3-Day Romantic Getaway to Chattanooga

Day One

Day One Morning

Grab your honey and head to the heart of Chattanooga for some adventure. If you’re up for a new experience, hit one of Chattanooga’s top attractions, High Point Climbing and Fitness on Broad Street in downtown Chattanooga. High Point is one of the nation's largest climbing facilities. They can accommodate the experienced or novice climber with their wide variety of walls and rooms. Want to slow things down a bit? The Southern Belle boasts panoramic views of the riverfront and Lookout Mountain aboard a vintage steamboat. Take a romantic cruise and learn about the Tennessee River's history, legends, and places. If water and climbing aren't your thing, head to the top of Lookout Mountain for a peaceful stroll through the gardens at Rock City. You'll find over 400 native plants and species as well as the infamous Lover's Leap overlook.

Day One Afternoon

Stroll through Chattanooga’s impressive Riverwalk area near Ross’ Landing then across the Walnut Street Walking Bridge to the historic Northshore district. There are several shops and galleries worth exploring such as In-Town Art Gallery and Blue Skies. Be sure to grab a beer and a pretzel at Brewhaus followed by a scoop of handcrafted ice cream from Clumpies Ice Cream Co. 

If you're feeling up for an adventure, rent a paddleboard or kayak from L2 OutsideThey're conveniently located beside Coolidge Park which offers put-ins to the Tennessee River. Don't want to go it alone? They even offer guided tours like their popular sunset tour.

Day One Evening

Dedicate your evening to a self-guided downtown food tour. Enjoy drinks and appetizers at Easy Bistro known for its fresh, local food and custom cocktails. For dinner, walk to Hennen’s for one of the best steaks in town. Top off the evening with a horse drawn carriage ride through downtown.


Day Two

Day Two Morning

Start your day with coffee and breakfast at Rembrandt’s Coffee House, a quaint, French stucco cottage featuring pastries and other baked goods from the in-house pastry chef. See what gave the Bluff View Art District its name with a stroll through The Hunter Museum of American Art. As one of Chattanooga’s longest-lived nonprofits, the Hunter began in the 1950s in a 1905 classic revival mansion. Today, it boasts three buildings perched on 80-foot cliffs above the Tennessee River, the view only rivaled by the works inside, featuring American art from the likes of Winslow Homer, Mary Cassatt, and Thomas Cole. Continue this picture-perfect tour with a walk through the nationally acclaimed River Gallery Sculpture Garden, recognized by the Smithsonian in its Archive of American Gardens. Maintained by Master Gardeners, perfectly manicured shrubs frame the 20-plus sculptures and breathtaking views of the Tennessee River.

Should you feel inspired to add some art to your personal collection, mosey over to the River Gallery, the Bluff View’s first business to open in the early ‘90s. The small stucco cottage is spilling over with paintings, sculptures, jewelry and pottery from regionally and nationally celebrated artists.

Day Two Afternoon

Continue the urbane tone of the day with a trip to Warehouse Row, one of the city’s finest shopping destinations. Housed in two warehouses dating back to the Civil War, the exposed brick interior is both hip and high-end, offering independently owned upscale boutiques. Make him swoon with Egyptian cotton sheets at the Yves Delorme Outlet. If clothing is way to her heart, stop by Embellishlululemon, or Anthropologie.

Top off the experience with lunch at Public House, an upscale Southern bistro that takes fried chicken to new heights. 

Still Thirsty? Hop onto ChattanoogaPints and Pedals, a two-hour bike and brew tour of Chattanooga's downtown and Southside pubs and eateries.

Day Two Evening

Top off your busy day with dinner at Alleia, the third restaurant concept by James Beard nominee, Chef Daniel Lindley. The décor is straight out of Manhattan, the menu is inspired by Tuscany but the ingredients are all Chattanooga (whenever possible).

The night is still young! Walk on over to Station Street in Chattanooga's Southside, for loads of entertainment. Choose from stand-up at the Comedy Catch or live music (Songbirds, anyone?) and dancing options abound along the street.


Day Three

Venturing just outside of Chattanooga opens a floodgate of travel options, all thoughtfully outlined at Discover Tennessee Trails and Byways. Check out the Tanasi Trail or Pie in the Sky routes for suggestions. The destinations are seemingly endless, but one particularly romantic escape is Monteagle.

Day Three Morning

There’s simply no better way to drink in the natural beauty of Monteagle than taking it in by foot. Head to Foster Falls for an easy two-mile hike, located about 20 minutes east of town, down Highway 41. Or tour the picturesque campus of Sewanee: The University of the South, located 15 miles to the west. For more than 150 years, Sewanee has served as a leading liberal arts school and Episcopal seminary. Stately trees, gothic architecture and jewel-box stained glass make for a stunning stroll through the 13,000-acre campus. Just a few miles from campus is the Sewanee Natural Bridge, a 25-foot high natural sandstone arch. Access is an easy walk from the parking lot, but if you’re up for a more strenuous hike head to nearby Buggytop Trail, a 4.4-mile hike with waterfalls, wildflowers and curious caves.

Day Three Afternoon

While in Sewanee, check out the thriving art culture by poking around area shops and galleries such as Lemon Fair, a gallery/gift shop specializing in the “handmade, unusual and magical.” Down the street, Taylor’s Mercantile is a florist/gift store housed in an old, stone general store. Well-known Hallelujah Pottery is worth exploring in Monteagle, as is the I-24 Flea Market, open Saturday and Sunday “daylight to dark.”

Day Three Evening

Unwind for the evening at High Point Restaurant, where the food is as rich as its history. The 1929 stone cottage is rumored to have once belonged to Al Capone’s mistress, serving as a popular stopover in his bootlegging operation. But today the food is the star, with nearly 40 entrees ranging from the High Point Oscar, a filet mignon topped with crab meat, asparagus and béarnaise sauce, to the Black Thai Duck, a boneless duck breast crusted with black and white sesame seeds and topped with an Oriental sauce.

Insider tip: Monteagle is about an hour drive, so you’ll probably want to get a hotel room. Jim Oliver’s Smokehouse features Log Cabins with jacuzzi tubs & fireplaces, queen & king rooms with big back decks overlooking the serene and beautiful 20-acre campus, fishing lake, and cabins.

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