Today, Chattanooga boasts a vibrant downtown bordering a bend on the Tennessee River. The city itself sparkles with the old train station having gone through a major refurbishing. Many people stay in the hotels which are that old Chattanooga Choo Choo where they sleep in refurbished railway cars and can choose from a myriad of restaurants and other entertainment among those retired railroad cars and engines. Others choose the overnight accommodations on the river, the Old Delta Queen Riverboat is moored in Chattanooga and welcomes travelers and Riverboat enthusiasts alike. A tourist Riverboat, (The Southern Belle), cruises the Tennessee River at noon and in the evening, it features live music and good food.
The annual Riverbend Festival features world class performers and the areas largest fireworks display. There are rides for the children and shows for the adults. The festival also features some of the most unusual food offerings that I have seen at any such event.
With a Zoo, world class Aquarium, and 3D childrens theater, Chattanooga is an inviting place for young families. The Ruby Falls, a majestic waterfall in and underground cavern and the incline railway down Lookout Mountain make Chattanooga a favorite destination for families of all ages.
A Civil War city, Chattanooga has a national cemetery where many of the soldiers who died during the struggle rest among the precise lines of headstones. For those interested in the Civil War there are battlefield reenactments at Chickamauga, a place where the South lost a major battle and a supply route was achieved for General Shermans march on Atlanta.
Of all the places I have lived, I think Chattanooga is probably the most interesting. The Tennessee River and the Locks on the river give it such a unique character. Unfortunately, even with industry such as Volkswagen moving in, the area suffers from the recession that the rest of the country suffers from. Our business there is an insulation business and housing starts are a small fraction of what they were several years ago. Maybe it is for the best, perhaps the mix of old and new America is well served with a slowing of construction in the area.
