Vacations change once you have children—and I know for my family we are usually looking to travel somewhere by car due to the huge amount of items we bring for the kiddos. Living in Knoxville, my requirements are usually a drive that takes no longer than seven hours.
But did you know we have a city south of us that has AMAZING activities for families and children?
The city of Chattanooga offers so much for families, and the greatest part it’s only about an hour and a half away! This means you can do a longer stay or whisk away just for a weekend.
My family has visited Chattanooga a few times this year, and recently we stayed at The Chattanoogan. This hotel is perfect for a family vacation as you have options for rooms with suites, and the grounds alone at The Chattanoogan are large enough for your kids to stretch their legs or explore into the city.
You are in walking distance to some great eateries on the Southside of the city including The Urban Stack or you can take advantage of the free shuttle service that services downtown Chattanooga. Being that it was the hot summer month of June, we took advantage of the free shuttle many times, and the boys LOVE riding it!
I asked my boys what their favorite part of our trip was and surprisingly they both said “BREAKFAST!” The Chattanoogan offers a fabulous breakfast that even your picky kids will love. The Broad Street Grille offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and uses local ingredients and products. We were there the weekend of Father’s Day and their Sunday Brunch was SOLD OUT if that tells you anything about the food they offer.
What to enjoy some night entertainment? The Foundry Lounge offers happy hours and local band talent to enjoy.
The Chattanoogan hotel is home to three of the city’s top dining establishments. Favorites of locals and visitors alike, Broad Street Grille (BSG) serves Regional American Cuisine in a relaxed environment; the Foundry offers a delicious bistro menu, full bar, casual game room and live music on the weekends; and Stroud’s, a sidewalk café, serves delicious coffees, sandwiches, salads, homemade soup and delicious desserts.
The Foundry is the perfect place to unwind after work or meet family and friends. The Foundry’s game room has billiards, table shuffleboards and televisions for watching sporting events. On Friday and Saturday nights, local groups perform live music.
Need some relaxtion momma? The Chattanoogan has you covered with an in-house spa where I was able to take advantage of the Radiant Express and The Chattanooga Pedicure. It’s not just for moms though; dads can also have spa services too!
The staff at The Chattanoogan was courteous, friendly, and also so nice to the boys! If you’ve traveled with children, you know that sometimes staff aren’t always excited about kids–however The Chattanoogan goes above and beyond to make you and your whole family welcome!
The Chattanoogan also offers different types of packages with your stay including The Chattanooga Adventures. We were able to enjoy a full day at The Tennessee Aquarium and experience all the river and ocean life!
We also enjoyed the IMAX movie of the National Parks Adventure 3D. Even at ages three and five, the boys were able to thoroughly enjoy every part of the aquarium.
If you are a foodie and looking to check out the foodie scene in Chattanooga (seriously Chattanooga has some great eats!), then The Chattanoogan offers the Culinary Experiences package.
Chattanooga is an active city where you can walk on the Walnut Street Pedestrian bridge to enjoy the beautiful riverfront, discover great eateries and ice cream, art galleries, museums, coffee shops, and a craft beer scene.
Here are a few of our favorite additional stops:
The Ice Cream Show | Clumpie’s Ice Cream
Community Pie | Milk and Honey
Mean Mug Coffee | Stone Cup Cafe
The Public House | Taco Mamacita
Be sure to check out these posts from Chattanooga Moms Blog about more places to eat, play, and explore on your next trip!
Disclaimer: I received a two night stay for my family in exchange for this review. However all opinions are 100% my own, and out of all the Chattanooga hotels I have visited The Chattanoogan is by far my favorite!
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