Lookout City, Ross’s Landing…….names of our wonderful city from times that passed long ago.  We became “Chattanooga” in 1838.  Chattanooga (a Creek Indian word) — “rock coming to a point.”  That rock coming to a point? That’s the tip of Lookout Mountain, looking almost as if it’s reaching out to get a better view of the Tennessee River. What a view that is!

Much of my career has been spent working alongside Chattanooga’s incredible community leaders.  I’m privileged to have had a front row seat to so many community-changing events –  a revitalized waterfront that reconnected us to the Tennessee River, this mid-sized southern city becoming a tech and start-up hub with the world’s fastest internet, an old Army ammunition site transforming into a major automobile manufacturer’s new world-class North American facility and so much more.

A couple of years ago, our family was presented with a big opportunity and a big decision.  A new opportunity in my husband’s career important for our family also presented the possibility of leaving the city we love and are invested in so deeply. We just couldn’t do it.  Instead, we’d go to great lengths by maintaining homes in two states, changing my career, pulling off some crazy commutes and sleeping less. Thus, the #modernmobilefamily + #twostatefamily were born!  Countless resources and hard work have been dedicated to revitalizing the Dynamo of Dixie, perhaps one reason you’ll find us so fiercely loyal and overcome with pride (and refusing to leave!).

For many years, I’ve enjoyed offering visiting friends and colleagues recommendations on how to spend time in our scenic city.  I LOVE this request! There are endless possibilities! We always suggest being outside as much as possible. Much of Chattanooga is best experienced on foot. Recommendations we’ve shared with visitors over the years follow suggestions from Lucinda.

We hope you’ll come see for yourself….it’s possible you too will go to great lengths to never leave.

— Betsy  

Chattanooga is a really good place to go with lots of things to do. Be sure to visit the Hunter Art Museum and the Children’s Creative Discovery Museum.  You should take a walk on the Walnut Street Bridge.  Check out all of the really cool restaurants.  The Zoo is fun too. Try to go to the Zoo on a nice sunny day and NOT when it is raining. I’ve been in the rain several times and I do not suggest it.  We like to ride bikes on the Riverwalk also. I hope you have fun visiting Chattanooga. My mom has included a good list below too. Thank you for reading. –Lucinda, 8 years old and Chattanooga-born and raised

Our Chattanooga highlights in addition to Lucinda’s :

Point Park + Sunset Rock on Lookout Mountain: Point Park is part of the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park (get your Passport to Your National Parks book stamped here – see our blog on the Passport program). Hike from Point Park to Sunset Rock for the best sunset views around! Soak up the view and the history. https://www.nps.gov/chch/learn/lookout-mountain.htm

Renaissance + Coolidge Parks: These parks connect and offer views of downtown and the river, with many spots to relax with a picnic and frisbee.  Kids always love the charming carousel! Walk from Coolidge Park across the Walnut Street Bridge to the Bluff View Art District.

Bluff View Art District + Hunter Museum of American Art: We’ve spent many wonderful afternoons here enjoying the museum, art gallery, restaurants and, a place particularly special to our family, the River Gallery Sculpture Garden. Rembrandt’s is good stop during a bike ride or walk on the Riverwalk (you’ll have earned dessert on the patio).

21^st Century Waterfront and Downtown: Enjoy the river views from the pier and expansive green spaces (there is also a playground). Visit the Tennessee Aquarium, do some rock climbing at High Point, visit the children’s museum and catch a Chattanooga Lookouts game – all within easy walking distance! We love the Blue Plate Diner patio!

Southside District: Kids love climbing in the old train cars at the Chattanooga Choo Choo. A visit to the Hot Chocolatier is highly recommended (just across the street). Walk to Clyde’s Restaurant on Main Street  for lunch. Sit by the back windows next to the corn hole game. Main Street has a couple of art galleries, shops and fun street art.

For many more worthwhile options, our Visitors Bureau has useful information at  www.chattanoogafun.com.

Best summer ever for our modern mobile family! Lucinda has some thoughts to start us off! 

Hi! You should definitely go to the Historic Triangle in Virginia, which is Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. While you are there, stay at the Kingsmill Resort and play in the lazy river. But on to the historical stuff! There are lots of National Park Passport stamps to get. Be sure to check out the living history in Colonial Williamsburg. In Jamestown, we saw where the first settlers were. In Yorktown, we went to the battlefield and you can sign up to be in General George Washington’s army. We signed up and my little sister was very upset when she realized we were not actually in the army. She wanted to use her light saber and sword. In St. Augustine, Florida, we toured a Spanish Fort and saw a cannon being fired. It was very loud but I had so much fun! Read my mom’s information below. As I like to say “History is a mystery until you go learn about it!” Hasta la vista! Lucinda (the artist + history hunter, 8 years old)

All good summers must come to an end…….but we don’t have to let them go quietly! Our summer was filled with some of our favorite historical stops to date! We spent time at the beach, in the pool, hiking, selling lemonade, picking peaches and blackberries, eating too much ice cream, dancing at outdoor concerts and exploring new places! The pirate and the artist lived out a little American History along the way. They joined a revolution with some rebel by the name of George Washington in Yorktown. They cooked over an open flame as Native Americans once did and joined original settlers in a musket salute in Jamestown. Founding father Thomas Paine treated us to a reading of the Declaration of Independence in Colonial Williamsburg. In between all of this, we exceeded a hefty summer reading goal! Here are our favorites of summer, including some familiar places and some new adventures…….enjoy!

Montpelier: President James Madison’s estate is absolutely breathtaking. It has to be one of the most impressive presidential homes in America (we plan to find out).  A highlight – standing in the very room where Madison drafted the framework for the Constitution. It is possible I was a bit overwhelmed with emotion!  Just over 20 miles from Charlottesville, VA and 2 hours from D.C., this trek is worth it. The Exchange Café is surprisingly yummy too. 

The Historic Triangle (Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown, Virginia): This was such a fun couple of days – yes, you need to give this at least 2 days (1 in Colonial Williamsburg and 1 in Jamestown + Yorktown combined)! Replicas of the ships that carried the original English settlers to Jamestown, a reconstructed Native American village, the battlefield and site of British defeat in the Revolutionary War and an authentic living history museum kept our daughters (and us!) completely captivated! We are so very pleased we spent some of our time in this way. Kingsmill Resort: This riverfront resort in Williamsburg offers expansive greenspace, golf, tennis and a pool with a lazy river the kids will love. Get your Passport to Your National Parks book stamped at several Historic Triangle locations!

Toes in the sand….. Our family always needs a little beach time with just the four of us in between our other travels. We spend this time super casual and really only dress up for dinner 1-2 times within a week. We stay so busy and on the go that during this time we lift all the pressures of time – amazing how much slower time seems to pass and how many of the small but important details you get to soak up at this pace.

Amelia Island – We discovered the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island 12 years ago and have visited on a regular basis since, at times 2-3 times a year. This resort caters to families with young children with a wide-variety of activities each day and topnotch service. The pirate and the artist recommend the strawberry-banana smoothies poolside and seashell hunting. Amelia Island is a slow moving quiet little beach town. You can’t go wrong with the restaurants at the Ritz. We enjoy the club level with breakfast, lunch and snacks throughout the day. Espana is a tapas and paella restaurant off of the resort and one of our favorites. 

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, St. Augustine, FL: With construction beginning in 1672, this is the oldest masonry fort in the continental U.S. We had a wonderful time exploring here! Get your Passport to Your National Parks book stamped here!

We hope you and your family find some time to enjoy these unique adventures as well!

See you somewhere along the way…and Happy Fall! — Betsy (the recovering politician)