Jackson to Chattanooga via Desoto. (1 Viewer)

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So thanks for all the recommendations on food. This is a travel/food/stuff we did thread so I can come back to continue expanding on it. The Mentone/ Lookout Mountain area has ALOT to do.


Day 1
Drove to Tuscaloosa. kids were dying to get out of the car so We pulled off planning to go see Moundville Moundville Archaeological Park – University of Alabama Museums - https://moundville.museums.ua.edu/. And came up on this BBQ place Moes. It’s a chain but had pretty good pulled pork and banana pudding.

once in the park we spotted a nice 40.

 

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Day 2

Woke up in Desoto State Park and jumped Little River to roam around Alpine Camp. We hiked along the river and then headed into Mentone for lunch.

Mentone Market had awesome taco soup and sandwiches. The kids loved the old school pop top coke machine.

We saw this fully restored bike with side car on our way out.

We drove by Desoto and Skyline camps and headed to Rock Town. I went there a lot during my Alpine Camp days.


Rocktown (Georgia) - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocktown_(Georgia). The road into Rock town was wash boarded bad but it was worth it. At the head of the trail you hike a mile through forest and suddenly hit a huge rock complex covering several acres. It’s part of the Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA

Kids loved it.

 

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Day 3

We went to Desoto falls first thing. My favorite fact was that, as one of the first hydro electric generator plants, the surrounding area got power 24/7. This meant a boy had to flip switches on all the street lamps in town. Later Arthur Miller, the inventor, cut back his hours which lead to women having a few hours on Thursday’s to iron.

After Desoto falls we poked along Lookout MNT to the south to see Little River Canyon. There is an excellent viewing platform just below the falls on the east side. Along the west side on Little River Canyon Rim Parkway there are 2 areas the kids loved Mushroom Rock and lower 2 mile beach. It’s not 2 miles long but feels like it’s 2 miles down!! The Little River Canyon Center was closed but looks like it’s be worth the stop.

Rim of the Canyon Cafe and Grocery had a great burger, tater tots, and milkshake. We got there right at lunch as all the locals arrived so no pics. I was shuffling burgers to picnic tables keeping an eye on the time so we didn’t miss our next stop.

Cloudmont Ski and Golf Resort - Home - https://www.cloudmont.com/shadygrove.html
Shady Grove dude ranch was the original site of cloudmont boys camp. When Desoto Falls was harnessed for power Mr. Miller saw the need to preserve the area. He bought the land from the original Cloudmont owner but allowed the camp to ride horses over to the Desoto falls. So, we got to see Desoto falls from a privileged view, the other side! The staff was great with my 8, 9, 10, and 11 year olds. Horses were healthy and trail broken for first timers. It’s expensive but highly worth the hour ride for the views and trails. There’s a Civil War graveyard on site as well.

 

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Desoto Falls from the private side.

 

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Day 4

We got up and headed out early from our cabin at Desoto State park to make our way north over Lookout Mountain. I’d wanted to see Chickamauga National Military Park but we had hard times, due to COVID, so we pressed on to ROCK City.

After Rock City we drove over to Point Park before descending into Chattanooga. Point Park Battlefield - https://www.visitchattanooga.com/listing/point-park-battlefield/1112/. The “Battle above the clouds” occurred there but it’s also a perfect venue for a picnic and view of the Tennessee River. It’s easy to grasp its military importance seeing all the rail lines and river within cannon range.

After the park we went down into Chattanooga only to come back up on the incline railway. If heights bother you then skip this one. Good grief, my wife had hysterical moments as the chains and rail line creaked.

We stayed at the Court Yard Marriott downtown. Excellent to walk to stuff but not Land cruiser/cargo box/EAF friendly so we parked on street.

Within a block are: Lookouts baseball, aquarium, kids science museum, indoor, rock climbing, food, the river park and walking bridge and the list goes on.

We went by the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel to look around, checked in and walked over to Lupis. Excellent lasagna, pizza, and calzones. https://lupi.com

Almost to full to walk we went over to Walnut Street and the pedestrian bridge which would lead us to Coolidge Park on the North side of the TN River and the secret weapon for too much pizza, Clumpies Ice Cream. Coolidge park is well lit for night time football tossing, people watching, and for my monkies... there are excellent 40 foot magnolias just off the foot bridge to play in. In summer there is a carousel and splash pad.

 

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Day 5



We arose early and hit up Bluegrass grill. It was legit.

After Bluegrass we went to the Aquarium. This is m favorite aquarium. They have an ocean building and a river building. There was a huge arts and crafts fair going on outside too. They have an imax if you want Russel Crowe telling you about turtles. We opted out.



For lunch we doubled down on Main Street and went to Main Street Meats. LEGIT burger, great smoked Turkey and strawberry short cake.

To let that sit a while before more walking we drove over to Rock/Creek Outfitters south. They were just starting 25 years ago when I spent weeks on Tennessee Wall. They have anything and everything for climbing and floating.



We rode around downtown checking out McCallie school, confederate cemetery, old churches and ended up back at the hotel. Across the street is the Creative Discovery Museum. If your wife is 18 weeks pregnant AND done all the above and your kids have way to much energy for 1500 then this is the place. Engineering, science, enter-active games, all while you drink $5 coffee and relax. Glorious. https://www.cdmfun.org



We then hit up Pucketts Grocery and Ben and Jerry’s (a block away by hotel) and called it a day.

 

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Day 6



We hit up Koch for doughnuts and coffee leaving town. Awesome place. http://www.kochsbakery.com




6 hours home, unloaded, Laundry rolling.



Lookout Mountain has outdoor stuff, civil war history, and stuff for all seasons. We are going back to camp, fly fish and see Chickamauga. Chattanooga is growing. Vibrant, art, lively down town, tons of dining, tons to do outside.



Go.

 

[pmccraney]

nice!!