Chattanooga weekend trip

[TheRatPack]

LOL, I grew up going to Bea's atleast once a month, after Church. My grandmother worked there when she was younger....so many of the employees were friends of hers. My husband LOVES Bea's....and I ate it too much as a youngster so I really could take it or leave it. Our family is large enough to not have to share a table too....so that's always nice It is downhome country cooking though....fried chicken, barbecue, pinto beans, slaw, little round potatoes, homemade rolls and cornbread and usually some kind of cobbler for dessert. They have sweet tea and water to drink, or you can buy your own canned soda from the vending machines up front

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

For your room definetely do priceline 3 * dowtown hotel will be the Sheraton Read HOuse or Marriott Conventiion Center. Both within walking Distance or free electric shuttle to most attractions. We stay several weekends a year on bids 60-70 a night. You can get Chattanooga Choo Choo as a 21/2 star downtown bid for 40-45 a night(not the train car). It is kind of run down though.

 

[Tricia1972]

WARNING - A friend of mine was just at this hotel and it was DISGUSTING! Service was wonderful but room was awful. I've asked her to chime in here so you should get a review from her soon.

Waving my hand wildly, that'd be me!

Here are some photos that I took of our room at the Chattanooga Choo Choo this past Friday Night. We checked in at about 10pm and our first room wasn't cleaned!! The beds were stripped, there was coffee splatter in the sinks, and the sliding glass door was left open so the wind was blowing into our room. No photos of that room because I was trying to make sure that my kids didn't touch a thing while my husband got bags, and the front desk got us keys to a new room.

The staff was FANTASTIC and quickly got us keys to a new room, and brought them up to the yucky room. Here are photos of our "clean and good" room. There was just a general grime all over the room, and the kids had to sleep in their clothes with socks on. You could see the dirt on the floor and when you ran your fingernail on the arm of the stuffed chair, you picked up a layer of dirt. It was disgusting beyond belief!!

I couldn't get Country Bear Jamboree's Blood on the Saddle out of my head - "There's blood on the wall..."

Nice bare bulb

In need of a diffuser please....

If you check out the upper left corner you see the offending hair. Nobody in our family used the tub at this point. There was another hair, but it was shy and didn't photograph well.

This is underneath the toilet. I believe it's mold trying to find its way through the wallpaper.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

I personally think Bea's Restaurant is in a bad part of town too, plus I don't like their food either. They put it on a carousel on your table and includes things like fried okra, fried chicken, veggies, corn bread and just homestyle cooking in general. They also keep refilling it when the carousel gets empty or close to empty. Nothing to get excited about unless you are into that kind of food when eating out.

They asked for a Dive that locals go to with good food and cheap Bea's fits that bill, I have not been there in years but I would not call that area that bad.

As far as the Choo Choo area being dangerous, it is, that is why I posted about the muggings to make others aware.

Thanks for the pics Tricia I heard that it had gone downhill and I can see from those photo's it has. I hope you got your money refunded for the room!

 

[cnlmom]

Thanks for all the suggestions..... Nikki's greasy spoon looks like a winner to us. We love unpretentious places with just good food. Might pass on Bea's....we get a lot of country family style cooking here in NC, but I am sure it is good also.
We are looking foward to our few days in Chattanooga....we will visit Ruby Falls, Rock City, the incline, hopefully depending on the weather that outdoor drive in theater in Trenton....how fun, and of course Lake Winnie.
Now to just decide if we want to go for convenience and stay at Raccoon Mountain Campground or travel a bit farther each day to stay at Cloudland Canyon State Park.....it got such great reviews and looks so beautiful. According to mapquest it is only 25 minutes from Chattanooga, does anyone know if that is accurate? Looks like it is also over 45 minutes to Lake Winnie if we stayed at Cloudland. Decisions Decisions. But we do not want to get "stuck" in a crummy campground either. We have stayed at some pretty shady places that for some reason got away with calling themselves campgrounds and it makes us leary of private places. I think I will post over on the camping board and see if anyone has any suggestions.

