than 50 miles of hiking trails include historic sites like Fort Dickerson Park along the Battlefield Loop and former rock quarries and wildlife management areas on the riverfront South Loop. The Ijams Nature Center is a kid favorite with its learning center, adventure play areas, and mountain bike track. There are also ponds for kayaking, swimming, and fishing plus six separate ziplines that fly through the forest canopy.

VisitKnoxville.com