Heading to Chattanooga

LoriAnn

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Joined
Oct 9, 2015
We'll be there sometime in mid-May. :dance:

We're actually doing homework on the area to see if it's a good match for a future move. We fell in love with Tennessee and Alabama several years ago and earmarked both as possible new home states once our younger one was out of high school. Now that she's in her Junior year ~ and Tom still refuses to move to England, Wales, or Scotland (boo!) ~ it's time to do some serious investigation.

Of course there's no way I'm missing out on some CW sites. Lookout Mountain is on the list, and I'll be researching the whole area over the next couple of weeks. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them.
 
If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them.

Awesome! We just spent a few days there and loved it. Have you picked a place to stay during your visit? We stayed at the Chanticleer Inn (a B&B) on top of Lookout Mountain. It was awesome. Check their website. It's a beautiful spot and the owners are very nice. Chattanooga is full of "touristy" sites (Rock City, Ruby Falls (they really are beautiful) and the Incline. We have done them all in years past (don't laugh) and we enjoyed them for what they are. On this trip we focused on Point Park (very near the Chanticleer Inn) and the Tennesee Valley Railroad (my hubby loves trains as much as I love General Longstreet). The train museum and train ride are awesome if you are interested in that mode of transportation. I can send you more info. if you're interested. We discovered three restaurants that we really liked on this recent trip - 1885 Coastal Grill (located at the foot of the incline - sit outside), Blue Orleans (we love Cajun food and this place is authentic - the owner and his family relocated from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina) and Back Inn Cafe (located in the Bluffs Art District). Back Inn Cafe is a must my friend! Make a reservation and request a table with a view. This place has an amazing view of the Tennessee River! It's a little pricey (you don't need to dress up), but sooo worth it. Make time to walk around the Bluffs Art District. They have lots of interesting sculptures and be sure to walk across the pedestrian bridge. It can't be missed. The view is incredible and so is the path to get there. Lastly, make sure you view the city at night from the top of Lookout Mountain. Point Park closes at dusk, but there are plenty of places to pull over nearby and marvel at the view. Don't hesitate to PM me if you want more information (addresses, etc.) I'm happy to share. Downtown Chattanooga has really improved since our last visit about 20 years ago. It's cleaner and looks a lot more loved.
 
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We'll be there sometime in mid-May. :dance:

We're actually doing homework on the area to see if it's a good match for a future move. We fell in love with Tennessee and Alabama several years ago and earmarked both as possible new home states once our younger one was out of high school. Now that she's in her Junior year ~ and Tom still refuses to move to England, Wales, or Scotland (boo!) ~ it's time to do some serious investigation.

Of course there's no way I'm missing out on some CW sites. Lookout Mountain is on the list, and I'll be researching the whole area over the next couple of weeks. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them.
Chattanooga National Cemetery, Chattanooga Confederate Cemetery and Silverdale Confederate Cemetery are there.
 
Awesome! We just spent a few days there and loved it. Have you picked a place to stay during your visit? We stayed at the Chanticleer Inn (a B&B) on top of Lookout Mountain. It was awesome. Check their website. It's a beautiful spot and the owners are very nice. Chattanooga is full of "touristy" sites (Rock City, Ruby Falls (they really are beautiful) and the Incline. We have done them all in years past (don't laugh) and we enjoyed them for what they are. On this trip we focused on Point Park (very near the Chanticleer Inn) and the Tennesee Valley Railroad (my hubby loves trains as much as I love General Longstreet). The train museum and train ride are awesome if you are interested in that mode of transportation. I can send you more info. if you're interested. We discovered three restaurants that we really liked on this recent trip - 1885 Coastal Grill (located at the foot of the incline - sit outside), Blue Orleans (we love Cajun food and this place is authentic - the owner and his family relocated from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina) and Back Inn Cafe (located in the Bluffs Art District). Back Inn Cafe is a must my friend! Make a reservation and request a table with a view. This place has an amazing view of the Tennessee River! It's a little pricey (you don't need to dress up), but sooo worth it. Make time to walk around the Bluffs Art District. They have lots of interesting sculptures and be sure to walk across the pedestrian bridge. It can't be missed. The view is incredible and so is the path to get there. Lastly, make sure you view the city at night from the top of Lookout Mountain. Point Park closes at dusk, but there are plenty of places to pull over nearby and marvel at the view. Don't hesitate to PM me if you want more information (addresses, etc.) I'm happy to share. Downtown Chattanooga has really improved since our last visit about 20 years ago. It's cleaner and looks a lot more loved.
Eleanor, thank you! To quote my husband, "You're a doll!" :smile: (And he doesn't say that about just anyone.)
 
Chattanooga National Cemetery, Chattanooga Confederate Cemetery and Silverdale Confederate Cemetery are there.
Thank you! I was going through previous posts regarding your travels and found them very helpful as well. :thumbsup:
 
Remember 10 miles south of Chattanooga is Chickamauga which is another story by itself.then you all of North Georgia to explore.
If you are thinking about a move take a little trip east and go visit Pigeon Forge and Gattlinburg,as then you will be in the Smokies.great places to clear your head and relax and just meditate.
In Chattanooga Rock City is pure tourist trap.Ruby Falls is A must as you will never see a large waterfall in the middle of a mountain.IIRC it wasn't discovered until about 1917,but i'm not sure.
 
