Visiting Chattanooga for a few days (Signal Mountain, Lafayette: homes, theater, homeschool)

[UnschoolerinCT]

Hello,

We live in CT and are coming down to Chattanooga for a few days to experience the city. My husband is coming on business and the kids and I are tagging along. I have seen pictures of Chattanooga online and it looks like a beautiful city. I would appreciate some tips from the locals on must see places for a homeschool mom adventuring with an 11 year old boy and an 8 year old girl. We love the outdoors and don't want to go to the tourist areas. Also, some tips on local restaurants where the locals eat would definitely be appreciated. A good margarita joint would be helpful too.

[u4icmusic]

The Tennessee aquarium and Rock City are must sees. Also dinner at the Chattanooga Choo Choo is great fun. The waitstaff get on stage with a band and sing in between serving their tables. The restaurant is called the station house. We also have a childrens' Discovery museum and an Imax theater near the aquarium that are rather nice.

[Grizzlybear34]

Also, try a search for restaurants on this message forum. There are a lot of threads about restaurants, something for everyone. Here's one to get you started.

//www.city-data.com/forum/chatt...attanooga.html

[sahmommie]

The restaurant selections linked to in the previous post are excellent. Makes me want some Shufords!

As far as things to do, there are plenty of hiking trails on Signal Mtn that are amazingly gorgeous. Most of them overlook the TN river at some point, and many have their own waterfalls as well.

If the Civil War interests you at all, there was a significant battle fought in Chattanooga, so there are all sorts of markers all over town, as well as parks and old forts on Signal and Lookout Mtn. If I were you, I would see Rock City, even though it's technically a tourist attraction, but there's nothing that matches it in the country.

[chattavegas]

As for a margarita joint, it depends on where you are staying. If you are downtown, then venture across the river on Hixson Pike a little ways to Las Margaritas. If you are out near the mall, then try Cancun on Shallowford road. Cancun has great fajitas too.

As for sightseeing a little off the beaten path, the Chickamauga battlefield is about 20 minutes out of town and is great for biking and learning about the revolutionary war. For hiking, try Cloudland Canyon, which is close to an hour away. Back in town, Lookout and Signal Mountain each have good hiking trails.

[BlueCuzco]

There aren't really "tourist areas" in Chattanooga, per se. There are places that tourists go, but locals go to the same places just as often. The only places that's pretty squarely a solely tourist attraction is Ruby Falls.

There are many, many nature preserves to see: Chattanooga National Park on Lookout Mountain, Lula Lake Land Trust, Cloudland Canyon State Park, the Tennessee River Gorge, the Tennessee Riverwalk, Audubon Acres, Elsie A. Holmes, Reflection Riding Arboretum, and the Chattanooga Nature Center. Yup no shortage there. I agree that the riverfront and Tennessee Aquarium are must sees, as well as the free or nearly free sites on the top of Lookout Mountain: Sunset Rock, Point Park, and the Natural Rock Bridge.

A whole day could be spent running through all the sites involved in the Civil War. Look at these two links:
from:1 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN 37402 (Tennessee Aquarium) to:Lightfoot Mill Rd to:S Crest Rd to:GA-1/Lafayette Rd/US-27 to:GA-2 to:N Bragg Ave to:W Brow Rd to:E Brow Rd to:Hardy Trail to:Old Wauhatchie Pike/TN-318 to:35.019945,-85.338106 to:1 Broad (http://tinyurl.com/cyobht - broken link)
Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park map

[jkmewright]

Try Snooper's Rock in the Prentiss Cooper Park (backside of Signal Mtn). Beautiful view in the woods. Maybe a bit of hiking too!

Snoopers Rock - Scenic Overlooks on Waymarking.com

Mullins Cove Loop Dayhike

There's a ranger station there so if you need directions or anything you should be ok. Hope you all have fun!

When are ya'll going to be here? If it's warm enough we also have a pocket wilderness with some good swimming holes you can EASILY hike to.

http://www.outdoorchattanooga.com/497.htm

[Jon F Moss]

I was up at Prentice Cooper over the weekend for the River Gorge Trail Race - it was some good wet muddy fun!!!

[MountainAire]

I just have to ask what city you are from?