Young couple considering move to Knoxville--advice?? (Oak Ridge: to rent, headhunters, homes)

[alisonelaine]

My boyfriend and I are thinking about moving to Knoxville after we are done with our undergrad, but we have never been there and might not be able to visit, so we need advice!
1. We are both 22, so we want a place that has a young vibe, cheap downtown where we could live close-enough to the center not to have to take an expensive cab home every weekend night. What kinds of fun things are there to do?
2. Jobs! He works in marketing and executive business so there needs to be some good large companies in that realm... and I am going to go through an alternative certification process to become a middle/high school english language arts teacher, so there has to be a need for those teachers! Also, how is the school system?
3. We are extremely active--love running, so there needs to be lots of trails, 5ks, etc, and like biking to work and going to parks/swimming pools. We also would prefer to live really close to water. And--we need a professional baseball or basketball team that the city gets really into supporting!
4. What is the arts scene like (plays, etc)? Are there farmers markets, wineries, or health foods stores?

So pretty much, do you think that this city is a good fit for a really young, semi-conservative, artsy, active couple AND will we be able to find jobs here?

Thanks!!

[VolDude]

1. South Knoxville. Close to downtown and cheap to rent or buy.

2. Not sure about specific jobs, but the public schools here are the best of out of the 'big four' cities in the state.

3. Search "hiking" in this forum, there's plenty of that, from Knox County to the GSMNP. This is a college sports town, although, there is a AA minor league baseball team about 15-25 minutes from downtown in Kodak.

4. There at least used to be a small play theater near Homberg Dr, but no, plays are not big in Knoxville, I don't believe. There's a moderate art scene, but it doesn't seem centeralized, if that makes sense. And I don't believe there are too many artists here doing that as a primary means of income/living. Plenty of farmers markets and plenty of organic food. There are a few wineries, one I know of west of Knoxville, and there's a mead (aka honey wine maker) in Oak Ridge, actually produced by a few former ORNL engineers. Not sure on health food.

So pretty much, do you think that this city is a good fit for a really young, semi-conservative, artsy, active couple AND will we be able to find jobs here?

I think it sounds like a very good fit.

[hiknapster]

Farmer's Markets, health food stores, arts, things to do, have been covered extensively in the past week. Frankly, I hate to write the same things out for the third time this week, so if you would just peruse the past couple of weeks you'll be able to find a treasure trove of answers. Or, better yet, use those keywords in the "search" feature just up above. Go to "advanced search" and be sure and limit it to "Knoxville."

Yes. There is a lively arts and theater scene. This link will get you started!

http://www.knoxalliance.com/

I would suggest checking anywhere north of downtown, too, for housing possibilities.

We have wonderful parks and greenways in Knoxville.

I have no idea as far as jobs go. Check out knoxnews.com : Knoxville, Tennessee, News, Business, Homes, Jobs, Cars & Information, as well as headhunters, as of course the Knox County schools website.

[mattbward]

South Knox is cheap and biking/running distance to a LOT of great stuff. I just visited downtown Knoxville for the first time including South Knoxville and saw some great options. I prefered the downtown area to South Knoxville, but South Knox would be more affordable.

Check Fourth and Gill as well. It's near very lively parts of town. Gay street seemed to me to be where it is at in terms of nightlife from my few days there.