East Tennessee Residential Communities : Holrob Communities : Private Communities near Knoxville, Knox County, Blount County, Anderson County, Sevier County

Within a two hour drive from Knoxville, Chattanooga, Tennessee, is perfect for a day trip! Situated on the Tennessee-Georgia border, Chattanooga is a bit of a superstar these days: The New York Times featured Chattanooga in its "36 Hours In" series (Knoxville was featured in June!), calling it the "undiscovered gem of Tennessee." Incredibly, the city was once considered to have the worst air pollution in the country! Today, fifteen years and $2 billion in downtown investment later, urban theorists and planners offer it as an example of a turn-around city, one brought Back from the Brink to offer the charm of a Southern yesterday next to the amenities found in any modern town.

Photo of Chattanooga's riverfront and the Walnut Street Bridge by MaryleeUSA.

Waterfronts, when developed well, add much to the life of a city and Chattanooga's redevelopment plan took full advantage of its position on Tennessee River. The Tennessee Aquarium, said to be the world's largest freshwater aquarium, serves as an artful anchor, a central hub, around which much development has occurred. "The Tennessee Aquarium is credited with igniting the “Renaissance on the River,” and the revitalization of downtown Chattanooga. No single project has played a greater role in revitalizing downtown."

Surrounding the aquarium is Ross's Landing Plaza, a $10 million multi-use park complete with public art, green spaces, interactive public water fountains, and artfully paved areas which are used on Friday nights from May-September for the Nightfall live music performances. A five minute walk away, the 113 year old Walnut Street Bridge, "the oldest and largest surviving truss bridge in the South," has been converted for pedestrian-only use. The bridge is a popular attraction offering a unique "linear park" on which festivals are often held, such as the Wine Over Water event.

In June each year, the music festival, Riverbend, offers nine days of live music, arts and crafts, and more. Information about additional music festivals can be found here. Chattanooga's downtown area is a short walk from the riverfront, offering a variety of restaurants, shops, and nightlife opportunities. Also available is a nice selection of hotel, inn, and bed and breakfast accommodations. There's plenty to do, much to see - a day trip to Chattanooga certainly won't disappoint. For more information about East Tennessee's day trips, contact us.

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You probably know that Knoxville's Sunsphere was constructed for the 1982 World's Fair, but have you ever visited? While the observation floor was opened to the public in the fall of 2007, the Sunsphere didn't have more to offer than its fantastic view - no bars, restaurants, or cafes to draw new crowds. That changed on August 28 with the opening of Southern Graces' Skybox at the Sunsphere.

Photo by Josh Flory.

With the Skybox, Southern Graces' "owner... Bob Sukenik has taken the hip look of bars in the big city and combined it with a fantastic view of the Knoxville skyline, and what you get is an experience unlike any other in East Tennessee." Meant to draw guests for after work wind-down drinks and gourmet hors d'oeuvres, the Skybox honors Knoxville's unique landmark while offering a fun alternative to the after work crowd's downtown favorites, such as Sapphire, Regas, and Club LeConte.

The Skybox, located on the Sunsphere's fifth floor (Southern Graces operates an event floor on the sixth level), has the capacity to seat around fifty people. Renovations began nearly a year ago to create a modern space that spotlights the amazing 360-degree view of Knoxville's skyline: "The bar itself is one-of-a-kind, hand-poured by artisan Alex Baumann.... Stained wine racks run down between the windows and wood cabinets surround the area above the bar, inconspicuously housing televisions for watching the big game. Everything from the color on the walls to the light fixtures above the bar has warmth unique to such a modern design."

In addition to serving drinks, the Skybox offers gourmet lunch boxes - great for enjoying a leisurely lunch by the water, 266 feet below, at the World's Fair Park! The opening of the Skybox is great news - a great addition to Knoxville's lively downtown. Want to know more about Knoxville's downtown? Contact us.

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Knoxville celebrates Labor Day like no other city. Sure, there are fireworks, festivities, live entertainment, and food at other Labor Day celebrations; what makes Knoxville's festival different is its quality and scale. Sunday, August 31 marks the 21st annual Boomsday Festival, featuring the largest Labor Day fireworks show in the nation. Recognized as a Top 20 event by Southeast Tourism Society, over 350,000 people are expected to attend this year! Past Boomsday Festivals have fed the festival's enormous Internet presence; people just can't get enough.

Photo by Melissa E.

