Help with Chattanooga trip

[MelanieC]

Hey

I'm meeting my family in the Smoky Mountains for a week at a 5 bedroom cabin. We stayed there 2 years ago and had so much fun for 2 nights that we vowed to go back again.

So this year we are driving down 2 days early and planning to spend the first 2 nights before our cabin reservations in Chattanooga Tn.

At the moment we are staying at the Sheraton Read House Hotel. I like historic places and this looks pretty. The Holiday Inn Choo Choo sounds interesting and Unique, but I've read some scary reviews on this place. I am almost temped to stay there just for the uniqueness, but I'm a slight hotel snob. I have no trouble staying at the value resorts at Disney, but old musty rooms don't turn me on.


We plan on going over the 4th of July. So here are some questions for anyone who is in the know.


1. Does Chattanooga have any 4th of July celebrations?

2. Any hotels other than where I have reservations that would be better? We got a great rate here with a Military/Govt. rate.

3. Good places to eat?

4. We plan on going to Lookout Mtn (Ruby Falls, etc). What other sightseeing is there to do.


5. Any other hints or info would be great.


Thanks in advance.

 

[Robinrs]

My sister lives in Chattanooga and my parents lived there for 18 years before they died 5 years ago. I used to go up there every weekend to visit them. I wish I could help more but we rarely did the tourist stuff.

I've only gone to the Choo Choo for a family reunion in the conference room, I didn't stay at the hotel but those who did didn't have a lot of great opinions about it.

Lookout Mountain is nice on a nice weather day, Ruby Falls I found to be a major waste of time.

I hated the Aquarium,too but loved the Imax Theatre.

Food wise I only knew My MaMa's Kitchen... and I miss that...

Have fun!!

 

[olena]

Hey

I'm meeting my family in the Smokey Mountains for a week at a 5 bedroom cabin. We stayed there 2 years ago and had so much fun for 2 nights that we vowed to go back again.

So this year we are driving down 2 days early and planning to spend the first 2 nights before our cabin reservations in Chattanooga Tn.

At the moment we are staing at the Sheraton Read House Hotel. I like historic places and this looks pretty. The Holiday Inn Choo Choo sounds interesting and Unique, but I've read some scary reviews on this place. I am almost temped to stay there just for the uniqueness, but I'm a slight hotel snob. I have no trouble staying at the value resorts at Disney, but old musty rooms don't turn me on.


We plan on going over the 4th of July. So here are some questions for anyone who is in the know.


1. Does Chattanooga have any 4th of July celebrations?

2. Any hotels other than where I have reservations that would be better? We got a great rate here with a Military/Govt. rate.

3. Good places to eat?

4. We plan on going to Lookout Mtn (Ruby Falls, etc). What other sightseeing is there to do.


5. Any other hints or info would be great.


Thanks in advance.

Oh! If you stay at the Reed House, let me know how you like it. My sorority chapter just signed a contract to host our National Convention there next year. Our planners were bowled over by the staff and facilities. I hope it will be as wonderful as promised.

One restaurant that was recommended was Sticky Fingers Barbecue.

 

[Jaclynfett]

I hope you have an excellent trip!

We stayed at the Choo Choo 2 years ago (ok room, pretty garden area) and then a cabin in Benton.

Now we lived just outside the city in Ooltewah. Rock City is awesome and there are now 2 aquarium buildings in the downtown area, the newer one features penquins and a butterfly room, plus lots more.

No restaurant recommendations here, hopefully more people can answer that for you.

 

[agentpleakley]

I've never stayed in Chattanooga - but I've been through it. I would definitely see Rock City -- I've had a fascination with this place (I guess from all the bird houses) I will see Rock City someday. I'm on the other side of the state so can't help you other than to give you this link

http://www.tnvacation.com

send for a free Tennessee vacation guide -- they are great. Tennessee is a beautiful state (well, at least middle and east).

 

[clarabelle]

If you have small children -the Childrens museum is good. (I would say for the under 10 crowd)
Rock City is fun (in a touristy cheezy sort of way)

 

[okeydokey]

My husband was there on business. He LOVED the aquarium, was quite impressed actually.

 

[Soubrette]

Check the Southern Living website; in the last few years there have been some restaurant reviews from the Chatanooga area. If I remember correctly, the area around the aquarium has started to take off with lots of fun family activities and good restaurants.

It's a beautiful area; you might look into some canoe trips while you are there (or in the Smokey mtn area), if you're in to that sort of thing.

