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LAKE AND MOUNTAIN LIVING
A Weekend in Chattanooga
Where to stay, what to see, and where to eat in Scenic City
Hunter Museum
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SSI
By Collin Kelley and Chad Radford
When you think of Chattanooga, the
kitschy cuteness of Rock City and the
Tennessee Aquarium probably spring to
mind, but there’s plenty more fun to be
had in the Scenic City besides gnomes
and fish.
Chattanooga is perfect for a weekend
getaway. Just a two-hour drive from
Atlanta, it’s a straight shot up 1-75 to
a city with a decidedly more laid-back
vibe. Lookout Mountain rises over the
city, while the serpentine Tennessee River
winds its way through downtown.
Where To Stay
There are plenty of Airbnb options
to be had, but why not try a boutique
hotel like the historic Read House
(thereadhousehotel.com) or in the
Edwin Hotel (theedwinhotel.com) in
downtown?
The Bluff View Inn
(bluffviewartdistrictchattanooga.com),
nestled along the river in the city’s Bluff
View Arts District (more on that below),
is actually three different historic homes:
the English Tudor-style McClellan House,
the American Foursquare T.C. Thompson
House, and the Colonial Revival Martin
House.
If you want to get historic and
touristy, The Chattanooga Choo Choo
Hotel (choochoohotel.com) is located
in the circa 1909 Terminal Station and
adjacent restored Pullman cars. There’s
also gorgeous gardens, live music, and
dining on the station grounds.
48 AUGUST 2021 | [E]
What To See
The Bluff View Arts District situated
high above the Tennessee River is a
great place to start your weekend. Stroll
through the River Gallery Sculpture
Garden, grab a coffee of freshly roasted
joe at Rembrandt’s Coffee House, have
dinner at Tony’s Pasta Shop & Trattoria,
and enjoy the stunning views from the
neighborhood.
Another artsy place with a view is
the Hunter Museum of American Art
(huntermuseum.org), also situated along
the river, with fantastic views outside and
thought-provoking art inside it’s three
galleries. On show through Sept. 6 is
“Power, Passion & Pose: Photographs by
Ken Browar and Deborah Ory,” while
Chattanooga artist Baggs McKinley’s
denim installation “Indigo” is up
until next February. Susan J. Barron’s
photography series, “Depicting the
Invisible: A Portrait Series of Veterans
Suffering from PTSD,” opens Aug. 20.
After the museum, take a walk across
the river on the pedestrian-only Walnut
Street Bridge, which connects downtown
to the hip and happening NorthShore
neighborhood. The circa 1890 truss
bridge plays host to the annual Wine
Over Water Food + Wine Festival in
October (it’s on hold until 2022) and is
vacation selfie central.
Once you cross the bridge, check out
the NorthShore (northshorechattanooga.
com) mix of independent clothing and
jewelry boutiques, cozy cafes, gastropubs,
and popular neighborhood restaurants.
Grab coffee at (Be)Caffeinated or Stone
Cup Cafe, a gourmet hot dog at Good
Dog, some authentic Japanese at Sushi
Nabe, or a sandwich at River Street Deli.
If you’ve never been to the Tennessee
Aquarium (tnaqua.org), it’s a much
different experience than Atlanta’s.
Located in downtown, the aquarium’s
400,000 gallon freshwater tank is one
of the largest in the world with turtles,
seahorses, frogs, otters, alligators, and
free-flying songbirds, The 700,000
saltwater tank has sharks, rays, penguins,
and fluttering butterflies.
Yes, Lookout Mountain — home to
Rock City, Ruby Falls and the Incline
Railway — is a tourist trap, but it still
has its charms, especially if the kids are
in tow. Rock City’s twisting paths lead
visitors past and through formations like
Fat Man’s Squeeze, Fairyland Caverns,
and Mother Goose Village. If you aren’t
claustrophobic, take the plunge into the
middle of the mountain to see the giant
underground waterfall knowns as Ruby
Falls. And if heights aren’t a problem, the
one-mile Incline Railway up the side of
the mountain offers unparalleled views of
the city.
What To Eat
Market Street in downtown is full
of eateries to try on your weekend
getaway. Grab a casual breakfast or lunch
at Kenny’s (kennyssandwiches.com),
just a short walk from Chattanooga
Choo Choo. Hair of the Dog
(hairofthedogpub.net) offers up craft
beers and good pub grub, while St. John’s
is located inside a historic former hotel
building serving up seasonal, American
fare. For a sweet treat, Clumpies
(clumpies.com) ice cream has been a
Chattanooga tradition for more than two
decades. un
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