A Chattanooga Getaway

There is something special about taking a trip with your parents once you’re older. The dynamic shifts just enough that you get to play tour guide, handle the logistics, and pamper them a bit—even if they still spend half the trip trying to tell you how to drive.

A while back, right around my birthday, we decided it was time for a quick getaway. The destination was Chattanooga, Tennessee. It’s one of those places that sits just sweet enough on the map: close enough that you can make a day trip out of it if you push hard, but far better as a relaxed two-day venture where you can actually slow down, look around, and enjoy yourself.

So, we loaded up the vehicle and hit the highway, northbound for Tennessee.

Setting Up Camp: Holiday Inn Express Style

When we arrived in Chattanooga, we pulled into the Holiday Inn Express. Now, I wanted Mom and Dad to be comfortable, so I got them booked into a full suite while I grabbed myself a regular room down the hall.

If you’ve ever traveled with parents who grew up frugal, you know that handing them the key cards to a suite is an event in itself. Dad immediately began testing out the chair firmness and checking the TV channel lineup, while Mom did the customary walk-through to inspect the towels and comment on how clean everything looked. With everyone settled in comfortably, we got a good night’s rest because we had a big itinerary lined up for the next day.

Destination #1: Riding the Incline Railway

Bright and early the next morning, we set out for our first main stop: The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. I had already bought our tickets ahead of time—which turned out to be a smart move because the line moves fast once those cars load up.

For those unfamiliar, the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway (often called “America’s Most Amazing Mile”) is a historic funicular railway operating since 1895. It climbs right up the side of Lookout Mountain at a staggering maximum grade of 72.7%, making it one of the steepest passenger railways in the world. The cars are built on a track with a single track loop in the middle so cars passing each other can bypass smoothly.

We walked up to the platform, boarded the rail car, and took our seats. Here’s the thing about this ride: you start out sitting down, but as the car gets moving, it goes up the mountain backwards at an angle that quickly feels less like a train ride and more like a slow-motion rocket launch.

As you ascend, the ground below you just drops away. About halfway up, the track splits slightly to the side so you can pass the other car making its way down, and then it joins back together as you keep climbing up the face of the mountain. The engineering is fascinating, and the views opening up behind you are flat-out spectacular.

When you get off at the top station, you have a little time to wander around before taking the return ride down. We took a nice stroll over to the park area at the peak of the mountain—the site of a major Civil War battle—where you can stand near the overlooks, look down over the entire bend of the Tennessee River, and soak in the history.

After taking in the sights, we boarded the car for the return trip down. It’s the exact same setup, just in reverse. We made it all the way back down to the bottom station, stepped off onto solid ground, and were catching our breath when Mom looked over at us, shook her head, and delivered what might be the greatest quote of the entire trip:

“Well, that’s the first time I ever paid that much to make my butt pucker like that!”

If that isn’t a five-star endorsement for a steep railway, I don’t know what is.

Destination #2: The Tennessee Aquarium (Freshwater Side)

Still laughing from Mom’s review of the railway, we headed over to the Tennessee Aquarium.

Now, the aquarium in Chattanooga is split into two massive, distinct buildings: one dedicated to saltwater and ocean environments, and the other dedicated entirely to freshwater river habitats. We didn’t do both sides on this trip; we decided to stick strictly to the freshwater building (River Journey).

It turned out to be a fantastic choice. Watching Dad get up close to those massive, floor-to-ceiling river tanks was worth the price of admission all by itself. He spent years looking at fish from the top of the water—usually trying to hook them—so seeing giant largemouth bass, bluegill, bream, and enormous river catfish swimming right in front of him, eye-to-eye, was a whole new experience. He’d press close to the glass, examining every fin and shadow like he was sizing them up for a weekend fishing trip.

The displays in that building are top-tier. They track freshwater ecosystems from mountain streams all the way down to deep river basins, filled with alligators, turtles, and every native fish you can imagine. If you ever find yourself in or near Chattanooga, I’d recommend that freshwater aquarium to anyone. It is well worth every dime to walk through those displays.

Wrapping It Up

After we finished exploring the aquarium, we found a good spot for dinner, sat down to talk over everything we’d seen, and eventually pointed the wheels back toward home.

Chattanooga really is a great town. It’s close enough to be an easy drive, but rich enough in sights that a two-day weekend gives you just the right amount of time to relax and explore without feeling rushed. Looking back, that birthday trip with Mom and Dad stands out as one of the very best—complete with good food, high peaks, underwater bream, and a quote from Mom that I’ll probably be laughing about for the rest of my life.