Knoxville – The City You’ve Got to Know in Tennessee

Knoxville may not always grab the national spotlight like Memphis or Nashville, but those who know, know. Cultural without pretense. Creative without trying too hard. Outdoorsy without sacrificing urban energy. Knoxville is Tennessee’s “count me in” city — the place visitors discover and future residents quietly fall in love with.

The Hub of the 9 Lakes Region

Sitting at the heart of East Tennessee’s 9 Lakes Region, Knoxville is both gateway and gathering place. Water, mountains, and city life converge here.

For the best introduction, head up the iconic Sunsphere, built for the 1982 World’s Fair. From the observation deck, a 360-degree view reveals exactly what makes Knoxville special — the Tennessee River winding through downtown, the rolling foothills beyond, and the urban energy tucked neatly between it all.

It’s a landscape that invites you to stay awhile.

Park It. Walk It. Love It.

Knoxville is refreshingly walkable. Park once and let the city unfold on foot.

Spend the afternoon wandering the brick-lined streets of the Old City, where historic warehouses now house local boutiques, coffee shops, and late-night hangs. Grab dinner or catch live music on Market Square, the city’s front porch and gathering place.

Head down Gay Street for a show at the historic Tennessee Theatre or Bijou Theatre, where neon marquees still glow and the curtain still rises on something worth seeing.

And when you’re ready to play, the Tennessee River is right there — from paddling and biking to simply watching the sunset from Volunteer Landing.

A Music Legacy That Still Echoes

Knoxville’s music story runs deep. Long before today’s festival stages and listening rooms, radio waves carried Appalachian sounds across the nation. Historic stations like WNOX broadcast influential programs such as the Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round and the Mid-Day Barn Dance, helping shape country and Americana music.

Today, that spirit lives on at WDVX, where live performances still echo through downtown studios and remind visitors that Knoxville doesn’t just appreciate music — it makes it.

A Culinary Scene with Soul

Knoxville’s diversity shows up at the table.

Classic Southern “meat-and-threes” still anchor the local dining scene — comforting, familiar, and deeply rooted. But alongside those traditions, a new wave of chef-owned restaurants and globally inspired kitchens are redefining what it means to dine in East Tennessee.

Foodies will find a vibrant mix of flavors and cultures — from scratch-made Appalachian staples to inventive plates that reflect the city’s growing creative class. It’s unpretentious, thoughtful, and distinctly Knoxville.

Why Knoxville?

Because it feels accessible. Authentic. Livable.

It’s a city where you can kayak before work, walk to dinner, hear live music on a Tuesday night, and still find yourself in the mountains by the weekend. Knoxville doesn’t shout. It invites.

And once you get to know it, you’ll understand why so many visitors turn into regulars — and why so many regulars decide to stay.