Chattanooga, Tennessee
A few weeks before leaving for our winter trip, we decided to make one of our stopping points Chattanooga, Tennessee. Our hotel there was The Moxy which is one of Marriott’s “boutique” hotels. The feel is kind of European with a touch of casual fun. You actually check into the hotel at the bar and then they give you a free cocktail! Right up our alley! The lobby consists of several soft seating areas, a shuffleboard table, darts and other games and then leads to a large outdoor area with fire pits, comfy seating, bag games, etc. Also in the lobby is an electronic notice board which switches every few minutes to a new saying which was lighthearted with a touch of humor and inspiration. The rooms definitely had a European feel and were very efficiently set up. We loved the pegs that went down the whole wall where you could hang coats, clothes, bags, etc. There were small tables to set up if you wished, for luggage or storage. We just loved the whole feel of the hotel and would strongly recommend it. The location was ideal as it was within walking distance to all the fun restaurants and other sites
(see our dining page for reviews of where we ate).
Our first sightseeing adventure was Ruby Falls, named after its discoverer Leo Lambert’s wife Ruby. It is the nation’s tallest and deepest underground waterfall. We did the cave tour which took you 260 feet down into the cavern and then you walked through to get to the falls. The pathway was beautifully lit with lots of names for particular stalactites formations. The lighting for the falls changed periodically to give a spectacular view. After the tour you can take an outdoor stairway to a viewing platform which gives you a beautiful view of the Tennessee River and the City of Chattanooga.
The next morning we drove back to see Rock City. This is on the other side of Lookout Mountain from Ruby Falls. You stroll through a 4,100 foot trail which consists of gardens, rock formations, waterfalls, and a rock bridge which takes you to a lookout point where you can see 7 states on a clear day. We were one of the first reservations for the day and felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. At the end of the trail you come to the Fairyland Caverns which would definitely please the youngsters, but we enjoyed it as well. The first portion depicted Fairy Tales and the other portion illustrated Nursery Rhymes, all in a blacklight setting with glow in the dark paint. This whole attraction was kind of an unexpected experience which we thoroughly enjoyed. For both attractions (Ruby Falls and Rock City) we would recommend buying your tickets online and as we always recommend - the earlier in the day is usually better - but that’s just our mojo.
We also visited a few other places which were right by our hotel, Two of which had items which we felt compelled to purchase and enjoyed thoroughly - Chattanooga Whiskey where we purchased 2 different versions of their products, (the 111 and the 91), and The Hot Chocolatier where a box of chocolates barely made it through the next day. The Hot Chocolatier also has several hot cocoas, coffee drinks, pastries and desserts, and was a quaint little shop worth a stop.
Renting bikes is something we try to do on almost any trip. This lets you see more than you could on foot or in a car, and plus gives you a little exercise as well. We rented bikes and rode a nice paved trail along the Tennessee River with the city on our other side. Although we didn’t try them this time, they did have power assist bikes available which on a hilly ride might be helpful. Either way we enjoyed riding into the downtown area and back.
Next, on to Savannah, Georgia.
