This post is sponsored by Booking.com, however all opinions are 100% mine. Affiliate links included in this post.
I have lived in Chattanooga for nearly a decade now and this city still surprises me sometimes.
I grew up driving from the country over the mountain to come to Chattanooga for things like school clothes or to see a movie. We took field trips to the Tennessee Aquarium. Other than that though, I never really ventured out into the city for much else. Even when I came to college over here, I basically went straight to my classes and straight back home. I was terrified of driving downtown. Two lane roads versus lots of one way streets and multiple lanes can break a country girl out in a cold sweat. I’m happy to say, I can easily maneuver throughout the whole downtown Chattanooga area now though and even know shortcuts that Grunt doesn’t know and he’s been here longer than I have. Parallel parking though, well I’m still working on that one.
In the time I’ve been here, many parts of downtown Chattanooga have changed – for the better. The Southside has underwent a huge revitalization and it is nothing short of amazing. When Grunt and I go downtown, there’s a good chance, we’ll end up somewhere in the Southside for dinner, drinks or other fun. A few weeks ago, Grunt and I had the opportunity to visit the Chattanooga Choo Choo – yes, the very same one from the song – and we were pleasantly surprised at what we found.
I decided the best way to share all our favorite things about the Chattanooga Choo Choo and what we love to do downtown in general would be to create an itinerary of sorts for ya – just in case you ever want to come for a visit.
One Night In Chattanooga
Where to Stay
The Chattanooga Choo Choo
The Choo Choo is a perfect hotel choice because it’s so close to everything. Now, as I mentioned before, Grunt and I were pleasantly surprised by all the changes made and still being made at the Choo Choo. It had been a long time since I had last been to the Choo Choo to just walk around and check it all out- like senior prom long time ago. It wasn’t bad or anything back then, but it also wasn’t anywhere that I just had to get back to soon.
Things have changed.
The Choo Choo has been revitalizing their entire property. They have brought in unique new restaurants, have retail shops in train cars, a live music venue, a guitar museum, a bar in a train car and so much more. I was so impressed with everything I saw going on down there. It’s actually on my list now for the Circus and I to visit one day when she’s out of school.
In fact, the Chattanooga Choo Choo made Booking.com’s Book the U.S. list – a list of 51 of the most unique properties in the United States and the District of Columbia. The Choo Choo is in good company – also on the list is Southfork (yes, the Southfork – totally on my bucket list!), a castle in Kentucky (who knew Kentucky had castles?) and a jail in New Orleans (another city that holds a special place in my heart.)
Why would the Chattanooga Choo Choo be so unique though? Besides the fact that it was made nationally popular by Glenn Miller’s song?
Well, for one, you can opt to stay in a train car during your visit.
The Choo Choo has multiple different train cars that can be your hotel room. If a regular hotel room is more your jam, then they also have the MacArthur Building on site with newly renovated rooms.
Also, can I please get some railing like that for my staircase? Hubba, hubba.
Right now, Booking.com is holding a Chief Booking Officer Contest – if you enter, you could be the lucky one to win $50,000 to travel to as many of the unique properties on the Book the U.S. list as you can in 50 days! You can enter the contest here and also see the full list of the most unique properties as well.
If you win and need a travel buddy, I’m sure I could work some free time into my schedule – especially if you’re going to hit up Southfork. 😉
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Where to Eat
One of the great things about staying at the Choo Choo hotel is that there are so many great restaurants within walking distance. A few of our favorites…
Stir
Stir is actually located on the Chattanooga Choo Choo property and oh man, is it good. We have frequented it quite a few times. The night we stayed at the Choo Choo we had drinks and an appetizer at Stir before going on to dinner at a new restaurant we hadn’t tried before. They are known for their cocktails and by far, their 1948 Margarita is my favorite. Grunt and I are also big fans of their truffle fries.
Alleia
We were so excited to finally be able to try this Italian restaurant. So many of our friends had been raving about it, but we just hadn’t been able to go. Oh my gosh, ya’ll. The food was amazing. We did a full five course Italian meal, splitting each course and it was the way to go, everything was delicious. This was just down the street and around the corner from the Choo Choo.
Clyde’s
Another one that is in walking distance, Clyde’s is more laid-back casual food. It’s still delicious. We’ve gone here many times with groups of friends.
Feed
Just across the street from Clyde’s is Feed. It’s a great place for groups or just couples – once more, the food is awesome.
There are a slew more of restaurants within walking distance of the Choo Choo – these are just a few of our personal favorites.
What to Do
Songbirds
Songbirds is a guitar museum that is jaw-dropping.
There are guitars, upon guitars, upon guitars. It’s an amazing collection and just about every one has a special history. Songbirds is located right on the Choo Choo property. You can also catch a show at Songbirds as well – they have songwriters who perform regularly at the guitar museum and other musical events at their venue below the museum – a Fleetwood Mac cover band was there when we visited the Choo Choo. We’ve also seen The Breakfast Club, an 80’s tribute band there before.
Comedy Catch
If comedy is more your thing, you can catch a comedy show at the Comedy Catch, also located on the Choo Choo property.
Regan’s Place & Westbound Bar
Two of my favorite bars in Chattanooga are located right beside the Choo Choo – Regan’s Place and Westbound Bar. Regan’s is a retro dance bar and Westbound is a country music bar. They both fulfill my diverse musical tastes and they are side-by-side each other.
Both bars are located on Station Street, right beside the Choo Choo. The best thing about this area is that it’s an open container street – one of only a few in the state of Tennessee – you can take your drink from Stir and walk right over to Westbound or wherever else on the street.
Walk Around!
The entire Choo Choo property is filled with lots of great little things…
You can visit one train car where you can try out various kinds of craft beer.
Of course, you’ll want to actually take a picture with the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
Terminal Station, where you will check-in to the hotel is absolutely beautiful. I adore the old track signs hanging above the doors.
And that ceiling – another hubba hubba moment.
Of course, they also have plenty of old train cars to explore.
The Next Day…
If you have more time to spend in Chattanooga, then there are lots of other attractions in our city. I actually wrote about some of the best places to visit in Chattanooga right here.
Before you go, don’t forget to enter Booking.com’s Chief Booking Officer Contest right here for your chance to win $50,000 to travel to some of the most unique properties on their Book the U.S. list!
All my readers also get $30 off their next Booking.com reservation by using this link!
