Tennessee's beauty (Knoxville, Johnson City, Kingsport: crime, landscaping, living)

[John475]

Hi, I did travel through from the northeast corner on I40 to Nashville and then up I24, but it was in the winter and a long time ago. I remember some areas were more beautiful than others, but am curious what members think are the most beautiful counties in the northern half of the state between Cookeville and Elizabethton? We will be traveling back that route in a few months hopefully. Thanks for your thoughts.

[watotn]

Sorry cant help you there. I know that I really enjoyed Kingsport when we visited last summer. Very beautiful! Hope you find the information you are looking for!

[AppalachianAngler]

If you were on I24 then you were not near Elizabethton, but the area is beautiful. If you get a chance, travel on I-26 from NC to Northeast TN into Johnson City.

Greene County, Carter County, Sullivan County, Johnson County, and Washington County are very beautiful. All are in the Northeastern part of the state

[mbmouse]

I agree, North East TN is the most beautiful! That is part of why I live here

[JMT]

Originally Posted by AppalachianAngler

If you were on I24 then you were not near Elizabethton, but the area is beautiful. If you get a chance, travel on I-26 from NC to Northeast TN into Johnson City.

Greene County, Carter County, Sullivan County, Johnson County, and Washington County are very beautiful. All are in the Northeastern part of the state

He didn't say that I-24 went through Elizabethton. He said he took I-40 to Nashville headed west and then took I-24. Of course, I-40 isn't near Elizabethton, either. Oh well.

Anyway, I agree that Greene County is beautiful, and pretty much every county in NE TN is beautiful. If you start out in Nashville and head east on I-40, it starts to get really pretty right about Cookeville. Then you climb up onto the plateau to Crossville, which is pretty flat. Then you go back down the plateau into Rockwood and Kingston, which is pretty nice. Then you go through the suburban nightmare of West Knox and into a pretty dull drive from Knoxville to the 40/81 split

If you really want to see some beautiful parts of Tennessee, and if you have time, get off the interstate. If you're headed to the Tri Cities, I have two recommendations:

On I-81 take the US Hwy 11E exit to Greeneville, Exit 23. 11E ends up in Jonesborough and Johnson City and then on up to Bristol. Don't take the 11E exit in Knoxville, it'll take you through Jefferson City and Morristown, neither of which are very attractive towns.

Or, take the US Hwy 11W exit in Knoxville (Rutledge Pike, Exit 392) which will take you through some beautiful areas of Grainger County (home of the best tomatoes on the planet), Rogersville, Kingsport, and Bristol.

If it's a round trip, why not go up one way and come back another?

Now, if you're really adventurous, there are some even more beautiful roads. I suggest just taking out a Tennessee road map and exploring on your own.

Good luck!

[John475]

Thanks for the great information, that is what I was looking for. I am retired and my wife will in 2-3 years max.

So we are kind of looking around and Tennessee has a lot to offer. We are thinking anywhere from 1,000 up to 75,000 if the smaller is a special little town within 45 minutes of a city of around 25,000 or larger for shopping and entertainment. We currently live 3 miles out of a town of 1,000 and 25 minutes from Omaha, so we know and enjoy small town living here, not sure how different it would be there or if outsiders are resented in small communities.

Following the forum it sounds like Cookeville, Greeneville, Rogersville, Johnson city, Kingsport and Elizabethton might fit what I'm looking for. Perhaps Livingston, Sparta and Smithville also would be worth looking at. We have fairly simple needs, friendly people, decent healthcare close by if needed, shopping not too far away, beauty, not just the countryside, but I love to see a town that takes pride in being clean and has beautiful landscaping around. And last but not least not too high of crime rate.

Thanks for all of your posts,
John

[pat_thomas123]

Originally Posted by John475

Thanks for the great information, that is what I was looking for. I am retired and my wife will in 2-3 years max.

So we are kind of looking around and Tennessee has a lot to offer. We are thinking anywhere from 1,000 up to 75,000 if the smaller is a special little town within 45 minutes of a city of around 25,000 or larger for shopping and entertainment. We currently live 3 miles out of a town of 1,000 and 25 minutes from Omaha, so we know and enjoy small town living here, not sure how different it would be there or if outsiders are resented in small communities.

Following the forum it sounds like Cookeville, Greeneville, Rogersville, Johnson city, Kingsport and Elizabethton might fit what I'm looking for. Perhaps Livingston, Sparta and Smithville also would be worth looking at. We have fairly simple needs, friendly people, decent healthcare close by if needed, shopping not too far away, beauty, not just the countryside, but I love to see a town that takes pride in being clean and has beautiful landscaping around. And last but not least not too high of crime rate.

Thanks for all of your posts,
John

John: Can't beat Johnson City in finding everything you mentioned above. We retired here from Wash., DC area about 6 years ago, and we love it here.
Email me and I will provide further info on JC. Moderator cut: PM this info