So, this post was supposed to go up on Monday, but I have once again been all over God’s green earth and didn’t get it finished in time.
A few weeks ago, a colleague and I traveled to Cleveland, TN for a conference which isn’t far from Chattanooga. He sang the praises of “Chatty” so much that I decided to book my hotel there and make the 30 minute drive to Cleveland, TN each day for the conference.
This historical city certainly did not disappoint. From the information plaques I read, Chattanooga’s significance is borne from the fact that it was the epicenter of railroad travel in the South. During the Civil War there were two major battles that took place there, collectively known as the Battle of Chattanooga. In the 1930s, the Glenn Miller Band recorded a very stupid song called Chattanooga Choo Choo.. Track 29! Anyway, if you go to Chatty, be prepared for everyone to ask if you saw the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Disclaimer- the choo choo is not that exciting.
Without further adieu, I give you my 6 Things Chattanooga.
Big River Brewery
We were killing time and just happened upon Big River Brewery and it was SO good. I love me so craft brews, and Big River’s brown ale certainly did not disappoint. It’s in a very convenient area too, so it’s easily walkable to all the fun Chattanooga sites. We didn’t eat lunch there but the food looked great!
Clumpies Ice Cream
I have very high standards when it comes to ice cream, so when I say a place is good, it’s good. Clumpies is relatively new as far as ice cream places go, but you’d swear it’s been there for years and years with its old-fashioned nostalgic feel. My personal favorite was the malt peanut brittle ice cream. It’s worth going to Chattanooga just for that.
Rembrandt’s Coffee House
I don’t think I’ve ever been to a prettier coffee house, and Rembrandt’s is perfect for a “cafternoon” pick-me-up. I got a simple iced Americano, but my colleague got a peanut butter cup frappe, and it looked uh-mazing. The outdoor area certainly doesn’t disappoint either. If we weren’t on “must see everything” tourist mode, I would have loved to sit there with my Kindle for hours.
Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge
We walked this bridge several times, and it is a bit of a trek. This historical bridge, which almost fell in to complete ruin in the 1970s, connects the downtown area to the North Shore. Both sides of Chattanooga are worth seeing (Big River, the Choo Choo and Rembrandts are downtown; Clumpies and Coolidge Park are on the North Shore) and the walk is fun and scenic.
Chattanooga Choo Choo
I would be remiss if I did not at least mention the Chattanooga Choo Choo. For the record, it’s not just a train. What is known as the Chattanooga Choo Choo is a whole little area with, yes, old trains on their tracks, but also bars, restaurants, retails shops and a spinning studio. The Chattanooga Choo Choo is also a hotel where guests can stay in pullman trains that were once only reserved for the wealthiest of train passengers. Kind of cool!
Coolidge Park
I unfortunately don’t have any photos of Coolidge Park, so you’ll just have to use your imagination here. It’s right on the opposite side of downtown on the Pedestrian Bridge and would be great for kids. There’s a little splash pool, a Denzel carousel and gorgeous river views. So cool.
There ya have it, friends. I admit that I probably would not have gone out of my way to go to Chattanooga had it not been for this trip, but I’m so glad it made it! If you find yourself in that part of the country (note- it’s only a few hours from Atlanta), it’s certainly worth the trip!