It had been a damp drive on the way to Chattanooga, and the fog was setting in. Our arrival at the RiverView Inn on Lookout Mountain buoyed us with a foggy but spectacular view of the Tennessee River and downtown Chattanooga. Wasting no time we checked in an appraised our rooms and hurried to ride the Incline Railway which would be closing for the season that evening.
Ride the Incline
The one-mile railway is the steepest passenger railway in the world, with a 72.7% grade at its steepest point. The Incline is a National Historic site and railway landmark. The first inclined railway was completed in 1887, when the trip lasted nearly an hour. In 1895, the second incline was completed. At the center point of the journey, the two rail cars pass each other, and there is not a lot of room to spare.
The present rail cars were installed in 1987 and feature many windows for mountain views. Over forty-million passengers have ridden the Incline in its century of operation. During the daytime hours, you will have a more enjoyable view.
Our view may have been greatly dampened by the fog, but that did not dampen the spirits of our fellow riders. I hadn’t expected to have to climb from my seat to exit the car, but it’s all part of the charm of the century-old incline.
Clumpies Ice Cream
Clumpies Ice Cream is located at the bottom of the Incline, so we stopped in for a taste. This handcrafted ice cream has been made in Chattanooga since 1999. It’s the hand-churning and fresh ingredients that make Clumpies so delicious. The unusual signature flavors are a Chattanooga staple of this hometown creation.
Tupelo Honey
Hungry from our drive, we headed downtown to the Warehouse District to Tupelo Honey for dinner. It was a good decision. The atmosphere was bright and busy. The biscuits were awesome, and the Chicken BLT was scrumptious.
RiverView Inn
Returning to the River View Inn, we were sated and ready to relax. Settling in for the rainy evening in a comfortable king-size room was delightful. I appreciated the walk-in shower. The view of the Tennessee River from the shared balconies did not disappoint. Outside the Skybox, the community gathering area, there is a small fire pit where guests can roast s’mores.
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RiverView -
Shared balconies
The morning dawned with a bright blue sky, a welcome after the rainy evening. Breakfast in the Skybox was simple but tasty. Keurig machines were available with a variety of drink selections.
Ruby Falls was only a four-minute drive away.
Ruby Falls
Leo Lambert discovered the falls in 1928; they remain the tallest and deepest underground waterfall in the U.S., at 145 feet. The falls opened to the public in 1930 and are named for Lambert’s wife, Ruby. The constant 60° in the cave leading to Ruby Falls makes it a great place to visit in the summer.
Our guide, Doug, took us on the fifty-five-minute tour. He has been leading tours since 2007. The four-tenths of a mile trek to the falls can be a bit treacherous, and you need to be mindful of your footing, and ‘eyes up, head down’ is the motto of the trek.
The tours can accommodate a large number of guests, so it can be a bit crowded. Either before or after the tour, be sure to climb The Lookout Mountain Tower. It is definitely worth the view. (If you need a break from all the walking, there is an elevator to the tower.) Booking tickets in advance is encouraged and will make your experience more enjoyable.
See Rock City
After our trek to Ruby Falls, we drove around the mountain to Rock City Gardens. Rock City is truly a garden in the rocks. Garnet Carter, a native Tennessean, developed the gardens. He had originally begun developing a seven-hundred-acre residential neighborhood atop Lookout Mountain, “Fairyland” in 1924. But Garnet’s wife, Frieda, saw a garden in the rock formations. She mapped a path with a string all the way to Lover’s Leap. Along the way, she incorporated native plants into the rocks, along with some European lore, to create a fairyland theme.
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Rock City Walk -
Mushroom Rock -
Lover’s Leap
The Rock City Gardens opened in May of 1932. Since the garden’s location was neither the most accessible nor the most noticeable, Garnet came up with a brilliant advertising technique. He had “See Rock City” painted on the roofs of barns that sat just off the US highways.
Carter built it, and the people have come by the millions over the years. Today, the Gardens are still run by a third-generation descendant of the Carters. The seven-state overlook provides guests with an amazing view on a beautiful day.
We explored all the nooks and crannies of the forty-one hundred-foot walking trail. The 180-foot suspension bridge provided a safe crossing to Lover’s Leap. Children will enjoy a visit to the Fairyland Caverns to see all the fairytale stories.
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Fairyland caverns -
Snow White
Battles of Chattanooga
We headed to the Battles of Chattanooga for a short rest bit. This thirty-minute film tells the story of the battles that surrounded Chattanooga during the Civil War in 1863. You may find the movie a bit confusing if you don’t know some of the history. There are five battles discussed in the presentation: Lookout Mountain (The Battle Above the Clouds), Wauhatchie, Missionary Ridge, Orchard Knob, and Brown’s Ferry, all of which occurred between October and November of 1863. When Missionary Ridge fell, it was the death blow to the Confederacy.
The presentation is unique in that it discusses the battles on an enormous map of the area. This one-of-a-kind presentation will ignite your desire to learn more about Chattanooga’s Civil War history.
Points Park
Across the street from Battles is Points Park lookout; it is a stunning view. The New York Peace Monument stands 95 feet tall and honors both armies with a handshake between a Union and Confederate soldier as they stand with the U.S. flag in ‘Reconciliation.’ There is a small entrance fee for the park. In the National Park office just across the street, you can view a large painting, “The Battle Above the Clouds,” and where you can learn more about the battle.
National Chickamauga Battlefield
A twenty-minute drive from Chattanooga is the National Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center. While this battle was a Confederate victory, it was won at great cost, with some 35,000 casualties. The ensuing Battle for Chattanooga would be the beginning of the end for the Confederacy.
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Fuller Gun Collection -
15 US Infantry Monument
The visitor center has a free 26-minute film about the battles surrounding Chattanooga. Also displayed here is the Fuller gun collection. The gun collection belonged to Claude Fuller, who began collecting weapons at a young age. The exhibit contains weapons dating back to the Revolutionary War and is valued at thirty million dollars. Gun enthusiasts will marvel at the beauty of these firearms.
Enchanted Lights at Rock City Gardens
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Rocky Snowman -
Penguin -
Lovely lights
That evening, we returned to Rock City Gardens for the Enchanted Lights display. We retraced many of our steps along the various pathways of lights. I had to wonder how they were able to position some of the lights in the rocky gardens.
During the Civil War, Chattanooga was called the gateway to the South because it was a major rail center. I believe the name is still appropriate today, as the City tells the story of the South’s past and future.
Twenty-four hours provide you just enough time to scratch the surface of this vibrant city. Spend a long weekend here and dive into a fun and exciting Chattanooga.
My thanks to See Rock City for the invitation to see the wonderful sites of Chattanooga.
