Chattanooga, TN &
Lookout Mountain, GA
Mayor’s Mansion Inn, Chattanooga, TN
Getting Around
Chattanooga is
about a two-hour drive from Atlanta,
Georgia, Birmingham, Alabama, and Nashville
and Knoxville, Tennessee. It’s bordered by
the Tennessee River, Missionary Ridge, and
Lookout Mountain, Georgia. You can get
around town easily via the free
electric shuttle busses, which run about
every five minutes daily, and connects the
Aquarium to the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
When to Go
Summers can be warm, with humid weather and
daytime temperatures in the 80s and making
spring and fall the nicest times to visit.
Civil War buffs may prefer to visit in June,
July, or August, when park rangers lead
battlefield tours.
Sights & Activities
Since
its days as a gritty industrial and railroad
center, Chattanooga has rediscovered the
beauty of its natural river and mountain
setting, and has complemented them with a
first-rate aquarium, renovated and expanded
art museum, restored historic neighborhoods
and riverfront areas, plus other natural and
manmade attractions, appealing to both
adults and families.
More info…
Boats, trains and more:
Children of all ages love the
Tennessee Aquarium, a dramatic modern
building overlooking the Tennessee River.
Water-lovers can follow up the experience
with a lazy ride on the
Southern Belle riverboat. Railfan? Be
sure to check out the
Tennessee Valley Railroad, and ride the
train to Missionary Ridge. Don’t miss a
stroll across the recently renovated
2,370-foot Walnut Street Bridge, “the
longest pedestrian walkway bridge in the
world.” The bridge connects the aquarium
and arts district on the south shore with
shops, restaurants, parks, and attractions
on the north side.
Arts
and music: The Bluff View Arts
District, with its dramatic river views,
sculpture garden, cafes and galleries is
ideal for strolling. Reopening April 23,
2005, after a
$19.5 million expansion and renovation, the
Hunter Museum of American Art has
one of the most important collections of
American art in the Southeast. Outdoor
concerts are frequent throughout the summer
months, highlighted by the mid-June
Riverbend Festival.
Lookout Mountain:
A short drive from downtown Chattanooga on
Lookout Mountain are three worthwhile
attractions:
Rock City, with dramatic views, a
swinging bridge, waterfall, and walking
trail;
Ruby Falls, a 145-foot waterfall inside
the mountain; and
the century-old
Incline Railway, the “steepest
passenger railway in the world.” Ask for a
combination ticket to save on admission
costs.
B&Bs and Inns
Chanticleer Inn, Lookout Mountain
Comprised of three restored historic homes,
the
Bluff View Inn has a great location in
the heart of the
Bluff View Art District, overlooking the
river.
The
Chanticleer Inn
enjoys a garden setting atop Lookout
Mountain. Constructed of mountain stone in
the 1930s, its charming rooms are decorated
in English country style.
Set among
beautiful gardens and pine trees, the
Garden Walk B&B Inn
is also located on Lookout Mountain. Each
of its eleven cottages has a different décor
and theme.
In the Fort Wood Historic District, and an
easy walk to UT Chattanooga, is the majestic
Mayor’s Mansion Inn a
13,000-square-foot home built in 1889.
Innkeepers Carmen and Gene Drake have
decorated each room with distinction, and
pamper their guests with chef-prepared
three-course breakfasts, evening turndown
service, and many other amenities.
Right in the heart of downtown is the
StoneFort Inn built as a hotel in 1909,
and recently renovated as a luxury boutique
property. Each guest room shows the flair of
a skilled designer, and the inn’s
restaurant, Nathan’s, is known for fine
dining.
More Georgia area inns….
More Tennessee area inns.... |