 

[okeydokey]

I thought I read somewhere taht there was an artist type district with some galleries and even a place you could watch them blow glass. True?

We are heading up there this summer and camping in Cloudland Canyon in GA.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

I thought I read somewhere taht there was an artist type district with some galleries and even a place you could watch them blow glass. True?

We are heading up there this summer and camping in Cloudland Canyon in GA.

That would be up at the Museum District by the Hunter Museum. I am not sure if the glass blower is still there, he was across from the scuplter garden behind the BackInn Cafe.

 

[dfchelbay]

Waving my hand wildly, that'd be me!

Here are some photos that I took of our room at the Chattanooga Choo Choo this past Friday Night. We checked in at about 10pm and our first room wasn't cleaned!! The beds were stripped, there was coffee splatter in the sinks, and the sliding glass door was left open so the wind was blowing into our room. No photos of that room because I was trying to make sure that my kids didn't touch a thing while my husband got bags, and the front desk got us keys to a new room.

The staff was FANTASTIC and quickly got us keys to a new room, and brought them up to the yucky room. Here are photos of our "clean and good" room. There was just a general grime all over the room, and the kids had to sleep in their clothes with socks on. You could see the dirt on the floor and when you ran your fingernail on the arm of the stuffed chair, you picked up a layer of dirt. It was disgusting beyond belief!!

I couldn't get Country Bear Jamboree's Blood on the Saddle out of my head - "There's blood on the wall..."

Nice bare bulb

In need of a diffuser please....

If you check out the upper left corner you see the offending hair. Nobody in our family used the tub at this point. There was another hair, but it was shy and didn't photograph well.

This is underneath the toilet. I believe it's mold trying to find its way through the wallpaper.

This home came in my inbox today. This is a far better place to stay while in Tennessee. If you really like it, it is for sale. I believe it is currently owned by Alan Jackson. I though I would post it here just cause it's in Tennessee where you're going, it came to my desk today, and it's a little fun to see.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1301-Moran-Rd-Franklin-TN-37069/2137540296_zpid/

 

[jgates]

One of my worst experiences ever was at a standard Holiday Inn - I will never stay in another one. (Now HI Express is different matter).

Last trip we stayed on the east side of town near the mall?? There are several hotels at an exit there. I assume (although I can't remember 100%) that it was probably the Fairfield Inn or possibly a Comfort Inn or HI Express. This hotel was clean & nice. Previously we had stayed at one of the exits coming in from the north & the hotel was a bit more run-down (although I know there are nicer ones there also).

LOVE Point Park
LOVE Incline Railway
Liked Ruby Falls - took us about 5 trips to get there lol
LOVE the Aquarium

I don't believe in any of the numerous stops we have made there that we ever hit Rock City!!

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

This home came in my inbox today. This is a far better place to stay while in Tennessee. If you really like it, it is for sale. I believe it is currently owned by Alan Jackson. I though I would post it here just cause it's in Tennessee where you're going, it came to my desk today, and it's a little fun to see.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1301-Moran-Rd-Franklin-TN-37069/2137540296_zpid/

Yes that is a beautiful house about 2 hours from Chattanooga.

 

[AnnMarie3]

We visit Chattanooga often. We like to stay at the Sheraton read house or one of the downtown hotels. We love the English rose tea room , sticky fingers, and cheeburger cheeburger. Also, the delta queen river boat is now a hotel on the river in Chattanooga . Have fun!

 

[jdkk424]

Thanks for all aof the wonderful ideas and places to stay. I am now more excited about our Chattanooga trip.

 

[crazelion]

You forgetting about Minior League Baseball team Chattanooga Lookouts at ATT Field. We is afficate LA Dodgers now.

I have agree Choo Choo is in bad part town too. The Marriott at the Convention Center is in projects

Also do forget Riverbend Festival that happen in June. A nine day music festival.

 

[merekc]

Sticky Fingers BBQ. I'm from KC so we never eat BBQ on vacation because we have the best at home, however, we go out of our way to hit Sticky Fingers when in the area.