Knoxville Lodging in a Nutshell |
Diane Goldberg, Contributing Writer |
 With Neyland Stadium, recently named the top college stadium in the country by The Sporting News, and the delights of Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg only a short scoot down the highway, Knoxville is a busy portal to east Tennessee.
A center of nightlife, business, and home of the University Tennessee’s sprawling Knoxville campus, the city is also an arts center and shopping paradise.
But, Knoxville has a secret. It’s also an alarmingly beautiful city --- with Smokey Mountain mist rising above emerald lawns, the lush greenery and soft climate conspire to produce an almost English landscape. Even in the middle of summer Knoxville is a pleasant place to stroll or stay as a base for visiting the surrounding area.
For a mid-sized city, Knoxville has a lot of lodging options. Whether you’re there for Tennessee Volunteer sports, shopping, or en route to white-water rafting, where you end up staying is extremely important.
If you are combining a business trip with a football game, the Knoxville Hilton downtown on Church Street is your best bet for the best of both worlds. It’s close to the stadium and the downtown business area is right outside your door. This full-service hotel offers accommodations for business travelers as well as family-friendly extras like a children’s menu in the on-site restaurant.
With rates plummeting beneath $50 during selected times of the year, the best budget bet in the university area is the Days Inn Campus on West Cumberland. The property is right in the center of the UT strip. The university itself is a three-minute walk, and the bars, bookstores, and restaurants catering to the campus are right outside your door. This is the perfect place for families with a high school senior scoping out the area.
If you are interested in “special occasion” luxury and long for a personal touch, a mere forty minutes from Knoxville you’ll find the charming Whitestone Country Inn, an American Automobile Association four-diamond rated bed and breakfast resort with a range of individually decorated rooms and suites featuring whirlpool tubs and fireplaces. Sited on Watt’s Barr Lake, the Whitestone Country Inn’s porches and decks provide spectacular views of the Smokeys.
No matter your reason or the season, Knoxville is a city with great lodging choices, a range of restaurants, and a lot to do.
Top
| 
