Hot Spot on the Banks of the Tennessee

I spent 3 years of my life living near the Chattanooga area. My best friend still resides about 20 miles from the town. When I was single, I took dates to watch the productions at the Little Theater, to amble along the walking paths near the river, and to dine in some of the small restaurants in town. Many are the memorable moments that I had in Chattanooga. Now that I have left the area, revisiting always brings me relaxation and pleasure.

My wife and I enjoyed watching a production of "Little Shop of Horrors" at the Little Theater. We enjoyed strolling across the walking bridge that spans the Tennessee River. A great time was had at Durty Nellys Irish Pub. In fact, some of the most enjoyable experiences that we had early in our relationship occurred in Chattanooga. We cannot wait to get back and visit our friends.

Quick Tips:

The river area of town is wonderful for those who enjoy arts and craft, coffee houses, and cultural events. A wonderful festival is held every year along the riverfront area. This festival has crafts, music, food, and people celebrating life. Visitors of all ages enjoy driving up Lookout Mountain and stopping to participate in its activities. The downtown area offers plenty of things to do, like shopping, dining, and touring the aquarium. Even going to Hamilton Place Mall is fun. I suggest that visitors with families go up Lookout Mountain to Ruby Falls and to the Rock Gardens. Those in search of nightlife should se the downtown area.

Best Way To Get Around:

I believe that the best way to move around this city is to drive. There are walking trails near the river, but they are more for exercise and enjoyment, not for traveling from place to place. Taxis can be found roaming the streets, as in most larger cities, but driving your own car is best for visiting a large number of areas.

My friend, Ed, and I enjoy visiting one of the newer restaurants in the downtown area called Big River. The facility is in a large, renovated warehouse and offers one of the more modern menus that can be found. This restaurant is huge, and it has plenty of seating. There certainly is the need for the seating, as the lines on Friday and Saturday evenings get long and the restaurant is very crowded.

Each time that I have gone to this restaurant I have enjoyed the food and the fun. There are pool tables and darts, there is a swinging singles action that is evident by the large number of young people coming in and mingling at the bar, and the food is delicious. You can get anything from a salad to chicken wings to a very nice steak. There are usually 5 beers available from the microbrewery. Plus, the other drinks are well-made. This is one of the few places in Chattanooga that knows how to make the "kir" that I often favor.

Ed and I, together with our wives, went to the Big River for a meal. We ate a fantastic meal and wound up staying for four hours playing pool and listening to the music. I enjoyed a wonderful version of linguini with chicken. Ed and his wife are vegetarians, but they found plenty of food to meet their appetites. It was easy to change from a dining table to a bar table after our meal, and we enjoyed the experience immensely.

If you like a swinging crowd, then you will feel at home at Big River. It is open every evening of the week.

"Meson" is the term for the traditional rest stop of the middle ages in Spain and later in the New World which provided a place to stop and eat and sleep. Although there is no place for sleeping at this El Meson, it is a restaurant that combines the best attributes of Mexican food and a relaxing atmosphere.

My favorite restaurants are those that serve authentic Mexican food, so I am extremely selective when choosing from those claiming to be Mexican. I dined at El Meson for an evening meal on two previous occasions and was not entirely pleased with the overall food and atmosphere. However, when I was invited by a friend for the Champagne Brunch (which is served on Sundays from 11am - 4pm), I changed my mind. The variety of dishes that were prepared and the quality of the food were much better than the fare I had previously sampled. And the open bottle of champagne didn’t harm my impression of the meal. The differences between the food served on a weeknight and that served at the brunch was such a contrast that I wonder why the restaurant does not put the same effort into their daily menu.

When you go to El Meson on Sundays you will have choices of three traditional soups, seven types of salads, at least 20 different meat dishes, vegetarian entrees, and plenty of Mexican side dishes (such as Spanish rice, refried beans, Mexican corn, and hominy), plus a cooked-to-order omelet bar. A large selection of desserts is available also. The waiters that I have met are very attentive to your needs. My champagne glass was always full and I didn’t need to ask for anything. The waiter seemed to read my mind about what I might need or want. For those that are seated in the bar area there is a soccer game playing on the television.

Certainly, I have changed my opinion about El Meson. In fact, I now believe that this may be the best deal that can be found on Sundays in the Chattanooga area.

