Coming for a visit...Tri-City Area & Maryville Area (Memphis: sales, hotel)

[MaNoWa]

I have been watching these threads for about six months now. My husband and I are considering a move and have narrowed our search down to NE TN...Maryville area to Tri-City area (leaning to JC) or somewhere in between. Husband has been to TN and is ALL ABOUT THE MOVE. I have not...but the idea is growing on me quickly...

We are driving down to visit in 10 days and will be traveling from IA. Planning to drive through Nashville and Knoxville. We have about six nights to spend... A few things I was hoping you could help me with.

1) Will traveling through TN be an issue with the flooding? I will check out AAA and other such travel sites, but hoping for a little first hand knowledge.

2) Are there any area's we should avoid, for safety reasons? Don't want to be taking a wrong turn.

3) We will be traveling 5/25 and staying through 6/1. Is camping out of the question...being the Memorial Day Holiday and all? In IA you can't get a site unless you reserved six months ago. We would love to let the wind blow us and just set up camp where it feels good. But I'm afraid we haven't picked the best travel dates to do that. For that matter, will hotel accomodations be difficult? Again...we love Embassy Suites but we're not too proud for a Motel 6.

4) What types of establishments do you suggest we focus on to get a good "feel" for community? I know...very general question.

We are, like many of the others on this forum, looking for a small to rural community. However, I'd like to return to school to become a nurse so need to be in close proximity to ETU or Maryville? We have 3 children (a college girl that we'll be leaving behind in Pella, IA, an 11 year old girl and a 3 year old boy) so gymnastics, soccer and baseball are going to need to be relatively handy but we are not afraid of a 20 min drive give or take.

School system will be an issue, but I feel pretty confident already with the general area we've narrowed it down to.

Husband is a carpenter by trade and has experience in property management. I am in advertising sales currently and am also currently employed in a hospital here in DSM. Finding work before we come will be an issue...but we are also not above hard work and creative solutions...

Thanks, in advance, for your help.

[MaNoWa]

One more thing I'm wondering that I have not run across on other posts. I believe I have read that TN is very anti-gambling, only hosting the lottery. Is this accurate?

Also, I have read that VA is one of the most progressive states in the country for gambling. With the Tri-Cities being so close to the VA border...how accessible is gambling?

Touch-Play's in every gas station/grocery in town? Or specific gambling establishments like casino's? How far would one have to travel to have access.

And yes, we realize that this is a personal struggle that has to be dealt with internally. However, no reason to move to the meca!

This will be important in our decision making and would like to be prepared upon our visit.

Your honest portrayal is much appreciated.

Thanks

[Suzanne45]

Sharing thoughts regarding the Maryville/Blount County area

Originally Posted by MaNoWa

I have been watching these threads for about six months now. My husband and I are considering a move and have narrowed our search down to NE TN...Maryville area to Tri-City area (leaning to JC) or somewhere in between. Husband has been to TN and is ALL ABOUT THE MOVE. I have not...but the idea is growing on me quickly...

We are driving down to visit in 10 days and will be traveling from IA. Planning to drive through Nashville and Knoxville. We have about six nights to spend... A few things I was hoping you could help me with.

1) Will traveling through TN be an issue with the flooding? I will check out AAA and other such travel sites, but hoping for a little first hand knowledge.

No flooding in Maryville area that would impede driving through the area. In fact, according to Knoxville news, this area has less rainfall than last year.
2) Are there any area's we should avoid, for safety reasons? Don't want to be taking a wrong turn.

3) We will be traveling 5/25 and staying through 6/1. Is camping out of the question...being the Memorial Day Holiday and all? In IA you can't get a site unless you reserved six months ago. We would love to let the wind blow us and just set up camp where it feels good. But I'm afraid we haven't picked the best travel dates to do that. For that matter, will hotel accomodations be difficult? Again...we love Embassy Suites but we're not too proud for a Motel 6.

4) What types of establishments do you suggest we focus on to get a good "feel" for community? I know...very general question.

We are, like many of the others on this forum, looking for a small to rural community. However, I'd like to return to school to become a nurse so need to be in close proximity to ETU or Maryville? There are many choices when wanting to return to school and become a nurse. In fact, a local we've met as a server in a 'local' restaurant just recently enrolled at Pellissippi State. She loves her choice and continues to work in the same restaurant between studying and classes.
We have 3 children (a college girl that we'll be leaving behind in Pella, IA, an 11 year old girl and a 3 year old boy) so gymnastics, soccer and baseball are going to need to be relatively handy but we are not afraid of a 20 min drive give or take.

