Friday – Sunday, October 24-26

Chattanooga is a great city.  It is visitor friendly and boater friendly.  The docks are located right downtown, parking parallel on either concrete wall or floating docks.  Either is very nice, secure, although the concrete wall on the river walk is more public, which Tm enjoys cause of all the people who stop and talk.

Attractions

1.        The Aquarium – This modern facility was very well done.   It is divided into 2 buildings – freshwater and saltwater.  We visited both buildings over the course of a day, entering and leaving for breaks and lunch.  The saltwater building had a HUGE tank containing all the usual fish, as well as the Lookdown fish which Colletta caught in the intercoastal at Jupiter.  It had a butterfly room, macaws, and a tank to touch stingrays.  The freshwater building had otters playing, seahorse special exhibits and regional information.  The displays were very interesting and we could relate to them as many were about the Tennessee River and its ecosystems.



Side Note – The aquariums are glass structure with triangular roofs.  A tightrope walker had stretched cables between the outer peaks.  Friday and Saturday he made numerous attempts to walk across the tightropes – some successful and some, not so much.  His safety cable saved him many times.  It was an interesting sidebar to the fish.

If you look closely at the picture you will notice cables strung from the points of the Aquarium building. This is where the tight rope walker was crossing. He did the short one in the background much better then the long one in front. It seemed the long one had too much play in it.

 

This is the crazy guy himself. You just can't make this stuff up. People are crazy.

 

2.       Chattanooga Choo Choo – The Choo Choo was on the opposite end of town which gave us the opportunity to take the electric, free trolley. The trolley gave us a more complete view of the down town area.  The Choo Choo was at the depot which since has been converted into a hotel.  The train was out back, with dining cars and sleeping cars on display.  Some of the cars have been converted into Hotel suites for the overnight guests.  The grounds included a beautiful garden with roses and fountains.

The original Chattanooga Choo Choo

 

3.       North Shore – We took the bikes and rode across the Walnut Street Bridge which has been converted into a walking, bike bridge only.  It was up a very steep, hill and our legs got a workout in that ride.  The North shore is more trendy and gentrified. Nice parks on the riverfront, a bike path, cute shops, yogurt stops, fitness centers, a Whole foods, and restaurants.  We ate at Brewhaus and enjoyed brats, kraut, tator cakes, and red cabbage. (Cindy would have loved it)  Had lunch on Sunday at the River front deli, Tom loved his prouscett and fresh mozzarella sandwich with fig jam and a pickle.  This is also where we did some grocery shopping, but we bought at Publix.  On Saturday night there was a concert in the park, The Wood Brothers played.  A popular group by local standards, with groupies present.  We were somewhat mystified by the crowd, didn’t recognize any of their songs, and cannot even describe the genre – not country, maybe mountain twang.

4.       The town has created a bike path, up the nemesis of the hill, thru the Bluff district and along the riverfront.  It is well paved, has elevated bridges, and lookout stops along the way.  In the afternoon, much of it is shaded and makes for a pleasant ride.  It goes from Chattanooga to the Chickamauga Lock which makes the round trip about 15 miles.

 

Other Cool stuff in Chattanooga

1.        Tsaziazkis Greek restaurant – Went to this Mediterranean restaurant, looking for a lamb shank, no such luck.  Did find a great lamb gyro with skadalia garlic sauce, Yum.  The house special salad was also delicious.  The waitress stopped by our table to showcase the menu fare that they were serving to other customers.  Lots of good looking food.

2.       World of Beer – where to begin – 600 good reasons to stop here – 50 draft beers, a 25 foot cooler of imported bottle beers and a 25 foot cooler of beers from the US and Tennessee.  We squeezed in and found a seat at the bar, enjoyed part of the World Series game and enjoyed 4 local brews.  Left after the band was playing the Eagles.

Besides an identical cooler at the other end of the bar with imported beers in it, this cooler was for US and Tennessee beers. Oh, did I mention they had 50 beers on tap also. If this is heaven, the Lord can take me now. :-)

 

3.       Chatta-Jack 31 -On Saturday morning the participants entered the Tennessee River on their choice of “Paddle “vehicle – canoe, stand-up paddleboard or kayak.  The timed race started at the bridge and proceeded downriver 31 miles toward Nickajack Dam.  There were over 200 paddlers who entered the river at 8am with the air temp of 49 degrees.  The sun was shining brightly; Colletta was wrapped in a fleece blanket wearing her slippers.

The beginning of the ChattaJack 31 race. Only 31 miles to go, luckily they are going with the current

 

We are glad we made the 250 mile run up the river to visit this city.  Altho we would have enjoyed going up to Lookout Mountain (the tram was closed for repairs – will do another time), we enjoyed every part of the visit and would highly recommend it to boater and landlubbers alike.  As we head out on Monday, the captain will enjoy the push of the river going downbound at a speed of 8 knots, or 9 ½ mph.