Outdoor Chattanooga was the first stop on our outdoor adventure trip. This is a division of the City of Chattanooga’s Parks and Recreation Department. They’ve been encouraging people to explore the natural beauty of the region since 2003. Whether from a river or a mountaintop, or from a bicycle or a kayak, Outdoor Chattanooga invites everyone to come out and play.
We took them up on a couple of their adventures. We rented bicycles and pedaled along the trails and took in the picturesque scenery of the Tennessee Riverpark. This is an area where residents and visitors alike flock to carry on all types of outdoor activities. Within the 13 miles of trails and 150 acres, there’s enough room for everyone. People come out to run, jog, walk, roller blade, people watch, heron watch, boat watch, cook-out, smell some flowers, picnic, read, fish, fly a kite, play ball, explore, escape or grab some sun or launch a boat. Yes, indeed there is something for everyone. We got a first-hand look at the vision—to reconnect the city with the river—that is now reality.
The next day, we rented kayaks and headed out onto the river where we enjoyed a natural therapy that money can’t buy. As we paddled across the water, we watched the blue heron and other wildlife who call this area home, while we soaked in the cool mountain air and listened to absolutely nothing but nature.
Outdoor Chattanooga’s OutVenture division offers other fully-guided adventures, including hiking, ropes course activities, and camping for groups of all ages. For more information, go to www.outdoorchattanooga.com
HANG-GLIDING
Talk about excitement---hang gliding over Look-Out Mountain has to be one of the highlights of my life. This was a new experience for me, but WOW! I left the Lookout Mountain Flight Park with a resounding “I’ll be back!!”
I went up on a Tandem Discovery Flight with an instructor. We were towed up 2,000 feet by an Ultra-Light Airplane then it happened—we detached from the plane. Imagine the most beautiful postcard of Lookout Mountain. That’s what I saw as I soared through the sky like a bird in flight.
Lookout Mountain Flight Park is the largest and most popular full-time hang gliding school and resort in the United States. Each year, they teach, certify and solo five times as many pilots as any other school. They offer a 110- acre mountain resort with camping and lodging conveniently located in the landing zone. It’s located only 20 minutes from Chattanooga.
They offer a wide variety of options, whether you want to try hang gliding once, for a couple of days, a long weekend, or become a certified hang glider pilot. They offer something for everyone. To live out your dream of hang gliding, call 1-877-hanglide or visit www.hanglide.com.
WHITE WATER RAFTING
A Chattanooga adventure has to include riding the rapids and Wildwater Ltd. has everything you’ll need. They offers a wide selection of trips so you can try rafting for the first time or step up to more challenging options.
The Ocoee River offers fun and excitement from beginning to end. Challenge the long rapids, large waves and continuous action on two different half-day trips or make it a full-day and experience both sections of the river. Trips run mid-March thru October.
For more information, visit www.wildwaterrafting.com or call 877-451-9972.
NATIONAL MILITARY PARK
Our adventure trip also included some history. We were able to take a step back in time at the Chickamauga Battlefield. It was on these hills in 1863, the Federal and Confederate armies clashed in some of the Civil War’s hardest fighting. The prize was Chattanooga, key rail center and gateway to the heart of the Confederacy.
The visitor center offers exhibits, a bookstore, and the Claud E. and Zenada O. Fuller Collection of American Military Shoulder Arms. Of the 346 weapons on display, many are rare and unique. A 23 minute audio-visual program, “The Battle of Chickamauga,” runs throughout the day. Outside the visitor center, an artillery display shows the various type of field artillery used at Chickamauga and Chattanooga. The battlefield has many monuments, historical tablets, and hiking trails. Visitors can reach the major points of interest via the seven-mile auto tour.
For more information, visitwww.nps.gov/chch.
GREENLIFE GROCERY
During our visit to Chattanooga, we stopped by to grab a snack at Greenlife Grocery and it opened up a new world of grocery shopping to me. It operates two full-service natural foods grocery stores that are dedicated to bringing in the freshest and healthiest food and products available. They offer an unbelievable selection of almost everything you can think of.
They also have a juice bar, coffee bar, hot soups and hot bar. Some of the items on the bar included wood fired pizza, honey-peanut glazed chicken, chili-lime tofu, and pineapple-rhubarb crisp. So they are the one stop shop to get everything you need for a picnic, but once you get in the door you may just decide to have lunch. To get the best of the best, stop in at Greenlife Grocery located at 301 Manufacturer’s Road.
WHERE TO STAY
For somewhere to stay during your visit, I can recommend a place with true southern hospitality---the Chattanooga Marriott at the Convention Center located at Two Carter Center. It is truly a home away from home. It is located in the heart of downtown, convenient to attractions, dining and nightlife. The hotel features 342 guest rooms, indoor/outdoor swimming pools, and a fitness center. Visitors may take the free electric shuttle to many Chattanooga attractions.
We stayed in a newly renovated room with all the modern conveniences. We enjoyed the new Revive bedding, including down comforters, custom duvets and cotton rich linens, complimentary high speed wireless Internet and a flat screen television.
For more information, call 1-800-841-1674.
It’s time to start planning your Chattanooga getaway. For more information, contact the Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-322-3344 or visit the website at www.chattanoogafun.com.
