Our family spent a week down there over the memorial holiday. Beautiful area! Lots of great golfing, shopping, we spent a couple days in the Gatlinburg area and even did some hiking in the Smokey mountains.

I'll attach some pictures of the river front down by Neyland Stadium when I get a chance to re-size them.

I enjoy Knoxville. Nashville is great as well. I don't think one is really better than the other. It really depends on what you like to do.

I went to School at Tennessee Tech so I spent my fair share of time in Nashville.

I live in Nashville and agree with most of what's been said on here. Nashville probably has more "going on" and thing to do but I don't know if you could find an area in the country more beautiful than the Knoxville and East Tennessee area. While I prefer Nashville if job or other influence forced it I wouldn't be upset about having to live in Knoxville.
Good Luck

I was born and raised in Knoxville and lived in Nashville for 36 years. I drive by 5 lakes on the way to Lake Cumberland. I am exactly 500 miles from my house to the launch ramp in Pensacola. I have been in all 50 states and have not found any other state I would rather live in. Also we do not have an income tax but sales tax is almost 10%. PM me if you come to Nashville and we can check out some of the local lakes.