Knoxville

Knoxville is a busy college town and transportation hub, but it's also a place where city boosters still get excited when the American Quilters Society announces plans to hold its annual convention in town. Injected with a youthful vibe by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is at once Old South and growing urban core, thanks to a booming technology industry. Knoxville is nestled on the banks of the Tennessee River in the foothills of both the Appalachian and Great Smoky Mountains, making the town both scenic and ripe for outdoor pursuits. Most of the town's dining and shopping happen around the Old City Historic District and Market ...

Knoxville is a busy college town and transportation hub, but it's also a place where city boosters still get excited when the American Quilters Society announces plans to hold its annual convention in town. Injected with a youthful vibe by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is at once Old South and growing urban core, thanks to a booming technology industry. Knoxville is nestled on the banks of the Tennessee River in the foothills of both the Appalachian and Great Smoky Mountains, making the town both scenic and ripe for outdoor pursuits. Most of the town's dining and shopping happen around the Old City Historic District and Market Square. Much of life revolves around the success of the UT Volunteers ("Vols"); basketball is so big that one of Knoxville's most popular attractions is the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

About the Expert

Debra Landau has written eight Lonely Planet guidebooks, including books on the USA, Caribbean, and the South.