3 More Weeks!! (Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Farragut: relocate, condo, trip)

[AprilFamily]

Ok, we are coming up to E. Tenn. in just three more weeks. This is our initial trip to get a feel for the place and the first step in hopes of moving there soon. We have rented a timeshare condo in Sevierville since we'd still like to visit Gatlinburg, go to Dollywood (is it worth it? our kids are 10 and 12), go to the national park, and still spend time looking around at the different areas.

So far we seem to have narrowed the areas we're interested in down to Concord, Bluegrass, Farragut, Sequoyah Hills. Any more recommendations? We are looking for a place that is very family friendly and very "established" as opposed to cookie cutter neighborhoods where every third house is the same.

Also we plan on visiting Covenant Presbyterian Church on the Sunday we are there. Anyone from here attend this church? We have friends that recently relocated that attend there and they recommended it.

Can anyone comment on the building situation there? My husband is a structural engineer and so it would be easiest for him to find a job in a place with lots of building going on.

Finally, can anyone make recommendations for restaurants or other fun activities we might be missing out on? I'd like to spend one evening downtown (Market Square?). Is it worth it for just strolling around and getting local flavor or am I misinterpreting what I've read?

Thanks for any help!

[Mytown]

How long are you staying? There is so much to do in the area that it is hard to fit it all in even for us locals. I'd take a drive through Cades Cove if you get a chance. We saw a mother bear and three cubs a few weeks ago when we were up there besides all the deer and wild turkey we usually see.

Building is going on all over here, both residential and commercial, so I would think your husband would be right at home and have little problems finding employement.

I don't know what price range you are looking in as far as housing, but the areas you mentioned are very nice and are in good school districts. They are building a new high school in the Hardin Valley area and I think it will be a good place to be in a couple of years. Watch out for the new outter beltway going in over there though.

We are in a drought here so things aren't as green as usual, but I think you'll have a great time.

[amandak]

I live in Ohio, but visited in September. We are coming back to TN next week, and I can't wait to get my kids to the Aquarium in Gatlinburg. My kids are younger than yours, but my husband and I enjoyed it so much! There is also a "ghost walk" offered in Gatlinburg at night. You can usually find coupons for buy one get one free for the ghost walk. It's quite entertaining and the kids would probably enjoy it.
We will be looking for property as well! Nice to mix business with pleasure!

[AprilFamily]

Thanks for the help. Amandak, yes, the aquarium in Gatlinburg is definately on our "to-do" list. It looks great!

Mytown, how far is Cades Cove? I had heard of it and thought it was part of the national park. Is that not so? Would it take a whole day to see or more of a quick visit thing?

[AprilFamily]

can I bump this up just this once? just trying to get any last little bit of advice I can squeeze from all you helpful people!

Thanks!

[BarbG]

Originally Posted by AprilFamily

Mytown, how far is Cades Cove? I had heard of it and thought it was part of the national park. Is that not so? Would it take a whole day to see or more of a quick visit thing?

Cades Cove is over by the Townsend side of the Smokies, probably about 1-1/2 hours from Gatlinburg (just guessing there, we've made the trip alot, but never guaged the time). It's a 12 mile loop that can't be driven very fast. I'd allow an entire 1/2 day to that part alone. If you don't have time for 4-6 hours, I wouldn't do it this time.

Edited to add: I think you would enjoy Dollywood, especially the water rides during the hot days of summer, and some of the shows. We have season passes, and go in the spring & fall mainly, ourselves.

Oh, and if you are spending the day in Gatlinburg (I see the aquarium is on your list), the kids might enjoy the ice skating at Ober Gatlinburg. If you have time, take one of the Smokies hikes off of Cherokee Orchard Road in Gatlinburg. There's a motor trail right off the road (one way) there that goes into the Smokies and has some old homesteads, trails, etc, right along the drive. You should be able to find out hiking info if you google Smoky Mountain hiking.

[DWIM]

AprilFamily: Re Cades Cove: We're newbies in this area as well. We just this last weekend drove thru from Pigeon Forge (sp?) into Gatlinburg, then into the Smokies, stopped at their main entrance (can't remember the name of it at this moment), then into Cades Cove. When we came out, we went back out via the Townsend side. Faster in from Knoxville via Townsend than thru Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg. We'll save Dollywood & around for another day (or 2 or many, many, ha!). We did NOT take the 11-mile loop, but just drove into Cades Cove, stayed a bit to get the feel of the place, then back out. We'll do the loop on another day (during the week). Was smack-dead lovely!! (Hope that's ok to say). 'Course there's SO MUCH to do in / around there, it'll take the rest of our lives to do it 'sufficiently' (yay!). We raised out kids on the West Coast & were in several of the NPs there & around. Just different here, as some others have alluded to. We are SO looking to the colors in the fall! Good thing our camera doesn't wear out (ha!). Just have to make sure we have spare batteries, a few additional memory SD cards, & lotsa web space for all them pictures. Been staying in Oak Ridge since early April. Looked around in several areas. Just purchased a place in Clinton & move in in about a month.

[jimj]

your kids should enjoy dollywood, I would suggest medival knights for some really fun performance theater. You get to watch them joust, teams fight on horse back, you eat a pretty good meal with your hands and join the performance. Cracker Barrel in Pigeon Forge has decent food and plenty of it. The Apple Farm? in pigeon forge is good I would really really recommend the old mill for breakfast, they have the best grits,biscuits,gravy etc that I have had in years and their deserts aren't bad either.
There are several candy shops in Gatlinberg where you can watch them make taffy etc. but the last time we were in Gatlinberg it was way too busy for us.
Have a good time!