Boomsday, located at Neyland Drive and Volunteer Landing, offers a variety of activities to fill the entire day; many arrive as early as noon to enjoy the games, live music, food vendors, and children's activities. A new feature this year "is the MasterCraft/American Boat Center’s Rail Jam Demos, in which Neyland will be transformed into a man-made 30-foot wide and 200-foot long water track where professional wake boarders will skim across the water attempting jumps and turns at 18-22 miles per hour. The jams begin at noon and will continue throughout the afternoon." Also new is a petting zoo and pony rides for the kids and the Southern Shores "Salute to the Troops."

Of course, the main attraction is the fireworks show. Beginning at 9:30pm, the fireworks, which are set to music, will light up the sky for a full thirty minutes. The Henley Street Bridge is the launch point for the fireworks which fill the air, pour over the side in a spectacular 'waterfall' and dance across the water. The river reflects the show, making it seem bigger than life with booms and blasts so powerful the vibrations can actually be felt.

Boomsday is a Knoxville favorite, an event to look forward to each year. "Admission to the 2008 Chrysler Jeep Boomsday Festival is free to the public with nominal fees for parking, games, food and beverage." For information about parking and preparations, visit the Boomsday website. For further information, submit your questions here.

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Whether you live in East Tennessee and are looking for a weekend getaway, or you are planning a visit to the area, there are a number of locally owned inns that offer attractive alternatives to the standard hotel. Three inns located in and around Knoxville are mentioned here, although there are many more which can be found at Bed and Breakfast Inns Online.

The Maplehurst Inn Bed and Breakfast is located on a hill overlooking the Tennessee River in the Historic District of Downtown Knoxville, the 90-year-old inn is right in the heart of the city. Built in 1917 as an area merchant’s home, the structure was expanded and converted to a bed and breakfast in 1982. Featuring eleven rooms from the cozy Rose Room to the Penthouse Suite, the antique furnishings and old-fashioned décor makes for an experience that is, according to guest reports, “just like staying at grandma’s house.” Maplehurst’s owners, Sonny and Becky, offer the best of Southern hospitality to their guests: local attractions are pointed out – the best places to visit, eat, and shop; breakfast is provided in the dining room; and snacks are available round the clock.

Across town, in West Knoxville, is the beautiful Maple Grove Inn. Built in 1799, the original Georgian style home was converted to an inn in 1992. The Maple Grove offers seven luxury rooms, such as The Maple Suite with its four-poster rice bed and all-marble bathroom, and The Oak Suite with sleigh bed, sitting room, and unique bathroom featuring a stand-alone tub. Other rooms aren’t as lavish in décor, but offer the type of furnishings that are commonly enjoyed in bed and breakfast inns. The beautiful facility has the capacity to handle large crowds making it a popular choice for weddings, meetings, and other events. A gourmet restaurant draws guests staying at the inn as well as others from the community, contributing to the inn’s lively and elegant atmosphere.

Finally, The Hearthstone Bed and Breakfast, located in Jefferson City, offers a unique twist on the B&B. The inn is actually fashioned resort-style as a collection of three cabin-like cottages. Each cottage houses one to two guest rooms and breakfast is offered each morning in the main cottage. The resort is situated on Cherokee Lake, the source of many guest activities such as fishing, hiking, boating, and swimming.

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With fuel prices doubling over the last two years, many families are opting for 'staycations' over destination vacations. What's a staycation? Put simply, it's a vacation spent at or near home, an increasingly popular choice and an easy one if you live in East Tennessee! According to a recent Rand McNally survey, "two-thirds of U.S. adults who planned to take a road trip this summer have altered their plans because of rising gas prices. According to the survey, more than half--57%--said they will shorten their trip's duration or distance."


Photo by Dave Oby.

Families on staycation have gotten really creative, relying on cook-outs, local pools, and area attractions to occupy their time off - but some want just a little bit more. East Tennesseans looking about for activities won't have a hard time finding them! Here's ten fabulous area staycations to consider:

1.    Spend a day on a lake. Pack a picnic and rent a boat or canoe and navigate the beautiful area waters. Take advantage of the area's whitewater! Go fishing!
2.    Go camping at any of the area's 200 campgrounds!
3.    Take a Planned TN Vacation through Nashville and East Tennessee, exploring the history of country music!
4.    Visit the Great Smoky Mountain National Park for biking, hiking, fishing, horseback riding and more!
5.    Hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail - or all of it!
6.    Plan a few days around a sports museum or a sporting event such as golfing, motorsports, or baseball.
7.    Get away to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge for outlet shopping or a day at Dollywood or the Dixie Stampede.
8.    Plan an area wine tour, perhaps with antique shopping along the way!
9.    Plan a tour of East Tennessee's main streets.
10.  Take advantage of the numerous music and arts festivals the state has to offer.