Peanuts litter the floor of this Irish pub set one blocl from the River just away from downtown Chattanooga. Customers come here for a pleasant evening with their friends. On the weekends there is live music (usually an Irish folk singer).

There is nothing outstanding about the the building or the food, but the atmosphere and the overall feeling with which one walks away are exceptional. There are burgers, cheese fries, chicken fingers, and other foods. The bar is fully stocked, and the drinks are great. There is plenty of Guinness and three different versions of Bushmill's.

This is one of my favorite hangouts when I am in the Chattanooga area. I can relax after a night at the theater, or after a ball game. Saturday evenings are a blast, with the singers leading several sing-alongs in the programs. This would remind you of a typical European bar.

On our last trip to Chattanooga my wife and I ate at The Acropolis, a four-star rated restaurant that serves a Greek cuisine. Actually, we had a two-fold purpose. We wanted to eat, but we wanted to visit a friend who works in the restaurant. We entered a foyer that contained a fountain and a bakery. Three of our five senses were immediately stimulated at that time; we could smell the honey from the baklava and the aroma of fresh-baked breads, we heard the splash and tinkle of the waters as they played in the fountain, and we could see the beauty of the fountains and the Ionic columns that seemed to sprout from the floor.

From previous experience, I knew that the seating could sometimes take as much as one hour on the weekends when there is a heavy crowd. This time we were lucky, and were seated within ten minutes. The waitress that was assigned to us was especially attentive and happy to assist us in making the best decisions on our food and drink order. Thanks to her suggestions, I enjoyed the Greek sampler platter. This platter consisted of portions of meat wrapped in grape leaves, moussaka, lamb, and meat in cabbage leaves. It was served with a combination of vegetables. My wife tried the Mahi Mahi, which was marinated in ouzo. We both enjoyed our meal and were treated to some of the Greek pastries and strong coffee for dessert.

Meals at The Acropolis range from $10 - $30 per person. This is a product of the ambience and the reputation of the restaurant. The alcoholic beverages are somewhat pricey, costing as much as $6.50 for a mixed drink. The food is authentic Greek, however, and is delicious. I recommend that those in the Chattanooga area try the Acropolis.

The Little Theater began in about 1923 and was a mainstay of the community, giving opportunities for aspiring actors and actreses to showcase themselves. Chattanooga Theater Center is the venue that opened in 1996 for the community organization known as Little Theater.

I purchased season tickets on four occassions for this venue, and have enjoyed every performance that I have attended. Productions of "Sweeney Todd", "The Importance of Being Earnest", and "Little Shop of Horrors" have been among my favorite presentations.

The facility is located beside the Tennessee River, beside the "walking bridge". The new facility is beautifully designed, and seats about 1500 people for performances. Outside is a beautiful garden area through which subscribers often stroll prior to a performance.

I have attended community theaters in other cities. This one is one of the better theaters of its type.

As you drive through Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and several other states you will pass signs advertising "Visit Ruby Falls." This I have done on at least 10 different occasions, usually when friends or family have come to visit. Most people that I know desire to see this wonder at least once, so I make sure that they have the opportunity.

The entrance of the cave can be obtained after taking the beautiful drive up historic Lookout Mountain. The views along the drive are very scenic, especially in the spring and autumn. My wife was pleased when she noticed that there are several antique stores that were passed. (She always enjoys stopping in the stores and looking at the antiques.) After a few miles (that seem to take hours to drive), you pull into the parking area and walk to the entry/gift shop to visit this natural wonder.

Tickets for a tour of the cave can be purchased for less than $10 per person. There is usually a short wait so that sufficient tickets for the tour can be sold, and then the tour group boards an elevator that whisks you down into the mountain to reach the cave level. The elevators open to allow access to the cave passage. Several quartz formations can be seen as the group heads toward the ultimate view on this trip. The tour guide takes the time to explain how several of these formations were formed.

Finally, as the group rounds a final corner, the lights are turned out. You can hear the roar of water cascading into the cave. The lights are relit; a torrent of water can be seen through the filtered lights. The red, blue, and green of the filters plays off of a 200 foot stream of water pouring from the roof of the cave into an opening in the floor. Visitors are given the opportunity to walk around and behind the falls. Eventually the group makes the return trip to the surface.

Each time that I visit this attraction I gain new insight into it. The first few visits bored me, but I have gained a greater admiration for this wonder of nature. This is a MUST SEE for every visitor who passes through the Chattanooga area.