My daughter and I recently embarked on a summer road trip to Chattanooga, TN, and it was an absolute delight! Using my Bonvoy points, I booked us a stay at the Westin Chattanooga (https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/chawi-the-westin-chattanooga/overview/) in Downtown Chattanooga, where we enjoyed a fantastic room with a stunning view of the pool and the city.

We arrived around lunchtime on Saturday, and luckily, our room was ready. We quickly dropped off our luggage and headed to Public House (https://www.publichousechattanooga.com/) for a delectable lunch. I savored the salmon croquette paired with a glorious glass of wine, while my daughter indulged in a grilled cheese with fries and a cookie—delicious!

Having purchased tickets in advance (a must, as we learned they were sold out upon arrival), we visited the Tennessee Aquarium (https://tnaqua.org/). The exhibits were mesmerizing, featuring butterflies, stingrays, sharks, starfish, jellyfish, turtles, and various river inhabitants. Afterward, my daughter cooled off in a lovely pool outside the aquarium.

The Passage

A short walk led us to The Passage (https://www.visitchattanooga.com/listing/the-passage/2484/), a pedestrian link between downtown Chattanooga and the Tennessee River, marking the start of the Trail of Tears. It’s a beautiful exhibit and a touching memorial. We then treated ourselves to a sweet treat at Downtown Dough (https://www.downtowndough.com/), enjoying cookie dough and ice cream, before taking an Uber back to the Westin for some pool relaxation.

Rock City Garden Path

Sunday morning began with a scrumptious breakfast at Ruby Sunshine (https://www.rubybrunch.com/). I relished the fried green tomato eggs benedict with a latte—simply divine! We then headed to Rock City Garden(https://www.seerockcity.com/) for our 9:30 a.m. tickets, also purchased in advance. The garden offered breathtaking views and incredible rock formations, although the fairy garden was a bit kitschy. We enjoyed an animal show where caretakers introduced exotic birds—a real treat!

Top of Lookout Mountain

Next, we rode the Incline Railway(https://ridetheincline.com/) to the top of Lookout Mountain. This historic funicular railway, over 125 years old, was a hit with my daughter. We also indulged in some delicious fudge at the station shop.

After a hearty lunch at Tony’s Pasta & Trattoria Shop (https://bluffviewartdistrictchattanooga.com/tonys-pasta-shop/) in the Bluff View Art District, where I savored fettuccine with pesto, shrimp, and broccoli, we returned to the hotel for a nap and more pool time. Dinner took us to Whole Foods on the North Shore, where we discovered a charming toy shop that my daughter adored.

We concluded our trip with a restful night at the hotel, followed by an early drive back home. Our Chattanooga adventure was filled with fun, food, and unforgettable memories!