For more information about East Tennessee's activities and attractions, inquire here.

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Meant to boost regional tourism and Knoxville’s economy, the Knoxville Convention Center has proven a successful addition to the city. In the late 1990s, city planners, developers, citizens, and leaders began to discuss the construction of a public attraction to draw visitors to the area. The goal was to identify a project that had just the right mix of cost and benefits that would result in extra tax revenue and jobs. While other cities have opted for sports arenas and stadiums, planetariums or aquariums, Knoxville, drawing on its central location, environmental beauty, and Southern hospitality, settled on a convention center. Upon its opening in 2002, the city anxiously waited while the convention center built its clientele and reputation, efforts which have reaped a positive economic impact of $288 million since 2002, certainly justifying this $93 million construction.

The convention center has won national awards for quality service. Last year, nearly 380,000 people attended meetings, conferences, weddings, and shows at the center; their satisfaction and endorsements have helped to increase convention center bookings by 81 percent from the 2005-06 to the 2006-07 fiscal year. Some of the center’s highlights? Fourteen meeting rooms which seat from 100-460 in theater style; a 27,000+ square foot ballroom which can be divided into six break-out rooms; a nearly 120,000 square foot exhibit hall, which can be divided into two spaces; three luxury conference rooms; a 460 seat lecture hall; and first class amenities including a business center and full kitchen services.

The 500,000 square foot convention center is located in the heart Knoxville, adjacent to the 1982 World’s Fair site which has recently been renovated into a beautiful park. The park’s meticulously groomed festival and performance lawns, an interactive water fountain that produces a “stories-high geyser,” and man-made lakes and streams provide a beautiful setting for the modern structure. A short walk away is Knoxville’s downtown, Market Square, and the Old City, featuring great restaurants, shopping, and night life opportunities.

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For the young and young-at-heart, visiting the Knoxville Zoo has been a favorite area activity for several decades. Located in East Knoxville, the zoo spans 53 acres and provides for over 215 species – over 800 animals! Home to a long list of endangered species and a number of birds, mammals, and reptiles, many indigenous to the area, the Knoxville Zoo is a unique experience that can be enjoyed 364 days of the year. Some of the most popular exhibits?

• Since 1978, the zoo has successfully bred over 90 red pandas, making the Knoxville Zoo the Red Panda Capital of the World! Thanks to the generosity of an area family, the zoo’s six pandas were treated to a new home in October, The Red Panda Village.

• The zoo is also home to one of the largest reptile collections in the nation; the zoo cares for over 500 reptiles representing over 100 species of turtles, lizards, and snakes.

• In 1978, the Knoxville Zoo welcomed Little Diamond, the first African Elephant to be bred and born in captivity in the Western Hemisphere. Although Little Diamond now lives in North Carolina, The Stokley African Elephant Preserve, which opened in 2002, is home to three very talented elephants who, when they aren’t throwing mud on their backs, produce paintings which are sold to support the zoo.

• Black Bear Falls is home to four Smoky Mountain native bears. The one-of-a-kind bear exhibit opened in 2000, featuring four waterfalls with over 20-foot drops, a 40-foot long tunnel that offers views of the bear dens, and a forest of trees native to the area.

A number of events are offered each year. Feast with the Beasts is an August event for adults over twenty-one. Area restaurants and drink vendors offer their best to visitors who taste, sip, and browse the animals, a silent auction, and live bands. More than 400 guests attended the 2007 Zoofari, the twentieth anniversary of the zoo’s most important fundraising event of the year. A bit more upscale than Feast, Zoofari guests were treated to a seated dinner, live music, and a special auction. What about the kids? This year, over 10,000 visitors turned out to celebrate the twenty-first annual - eight nights of “not-too-scary fun.” Kids enjoyed trick-or-treating at treat stations, checking out the character costume shows, and participating in games, rides, and “monsterific music and fun.”

Through the efforts of volunteers, community partnerships, and the support of private and public sector sponsors, the Knoxville Zoo is an active and respected participant in the East Tennessee community. With its family-friendly environment and its commitment to “the highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education,” the zoo is a worthwhile destination, a great place to visit, and a great place to be a kid.

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