CNNMoney.com noted Knoxville was "full of cultural and family attractions, from the Knoxville Symphony and the Knoxville Zoo to the Knoxville Opera,” as well as mentioning the city was abundant in affordable hotels and motels.

Other tourism destinations recognized by the Internet site for their great travel values were Portland, Maine, the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, the popular Canadian destination of Banff, Richmond, Va., Denver, Colo., and Greenville, S.C.

"We are thrilled Knoxville has been included on a list with notable tourism destinations like St. Lucia and Banff. We’ve always known that Knoxville has so many affordable attractions, festivals, and activities to offer our visitors and it’s great to see that others on a national scale are taking notice,” said Gloria Ray, Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation’s (KTSC) President and CEO.