Chattanooga Steams Ahead

Have you ever traveled to Florida by car and thought of somewhere in Tennessee as a halfway stopping point?

Chattanooga might come to mind. But this fun, family-oriented destination is not just a rest stop---it's an up and coming travel spot situated on the banks of the Tennessee River.

Visitors to Chattanooga make their way along the winding Tennesee Riverwalk. In top photo, the Walnut Street Bridge spans the Tennessee River. (Photo by Tennessee State Photo Services)

Staying at the Choo-Choo, which is a Holiday Inn, was unique. It's a great place for railroad buffs and families with kids too, because what kid doesn't love trains? The Choo-Choo lobby is the former Grand Central Station in Chattanooga. When you exit the lobby to the rear, you enter the former train platform area. Trains, once passenger cars, are now hotel rooms or suites that are permanently situated on railroad tracks heading into the station. These former passenger train cars don't clickity-clack on the rails anymore, but you get the feel of traveling by train rather luxuriously. For anyone who has traveled overnight by coach, well it's fun for a short time, but sleeping in a bed on a train is much more comfortable and appealing.

At the Choo-Choo, there is a restaurant named the Station House. It was once a baggage/package holding area. It's a fun and very lively place. The entertainment is really special because it is the wait staff who sing on stage in between serving customers. Waiters and waitresses run up and get in line for their turn on stage. All of the staff are very enthusiastic and seem to enjoy the work---which comes across to the audience. The Station House band is excellent and can play anything requested. The wait staff is very talented. I think quite a few in our group were very taken with Barry, one of our waiters the first night we ate at this Choo-Choo restaurant. He has a wonderful voice and personality to match. It was enjoyed by all.

Arriving at Chattanooga Regional Airport via US Airways from Chicago by way of Charlotte, NC was a pleasant experience, especially because of being accustomed to the enormity of O'Hare or other international airports. Its aesthetically pleasing main lobby is styled as a rotunda that is reminiscent of a railroad's "Grand Central station," A major railroad hub at one time this south Tennessee city has built on its railroad history architecturally, culturally and for entertainment.

Some travel writers in our group were guests at The Chattanoogan, a sparkling new city resort and conference center whose elegant lobby area is striking with its use of metal wood incorporating the railroad history of Chattanooga. The natural features of wrought iron, wood, stone flooring and earth tone colors make this setting a very warm and inviting scene.

In keeping with the city's history, back in the mid-1980s there began a commitment by its citizens to reconnect with the Tennessee River. They call it "returning to the river," which is now part of the 21st Century Waterfront Plan. Through public/private partnerships, this riverfront redevelopment is moving towards completion of this dream in May 2005. Three private institutions, the Tennessee Aquarium, the Hunter Museum of American Art and Creative Discovery Museum are the connecting entities for "returning to the river." Because of so much to do and so little time, the only attraction of these three I visited was the Tennessee Aquarium. We saw some creatures I had never set eyes on before such as the Leafy Seadragon in the intriguing Seahorse Exhibit. This fish‹and it is a fish complete with gills and fins‹has appendages growing from its body that resemble seaweed, obviously enabling it to adapt to its environment, hence the name Leafy Seadragon.

Another "must see" in this area of Tennessee is Rock City, founded in 1932 by Garnet and Frieda Carter located atop Lookout Mountain and only six miles from downtown Chattanooga. Traveling down the highways of America most people have probably seen barns with "Rock City" painted on their roofs. I know I've seen them on roads trips I've taken, but really had no idea of what Rock City was. I was really awed by this beautiful place, which I had expected to be "touristy" with signs and such. But this was not the case.

Walking a flagstone path called "The Enchanted Trail" we were amazed by geologic rock formations estimated to be 200 million years old, caves and beautiful gardens. From Lover's Leap to Fat Man's Squeeze, Rock City is a very charming spot to visit. At a point 1700 feet above sea level we were treated to a panoramic view of seven states. On the 4100-foot trail, one has a choice to make of which of two bridges to cross‹a swinging rope bridge appropriately called "Swing-A-Long" or a rock-solid "Stone Bridge". Some of us braver souls chose to traverse "Swing-A-Long" which was made a little more interesting (i.e., scarier) by some 10 to 12-year-olds behind us who were having a lot of fun jumping and making the bridge swing a little too much‹for me at least. But we made it across.

Chattanooga is an up and coming travel destination and there are many more places of interest to include, such as the Horsin' Around Carving School. This school is a passion of Bud Ellis', the owner, whose mother taught him to carve out of wood as a young boy. People from all walks of life that have never carved before come to this school. They don't just whittle; They actually learn, under Bud's watchful eyes, to chisel away at a blank piece of wood and slowly produce their own piece of art‹their own carousel animal.

Bud was instrumental in restoring an antique carousel for Chattanooga from an old Dentzel found by a friend in Atlanta neglected and missing its animals. He and his students carved 52 animals at the Horsin' Around Carving School to bring this carousel to Coolidge Park on the north side of the Tennessee River. It was a daunting challenge and after many setbacks, it became a reality.

Chattanooga is a destination of its own. It was enjoyable and a place I would go back to. I would like to return when the Riverfront is complete next year. It's definitely a place to visit.

For more info visit www.chattanoogafun.com and or call 800-322-3344.

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