Chattanooga, TN
Let's talk about one of my favorite cities: Chattanooga, Tennessee. Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, this city is a dream come true to any nature lover out there. From hiking to biking to camping and more, this city has a plethora of options for you and your family to choose from.
As you arrive into Chattanooga, you will see the most spectacular views of the city below. Surrounded by mountains and built alongside the Tennessee River, this city is gorgeous. Now this town caters to outdoor life for sure but don't forget about the city life. Chattanooga has some of the best foodie spots, attractions, and nightlife. There are bars of all flavors and plenty of family restaurants to choose from.
Now let me go on a foodie tangent for a moment. If I had to recommend my top two favorites it would be: Tony’s Pasta Shop & Trattoria and the City Diner. First up is Tony’s, my top choice. We first stumbled upon this heavenly place after hiking all day, exhausted and hungry. Needless to say this Italian restaurant is incredible. From the service to the sauce, I love it. An added bonus is the surrounding area of this restaurant. I would recommend after finishing your meal to go next door and visit Rembrandt’s Coffee House for some dessert. Pick up that slice of cake or cup of coffee before walking around to explore. Pushing past the parking lots, you will see that art plays a huge part in this section of Chattanooga. There are sculptures, paintings, and even an art park overlooking the scenic river. This area screams tranquility plus it is nice to walk off all that amazing food you just shoveled down. Although this place isn't in the downtown square, it is well worth the visit. For more information please refer to here.
My second choice is the one, the only, City Diner! Located in the downtown Chattanooga area, this restaurant is a great option to walk to. If you are looking for some good ole diner food then look no further. I'm talking burgers, fries, the whole nine. Now the reason, at least to me, why this place is a hidden gem is their dessert menu. OHHHH THE DESSERTS HERE PEOPLE! No, I am not going to break down the whole menu but trust me, visit. If you're not convinced, let me explain. I would drive to this city with the sole purpose of obtaining a slice of their cake and I mean that. Specifically their strawberry cake, oh...my...god. You don't have to take my word for it, refer to their website here for more info and decide for yourself.
Enough about food, let's talk about the attractions. As I mentioned before, this city is a haven for campers and hikers alike. What I have yet to mention is that there are several attractions for a fun family and adventure day. Let's begin with the biggest one: the Tennessee Aquarium. Like many of you I love animals of all kinds so this was a place I had on my list to go visit. From otters to sharks to monkeys and more, this aquarium is amazing. There are tons of viewing areas, a touch pool, and a cute gift shop all awaiting you and your fam at this attraction. I've visited twice and each time I have enjoyed myself.
Chattanooga has so many options for things to do that there is something for everyone. Other attractions might include: museums, breweries, and plenty of walking tours. The only question is what should you choose to do? For more information on things to do, refer to here.
On average I usually make the trip to Chattanooga about once a month. I love the variety of hiking options there are as well as ending with some amazing food is an added bonus. If you are ever in the area be sure to plan on spending a day exploring what the city has to offer!