Knoxville, Tennessee Has Been Named One Of The Top 5 U.S. Destinations For 2020, And It's Easy To See Why
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Meghan Kraft
Author
The city of Knoxville, Tennessee has long been left off of state travel lists in lieu of Nashville’s music scene and the grand reputations of Elvis and the Mississippi River. That is no more, folks. Conde Nast Traveler recently named Knoxville a top travel destination in 2020, and it’s come as a welcome surprise. Locals know just how wonderful this small town masquerading as a big city actually is, and they’re bound to welcome tourists with a whole heap of southern charm.
Knoxville is Tennessee's oft-forgotten eastside town. Located at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains, it's a bustling metropolis that's managed to fund and operate a nationally renowned university, build a bustling economy and yet still retain a focus on southern hospitality and community.
Though the city of Knoxville has fewer than 200,000 folks living within city limits, its great metro area boasts 830,000 folks. As the third-largest city in Tennessee, it's become a true mecca for students and young professionals.
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Make sure to head to Market Square for lunch and a bit of boutique shopping, and learn a bit of history at World's Fair Park. It's where the 1982 World's Fair was held, where Cherry Coke and shelf-stable milk were introduced to the world.
Knoxville's vicinity to the Great Smoky Mountains is also a solid point for this east Tennessee town. It's easy to stay the night in Knoxville and simply pop over to the grand national park for a bit of hiking or a picnic.
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are also close by, and they're known for being true tourist attractions. There's plenty of kitsch to go around on their wax museum and Ripley's studded Main Streets.
Conde Nast Traveler predicted that Knoxville will be a top spot for tourists in 2020 due to the large influx in Google searches for hotels. Knoxville isn't simply a college town, folks. It's a perfectly situated city that offers myriad flavors in food, drink and local experience.
Will you be wandering the streets of Knoxville any time soon? If you have any tips for visitors, make sure to leave them in the comments below!
You can indulge in Knoxville by way of some of the best cookie delivery in the nation. Check it out!
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