Favorite Knoxville area towns (Oak Ridge, Maryville: loan, how much, buying a home)

[hiknapster]

The first thing that you would probably want to do is go to Market Square. It's downtown. Cute little shops, cafes, etc. Sundown in the City is usually held there but I think that will be over by the time you visit. But The Farmer's Market is held on Wednesday and Saturday.

Market Square District Association

I would also go to Gay Street to visit Mast General Store. It's very cool! Take a look at the Tennessee Theater and our new and beautiful movie theater.

Across the street is our East Tennessee Historical Museum. It is small but free and a great way to really get a historical perspective on the area that you are in. Check out the gift shop. It has a lot of wonderful books and things.

East Tennessee Historical Society | About the East Tennessee History Center

MAST General Store: Quality Merchandise, Fair Prices and Friendly Service

Historic Tennessee Theatre - Est. 1928 Knoxville, Tennessee

There is a water fountain park at the The World's Fair Park which is near The Sunsphere.

City of Knoxville - World's Fair Park

Down the hill towards the river you will see Volunteer Landing.

City of Knoxville - Volunteer Landing Park

http://www.ktnpba.org/departments/pm_sites/vollndng.htm

We also have a very nice zoo!

KNOXVILLE ZOO

And please come to Fountain City. Going up Broadway, you'll see the duck pond on your left. Go past that to the next light and take a left. You'll see our Fountain City park and playground. You'll be on Hotel Ave. Park there, and walk into the Creamery Grille to buy homemade ice cream cones. Take them over to the playground. You won't be disappointed!

Mom, if you are interested in a wonderful salad I would suggest The Grilled Chicken on Seven-Layer Salad. Fabulous!

Welcome

[w8tn2go]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

The first thing that you would probably want to do is go to Market Square. It's downtown. Cute little shops, cafes, etc. Sundown in the City is usually held there but I think that will be over by the time you visit. But The Farmer's Market is held on Wednesday and Saturday.

Market Square District Association

I would also go to Gay Street to visit Mast General Store. It's very cool! Take a look at the Tennessee Theater and our new and beautiful movie theater.

Across the street is our East Tennessee Historical Museum. It is small but free and a great way to really get a historical perspective on the area that you are in. Check out the gift shop. It has a lot of wonderful books and things.

East Tennessee Historical Society | About the East Tennessee History Center

MAST General Store: Quality Merchandise, Fair Prices and Friendly Service

Historic Tennessee Theatre - Est. 1928 Knoxville, Tennessee

There is a water fountain park at the The World's Fair Park which is near The Sunsphere.

City of Knoxville - World's Fair Park

Down the hill towards the river you will see Volunteer Landing.

City of Knoxville - Volunteer Landing Park

http://www.ktnpba.org/departments/pm_sites/vollndng.htm

We also have a very nice zoo!

KNOXVILLE ZOO

And please come to Fountain City. Going up Broadway, you'll see the duck pond on your left. Go past that to the next light and take a left. You'll see our Fountain City park and playground. You'll be on Hotel Ave. Park there, and walk into the Creamery Grille to buy homemade ice cream cones. Take them over to the playground. You won't be disappointed!

Mom, if you are interested in a wonderful salad I would suggest The Grilled Chicken on Seven-Layer Salad. Fabulous!

Welcome

YIKES!!! THIS IS FANTASTIC!! Just what I was looking for - some real things to do and see. Thank you so much for taking the time to type that all up - you are truely wonderful!
I'm grinnin' ear to ear - I can't wait to get there!

[Autumn68]

My husband & I moved to Knoxville from LI, NY about 3+ years ago. We first rented an aptmt in West Knoxville, and then bought a house in Seymour. We like Seymour very much. We have a small community and it's close to the mts (foothills) and not far from Maryville and Knoxville too. Husband works from home and I just lost my job in Knoxville, so I am looking all over for a new one. The only thing is, if you don't have kids there is little ways of making friends. I made some at my previous job, but now that I'm not there....
Anyway my father is relocating here as well, in about a year. He will probably move to West Knoxville or pos south Knoxville (Island Home). The south side of Knoxville has many good areas, and very affordable. You don't live near the interstate so you have to go through downtown Knoxville to get to it, you have Chapman Highway as your main road. The one thing I miss is the specalty stores, in NY (Long Island and the city) you have everything and anything. I miss Italian deli's and German bakeries. Things like that. But we do have some in the west that you can get almost anything such as Fresh Market in Bearden, and now Whole foods now in Bearden too. Also the best fresh fish store is Shrimp doc, but they are also west.
Hope things work out well for you.
PS I love going downtown, there's much to do and see for a smallish city.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by Autumn68

and now Whole foods now in Bearden too. Also the best fresh fish store is Shrimp doc, but they are also west.
Hope things work out well for you.
PS I love going downtown, there's much to do and see for a smallish city.

