Chattanooga: Rock City

For memorial day weekend we decided to head to Chattanooga, Tennessee.  It was on my top three list of southern cities that I wanted to visit this summer (along with New Orleans and Savannah, Georgia).  It is one of the most picturesque big(ish) cities I have ever visited.  Imagine a lush, green city, the perfect mix of modern and southern charm, set on a bend in the Tennessee river, surrounded by mountains (or tall hills to someone from Utah).

Chattanooga

Upon arriving we drove strait up to Rock City. We didn’t even make a pit stop at our hotel.  We just headed strait up Lookout mountain. How could we not after passing “See Rock City” billboards for hundreds of miles.  It was obvious to us that this place was kind of a big deal. There were so many advertisements we turned it into a road trip game.  Every time we saw a sign we would punch each other in the arm.  It got kind of violent.  I might suggest turning it into a less contentious game by…say…eating a piece of candy, or a carrot stick if you’re a health nut. Still, we prefer punching.

Rock City

Rock City is an attraction on top of Lookout Mountain (close to downtown Chattanooga).  There is a path that winds through large rock formations and gardens leading to a Lover’s Leap, a viewpoint that looks out over seven states.

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My In-laws are pretty photogenic!

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As with most tourist attractions, Rock City is a bit overpriced for a stroll through the woods.  On the other hand…it’s just something you have to do while you are on vacation.  The experience is totally unique and the view from the top is amazing!

Rock City 6Rock City 7Rock City 8Spoiler Alert: we didn’t jump.

After Lover’s Leap the path leads you through what Rock City calls “Fairyland Caverns”.  I call it “The Dark Hallway Strait Out of my Worst Nightmares.”  It is a cave filled with back lit figurines of gnomes and fairytale stories.  This picture explains it better than I ever could with words.

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And on that note, we left Rock City.

The other day I went to Amish country in Tennessee with my mother-in-law.  On our way out of town I got a punch in the arm.  Rock city will forever be a part of our road trips.