Chatanooga,TN

[mercydisney]

We are plannig a family vacation in Chatanooga, TN. This will be are first time going. Does anyone have any reviews. Any clean family inexpensive hotels.

Thank You

 

[da-winnie-pooh]

Well, long story, but the short version is that my dd's church group stayed at the Days Inn downtown. She, two other girls, another mom and I stayed at a Country Inn and Suites a few miles away.

Don't stay at the Days Inn downtown. It looked scary from the outside and the kids said it was worse inside.

The Country Inn and Suites, on the other hand, was wonderful. Nice and clean, a good breakfast, a nice indoor pool, just a great place.

 

[TheRatPack]

There are a lot of hotels downtown so you could ride the shuttles to the different sites. The Holiday Inn (Chattanooga Choo Choo) is on the outskirts of downtown. There is a Marriott/Convention Center, and a few others that are nice but not as pricey. Here is a link to some of the hotels that are downtown close to everything:

http://hotel-guides.us/tennessee/chattanooga-tn-downtown-hotels.html

If you have any questions about anything let me know You can PM me too if you'd like

 

[TheRatPack]

http://www.chattanoogafun.com/

Here is another site for you to check out about the fun things there are to do

 

[kristilew]

We had a fabulous spring break trip there last year. It is the perfect family town! Trip Advisor has several good trip plans for it.

We stayed at the CHoo Choo thinking it would be so fun to be in one of those train car rooms. Not so fun - they are also insulated like old train cars - it's actually two rooms per car, with a thin sheet of drywall making the rooms. So unless you can sleep through anything, get a regular room if you stay there. We switched and it was silent. There was a decent indoor pool, and lots of friendly people staying there. A shuttle picks you up there to take you downtown.

They had a package where we got tickets to a bunch of attractions when we checked in, plus cute conductor hats.

We signed up for the extra private tour of Ruby Falls - so worth it! Very extensive, small group, great guides. DD9 got to pick out and keep a plastic helmet with a light on it and at the end got to pan for fancy rocks and keep bags full of them.

There is a Big River Grille downtown with great beer and outdoor seating. Super place to relax after doing the fantastic Children's Museum. There is also a Tollhouse Cookie restuarant. (need I say more?)

We wished we had allowed more than three days - it was all so easy and fun.

 

[ampc3]

there is a great pizza place down the street from the aqurium on the corner next to sticky fingers I think... called Lupis (or something like that) it is soo good!

 

[jgates]

I found the hotels on the 'mall' edge of town to be a bit nicer. We stayed over there the last couple of trips at name brand ones near the mall & restaurants and they were clean and nice.

 

[disynut]

We loved the Chattanooga Aquarium and the area around it. Can't comment on the other areas except Chattanooga is a beautiful town--we always enjoy driving through there on our way to WDW!

However, I would not recommend the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel. We stayed there on the way home last year expecting a cool little train car room. It was dirty, dusty and would have been unacceptable had it not been 11pm and we were worn out. The tub/shower had black places on it(cream colored tub)and they had put down a mat in it to try and cover it(you could still see the places creeping up the sides ). Needless to say we didn't shower, got up the next morning and got out of there. Oh, and also--when the man brought in the crib we requested and had to call for twice he kind of stuttered that they hadn't really gotten to cleaning it yet and I might want to wipe it down. WHAT????? Baby girl did NOT sleep in that crib.

It should NOT have cost $170 bucks. I emailed the company when I got home---they sent me a free night in that hotel---HA! Like I'd ever stay there again.

 

[mercydisney]

The Rat Pack, Thanks for the website.

We are really interested in Rock City and Ruby Falls..Any good hotels in that area? We were going to stay in The Choo choo until we heard all the bad reviews. DH does not want to stay in the Mall area because he hates malls and mall areas .

We are thinking of staying 4 nights, kristilew I read him your post and he started scratching his head w/means we might stay longer.

I love when people post good places to eat. We will definately try the places mentioned..If you know of anymore please post.

Thanks

 

[crazelion]

Tennessee Aquarium and I max theater is good. Ruby Falls and Rock City is a excellent places to visit. If come if the spring and summer you check at baseball game at ATT Field where work in the summer. There's a new water park that's basic in Chattanooga called Splash Valley Water park. In June we have our 9 day Music Festival that costs 30.00 dollars for whole festival. We have a lot different music at festival. Kids under 11 is free at the festival.

Then there that mall Hamilton Place Mall has good shopping.

There Marriott Hotel that is connect to the trade center convention center that's basically in the projects. There is hilton Garden Inn , Residence Inn and Courtyard by Marriott that is all near the attractions downtown. If stay in that area there is all restaurants in the area. Big River Grill is excellent.

 

[crazelion]

there is a great pizza place down the street from the aqurium on the corner next to sticky fingers I think... called Lupis (or something like that) it is soo good!

It's Molly Mushroom something like that it's location at Bijou theater and parking garage connect to it. There's Ben and Jerry there is to.

 

[degrapevine]

Hi! We visited Chattanooga this past summer on our way up to OH to visit family. (Good halfway point when driving from FL!).

