Posted on 08/21/2018 9:28:06 AM PDT by Redplum
The RedPlumette and I are planning a relaxing vacation to the beautiful town of Chattanooga in the early fall. I'm reaching out for any local gouge that our Freepers in the area can supply.
Any advice on hotels, great dining experiences, and local "best kept secrets" would be most appreciated! We plan to see all the tourist-y stuff since it's all new to the Plumette but will have time to explore, too.
Also any tips concerning areas to avoid would be great to have, too. Many thanks!!
Be sure to use your parking brake every time..........................
I was there about 10 years ago and I enjoyed it. Be sure to see the incline railway, rock city, and the many civil war sites in town. There is the Choo- Choo, and Ruby Falls also.
Stay downtown. Buy the ticket with multiple attractions.
Aquarium, rock city, and Ruby falls.
Plenty of restaurants and museums.
Try champys over on Brainard. Get the deep fried pickles. You won’t be disappointed.
If it was me I would rather go to Gatlinburg
‘Always thought the Chatty Choo-Choo hotel & restaurant were worth the visit (locals may have other ideas): http://www.choochoo.com/
Traffic was scary back in 2007, probably worse now.
If you’re into Civil War some major battles were fought there.....Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain......the ‘Little General’ train has a replica in our National Cemetery .....Battle of Chicamauga battleground is nearby, just over the border in Georgia.
Chattanooga has quite a few hills, ridges and mountains....
....some of the usual tourist stuff ie, Rock City, Ruby Falls is on top of Lookout Mountain.
Downtown Chattanooga is rather ‘ high end’ now with shops, restaurants and attractions....and of course, The Chattanooga Choo Choo and The Aquarium
The Chicamauga is just down Highway 27 from Chattanooga. Make a point of going there. Besides being beautiful country, it’s loaded with history.
Gatlinburg is tooooo touristy, kinda like Kissimmee, Fla
Visited there about 15 years ago. We went to the Tenn valley railroad museum, Rock City,lookout mountain and a couple of road side tourist traps. Not a bad place to vacation, just be aware of all the one way streets. Very confusing.
Gatlinburg is like the Vegas strip without slot machines.
Ruby Falls.
If you go to Ruby Falls you will be descending underground......just wanted you to know....( it’s not my thing)
There’s an incline railway from Chattanooga up to the top of Lookout Mountain......(rode it as a child...I have lost my nerve now)
At the top of Lookout Mountain .....on a clear day.....you can see 7 states!
It’s not a bad road except in one spot where there is a tiny guardrail, if that.
Never been there but most everyone here says, “Nothing good happens on MLK Blvd after 1AM.”
I heartily recommend Sticky Fingers’ restaurant at 2031 Hamilton Place Blvd for excellent BBQ ribs and steaks. It was (I’m now retired) when we went there for dinner during our spring and fall training at the Catoosa TNARNG training center. We stayed in the barracks, so I can’t comment as to hotels.
And the small 6th Cavalry Museum in Ft. Oglethorpe, outside the main entrance to the Chickamauga battlefield is a ‘gem’ if you like military history. The brick early 1900 officer’s quarters are all private homes that circle the parade ground.
I will still take Gatlinburg over Pigeon Forge. At least you are closer to the mountains, and you can fish for trout in the river.
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