Huntsville-area couples, listen up! If you need a quick day trip spot or lovers get away, make the short drive to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Chattanooga is great for couples, full of history, charm, and places to explore together! Plus it’s a quick drive, only an hour and a half from Huntsville, so perfect to visit for the day or stay for a long weekend. Here’s a few a tips for a perfect couples getaway to Chattanooga!
Stay at the Historic Read House hotel in downtown Chattanooga. Splurge on a night (or two) at this historic 20s-era hotel. The art-deco vibe sets the stage for a weekend of whimsy and romance. Entering the lobby is like stepping back in time. The velvet-y smooth couches and chairs and the two large chandeliers transform you to another time and place. If you’re a Disney World fan, it might also remind you of the Tower of Terror hotel. Speaking of terror, if you’re into haunted histories ask to take a tour of room 311. Take time to explore the historic artifacts and soak in the history in the library or the billiards room. The Read House is a history-lovers dream.
Eat the biggest, best, heartiest biscuits you ever did see at Maple Street Biscuit Company. You know you’re in the right place when you see the line out the door. The biscuits are big and flaky and taste like my mama’s homemade recipe. But it’s the unique pairings with fried chicken and various combinations of bacon and house-made jams and jellies that makes Maple Street so special. My personal favorite is the sausage and gravy because the seasoning in the gravy has a little *kick*, and it’s heavenly. I’m also a big fan of the home fries and fried green tomatoes (yes, fried green tomatoes for breakfast).
Stroll the river bank. Chattanooga’s riverfront area is a beautiful place to stroll hand-in-hand with your best gal or guy. At the riverfront is where you’ll find the Tennessee Aquarium and riverboat cruises, and it’s a short walk from the riverfront to the Bluff View Art District. All of these should make the top of your must-do list, especially if it’s your first time in Chattanooga or if you’re spending more than a day. Coffeeshop lovers, don’t miss Rembrandt’s Coffee House in the art district. The patio at Rembrandt’s is a delightful place to sit and sip.
See Rock City. It might sound cliche, but you really should see Rock City. Explore the unique rock formations and gardens high atop Look Out Mountain and find Lover’s Leap with your lover. Don’t leap though, just take in the breath-taking views and experience seeing seven states together.
Deepen your relationship, quite literally at Ruby Falls. After taking your love to new heights at Rock City, plunge deep into the heart of Look Out Mountain to see one of the tallest underground waterfalls in the world. The guided tour starts with an elevator ride down 26 stories, and then a 30-minute walk deeper into the cave to the waterfall room. Along the way you’ll see interesting cave formations and your tour guide will tell you all about how the waterfall was discovered and the woman Ruby for who it is named. Walking through the cave is cool, but the star of the show is the 145-foot waterfall at the end, a one-of-a-kind beauty to behold, made even more beautiful by the light show that illuminates it.
Heather is proud to be a Huntsville native. Starting out as a newspaper reporter, she’s has had a blast with a very diverse writing career with stints at NASA, the U.S. Army, a leading biotech institute, the tourism industry, and now building materials. She is a tried and true “boy mom” raising two teenage sons, Finn and Caden, and dog mom to two pups, Hudson and Molly. Also a big fan of all things Disney and addicted to office supplies and coffee.
