We recently traveled to Chattanooga, Tennessee, for a short vacay to celebrate my birthday. Chattanooga is one of our favorite cities in the South! It’s actually the only relatively large city I have ever actually considered moving to, and coming from someone who loves Georgia with a passion, this is a huge admission.
Located in the southeastern corner of Tennessee, Chattanooga is known as the Scenic City, and this nickname is definitely earned! Chattanooga is surrounded by the foothills of the Smoky Mountains and the Tennessee river winds its way through the heart of the city.
With a lively downtown, a blooming food scene, and loaded with natural beauty, Chattanooga should be on your bucket list for a fun weekend getaway. Everyone can find something fun to do in Chattanooga, making it an ideal destination for a relaxing couple’s weekend, road trip with friends or family vacation.
It would be impossible to do and see and eat everything in Chattanooga in a couple of days, so we will definitely be going back! Here are a few highlights of our trip and some recommendations when you get the chance to visit:
EAT + DRINK CHATTANOOGA
- We enjoyed brunch on the first day at Southside Social. A combination bar/game room/bowling alley/restaurant, this is the place for you if you like having your food and drink with a side of games. You can sit and enjoy some American fare, like we did, or just order some drinks and line up for horseshoes, bowling, cornhole, giant Jenga, ping pong, pool and more. We had the shrimp & grits with a side of French toast and a couple of cocktails, and our selections were very satisfying.
We had dinner at the Old Gilman Grill our first night, and were both pleasantly surprised at both the food and the atmosphere. Don’t let the term “grill” fool you – this is not a greasy burger joint. Housed in the building of an old paint and varnish store, this restaurant offers “upscale American dining with a French twist.” It absolutely made my birthday dinner very special: everything from the ambiance + service to the food + drink was fantastic. Highly recommend adding this to your list for dinner plans one night.
- If you enjoy Italian food, you will love Tony’s Pasta & Trattoria. They serve traditional dishes of house-made pasta made with ingredients from the restaurant’s own garden. We had a delightful lunch of fried cheese ravioli and seafood ravioli in a dill cream sauce. Everything was delicious!
Mayan Kitchen Latin Cuisine has quickly become one of our favorite spots to grab dinner in Chattanooga. We love their selection of authentic Latin tapas dishes and fun variety of cocktails. They offer an extensive menu and everything we’ve tried has been very good so far.
- We enjoyed late-night drinks at the Read House Hotel’s Bar & Billiards Room. You can order handcrafted cocktails and seasonal drinks to enjoy in luxurious comfort. Servers are dressed in 1920’s clothing and the ambiance make you feel as though you are in a Prohibition-era speakeasy. It was perfect for sipping and conversation while people watching.
- On our last day, we grabbed breakfast at Maple Street Biscuit Company, which we both loved – the coffee + food were hot and plentiful. We ordered the Extra Risky Biscuit (flaky biscuit covered in house-made sausage gravy with a kick and an over-easy egg) and the Bam! waffle ( house-made vanilla waffle with asiago cheese and pecanwood smoked bacon baked in, topped with honey butter and maple syrup). Both were very good and we were ridiculously stuffed when we left.
EXPLORE CHATTANOOGA
- We hit the Chattanooga Market as soon as we arrived. If you are in Chattanooga on a Sunday, this is a must-do in our opinion! An open-air market venue, this place has a little of everything. You can browse a variety of merchants’ stalls, from farm-fresh veggies and flowers to handmade utensils, trinkets and snacks. Stroll around and enjoy live music while you shop. You can get a taste of the city’s best eats from on-site food trucks.
- Meander Around the Bluff View Art District – This historic neighborhood is a short stroll from the Riverwalk, but a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Enjoy the unusual art that dots the walkways and visit the Art Museum. There is also a sculpture garden you can walk through that gives you the most amazing view of the Tennessee River.
- Visit the Tennessee Aquarium – We didn’t visit the Aquarium on this trip, but it’s definitely worth seeing! Named as one of the best aquariums in America, it has two buildings, so you can experience the River Journey and the Ocean Journey. Definitely going on our next trip for sure!
- Ride the River – Chattanooga prides itself on its beautiful Tennessee river, and what better way to see it up close and personal than a river cruise on the Southern Belle Riverboat! You can check out the sights and sounds of both sides of the city on a sightseeing, sunset or dinner cruise.
- Stroll along the Walnut Street bridge – This pedestrian walking bridge is a pretty little spot to stroll across the river and visit the shops and eateries of Chattanooga’s NorthShore.
- Before we left to return home, we wanted to ride the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. Over 125 years old, the railway is around one mile long and is the world’s steepest, going straight up the side of the mountain! There are several opportunities to take in the beautiful views from one of the many vantage points at the top.
SHOP CHATTANOOGA
- Located in downtown Chattanooga, Warehouse Row began as a Civil War fort in 1864 and is now an eclectic gathering of upscale shops. The building itself is fun to explore, as it retains its unique historic design while embracing a new identity as a growing commerce venue.
- As Chattanooga is the birthplace of the iconic MoonPie, we had to visit the MoonPie General Store downtown. We had a good time browsing through toys, gifts, souvenirs and every flavor MoonPie you could want!
- We shopped for one of my favorite things in the whole world – chocolate! – at Rembrandt’s Coffee House in the Art District. The handmade truffles are delish – we especially enjoyed the chocolate cup filled with espresso cream.
Chattanooga will always be a city we love to visit, and we are looking forward to our next trip. It’s truly a unique and beautiful town, and there is always something fun to do, whether it’s experiencing the scenic outdoorsy scene or enjoying the downtown vibe. Be on the lookout for a Wanderlands Chattanooga travel guide soon!
P.S. We stayed at the famous Read House Hotel, which is so fabulous, it deserves its own feature on the blog. You can read about our stay in this historic hotel here!
For more details about all that Chattanooga has to offer, check out Visit Chattanooga.
What do you think of Chattanooga, Tennessee? Tell me about your visit in the comments!
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