Another "tell me about the Tri-Cities area" thread (Knoxville: apartments, rentals)

[insightofitall]

Hopefully I won't get knocked upside the head for starting this thread, but in recent years I've really had that part of Tennessee swirling around in my head as a place I'd like to look at as my new home. Now......I've been to the Knoxville area multiple times, and absolutely LOVE it there. In my heart, I feel so very much at home in those gorgeous mountains of East Tennessee and North Carolina, and I think it's time I stop pretending I want to go somewhere else in the country. (I've already told my parents that if I die before they do, I want to be buried somewhere in the vicinity of the Smoky Mountains.) Sooooooo.....tell me all about the Tri-Cities area. (I'm already familiar with Knoxville.) How does it compare to Knoxville? Obviously I know the cities are smaller, but I mean as a general whole metro area, can you find the same sort of amenities and cost of living there? What's the culture and vibe like in the area? Are there any unique galleries, shops, cafes, etc? Is the area growing? Which of the three cities would you consider to be the best? Also, are the downtown areas of the cities active? I'd prefer to live in a more urban environment, even though I know they are far from being cosmopolitan metropolises...but I mean are there apartments available in the town centers with grocers, restaurants and various shops within walking/biking distance?

Thanks so much ahead of time.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by insightofitall

Hopefully I won't get knocked upside the head for starting this thread, but in recent years I've really had that part of Tennessee swirling around in my head as a place I'd like to look at as my new home. Now......I've been to the Knoxville area multiple times, and absolutely LOVE it there. In my heart, I feel so very much at home in those gorgeous mountains of East Tennessee and North Carolina, and I think it's time I stop pretending I want to go somewhere else in the country. (I've already told my parents that if I die before they do, I want to be buried somewhere in the vicinity of the Smoky Mountains.) Sooooooo.....tell me all about the Tri-Cities area. (I'm already familiar with Knoxville.) How does it compare to Knoxville? Obviously I know the cities are smaller, but I mean as a general whole metro area, can you find the same sort of amenities and cost of living there? What's the culture and vibe like in the area? Are there any unique galleries, shops, cafes, etc? Is the area growing? Which of the three cities would you consider to be the best? Also, are the downtown areas of the cities active? I'd prefer to live in a more urban environment, even though I know they are far from being cosmopolitan metropolises...but I mean are there apartments available in the town centers with grocers, restaurants and various shops within walking/biking distance?

Thanks so much ahead of time.

Lots and lots of previous threads on here on this subject. One of them you might want to read is //www.city-data.com/forum/kings...knoxville.html

[insightofitall]

That works, Beretta. Thanks for pointing out the link to that discussion! (And thanks for not clobbering me for starting this thread.)

[Ted Bear]

Another 'same' response:

There has been a ton written here addressing everything which concerns you. I would suggest spending a weekend and going back through a few hundred of the threads here and you will learn about comminuty, schools, restaurants, churches, roads, transportation, supermarkets, nightlife, housing, medical care, environment, weather, climate, gay/lesbian life, green foods, builders, colleges, agriculture, jobs, rentals, dating scene, sports, family activities, pets, farms, outdoor activities, indoor activities, divorce, pools, ponds, lakes, rivers, utilities, theaters, music, malls, ethnic foods, rednecks, yankees, locals, traffic, snow, heat, boating, swimming, taxes, hotels, NASCAR and a million other things...for each and all of the towns in the Tri Cities area.

If that doesn't give you enough to incline you to visit the area a few times...or decide not to visit at all...then you might type Tri Cities, or Johnson City, or Bristol, or Jonesborough or Washington County into your browser...and you get a million more sites which will help you learn about the area.

I don't recall seeing anything about cemetaries...but i am sure they are probably in this forum somewhere as well.

[insightofitall]

Thanks, Ted Bear. That was quite an exhaustive list. I apologize if I frustrated anyone by posting this thread, but I do appreciate that you took the time to respond. I haven't had a chance in recent years to get back to Tennessee to check out the area, or even visit the mountains like I'd love to do. But hopefully soon.

It's quite okay to close this out if necessary.

[insightofitall]

Thanks again, Beretta, for posting the link to that discussion. It answered my questions for me.

[Nearing Retirement]

My wife and I spent last summer looking at the Cherokee and Douglas lake areas for a potential retirement place. This summer, we looked at the western SC area and the three lakes on the Western border. After four days, we decided we like the Knoxville/Cherokee Lake area better. So, we spent the last three days of our vacation driving around Douglas and Cherokee lakes. We really like the Cherokee county area and we could see living there in our retirement years. Now, I am comparing the JC area and the nearby lakes to Jefferson county. I am also making my way though all these threads and have enjoyed what I have read to-date. Looking forward to visiting your area next spring or early summer. I grew up in the Finger Lakes region of upstate NY. Your area reminds me of my home but without the long winters. You also seem to have many more varieties of wild flowers in your fields, hills, and mountains.

[rccrain]

What kind of lake are you looking for... big/small/cold/warm/shallow/deep/secluded/convenient/etc?

[RalphKNS]

I lived in Johnson City for about six years, and I have to say I didn't care for it. It may just be that it didn't suit any of my interests, but I found there to be a lack of activities I enjoy (rowing, open water swimming, etc.), very few public parks (and the one or two that were there were very dull and not so clean), and I found everything to be very expensive. The city of Johnson City is extremely spread out, and it is certainly not "walkable" at all. Be ready to do a lot of driving. There is no level ground there, so you are liable to wear out the brakes in your car faster than you would on level ground, and it makes activities like cycling or gardening somewhat awkward.

YMMV. This was only my experience.