travel suggestions please - Chattanooga TN and Asheville NC

[wbnolefan]

the LR came through for my last year's spring break trip, any suggestions appreciated for family stuff/restaurants in chattanooga or asheville (kids are 14,11,7).


Also, google maps gives a couple options for the drive. Is Hwy 64 to I-40 a good drive or should I just take I-75 to knoxville and go that way?

 

[LesClaypool]

Rock City in Chattanooga.

 

[Nole Lou]

Chattanooga has a pretty decent hands-on science museum which should be good for your 7-year old for sure and probably 11-year old. Your 14-year old is probably too old to enjoy it too much, but might be ok.

Of course, the Chattanooga Aquarium is awesome. In my opinion it kicks the crap out of the Atlanta aquarium, but I know that's a minority opinion. The Chattanooga aquarium will kill a lot of time.

 

[Nole Lou]

Also in Chattanooga, there's a pretty good ice cream place my kids get a kick out of, where they basically mix anything you could possibly want into a soft-serve. Not life-changing, but something a little different.

http://www.theicecreamshow.com/TICS/About_Us.html

 

[F4Gary]

In Chattanooga; Rock City, the Aquarium, Rainbow Falls (I think that's what it's called-it's in a cave), and the Civil War Lookout Point above the river. We also took the paddle wheel boat tour, that might be fun for the kids.

 

[OrlandNole]

Lookout Mountain (Ruby Falls/Rock City are a little touristy but worth a look)
Downtown - Children's Science Museum, IMAX, Aquarium, boat tour
Walk across the river on a pedestrian bridge (Walnut Street bridge) to the north shore - shops/restaurants and a park with a carousel.
Too many restaurants to name - Terminal Brewhouse, River City Brewing Co., Pickle Barrel, City House, etc.

The US 64 route is probably a little more scenic. Not sure about drive times. I-40 through the Smokies might be bad because of all the tourists.

 

[TallyNole93]

I agree with Nole Lou. The Chattanooga aquairum is better than Atlanta. Inclined railroad is kind of fun. Take it up the hill then walk to the Civil War lookout. I did Ruby Falls once and that is enough. The walk is not made for someone my size/height (6'4). I was hunched over the whole way.
This post was edited on 3/13 11:49 AM by TallyNole93

 

[2noles1cup]

Grove park inn Asheville.

Champy's chicken in Chattanooga.

 

[NoleInNC]

Flat rock wood room in Hendersonville nc.
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[SoddyNole]

A few that others have not mentioned.

http://thejumppark.com/


http://highpointclimbing.com/


Spend a day and drive up to Cleveland, TN and go whitewater rafting down the Ocoee. Everyone will have a great time (I would not take a 7 year old though). Keep in mind the put in is a lot more dangerous than most people realize (fast water over shallow sections with a lot of rocks to beat you up outside the raft). The rest of the river has some decent class 3 and some small light class 4 rapids and if you get out of the boat you will be ok but a little bit nervous heh.

http://www.ocoeeadventurecenter.com/raft/calendar/

 

[wbnolefan]

thanks guys good info

 

[BillWesJay]

Chattanooga:

Best food places are near the museum district.

There is also a clear bridge near there that the kids would love. It's kinda trippy

 

[osceola74]

In Asheville, try the Corner Kitchen restaurant in the Biltmore Village.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[jim65]

Asheville, lake lure area. Grandfather mountain, biltmore, chimney rock
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[FSUTribe76]

If you've never seen the Biltmore it is a must do. It's more impressive than most of the palaces and castles in Europe and will REALLY make you want to join the Communist Revolution once you see how wasteful it is. The DuPont estates in PA with their majestic gardens was really impressive but didn't make me want to set fire to the DuPont Family. The Biltmore...you will learn to hate the 0.00000001%. Especially when you see the slave.....er servant quarters.

Also in the greater Asheville area for kids is Chimney Rock as others have said. And to bring things full circle, DuPont State Forest is only an hour away and it has multiple beautiful waterfalls and a covered bridge.

Other than that I can't be of help. I go to Asheville about twice a year as I have family property in quasi nearby Shelby. But I always go with my wife to the many, Many breweries in Asheville plus it's distilleries, sakerie and cidery, the wineries outside of Asheville, or head up to Cherokee for some gambling. None of that is kid appropriate so I can't help.

 

[FSUTribe76]

Truthfully Asheville is an amazing town for those in the 21-50 set sans rugrats. Lots of premium drinking opportunities, amazing outdoor hikes, etc.... It's a hipsters dream come true. But for kids I imagine it is boring as %+%*^. I know that as a kid visiting my great grandparents and other relatives in Shelby which is midway between Charlotte and Asheville, I HATED going to Asheville and loved Charlotte. As an adult it's the exact opposite (although I will be going to Carowinds to try out Fury 325 once it's up and running. And as a side note you might want to drive your rugrats over there it's not that far. 2 hours and six mins between them and you can grab some of the worlds best BBQ in Shelby on the way).

 

[jamnolfin]

Go to the other side of Lookout Mountain to a state park called Cloudland canyon in Georgia 15-20 miles from downtown and hike the trail down into the canyon to the waterfall, they have cabins on the canyon wall. Other good outdoor entertainment is their bike trail in the city. Rock City is cool but Ruby Falls is boring. Great Civil war History

 

[billanole]

Between Chat. and A-Ville, take US 64 east thru the Ocoee Gorge for a great drive, tie into US 19 into the Nantahala Gorge and raft there. It is more kid friendly than the Ocoee. 19 on north to tie into US 74 east and hit downtown Waynesville.
Good little downtown district. Mast General Store for outdoor gear, clothing, cookware, and candy. City Bakery for treats and eats. Boojam Brewery for suds and eats. Blue Rooster restaurant off of the highway east of town for delicious local grub. Their burger with pimento cheese is righteous. Waynesville is 30 miles west of Asheville.

Or... Off of 19 just above the Nantahala Gorge, head towards Robbinsville and go out to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. Amazing old growth forest with a figure eight trail that is easy walking... It will take your whole family to reach around some of the big yellow poplar trunks. A couple of hours in the woods. Be aware that food options will be limited around Robinsville.
You can leave there on US 129, tie in to NC 28, and go across Fontana Dam which is the highest in the east at 440 feet. The cars down below at the power house look like match box cars and the Appalachian Trail crosses the dam, so kids can say they have walked a bit of it. NC 28 will lead back into 74 which will take you to Asheville...

We had a great time in Chatanooga years back during Spring Break. Fun town. Reflection Riding Gardens at the base of the mountain has a wildflower sale in the spring that is quite a treat for those who like to plant native rather than exotic species...

This post was edited on 3/13 11:53 PM by billanole

 

[wbnolefan]

Originally posted by SoddyNole:
A few that others have not mentioned.

http://thejumppark.com/


http://highpointclimbing.com/


Spend a day and drive up to Cleveland, TN and go whitewater rafting down the Ocoee. Everyone will have a great time (I would not take a 7 year old though). Keep in mind the put in is a lot more dangerous than most people realize (fast water over shallow sections with a lot of rocks to beat you up outside the raft). The rest of the river has some decent class 3 and some small light class 4 rapids and if you get out of the boat you will be ok but a little bit nervous heh.

http://www.ocoeeadventurecenter.com/raft/calendar/

any hotel suggestions downtown Soddy?

 

[ggmike1992]

The Town Pump Tavern in Black Mountain, NC (just east of Asheville). Just a dive bar I stop in every time I'm riding in that area.


http://www.yelp.com/biz/town-pump-tavern-black-mountain