No. It's Earth Fare that just opened in Bearden. I was at the grand opening.

I agree that Shrimp Dock is the best. Once I found that place I became very happy. Even my mood on city-data changed!

I just heard of a fabulous pizza place in South Knoxville. I found the menu but darn it if I can't find it. Italians from New York. I think it's near Taco Bell and McDonald's.

[w8tn2go]

Originally Posted by Autumn68

The only thing is, if you don't have kids there is little ways of making friends.

Did you feel like an outsider when you moved here? I come from a small town now where it's the typical "everyone knows everyone". Are people pretty accepting of newcomers - especially in the smaller towns? Did you have a hard time making friends in your community because you weren't from the area? Any opinions on this would make me feel much better
Thanks so much everyone!

[kingchef]

Originally Posted by lochmoigh

maryville. City. Good schools lots of parks near the mountains and 20 minutes from Knoxville.

i agree w/ this poster. i have friends who live there, and they say they will never leave---they've lived in many areas of the world. i am seriously considering an early retirement there in 12-15 years, if it doesn't get too large and overcrowded. the influx of retirees and some meth problems in the area are my gripes. i guess we all have to be somewhere.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by w8tn2go

Did you feel like an outsider when you moved here? I come from a small town now where it's the typical "everyone knows everyone". Are people pretty accepting of newcomers - especially in the smaller towns? Did you have a hard time making friends in your community because you weren't from the area? Any opinions on this would make me feel much better
Thanks so much everyone!

I rented in the outskirts of north Knox County for the first three years. I hated it. At my previous job I had to deal with a lot of different people from all over Tennessee. I came to realize that even though I was a country girl this was not the kind of country I was use to.

It really could depend on where you end up, I am sure. Maybe some neighborhoods are nicer than others. And of course, it can be hit or miss in Knoxville, too. But still, I will never live in one of the less populated areas again. From talking to folks on the phone, I would steer clear of the small towns, too.

[w8tn2go]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

But still, I will never live in one of the less populated areas again. From talking to folks on the phone, I would steer clear of the small towns, too.

Seriously?! Because the towns are bad or just because of the friendly/welcoming people part? Do you think it's because the small towns have more "transplants"? That's very interesting.
I suppose though, even here where everyone basically knows each other and tend to be friendly and very helpful - you still always have the idiot neighbor .

[hiknapster]

Seriously.

Like I said, you could get good neighbors, but for the most part when you get rural or very small town you can get some people that don't like "strangers" around. It's odd. They are not what you would call "rednecks." We've found them to be super nice around here. There is another subculture of people that I would have to call "Appalachian" and they are not very welcoming. They look like they've had to fight their entire lives and their ancestors did, too. There's a rough sort of way about them and although I can empathize and understand it is very, very difficult to endear yourself to them. Surely, I tried, but they really want no part of that. They are use to being with their own.

I'd rent to make absolutely sure where you are finally going to settle in.

[relocatingnursingstudent]

Originally Posted by w8tn2go

Did you feel like an outsider when you moved here? I come from a small town now where it's the typical "everyone knows everyone". Are people pretty accepting of newcomers - especially in the smaller towns? Did you have a hard time making friends in your community because you weren't from the area? Any opinions on this would make me feel much better
Thanks so much everyone!

I've been living in the city of Maryville for a few weeks now, after visiting ~10 times in the past few years. I just started my new job and have been on MANY, MANY trips to Wal-Mart, Kroger, the movie theater, the mall, various restaurants, etc. I have encountered a little more than normal staring at times, (I blame the accent) but no more rudeness than expected. (Some people just aren't friendly, no matter where they live) Most people have been VERY nice and friendly. My neighbors all stop to chat (or at least wave) and my coworkers have been very accepting so far. Things may change, I guess time will tell. But I plan to NEVER leave Maryville!! I LOVE it here!! We chose Maryville city for the great schools for our two boys (12 and 6). But now that we're here, we're really enjoying the safety and overall cleanliness of the area.

And there are lots of other transplants here, so you won't be alone!