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Eat,
Sleep and Be Happy in Chattanooga
For something way off line, you may want to book a room…or car…at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Holiday Inn. This unique hotel features four dozen renovated Victorian train cars that have been converted into guestrooms; all are uniquely decorated and await your arrival. There are more than 300 standard rooms to choose from as well. The original train terminal, dedicated on December 1, 1909, has been renovated and now serves as the grand lobby of the Choo Choo Holiday Inn. During your stay, take time to walk around the complex. You will find an engine similar to the famous wood-burning Chattanooga Choo Choo, taken down in song by Glenn Miller's Orchestra. Not to be missed are the formal gardens, featuring 500 blooming roses. The water garden, herb garden, hanging baskets and arbors complete the ambiance, making it a delightful area in which to stroll. The Choo Choo, as it's known locally, is located downtown, convenient to area attractions and is next door to the free electric shuttle station. While there, guests just can't help humming "Pardon me, boy. Is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?" In an unprecedented move, the city built its own hotel; the Chattanoogan opened in 2001. The 210,000 square-foot, 202 deluxe room hotel now welcomes guests from all over the world. One of the main attractions at the Chattanoogan is the Urban Forest that has been planted in the 70,000-foot courtyard. With nearly 10,000 different plantings, including nine varieties of trees and 36 varieties of shrubs, flowers and grasses, the courtyard has been transformed into a virtual forest, a perfect place to relax after a long day of touring or meetings. Speaking of relaxing, what better way to do so than in the Chattanoogan Spa. With a wide array of treatments to choose from, you're sure to find something to ease away the anxieties of every-day living. Try a "Riverport" Stone Massage or the Papaya Enzyme Facial for something extraordinarily soothing. When it's time to eat, you've got several options in store for you at the Chattanoogan, from fine dining to casual sandwiches. The most elegant, The Broad Street Grille, is an upscale, cosmopolitan restaurant featuring eclectic cuisine. The open exhibition kitchen provides diners the opportunity to watch as their meals are prepared by some of the finest chefs in the area. I started off with the fresh salad bar, making sure to at least eat some vegetables before indulging in the rest of my meal. The sautéed jumbo shrimp I ordered were cooked to perfection, complimented by the accompanying tomatoes, shitake mushrooms and curry buttermilk sauce. My fellow diners thoroughly enjoyed the Cowboy steaks, cedar plank salmon, and coffee and black pepper New York strip steaks that they ordered. We were all anxious for dessert, however. An impressive display of freshly prepared delectables was ours for the choosing. Set up buffet-style, diners are invited to indulge in as many desserts as they'd like, much to the dismay of our waistlines. After such an incredible meal, head to the Chattanoogan's fitness center on the second floor. State-of-the-art machines await, as do the astounding views of Chattanooga just outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. An inviting indoor pool beckons with its warm waters. At the end of a long day of enjoying all that the area has to offer, there's nothing better than returning to your room. You'll find the rooms to be luxuriously modern, decorated in neutral tones that exude calm and warmth. Sink into the feather-soft bed, pull the covers up, grab the remote and enjoy a good night's sleep at the Chattanoogan. It'd be hard not to. For a different perspective, plan to stay in one of the area's magnificent bed and breakfasts. In addition to staying in what is sure to be a slice of history, you'll get a real taste of Chattanooga. The Mayor's Mansion Inn, located in the Ft. Wood Historic District, is a charmer. Three floors encompass 13,000 square-feet of the beautifully decorated mansion, built in 1889 by former Chattanooga mayor Edmond Watkins. Carmen and Gene Drake recently acquired the mansion and have worked hard to restore it to its original grandeur. Seven rooms and four suites, all with private baths, invite guests to stay a night or two, or longer. Choose from the Chinese-themed suite, the Americana room or the Presidential Suite - you won't be disappointed in whichever room you lay your head. You won't even have to leave the mansion for dinner. Opt to dine in the Tiffany Dining Room and feast on succulent dishes, including shrimp bisque, filet of beef with wild mushroom salsa and grilled salmon with mustard cream sauce. And who could forget dessert? A slice of classic pecan pie finishes off the meal with perfection. When you wake in the morning, you'll find a scrumptious three-course breakfast tempting you off of your diet. Dive into French vanilla French toast, cocoa pancakes or eggs Florentine, all prepared by the in-house chef. The selections vary day to day, but you'll never be disappointed…or start your day hungry. Found in the Historic Bluff View Art District, the Bluff View Inn is the perfect choice for those who want to be in the heart of it all yet feel a world away. Three historic homes built in the early 1900s comprise the Inn, offering 18 rooms and suites to choose from. For an astounding and unobstructed view of the Tennessee River and art district below, choose the Morgan Llewellyn Suite on the third floor of the Maclellan House. With its king-size sleighbed, gas fireplace and private balcony, this room is the perfect spot for a romantic getaway. In evening's light, take on the locals in a game of bocce ball. The court next to the Maclellan House hosts locals practicing for an upcoming tournament and looking for new players. The Back Inn Café, found in the colonial-revival Martin House mansion, is a delightful find for self-declared "foodies." A culinary team of chefs from around the country develop ever-changing menus to reflect the best of the season. Fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and seafood are infused with local flavor to create an unforgettable meal. When I dined at the Café in September I started my elegant meal with a flavorful lobster bisque, followed by the signature entrée, the Martin House Steak. The steak, grilled to perfection, was stuffed with fresh crabmeat and served with sour cream mashed potatoes and fresh asparagus. Others in my party raved about their entrees, including black pepper linguini tossed with tiger shrimp, artichoke hearts and asparagus in a gorgonzola cheese sauce; a very tender and moist piece of pan-seared Chilean sea bass; and the honey-soy glazed Muscovy duck with soba noodles. The piece de resistance for me, however, was the overindulgent Red and Black Chocolate Mousse, while others inhaled the Italian Cream Cake. If you've always wanted to live in a fairytale, consider a stay at the Chanticleer Inn atop Lookout Mountain. The inn, with 17 rooms in the main building and five standalone cottages, is in the Fairyland community, developed by Garnet Carter in the early 1900s. And you'll feel like you're in a fairytale when you step into your beautifully decorated room. While the exterior charm of the 1927 inn remains, the interior has been renovated and uniquely decorated with antiques and other welcoming touches. In addition to private baths and cable TV, some rooms offer a refrigerator, private patio or whirlpool tub. Guests can also enjoy the pool and living room with fireplace. Across the street is Rock City, and downtown Chattanooga is just ten minutes down the mountain, making Chanticleer Inn an ideal getaway that is close to everything. Venture downtown for lunch or dinner and you'll find plenty of options. From seafood to a grill and brewery, Chattanooga has it all. One restaurant not to miss is 212 Market Restaurant. As the name implies, the restaurant is located right on Market Street in downtown Chattanooga. Opened in 1992 by the Moses family, 212 Market catapulted Chattanooga's culinary experience into a whole new world. The belief of the elegant and comfortable, yet family friendly, restaurant is that dining should be a unique and pleasurable experience. The service and food live up to that belief. Surrounded by local artists' works adorning the walls, my companions and I dined on an eclectic selection of entrees. My entrée of jumbo shrimp scampi over penne pasta was impeccably prepared. Others at the table enjoyed the glazed rack of lamb with Madeira peppercorn sauce and Thai chile duck breast seared with cilantro mint chutney. With a vast wine selection and on-site bakery - I chose the flourless chocolate truffle cake - our meals ended deliciously. Wherever
you choose to stay and eat during your time in Chattanooga, you
won't be disappointed. Just be sure to get out there and enjoy
it! |