 

[CRPDISFANS]

The Reed House is nice and you should enjoy it, you can take a trolley down to the aquarium area. Good places to eat include, Sticky Fingers, Big River Grill and Brewing Company, several others in that area. Aquarium is great as is the Children's Mus. You can also walk over to the North Shore, via an old bridge that is now walkway. Over there is a great old carousel, interactive fountains and a very nice park. Also good places to eat, Terra Nostra (tapas), Clumpy's ice cream, Pisa Pizza, really a neat area. Over on the aquarium side (down the hill from it) is a neat area, and there is a good
Italian rest, but the name evades me. Hope this helps!

 

[crazelion]

Yes Chattanooga has 4th of July celebrations. They have fireworks in Coolage Park. On July 3rd Chattanooga Lookouts will have fireworks at the baseball game. I know that fact because I work there.


The Aquarium and IMAX theater is great. The new hotels are in this order Hilton Garden, Residence Inn by Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott the one that is across street from the IMAX. Another good area to stay is the Hamilton Place Mall area there is plenty of restaurants.

Place to wat downtown Big River Grille, Lupis, Cheeburger Cheeburger and Ben and Jerry's.

We have a new water park that is open in East Ridge, TN called Splash Valley Water Park that suppose open June.

 

[cabanafrau]

The Holiday Inn Express in Ringgold, GA is quite decent for the price. Includes their continental breakfast, comfy beds & the night manager is exceptionally nice.

Sticky Fingers BBQ on the outskirts of the Hamilton Place Mall is excellent. There is also a Greek restaurant along that section that is quite good. There is an authentic southern restaurant in Ringgold, immediately southeast across the street from the Holiday Inn Express called Aunt Effie's. It's not about ambiance, but is quite good & quite the experience. All the local folks eat there & it closes early, but we wouldn't miss it. Ringgold is either the first or second exit past Hamilton Place Mall -- I believe Rock City or Lookout Mountain are technically Ringgold, the border line gets quite confusing back in that area.

There is a duckboat tour downtown that looks very interesting. The new building in the aquarium is quite fun. The older building is only okay -- & gets warmer & warmer as you go up levels on hot summer days.

Ruby Falls is all right, as is the incline ride. Rock City was fascinating & very peaceful when we went back in the evening.

 

[okeydokey]

Are there any campgrounds that are especially close to Chattanooga. We usually try to stay at state or county parks but would look into private as well.

 

[CheshireVal]

We went to Chattanooga for a long weekend last year. Of course you have to do Ruby Falls and Rock City, even though they're both kind of cheesy and really not worth the money.

I think the Tennessee Aquarium is great-- I love it!

For restaurants, we loved the Boathouse Rotisserie and Raw Bar. It's right on the river and the food was fresh and delicious!

Oh yeah, one of the highlights for us was the duck boat tour.... again, cheesy, but fun and informative.

We stayed at Staybridge Suites downtown. Nice and clean and reasonably priced! The Choo-Choo was worth a visit, but the reviews scared us away, too.

 

[live4christp1]

Hey! Chattanoogan here! (well grew up right outside Chattanooga and still live in the same area). Feel free to PM me with any questions I might not answer here.

Chattanooga Choo-Choo - Okay to go do a walk through but we stayed there for a marriage retreat and the rooms are nothing special to write home about. The Station House may or may not be your cup of tea - singing waiters/waitresses while you eat. It's okay on rare occasion with friends for us.

If you will be here on July 3rd, there is an event called Pops in the Park. It is held at Coolidge Park (just across the river from the aquarium) and it's free. It will be a Thursday evening this year. We usually go down early in the day and claim a picnic table or shaded area. Great place to just have a nice family day. People bring chairs, blankets, etc. picnic baskets, food. There are water fountains and a carosel, lots of open space to play ball, etc. In the evening the Chattanooga Symphony plays and it all concludes in a big fireworks show over the river. We bring a ton of stuff to this and just make it a family and friends day at the park. DH and friends always get a football game going. Feel free to join us, we always bring extra.

Also check the Chattanooga Lookouts site if you like minor league baseball, they also do fireworks if playing a home game around the holiday.

Rock City is fun. Ruby Falls is okay if you like to say been there done that but not really worth the $$. The aquarium is great and they have also done a lot of work to our zoo and it's a nice little visit and really cheap admission. There is also the Hunter Museum of Art and the Incline Railway to mention a few.

Some of our favorite places to eat downtown are Sticky Fingers, Mellow Mushroom, Lupi's, The English Rose, Mom's Italian Villa.

www.chattanoogafun.com

Cristy

 

[live4christp1]

Are there any campgrounds that are especially close to Chattanooga. We usually try to stay at state or county parks but would look into private as well.

KOA Lookout Mtn West - nice, ran by some of our cub scout parents, our pack camps there frequently.

Shipp's RV and Campground - never camped here but been on the outskirts as they allow the BSA council to host a Twilight camp there in the summer. Looks nice.