I Moved Back to Knoxville — Here’s Why
After high school, Holly started over somewhere new. Now she's back in her hometown, and here's why.
When I graduated high school, I never really considered going to college next door at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville. I was ready to try something new, but because in-state tuition is hard to pass up, my post-grad adventures were limited to Tennessee.
So, I moved to Chattanooga to continue my education. I learned to love to do the things that make Chattanooga special, like morning walks on the pedestrian bridge and Moon Pies as a post-hike snack. Then, I met my husband, graduated college and took a job in Memphis. If blues and country music were the soundtrack of those years, then barbecue was on the menu. Memphis is a city full of talent, and cooking is truly an art there.
At this point, after living in three of the state’s major cities, I started telling people I was doing “Tour de Tennessee.” As it turns out, it was an out-and-back tour, leading me home to Knoxville — except this time with my husband.
While coming back to Knoxville was not the plan, it was absolutely the right move for us. Here’s why:
I’ve lived in most major cities in Tennessee throughout the last seven years. Every part of the state is special, but for me, you can’t beat the everyday experiences Knoxville offers, like the farmers market on Saturday morning or the Great Smoky Mountains in your backyard.
Mostly, it’s the people. Along with my family living in the area, most of my friends stayed here after college or returned after living in other places. While I’m excited to reconnect with old friends, I’m also looking forward to experiencing Knoxville as a post-graduate and meeting other people. My husband and I are both runners, and there are several group runs that meet from local shops or gyms throughout the week, so we are excited to get involved with those.
The cost of living in Knoxville does feel relatively similar to other places I’ve lived in Tennessee, but for first-time homebuyers, I do think there is more diversity in housing at a lower price point. And one big plus of living in Tennessee is you don’t have to pay state income tax.
My perfect Saturday in Knoxville would probably be in October, when the leaves are colorful, and the air is just turning crisp. I would go for a run in Sequoyah Hills, a historic neighborhood with a trail running through it, then stop at the farmers market on my way home for a coffee. There’s also a good chance I would swing by my favorite bookstore near the market. In the afternoon, I would meet friends for lunch at the Last Days of Autumn to grab a classic Tennessee combination: beer and barbecue. Then, I would spend the evening at home watching a University of Tennessee football game, and for many locals, a game-day meal of choice is Petros. (If you know, you know.)
I didn’t realize it until I lived somewhere else, but if you love the beach and the mountains, you’re in a perfect location. Not only is the most visited national park in the country a short drive away, but you’re also very close to other mountain towns like Asheville. Charleston, South Carolina, is only about a six-hour car ride for a quick beach trip.
The Tern Club in the Old City is vintage-tropical themed, and it’s my go-to girls’ night out because who doesn’t like drinks with umbrellas?
So many cool restaurants have opened since I last lived in Knoxville, and we are having fun trying out new spots every weekend. Someone recently introduced us to the Northshore Brasserie, which serves French Belgian cuisine, and it was the perfect mix of delicious food and a good environment. For a more casual date, Marble City Market is a fun food hall that regularly rotates vendors. Right now, our favorite Mexican restaurant has a spot there.
Actually, one of the reasons we moved back to Knoxville was the opportunity to live on a few acres. While we don’t live in a neighborhood, we do have neighbors and are about 20 minutes from downtown Knoxville and 30 minutes from the Smokies. For us, we prefer to live outside the city, but not too far from downtown.
There’s something really comforting about moving somewhere that’s familiar. For instance, I love the little things about living in my hometown, like my close friends are nearby and I don’t have to use my GPS to get around. But I would encourage anyone moving back to their hometown to explore. You’re different, your hometown is different, and it can offer you opportunities that it couldn’t when you lived there before. So, try new restaurants, go to the networking group or take a different route to work every day, just to see how the city has evolved.