Since we're a family of 5, one bathroom is usually a pain, so we stayed at the Residence Inn that is within walking distance (really close!) to the Aquarium and Children's Museum. We had a 2 bedroom suite with a full kitchen. Our boys (9 and 12 at the time) shared one bedroom w/a full bath, my DH and I shared the other bedroom w/another full bath, and our DD6 slept on the queen sized sofa bed. The kitchen had a full size fridge, dishwasher, stove, and microwave.

They had an indoor pool and a great breakfast (cold and hot offerings) every morning. There was also an evening snack before dinner time.

The hotel was very clean, reasonable for the amount of space and amenities we had, and close to everything in downtown we wanted to do. You can ride the trolley (right across the street) to the Choo Choo hotel to see the train. The movie theaters are also within walking distance and we ate at Mellow Mushroom one night (great pizza, we have one here where we live) and got discount tickets for the movies. Good deal.

I would definitely recommend the Residence Inn, especially if you have a little one who sleeps better in a "quiet" room, a family that doesn't do well on one bathroom, parents who want some privacy (wink wink), and a full kitchen to keep snacks and other items cold and available to save some $. There really aren't any hotels for families up on Lookout Mountain, although if you and DH ever get a chance to getaway by yourselves, the Chanticleer Inn is very romantic and perfect for a trip w/o the kiddos!

Chattanooga is awesome - My DH and I visited there "pre-kid" (stayed at the Chanticleer Inn) and wanted to share all it has to offer with our kids, even "hokey" Ruby Falls and Rock City. You'll have a great time there!

 

[mercydisney]

It's Molly Mushroom something like that it's location at Bijou theater and parking garage connect to it. There's Ben and Jerry there is to.

Your making me hungry. Molly Mushroom sounds good. I'ld like to make it my 1st dinner stop.

Crazelion, where is the nicest, inexpensive hotel near Ruby Falls and Rock Mountion (is this asking to much)? My Dd's are really excited about these 2 attractions.

 

[mercydisney]

Degrapevine, I'm in Riverview, ery close to Bloomingdale area. We're neighbors!!!

OK I'll read your post now...

 

[Tigger1221]

It's Molly Mushroom something like that it's location at Bijou theater and parking garage connect to it. There's Ben and Jerry there is to.

Its called Mellow Mushroom. I am against the crowd I don't like it at all and it makes me sick to eat there. The Choo-Choo is alot of fun. We live about 2hrs away and stayed recently. The wall are very thin in the train cars but the hotel is beutiful too. Rock City is my favorite thing there. Ruby Falls was good the waterfall is well worth it. The aquarium is good. They have a butterfly room and it was awesome.

Big River Grill by the aquarium is very good. Also the TGIFridays is good. There is also a dinner mystery show that looks fun, they do family shows too. If you go to the aquarium welcome center or your hotel front desk there are noramally coupons for restarants.

Have fun Chatanooga is very fun.

 

[OhioGrumpyGirl]

We were just there last week on our honeymoon. We stayed in East Ridge though (one mile from the GA line). We visited the CHoo Choo and did the old time photos there, but not much of anything else. We also rode the incline (I thought it was a waste of money since you can drive up the mountain and see the same thing!) Hamilton Place mall is awesome. We thought we'd check out the zoo since it was only $6 to get in. After trying to find it for 20 minutes, we figured out why it was only $6 to get in.....it took us about 20 minutes to see the whole place!! The whole Chatanooga area is beautiful and the people there are soooo friendly. We're going to go back in the summer and take my son who is a train fanatic, then drive up to Dollywood for a couple of days.

 

[TheRatPack]

It's called Mellow Mushroom and they have Excellent Pizzas. They make all their dough with spring water I believe......really makes a difference. As far as hotels close to Ruby Falls and Rock City....I don't believe there are any. Rock City and Ruby Falls are up on the mountain....all the hotels are at the base of it It's not a hard drive though....and easy to follow signs so you wouldn't have a problem staying in town and driving to both those attractions.

There are 2 aquariums (salt water and fresh water), there are tons of restaurants and just across the river (you can walk across on our pedestrian bridge) are quaint little shops and very unique things to see (although a lot of construction over there right now).

There is that Lupi's Restaurant that was already mentioned, or if you like homecooked meals there is the BluePlate Restaurants. There is a Cold Stone Creamery and a Toll House Restaurant (used to be a Cheeburger I think?). There is a candy store beside that....the Children's Discovery Museum and a great Imax and Bijou theater.

There is a Chili's Restaurant, ooooh so much. Oh and you have to go to Porkers Barbecue....that's where President George W ate when he came through town LOL

 

[pinkrose]

There's a little place right outside the entrance to Rock City that sells the best fudge! We always buy some on our way in.

I have to agree with those who made comments on the train rooms at the Chatanooga Choo Choo Holiday Inn. We stayed there once since my son is a train fanatic. It was so gross. Never again.

 

[mercydisney]

"Porker's Barbecue" I love barbecue!! This will be 2nd stop.. DH and the kids can go to the Imax and I'll just visit "Porker's Barbecue".

 

[crazelion]

It's called Mellow Mushroom and they have Excellent Pizzas.
There is a Chili's Restaurant, ooooh so much. Oh and you have to go to Porkers Barbecue....that's where President George W ate when he came through town LOL

I could not spell Mellow for nothing. i should know it by heart because I eat there alot in the summer. You is right about Chili's downtown is awesome. Spent way too much there time.

Be sure try the firecracker beer at Big River Gill it's awesome.