Knoxville or Chattanooga?

Having lived in both cities, I can tell you that as a climber, Chattanooga is a much, much better city than Knoxville. Twall, Suck Creek,and Sunset Park, all fantastic trad destintations (Suck Creek even has multipitch)within 20 minutes of downtown, There's Leda,with good sport and trad, about 20 minutes away; LRC with world class bouldering 5 minutes from Leda; and Fosters 45 minutes away with great sport climbing. North Carolina trad isn't further than 3.5 to 4 hours.

Knoxville on the other hand has the Obed about an hour and 20 minutes away, Big South Fork 2.5 hours out, Devil's Racetrack (not really worth the drive) 45 minutes away, but the closest climbing, Cherrokee bluffs, 5 minutes from downtown, is now closed. Knoxville is also no where near 2 or 3 hours from the Red or the New.

All in all, within a 30 minute drive from the downtowns of each city, Chattanooga has 500-1000 routes, Knoxville has about 25.

As far as the cities and schools themselves go, Chattanooga is a much more enjoyable city, with a better downtown area and less of an obnoxious party scene. There is a larger outdoor scene and the art scene isn't bad either. The food in Chattanooga is more local than Knoxville. Chattanooga is also 2 hours from Knoxville, Atlanta, Nashville, and Birmingham if you're concerned about the music.

Knoxville has better suburbs and a larger party scene if you're into that, and a larger music scene. There might be a larger job market in Knoxville for teachers. The food scene in Knoxville sucks. All chain restaurants, not many local gigs.

UTC is a very good school, but academically, Knoxville is better.

So, if I were you, I would choose Chattanooga. I did. I don't regret it at all.

Man, had no idea I'd get so many adamant opinions on both places.

Being from the south originally (SC, Rumbling Bald is my old stomping grounds) and living in New England (MA) and now in CO...I think I can hang with the culture change, and the climate...you make due with what the weather gives (been a week now of sub freezing temps and snow in CO).

I've started to get more and more excited about Chatty and the surrounding areas, plus having a few friends there and in AL also, I think i could get along pretty well there. I'm kind of waiting until the next few weeks when I visit to see how I fit in both places to be honest.

Hopefully one of them jumps out more than the other.

I grew up in the knoxville area, lived several summers outside of chattanooga as a river guide, and lived a stint in asheville. I agree that chattanooga is a better place, by a factor of 10, than knoxville on many counts, climbing being only one. I really enjoyed the climbing in NC, and prefer asheville as a place to live, but found myself making frequent treks over during winter months for weekends at T-wall and during summers sunset. I've lived in CO since 02 and still daydream about T-wall and sunset.

One of the worst things about knoxville is the traffic conjestion, it is horrible.

All great info everyone, thanks. I am also torn between the two for multiple reasons. Does anyone on here perhaps work at Erlanger or UT Medical because in the end they will probably be the deciding factor for my girlfriend and I. Along with they're schools. Any info would be greatly appreciated. A big thanks ahead of time.