While reading Leslie Bowden’s post I Heart Knoxville, I realized she has discovered a local meme as evidenced by this post and this one too. Therefore, having been inspired and wanting to keep it going, here is my offering in no particular order:
House Mountain
House Mountain is a state natural area located about 8 miles north of downtown Knoxville['s city limit]. Its 2100ft crest provides some great views of Knox and surrounding counties and gets my vote for best Knox County hiking spot.
Backroads
In addition to providing some great scenery, knowing your backroads around here can save you a lot of time on your commute. Having grown up in South Knoxville, I can attest that a working knowledge of the roads south of the river can save you hours of driving time on UT game days and Boomsday. Now, having lived with my wife in Karns for the past three years, I can get to any of the major shopping areas along I-40/I-75 in fifteen minutes or less.
CBP and UT Basketball
Coach Bruce Pearl (CBP) and the Basketball Vols have fanned into flame my long dormant passion for college basketball. My wife and I were first time season ticket holders this past season, and we look forward to catching more hardwood action this Fall.
An Eclectic Mix of People
Knoxville is home to interesting persons from all around. Having been born and raised here, I enjoy sharing this city with my transplant friends from places like Michigan, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Florida, Europe and more. Knoxville is home to many friendly people who have a strong sense of Southern hospitality along with a desire to welcome and befriend folks who are new to town.
Third Creek Greenway
My wife and I love to ride our bikes down the Third Creek Greenway. We start at the old Bi-Lo parking lot between Sutherland Avenue and Kingston Pike and continue on down to Neyland Drive. (We love company, so give me a shout if you want to know when we take our next ride.)
Why do you love Knoxville?
Nice list Michael!
I will have to check out House Mountain when I get back!
What I love about Knoxville:
Beautiful fog on the meadows in the morning…
Having the “dew set on ya, if you stay outside too long”
The sweet people
How we try to be something we’re not…God love us…
How it is small enough where everyone knows each other, but not so small that we know what everyone is DOING…
Crisp fall days with a game getting ready to start (ut football that is)
How everyone overcrowds Cherokee Blvd, around March/April
Breakfast at Cosmo’s
Breakfast at Tomato Head
Moe from King Tuts
Ali Babba’s
Concerts in World’s Fair Park
Tennesse Theatre
Bijou Theater
Driving along Cumberland to Kingston Pike
Union Jacks
Sundown (when I get to go)
Ft. Nasty …
The list goes on…
Great lists Michael and Amy.
I’ll have to add Barley’s and Shakespeare on the Square to my list as well.
@Emma – House Mountain is somewhat of a “secret getaway” as not that many people know about it. I’m glad I was able to alert you to its existence.
@Amy – Great list! Thanks for taking your time on this one.
@Leslie – Thanks for the inspiration over at your blog.
I agree with Leslie that the portion of Kingston Pike from Neyland to Bearden is beautiful and kind of relaxing with the lush greenery and the stately homes.
I’m a somewhat recent transplant to Knoxville having been here a little over a year but here’s 5 things I love about Knoxville.
1. Lakeshore park: I love walking there and seeing all the people with their dogs and watching the kids play ball.
2. The Tomatohead on Market Squareand Barley’s Taproom: great food (though I will say Gourmet market does have an awesome breakfast and I like sitting on the patio there too.)
3. Sundown in the City: great music in an easygoing atmosphere a wonderful public service
4. The view of the Smokies/proximity to the Smokies: ok, maybe this is fudging the love of the city a little but I think part of what makes a city great is what it’s near. What would San Francisco be without the bay or Miami without the beach? The mountains are beautiful and I’m starting to get into hiking a little.
5. Knoxville radio: believe it or not Knoxville has better radio stations than Atlanta where I’m from. an 80s station, Jack FM, 2 college stations, and a number of Christian radio stations. One could wish for a better modern rock station, but my favorite modern rock station in Atlanta went web-only recently so I guess I can’t complain.
I think I’d like to check out House Mountain also.
Love these lists, just reminds me of what I already knew…Knoxville is a great place to live.
Some of my reasons to add to all the other great reasons:
1.My family is here
2.Each of our 4 sons was born here and they still live here with their families …and..
3.Now that I am “of the older generation” I would have to say one of my favorite things in the past year has been the new South Knoxville Senior Citizen’s Center with its indoor pool! Wonderful!
4. And I love Knoxville weather_it teases you with its constant change and the way it just ignores the weather reports and does what it wants.
I love that it is green. I also love being around family