Remember 10 miles south of Chattanooga is Chickamauga which is another story by itself.then you all of North Georgia to explore.
If you are thinking about a move take a little trip east and go visit Pigeon Forge and Gattlinburg,as then you will be in the Smokies.great places to clear your head and relax and just meditate.
In Chattanooga Rock City is pure tourist trap.Ruby Falls is A must as you will never see a large waterfall in the middle of a mountain.IIRC it wasn't discovered until about 1917,but i'm not sure.

Hi friend! I was so happy to see your post! You're absolutely right about the Great Smokies. A lot of folks don't think we have "real" mountains on the east coast. A trip here changes a lot of minds. The mountains in NC, Tennessee, WV and VA are especially beautiful and impressive. Hope you're doing well! :smile:
 
Thank you, Nitrofd!

Remember 10 miles south of Chattanooga is Chickamauga...
Yes! :smile: That is on my homework list.

If you are thinking about a move take a little trip east and go visit Pigeon Forge and Gattlinburg,as then you will be in the Smokies.great places to clear your head and relax and just meditate.
I have heard these two mentioned before, and they are on the radar for possible future visits.

This is going to be an interesting trip, as it's the first time we are heading out to seriously scout an area. I'm a little nervous actually! It makes the idea of a real move more of a reality for me. I've never lived anywhere but Illinois. :unsure:
 
This is going to be an interesting trip, as it's the first time we are heading out to seriously scout an area. I'm a little nervous actually! It makes the idea of a real move more of a reality for me. I've never lived anywhere but Illinois. :unsure:

This is so exciting for you! I have always lived in NC (no real desire to move), but often times have thought about what it would be like to live someplace we were visiting. My husband always reminds me that we wouldn't be living on a vacation budget if we moved there so that usually brings me back to reality pretty fast. Please keep us posted!
 
Well, after browsing Chanticleer Inn's website, if I ever run away and head South, you guys will know where to find me. :cloud9:
 
My husband always reminds me that we wouldn't be living on a vacation budget if we moved there so that usually brings me back to reality pretty fast.
Ha. We've had that discussion too! Usually it's about a beach house on the Gulf Coast. (We conveniently forget about hurricanes and mega-hot summers.)

Please keep us posted!
I will. I'm sure I will record some silliness about it at least. How could I not, especially for family back home? I will be a total fish out of water, and hilarity is likely to ensue.

"Day 5 ~ Cat Head biscuits don't actually involve cats."
 
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If your in Gatlinburg there is an interesting trip you can take and that is take the main road south out of Gatlinburg (U.S441) and you go 13miles up the mountain to a great view and then continue 13 miles down the mountain and you are in Cherokee,N.C..great outlet store there for bedding,quilts and comforters and of course you have Harrah's casino to loose your money.
 
We'll be there sometime in mid-May. :dance:

We're actually doing homework on the area to see if it's a good match for a future move. We fell in love with Tennessee and Alabama several years ago and earmarked both as possible new home states once our younger one was out of high school. Now that she's in her Junior year ~ and Tom still refuses to move to England, Wales, or Scotland (boo!) ~ it's time to do some serious investigation.

Of course there's no way I'm missing out on some CW sites. Lookout Mountain is on the list, and I'll be researching the whole area over the next couple of weeks. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them.
Check out this link. This should give you enough ideas to make your head spin. :spin:

http://www.civilwaralbum.com/chattanooga/index.htm
 
Thank you! I was going through previous posts regarding your travels and found them very helpful as well. :thumbsup:
If you saw my thread about Chattanooga and Chickamauga then you might've seen my posts about Tunnel Hill,GA. It is only 25 miles from Chattanooga. The website is not updated but there is still some good information there.

http://www.battleoftunnelhill.com/our-foundation.html

Edit to add: It's a really neat place too. The foundation that preserved it has done a great job. It is one of those CW sites that came very close to being lost to neglect,indifference and modern development. Ask for Ken Sumner if you go and tell him a member of Hood's Texas Brigade Association Re-activated recommended him.
 
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You find the neatest sources @bdtex! We already decided we had to visit the Chattanooga area again sooner rather than later. After going through these sites I'll be planning our next trip way sooner than my husband expected. I'd love to go rafting on the Ocoee River, but I'm a total klutz (just being honest) so I would probably fall out of the raft before we even got started. Of course @LoriAnn would get a kick out of the pictures! :rofl:
 
That's a place that remains on my 'to do' list, but for some reason we're never close by. I have a pretty good idea (thanks to Dave Powell's books) of where my great-great-grandfather was at Chickamauga and Chattanooga, and would like to walk at least part of it out (easier at Chick than in Chatt, since the area of Missionary Ridge appears to be rather built-up). Some day!
 
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