Chattanooga, TN - worth a visit?
 

This month's Budget Travel magazine has an article featuring Chattanooga, TN. It sounds like a charming place. I had never heard of it before and wondered if people would recommend a visit there. Thanks in advance.

Lisa,
I live in Atlanta, 2 hr.drive from Chattanooga and consider it a good overnight trip. My husband lived there for a couple of years and loves it there and could spend way more in his old stomping grounds than me.

There's a good aquarium, minor league baseball, a cute downtown w/some galleries and good (not great) restaurants. There's also some touristy stuff like the Chattanooga Choo Choo which I've never done and Lookout Mtn. If you like hiking, there are trails for you...

Would I spend money on a plane ticket to go there?--maybe for some super cheap deal but I wouldn't break the bank to visit.

OWJ

If you are doing a tour of the old south its worth a night or two. The aquarium is world class and Lookout Mountain provides great views. Lots of Civil War history in the area. As above poster said, the restaurants are ok, not great.

I like Chattanooga a lot because it's become much more tourist friendly without being overboard. The aquarium has improved its exhibits over the year. The one on seahorses a few years ago was really top notch. The Children's Discovery Museum is also great.

The city has a very pedestrian friendly street system and a free electric trolley. You can walk over the pedestrian bridge to the park and watch the scullers rowing on the river.

A visit to Lookout Mountain is always nice and a good history lesson. The view is lovely.

Two restaurants that I like there are Lupi's Pizza Pies and Sticky Fingers, which has great barbecue. They're on the same street. If it is raining, you can duck into the huge used bookstore between them and lose a few hours. I love that place!

When my husband and I were engaged and he was in Nashville (me still living in Georgia), we would meet halfway in Chattanooga and walk by the river, enjoying an ice cream cone. So I have some sweet memories of the place.

My DH give Lupi's a big thumbs up... Soo why didn't he ever take me there? Tortilla Factory is a good place for drinks on their rooftop. It's more upscale Mexian food...

We spent two nights in Chattanooga on our way to Nashville from VA two years ago. I thought it was a very family friendly town. We stayed at the Hilton Garden inn and went to the AAA baseball game one of the nights(the stadium is right behind this hotel). We had an easy walk to the Aquarium and we went to the movies across the street one night. We went to look out mountain. It had a nice view. If I were traveling through TN, it is a nice stop. Nashville was more lively fun. Knoxville was very quiet. We only slept there.
If you have boys into trains, it is a great town (Chattanooga). We have girls. They were unimpressed by the train theme.LOL.

Thank-you for your responses. I get down to Asheville about twice a year and I think I'll try to make this into a side-trip next time.

Lisatravels, to reinforce your decision, my daughter and son-in-law moved from DC to Chattanooga in March---have been there a few times since and am there now. While I found it to be much, much better than I anticipated initially (and they are finding it a plesant surprise in terms of living there), I wouldn't rank it a prime destination. Worthy of a detour, sure, but not as a prime attraction. That said, the aquarium is excellent, there's a good children's hands-on museum, the new art museum above the river is plesant. Ruby Falls and Lookout Mt are very touristy but the area is pretty. What's most impressive also, is the outstanding job Chattanooga has done in re-inventing itself and developing so many areas. The fact that it also has a college population adds a vibrancy.

I visit Aquariums throughout the country and the Chattanooga one is my fave. Love it! Enjoyed downtown; people and user friendly. Loved walking by the river. It just gave me a cozy, down-home feel. If you want to get away and see something different, I suggest it.
We drove from Knoxville there and got caught up in some heavy traffic about 30 minutes prior, but other than that, it was smooth sailing for us. Good luck and enjoy, lisatravels.