Chattanooga, Tennessee.

My family is pretty much spread out across the southeastern United States. My dad, stepmom, and little brother live in Birmingham, Alabama. Both sets of my grandparents live in my hometown Philadelphia, Mississippi. And my mom and best friend live in Texas. I live in Knoxville, Tennessee. So you can tell that in order to see anyone in my family, I have to travel a little bit. Over winter break this past December, my mom and I decided to go down to "The 'Sip", and spend Christmas with my grandparents (her parents). In order to get to Philadelphia from Knoxville I have to pass through the stunning city of Chattanooga. I have passed through Chatt multiple times, and even went as a very young child with my parents. But I never stopped and explored the city since I've gotten older. So that's exactly what I did this time.

There are so many things to do in Chattanooga, and I wish I had the time to more but unfortunately I was on a time crunch. If you plan on visiting Chattanooga, I highly suggest going to Ruby Falls, the tallest underground Waterfall in America. Tickets were only 20 dollars per person for a guided tour down in the caverns leading to the waterfall. Unfortunately when I went, my anxiety was quite bad, so I decided to fore-go the underground tour and climb to the observation deck that had a scenic view of Chattanooga. All I can say is WOW. Not only can you see the mountains on your left, you get a view of the Tennessee River, and you can see the city for miles and miles.

My other recommendations for visiting Chattanooga would be to visit Rock City and Lookout Mountain. This area is located just 6 miles from downtown Chatt, but has an incredible overlook which makes it one of the most visited places in the city. See old rock formations, take a stroll in the gardens, or stop for dinner at one of the various places to eat.

Next up is the Tennessee Aquarium; this one is pretty self explanatory. Who doesn't want to see majestic sea creatures? One of the most popular attractions for families, the aquarium, will keep the kiddos busy for hours (or if don't have your own kids, just be a kid yourself and go)! You won't be disappointed.

Of course, you can't go to a new city without tasting some local cuisine. Although I haven't been able to try a ton of restaurants in the Chattanooga area, you can never go wrong with barbecue or down-home southern cooking! I always suggest searching on Google for restaurants, but if you really want some tasty food, ask the locals where they go eat. They know the area best, and can recommend places the internet may not even know about!

Overall, Chattanooga is a great city with tons to do. Whether you like the mountains, or being near water, there is something for everyone here. Only 2 hours from both Knoxville and Nashville, it is a great place for a little weekend getaway, or a pit-stop if you're passing through. Like I said, I did not get to explore as much as I wanted, but I guess that just means I'll have to go back!

Where are your favorite places to go in Chattanooga?