Founded in 1791, Knoxville was the capitol of the territory and state of Tennessee and was named for Henry Knox, who served as President George Washington's Secretary of War.

Today, Knoxville (population 175,000) is a vibrant Southern city that is headquarters of the power-full Tennessee Valley Authority - the nation's largest public utility-and the University of Tennessee (with a student population of 27,000). Seven large medical centers make Knoxville a leader in specialized medical care for Eastern Tennessee and beyond.

Knoxville boasts all the amenities of a well-established small city - abundant shopping, entertainment and dining - but does it all in the shadow of three outstanding national parks, the Great Smoky Mountains, Big South and Cherokee National Forest.

In a survey by the Knoxville "News-Sentinel", locals recommended the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, about 30 minutes from downtown, as the best place to take out-of-towners.

Knoxville natives know they are blessed with spectacular scenery. The town is situated in a valley between the Cumberland Mountains and the Great Smokies, home of the country's most visited national park with 10 million visitors annually and more than 850 miles of hiking trails. Cades Cove in October

45 minutes from downtown, tourists can discover perfect picnicking in Cades Cove, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At Cades Cove, hiking, nature trails and a loop road entice folds of all fitness levels.

Knoxville's popular Volunteer Landing, a mile long walkway along the Tennessee River, features historical markers, waterfalls, fountains and scenic overlooks. The Volunteer Landing Marina offers outdoor recreation including pontoon and paddleboat rentals.

Tourists and locals alike enjoy daytime and moonlight cruises aboard the "Star of Knoxville" riverboat. The authentic 325-passenger sternwheel riverboat offers sightseeing, lunch, dinner, entertainment and moonlight cruises along the Tennessee River . (Fall Color Cruise schedule)

If you'd rather ride the rails, climb aboard the popular "Three Rivers Rambler." This historic train, complete with a fully-restored 1925 Pullman car and luxury caboose offers open-car rides year-round. The train takes you on a 90-minute round trip tide from downtown to the forks of the Tennessee River.

Knoxville residents voted Blount Mansion as the city's best historic site so be sure to tour this 1792 home of Governor William Blount. Open for tours daily, Blount Mansion is one of the first frame houses west of the Allegheny Mountains and is home of a renowned collection of 18th century American furnishings.

After sightseeing all day, you'll want to return to Knoxville's bustling riverfront restaurants for baskets of Memphis-style ribs or East Tennessee specialties such as cured country ham, pecan pie and berry-rich pancakes. "Southern Living" magazine recently recommended that Knoxville visitors sample the river views and great food at Calhoun's on the River and Litton's Market and Restaurant on the Fountain City trail for burgers and sandwiches .

You could spend your visit to Knoxville and East Tennessee shopping at outlet stores or chain department stores, but don't miss the funky mix of boutiques, intimate coffee shops and specialty restaurants in the restored warehouse district of Old City. Here you'll find unique gifts, crafts, antiques, art and clothing as well as terrific live music in the area's night clubs.

Tennesseans treasure their music making, and Knoxville has a rich history of nurturing musical talent. The "Cradle of Country Music" walking tour highlights some of the famous singers and musicians who started their careers in Knoxville, including Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, The Everly Brothers, Roy Acuff and yes, even the king of rock 'n' roll, Elvis Presley.

Are you traveling with children? One thing's for sure: Knoxville knows kids. Consider the heavily interactive Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (look for the big basketball on the roof) and the Knoxville Zoo, whose featured exhibits include Black Bear Falls, recreating an actual black bear retreat in the Smokies. Complete with four cascading waterfalls, a "fallen" log leads visitors into the heart of the exhibit.

Often called the gateway to East Tennessee, Knoxville is so near so many things to do, the hardest part of your mountain holiday will be deciding on your day-trips. Will it be a day in the mountains relishing cool, crisp air and a basket of biscuits or a quick trip over to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, land of log flumes, roller coasters and loads of mountain-themed thrills?

A short, 20-minute drive is rewarded with a trip to Oak Ridge, Tennesse, home of the popular American Museum of Science and Energy where interactive displays, live demonstrations, computers and films bring science and energy to life.

Perhaps the best cultural asset in Knoxville is the city's world class art museum. The Knoxville Museum of Art offers diverse exhibits. The life and work of photographer Edward Weston, as well as the first solo museum exhibition in the United States of 2000 Turner Prize finalist, Michael Raedecker, are just two of the museum's current featured exhibitions . Stop by at 5 p.m. on Fridays for the museum's popular "Alive After 5" concert series.

Knoxville has a rich theater heritage. Don't miss seeing the beautiful Bijou Theatre Center, in downtown Knoxville. The magnificent old theater has operated almost continuously since 1817 and is the Knoxville's oldest business building. Symphony orchestra, ballet and opera performances are held throughout the year.

Some of the finest craftspeople in the world live in the Smoky Mountains region, where you'll find a handsome homemade dulcimer that will make a sound as sweet as sorghum syrup. If you truly want to experience the history of these mountain folk, visit the Museum of Appalachia in nearby Norris, Tennessee. This "living mountain village" featuring log cabins, barns, a chapel and schoolhouse, contains more than 250,000 artifacts relating to mountain life.

Farragut Folklife Museum in Knoxville named for David Glasgow Farragut, the first U.S. Admiral, also offers a remarkable collection of artifacts from East Tennessee.

Fall events in Greater Knoxville include "Autumn on the Square", Knoxville's Outdoor Concert Series presenting local, regional and national bands; performances of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Hobbit at the Black Box Theater and the opera, The Magic Flute, at the Knoxville Auditorium; The Fall Art Show at the East Tennessee History Center; Hearthscares, a tour of Downtown Knoxville's scariest landmarks; and Market Square Farmer's Market where, every Saturday, regional and organic farmers and food producers, local artists and crafters will bring their wares to Market Square.

Original article appeared in Living Southern Style Magazine, www.livingsouthernstylemagazine.com, copyright 2004 RPI Media Inc., Wilmington, NC