Where to Go from Nashville: Chattanooga

THE SCENE

As surprised as I was when my family first announced they were moving from Greenwich, Connecticut to Chattanooga, Tennessee, it's now one of my favorite places to visit. This bike and running-shoe friendly city is in the middle of a cool-boom, with hybrid shopping and lifestyle experiences popping up in well-designed locales. Be sure to check out the Bluff View Art District, a chic little neighborhood filled with cafes, historic buildings, and galleries. Warehouse Row has recently become a haven for shopping, dining, and strolling. There's a free shuttle line to help you get around.

WHAT TO DO

- Knitting Mill, for incredible antiques and cheap vintage goods
- North Shore Yoga, for your ommmm fix
-Petunia's Silver Jalapeño, for down home barbecue in sleek Warehouse Row
- Rembrandt's (204 High Street; +1-423-265-5033), for coffee on the spacious outdoor patio
- Chattanooga River, for a leisurely run
- Aretha Frankensteins, for Waffles of Insane Greatness
- Hunter Museum of American Art, for a refreshing mix of Colonial and contemporary art in a modern building perched on an 80-foot bluff overlooking the Chattanooga River
- Mountain Opry, for downhome accoustics (bluegrass, fiddling)

WHERE TO STAY

- Bluff View Inn, beautifully appointed rooms in three restored turn-of-the-century homes
- Delta Queen Hotel, a moored paddle wheel ship with captain's quarters, cozy cabins, and southern hospitality
- Stone Fort Inn, downtown's quirky bed and breakfast

HOW TO GET THERE

Chattanooga, home of Lookout Mountain and the Chattanooga Choo Choo, is about 130 miles (or a two-and-a-half hour drive) southeast of Nashville. You can zip down I-24. If you've got a boat, you can make a grand entrance via the Tennessee River.

MAP IT

See the locations for this trip. (Googlemap)

FOR YOUR BEDSIDE TABLE

- 36 Hours in Chattanooga, an itinerary including hotels, culture, food, and shopping (NYT)
- Seasoned to Taste, recipes, photos, and anecdotes by the Junior League of Chattanooga
- The Pulse, the alternative weekly for cultural happenings
- Family Vacation Planner: Tennessee, a list of recommended sites (National Geographic)
- Roots: The Saga of an American Family, Alex Haley's Pulitzer Prize-winning story