Visiting Chattanooga and Knoxville...need advice please (Cleveland, Athens: houses, university)

[TriDad]

We took a quick turn off Lee Hwy while in Loudon and caught some video of Lyric Theater...exciting stuff, eh?

[TriDad]

thank you all who recommended this eatery. Here's a peak at what I had. Prices were similar to what we're used to back home. A diner next to us was from Maryville and commented on how the prices were. With that said he also added that he'd be back!

[SPLIT]

Y our SweetWater pictures are almost identical to nearby town ETOWAH. A very old restored train station (2 story), lots of train traffic and OVERHILL area going to the tourist ride area " LOOP ". This is some of the Chat museum rolling stock, that tours into Ga. Also used in Movie last week with George Clooney..... ........[/IMG]

[TriDad]

trains trains trains!!! we didn't see it when driving through, but Niota boasts the oldest train station in the state with an 1853 structure. bummer we didn't get to take a picture or two

I'm drawing a lot from the MOON handbook for Tennessee. It's kinda been the guide book for the trip. I certainly don't know all these factoids or where to go unless I read it here, heard it from locals, or got it from the book

[hoosier07]

Littons......hmmm.....I gotta go there on my next visit to Knoxville area.....perhaps my next trip will be looking for a place to live.....someone also posted later today a special report on Littons restaurant and their food looks awesome....gotta try it...have you seen their deserts ? WOW.....

[TriDad]

Yes....I had the strawberry cheesecake. It was delicious!

[TriDad]

today we're going to drive around some neighborhoods in north knoxville (murphy, etc...)

[Shenandoah]

TriDad, I've been reading your travelogue posts and watching the videos - AWESOME! Just a comment on the Fountain City video and the church community - there's a similar church community near here, where Lou and I married, as Lou and the pastor are good friends. The church bought over a hundred acres up on a high hill, built some small cottages and people who may only live on Social Security, or haven't the skills to have a good paying job live there, and donate their talents to the church in exchange for living on the property. A few ladies cook and serve in the communal dining area, clean the church, offices, etc, and the men are the carpenters, diggers, general upkeep and improvements on the property, all in a good Christian atmosphere, and a wonderful service to those who wouldn't normally be able to afford a nice little cottage like that.

I've forwarded the videos to my hubby's email so he can see them too. A little preview of what we'll see when we tour the area in November. Only then, the leaves will be turning, and will be a beautiful time of year, also. We're in Western PA, so the hills and mountains don't bother us, in fact, it's what we're used to, and watching the video of you driving down a road outside of Fountain City, just looks like neighborhoods here. We're looking for further out from the cities, like 25 - 30 miles out.

You're also in the insurance biz, I see? I'm in medical insurance, am currently interviewing with Liberty Mutual, which has offices, I happily find, in Chattanooga and Knoxville. Now, the problem will be to find a nice rural 15+ acreage property with or without an existing home on it, in our price range, in commuting range, within that 20 - 30 and up to 35 mile range out of the office.

Chattanooga is looking nicer and nicer to us, also, with the milder weather than northern TN - so right now, I am checking out a circu****ance of 25 - 35 miles out of Ooltewah where there's a LM office. Cleveland area looks nice, as well as Ocowee and Old Fort. Looks like west of there, between Soddy Daisy and Dunlap may not be a good commute to Ooltwah.

Thanks again for sharing this with the rest of us!

blessings, Shen

[hiknapster]

Thanks, Tri-Dad. I think those little towns hold the most charm. I have never been to Athens and it looks great. Glad you liked Litton's!

[TriDad]

we took some good video & pics while in downtown Knoxville today. I'll see about loading some of it up tonight. right now it's dinnertime