A Fourth of July Weekend in Chattanooga

Friday: Knoxville dinner and the drive south

We left Friday evening with a long-weekend plan and Chattanooga ahead of us. Our first idea was dinner at Wicked Chicken in downtown Knoxville, but the restaurant was crowded and parking was difficult to find.

Red Robin became the backup. We ended up in the bar area, where service was spotty, but the food was still good enough to get the trip started.

After dinner, we continued toward Chattanooga and stopped for the night at a Hampton Inn near the Ooltewah exit. Staying outside downtown kept us from pushing too far after work and also positioned us well for Saturday's golf.

Saturday: Nob North and Nashville hot chicken

We got moving the next morning and reached Chick-fil-A just after breakfast ended, so an early lunch had to do. From there, we took the back roads for the roughly 30-minute drive to Cohutta, Georgia.

Nob North Golf Course was the main event. The Gary Player-designed course was not especially long, but it demanded more thought than the yardage suggested. I joined a friendly group of local golfers, which made the round more enjoyable even as the crowded course slowed the pace.

Because golf ran longer than expected, we asked the group for dinner advice. They pointed us toward the Hamilton Place area, where we chose Party Fowl.

I ignored a warning from the server and ordered the Nashville heat level. It was genuinely hot, but the tender, crispy chicken made the punishment worthwhile. A dill-pickle shandy sounded unusual and turned out to be a surprisingly good match for the meal.

Crumbl Cookies was dessert. The touchscreen ordering felt new at the time, although that week's flavor selection did not live up to what we hoped for.

Sunday: The Choo Choo, Chattanooga Market, and local drinks

On Sunday morning, we made our way to the Chattanooga Choo Choo. We did not realize how many food and drink options were already part of the complex until we parked and began exploring.

From there, we walked about a mile to the Chattanooga Market for its Fourth of July weekend festival. Before reaching the market, we detoured to Chattanooga Brewing Company for a beer and a snack—a welcome break from the midday heat.

The market was lively and crowded. After looking through the vendor stalls, we bought coffee and a few local products to take home. It was not the kind of place where I wanted to spend the entire afternoon, but it gave us a good look at Chattanooga's local makers and food scene.

On the walk back, Chattanooga Whiskey drew us in across from the Choo Choo. The tasting was about $15 at the time and felt more polished than many tastings we had tried elsewhere: a relaxed bar setting, proper glassware, and several samples.

After checking into the hotel, we visited a few more nearby breweries and spent the evening sampling beer and snacking rather than committing to another large meal.

Staying at the Chattanooga Choo Choo

The room itself was fairly basic, but the historic terminal, restaurants, distillery, rail cars, and walkable location gave the hotel its personality. The converted train-car rooms especially caught my attention, although none were available when we booked.

For a short downtown trip, the atmosphere mattered more than luxury. We could park, explore the property, and reach several places on foot without turning every stop into another drive.