Best place to live in Tennessee

[JoeJunior]

I live about 5 miles south of the Tennessee State Line outside Huntsville, AL. My wife and I were riding through the countryside last week, and I was commenting on how absolutely beautiful Middle Tennessee is south of Nashville. (We were between Pulaski and Columbia off I-65.)

Right now Cookeville, Tennessee is one of the stars in the southeast for retirees moving in. You have Tenn. Tech university, a good regional hospital and beautiful hills with natural rivers and waterfalls. It's 80 mi. east of Nashville on I-40--close enough. And two fabulous lakes are 1/2 hour away.

This state is full of great places to live. Nashville and Franklin are now so expensive, but the quality of life is great. Let me just list the places I really like in no particular order:
Columbia and Maury County--very historic antebellum place 40 mi. south of Nashville
Tullahoma and the Tims Ford Lake area (Jack Daniels Country)
Crossville if you're a golfer.
Johnson City and Jonesborough--largest city in Upper East TN
Greeneville--20 mi. south of Johnson City--#1 agriculture county in the South.
Morristown
Maryville--back door to Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Murfreesboro and the hills 10-20 miles southeast of there.
Winchester--at the foot of Monteagle Mountain. Two great fishing lakes.
Cleveland--north of Chattanooga. Ocoee River and whitewater is 20 mi.
Shelbyville--walking horses and beautiful farms south of Murfreesboro.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by Tetto

This is golden information- thanks! Wife an I are thinking of retiring from rural CT to TN, and this synopsis helps. Do you know if there is a decent off road (dirt biking) motorcycle culture there? In CT its almost impossible to ride a bike off road, they control every square foot.

No, sorry. I'm an old lady.

[JoeJunior]

Originally Posted by Tetto

This is golden information- thanks! Wife an I are thinking of retiring from rural CT to TN, and this synopsis helps. Do you know if there is a decent off road (dirt biking) motorcycle culture there? In CT its almost impossible to ride a bike off road, they control every square foot.

For offroading, try WindRockPark.com in Oliver Springs. That's just over the hill from Oak Ridge--west of Knoxville.

Is 73,000 acres enough land for you?

The National Forestry Service also has a number of Off Road facilities in East Tennessee and Northeast Georgia.

The thing that Tennessee has is plenty of mountain land for recreation.

[shinestx]

Originally Posted by Tetto

This is golden information- thanks! Wife an I are thinking of retiring from rural CT to TN, and this synopsis helps. Do you know if there is a decent off road (dirt biking) motorcycle culture there? In CT its almost impossible to ride a bike off road, they control every square foot.

There are a lot of off-road courses around Oak Ridge, near Knoxville. THey are old mining roads and are quite extensive. OK... JOeJunior has told you about Wind Rock... I've been, and it's very large.

[Tetto]

Originally Posted by LauraC

No, sorry. I'm an old lady.

[Tetto]

Originally Posted by JoeJunior

For offroading, try WindRockPark.com in Oliver Springs. That's just over the hill from Oak Ridge--west of Knoxville.

Is 73,000 acres enough land for you?

The National Forestry Service also has a number of Off Road facilities in East Tennessee and Northeast Georgia.

The thing that Tennessee has is plenty of mountain land for recreation.

That’s awesome- nice to see they put recreation area aside for folks. Thanks!

[y8tiger]

Originally Posted by JoeJunior

I live about 5 miles south of the Tennessee State Line outside Huntsville, AL.

Tullahoma and the Tims Ford Lake area (Jack Daniels Country)
Winchester--at the foot of Monteagle Mountain.

Concur - I find the area near Fayetteville, Tullahoma, and Winchester beautiful with all the rolling hills, lakes, and rivers. Small cities that are not too far from the convivences of large cities.

[JoeJunior]

Originally Posted by y8tiger

Concur - I find the area near Fayetteville, Tullahoma, and Winchester beautiful with all the rolling hills, lakes, and rivers. Small cities that are not too far from the convivences of large cities.

You're absolutely right about the land north and northeast of Huntsville. (Fayetteville's county is on the state line.) Few people realize how mountainous the northeast corner of Alabama is. And it's even better if you include the Tennessee River.

Winchester is within eyeshot of Monteagle Mountain, and they've got Tims Ford Lake in the middle of town. That's very positive.