Page 34 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – November/December 2021

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Visit to
Chattanooga
All aboard! Sandwiched between Atlanta, Georgia, I ate at Tupelo Honey, a southern restaurant located on
and Nashville, Tennessee, is a gem, Chattanooga, Tennessee. You may have heard of it thanks to the popular songs “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” by Glenn
Miller or “Chattahoochee” by Alan Jackson. But has it ever occurred to you to visit? Well, I’m here to tell you, it’s worth a trip. Believe it or not, Chattanooga was actually named one of the “Top 45 Places to Go” in the World by the New York Times. I was fortunate enough to be able to visit this cute city for only about 24 hours, but in that short time, I fell in love.
Upon arrival, I checked into 3-Diamond Designated property, The Read House Hotel. Originally established
in 1872, the hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Read House is the longest continually operating hotel in the Southeast. It has been restored to its 1920s elegance to bring guests back to the lavishness of the jazz era. Talk about traveling back in time, just entering the lobby you feel like you’re right back in the “swing” of things. Throughout the property, you can see beautiful grand halls and ballrooms, ornate chandeliers and vintage collectibles. The Read House even comes with its own legend and ghost. Guests can stay in room 311 to have a paranormal experience or take a tour upon request. Fun Fact: Winston Churchill stayed at this hotel with his daughter in 1932.
Chattanooga is full of charming places to eat, whether it be for morning coffee or a fancy date night. For dinner,
Warehouse Row. They serve classics like Fried Green Tomatoes, Fried Pickles and Chicken and Buttermilk Waffles. I ordered the Tupelo Shrimp and Grits which was absolutely delicious. For breakfast, I traveled to the Frothy Monkey where I had the most delightful vanilla latte with oat milk and a croque-monsieur. Both places had great atmospheres with food and drink to write home about.
Conveniently, the Frothy Monkey was attached to
the biggest must-see spot for me, the Chattanooga Choo-Choo. Opened in 1909, Terminal Station once served travelers from far and wide on the railroad in its golden age. Sadly, as the years went on and trains were less popular methods of transportation, the celebrated building was in danger of being demolished. To save the structure, it was turned into a hotel in 1973 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the following year. Located on Station Street, the Chattanooga Choo- Choo hotel is centered around the old rail yard and themed like the beloved song. Their grounds out back are aptly named “Glenn Miller Gardens.” Aside from the other standard rooms, guests can actually choose to stay in restored train cars! Plus, in the wintertime, the gardens open up for ice-skating.
I was completely inspired by my visit to Chattanooga. I hope to go back and spend more time when I can further explore what the city has to offer.
Emily Gnacik is the Editor of AAA Every Day Magazine.
34 I NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021