Accessibility Accelerated
There’s one thing in particular to which Blount County can attest over all else, and that’s convenience. It’s the result of not only an abundance of amenities – retail, restaurants, medical facilities and the like – but also the fact that it doesn’t take very long to get from one place to another. For those that tend to procrastinate, that’s a big plus.
For example, if one leaves home with only 10 minutes to spare before an appointment, it’s generally not a problem being able to arrive at the destination on time. Traffic is rarely a hassle, even when a so-called rush hour would otherwise portend a problem. While some might lament the rise in population growth throughout Blount County over the past decade (and the more cars that it inevitably puts on the road), backups don’t hold a candle to what’s found in big cities throughout the nation – or even Knoxville, for that matter. One never has to wait longer at a traffic light then it takes for the light to change, and while construction may occasionally cause a minor delay, it’s rare that it brings things to a total stop.
Even the road with the worst reputation in the county isn’t nearly as difficult, traffic-wise, as some tend to think. Granted, the dreaded 129 can be a hassle at times, but there’s rarely a major delay. Those that have their doubts need only to visit South Florida, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles or New York City to understand the problems that real congestion creates.
More to the point, many things in Blount County are ideally situated. Blount Memorial Hospital is central to all, and most retail and dining establishments are located either in downtown Maryville, in adjacent Alcoa, in the Foothills Mall or in a nearby strip center. Typically, it’s easy to complete all of one’s simple errands easily within an hour, given that travel time from one destination to another usually lasts no more than five minutes. Better yet, for those that face a difficult choice when it comes to fast food, the area I affectionately refer to as “Fast Food Corner,” located at the corner of Foothills Mall Drive and Lamar Alexander Parkway, offers all the options one might imagine.
Likewise, those who enjoy barhopping need not hop in a car to do so. Blue Tick Brewery, Brackins and Two Doors Down are spaced only a few feet apart from one another on Broadway, Maryville’s main street, with new watering hole Broadway Social conveniently located just around the corner. Likewise, if one needs to ingest some food along the way, Sullivan’s restaurant can be found on the other side of Broadway. It also offers the option to buy booze at a beautiful illuminated bar. Afterwards, those wanting a nightcap can saunter over to another nearby watering hole, Tri-Hop Brewery, just a short walk down the hill from Broadway on Court Street.
The proximity of these places makes ride sharing even more of an attractive option for nights out on the town. And when it comes to the day after, one of the biggest perks about living in Blount County is, of course, the accessibility to the mountains. The Great Smoky Mountains are an easy drive via Lamar Alexander Parkway, and even those who don’t live in or adjacent to Townsend can take advantage of a beautiful drive to that natural destination. Granted, you might have to fight off a mess of tourists visiting the most-frequented national park in the country, but with the Little River paralleling the road, the possibility of a refreshing dip makes this quick trip all the more alluring.
That again is the advantage of accessibility, one of many factors that makes Blount County so appealing. From here to there and everywhere in between, Blount is the best!