We have neighbors who moved from their farm in IA and absolutely are thrilled with their decision to live in the county.
School system will be an issue, but I feel pretty confident already with the general area we've narrowed it down to. Maryville city schools are highly rated.

Husband is a carpenter by trade and has experience in property management. I am in advertising sales currently and am also currently employed in a hospital here in DSM. Finding work before we come will be an issue...but we are also not above hard work and creative solutions...

A rep from a local wholesale supply house tells me that they cannot keep up with the orders they are receiving for new and remodel construction.

Thanks, in advance, for your help.

[skinem]

As far as travel issues you shouldn't have any trouble.

You might check this before you head out...TDOT Smartmap

[kamoshika]

Originally Posted by MaNoWa

1) Will traveling through TN be an issue with the flooding? I will check out AAA and other such travel sites, but hoping for a little first hand knowledge.

I don't think you'll encounter any flooding-related problems unless you venture onto backroads in West or Middle TN.

2) Are there any area's we should avoid, for safety reasons? Don't want to be taking a wrong turn.

Taking a wrong turn anywhere in the Tri-Cities won't put y'all into an unsafe situation. The few places I'd recommend avoiding at night are still not especially dangerous for someone just passing through, and you'd have to go around looking for them to find them. I don't think Maryville has any truly scary areas, either.

3) We will be traveling 5/25 and staying through 6/1. Is camping out of the question...being the Memorial Day Holiday and all? In IA you can't get a site unless you reserved six months ago. We would love to let the wind blow us and just set up camp where it feels good. But I'm afraid we haven't picked the best travel dates to do that. For that matter, will hotel accomodations be difficult? Again...we love Embassy Suites but we're not too proud for a Motel 6.

Finding a campground vacancy will probably be tough but it wouldn't hurt to call around and find out for sure. Hotel rooms should be plentiful.

4) What types of establishments do you suggest we focus on to get a good "feel" for community? I know...very general question.

A few suggestions...
* festivals and other local events
* farmers' markets
* eat at non-chain restaurants
* walk around different downtowns and poke your head into a few shops

Hope y'all have a fun & safe trip!

[JoAnn5]

I hope you enjoy your trip to our state. We love it and hope you will too. I don't live in the area you requested info about, but i'd trust these responses. Welcome and please make plans to make it your home.

[DubbleT]

I'll add libraries and churches to the list of places to get a community feeling, if those places interest you.
I was pleased to find that the library in the area I moved to is very community oriented, active and always full of people. Great source of information on local activities too.

[MaNoWa]

Thank you all so much. We are very excited for our trip and I have a feeling I'm going to have to drag my husband home kicking and screaming. But the goal is to leave there ready to set a moving date and have an idea where we'll start our adventure.

More info/thoughts is appreciated. And would really like a little feed back on the gambling establishment as well.

Can't wait to see your fine state and meet your fine folks!

[DubbleT]

I've never seen anything other than lottery tickets here in TN. In west TN everybody goes over to Tunica Mississippi for the casinos, and over to Arkansas for the greyhounds. Nothing in state as far as I know.

In Memphis it was quite common to hear people talk about how they went out for an evening at the tracks or the casinos, they even do a lot of bus runs for the senior citizens, from Memphis to the casinos. The casinos also advertise pretty heavily in the area.
I haven't heard any advertisements or casual chitchat concerning any kind of gambling establishments since I moved to east TN so maybe it's not as readily available here, or it's just not a popular pastime in this area. I live right on the VA border and do a lot of my shopping there and haven't seen any kind of video gambling either. Not that I looked for anything like that, so they could be there and I just haven't noticed...

Originally Posted by MaNoWa

Also, I have read that VA is one of the most progressive states in the country for gambling. With the Tri-Cities being so close to the VA border...how accessible is gambling?

A google search shows a few casinos in NC just across the TN border, and one in KY somewhat near the TN and VA border, but nothing actually in the southwest corner of VA itself. Maybe it's all those folks in northern VA, up towards DC, that are doing all the gambling.

[JoAnn5]

I know there is a casino in Cherokee, NC, just over the mtn from the Smokies.