One more Chattanooga post

The view from the front porch of our vacation house. Doesn't get much better than this. 

I forgot to post about the Bluff View Art Disctrict. Right on the river. Home to this charming bakery pictured below where we stopped for fresh bread (to have with wine and cheese at home), Rembrandts coffee house, and Tony's Pasta Shop and Trattoria. 

One afternoon, we watched the Chattanooga Lookouts play. The field is right downtown by the Creative Discovery Museum. 

Our final day, we spent the morning at Creative Discovery. I didn't get great pictures here, but my sister did! Check out her blog (www.pigtailsandparsley.blogspot.com) for some awesome pictures and reviews of our trip. She has a knack for details and humor. :) 

Southern Living featured Chattanooga recently, and my friend Kaitlyn shared the top recommended places to eat/visit from the article. I'm saving them here for next time. :) 

Southern Living's Chattanooga recommendations: Alleia, Aretha Frankensteins, The Farmer's Daughter, Tremont Tavern, Beast + Barrel, Brash Coffee, Chattanooga Brewing Company, Clyde's on Main, and Easy Bistro & Bar

Chattanooga Day 3

First stop... Rock City. Which is actually in Lookout Mountain, GA. 

I loved the history of this place. The entire course is less than a mile. Giant rock formations and tons of species of plants. So peaceful and pretty. 

"Lovers Leap"

Next was lunch at Cafe 7 at the top of Lookout Mountain. Gorgeous view (they say of 7 states, but I don't buy it) ;) and my favorite food from the whole trip! Shrimp and grits with turnip greens. (Linz and I shared or else I would have fallen asleep halfway through the afternoon!) 

Next stop, Incline Railway. A 72.2 degree incline. Just a few minutes ride each way. 

Last stop, Ruby Falls

We took an elevator straight down 280 feet of limestone. Then we walked 1/2 mile underground to Ruby Falls, a 145 foot underground waterfall discovered in the 1800s. If you ever visit Ruby Falls, bring a jacket because it's 60 degrees in the cave year around! Oh, and make sure you are not claustrophobic. I thought I was gonna lose my cool! Thank goodness for my mom, who made me giggle all the way through. 

Quote from Leo Lambert, who discovered Ruby Falls: 

"Discovering Ruby Falls was like discovering God. At first it is very dark, scary and uncertain. You don't know what lies ahead. You bump into things you didn't even realize were there and you suffer injuries bumps and bruises. You fall down into sticky, sticky mud and mire and feel like you cannot go on. But you get up with a feeling that somewhere ahead lies something more wonderful than you could ever imagine. As you add light to what you discovered you find that the things that caused you suffering and injury were wonderful God made things, put there for you to witness and give you joy. It is all and more than you ever imagined you could witness. It is God, and Ruby Falls & the Lookout Mountain Cave are God's creations, made for man to enjoy. I am just a little proud that he used me."

Chattanooga Day 2

The aquarium!! 

My favorite exhibits were: 

#1: This huge tank (above) with lots of fish and two very real sharks. We made it just in time to see the divers!

#2: A foggy, bayou alligator exhibit. Complete with a shack and lots of moss. 

#3: the otters. They just look like they have so much fun! 

Another favorite part of the weekend... Cupcake Kitchen! We made a couple stops here for the cookies, cupcakes, and cake balls. Right downtown. You have to go! 

I got the salted caramel pretzel cupcake with a chocolate bottom. Amazing. 

Chattanooga Vacation

I spent a long weekend in downtown Chattanooga with my family. I was greeted with lots of hugs and one of the coolest houses I've ever stayed in. Take a look...

Skipbo on the front porch! 

And look what I found a few houses down... The UTC Chi-O house. :) 

More updates coming soon!