Apr 6, 2011 - Lookout Mountain

We have driven through Chattanooga a number of times. The operative word here is through. We were usually on our way to Myrtle Beach or to Florida or to see my sister and after negotiating those last few curves through the mountain and along the Tennessee River, we would breathe a sigh of relief and look ahead toward Knoxville. As soon as we got within 200 miles of Chattanooga the bill boards and signs painted on barns would begin - See Ruby Falls! Visit Rock City! It made us think of the Wall Drug signs anyone who has driven the Plains...

Apr 5, 2011 - factory tour

Although our guide at the Tiffiin RV manufacturing plant knew less about RV's than we do, we enjoyed the tour a great deal. We love learning how things are put together and RV assembly is a massive feat of organization of a huge variety of components. On many factory tours we have been restricted behind barriers, but here they let us wander at will, probably getting in the way of the workers at times. We started in the cabinetry and milling building. The air was thick with saw dust, which left the look of snow flakes on many of my...

Mar 30, 2011 - Bluff View Art District

The Bluff View Art District is located in a historic neighborhood which sits high atop a bluff overlooking the Tennessee River. Only 1 1/2 blocks from downtown and The Aquarium, the district is picturesque and fun to explore. While there, you can browse through River Gallery, which exhibits fine art and museum quality crafts from local, regional, national and international artists. Whether you are meandering through the sculpture garden or watching the local artisans bake breads, make chocolates or roast coffee through the large paned...

Mar 29, 2011 - Rock City & Ruby Falls

A well meaning local discouraged us from visiting Ruby Falls, Rock City and the Incline Railway. Well, we had never seen them and were curious. Boy am I ever glad we did not take that persons advice. We so enjoyed both. Lookout Mountain is known for its many unusual geological features. Rock City and Ruby Falls are two popular sites on this mountain of ancient rock. Most of Lookout Mountain is made of limestone rock. About 240 million years ago, a shallow sea covered the eastern Tennessee area, and it was in this sea that the limestone of...

Mar 28, 2011 - Tennessee Aquarium

The Tennessee Aquarium is comprised of two buildings. Both are very attractive architectural structures. The interior is a maze that moves people through the building along ramp floors instead of stairs. It is amazing how easily you get to the top of the building. The aquarium advertises 10,000+ animals. It is one of the best aquariums I have ever seen. It easily rivals the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. They have the most extensive Seahorse display anywhere. The light is real low for the Seahorses so none of my pictures came out. The...

Mar 27, 2011 - So much fun being a tourist

We did it all while in the Chattanooga area. The Elks Lodge is actually in a suburb of Chattanooga called Brainerd. So our drive into the heart of Chattanooga was about 20 minutes. The weather report for the week is gray and drizzly not the best for sight seeing. At least it is not snowing. LOL First on the list was the Chattanooga Choo Choo. The old steam engine sits behind the terminal train station along with a number of old passenger cars. The terminal station has been converted into one of the best "Historic Hotels in America". The...

Mar 26, 2011 - Chattanooga, TN

We arrrived in Chattanooga yesterday afternoon to increasingly ominous cloudy skies. It is supposed to rain with thunder storms for the next couple of days. So we may be doing more indoor stuff and leave the Gold Wing home. We want to the visit The Aquarium, the Chattanooga Cho Cho, Lookout Mountain and the Incline Train to name a few. Spring has come to this part of the country and the pine trees are sloughing off it's powdery yellow pollen all over everything. Since there would have been severe consequences if we attempted to rinse off...

Nov 12, 2010 - Picked up new camper

We drove down Friday afternoon with check in hand to take delivery on our first travel trailer with kids in tow. We stayed Friday night at the Camping World campgrounds to check everything out. Saturday morning we went up to Rock City and enjoyed the day with the kids. Stayed again Saturday night and headed back to Nashville Sunday morning in the rain ad fog. Quite an experience for all for the first time pulling the 27 footer but everything went fine. Looking forward to getting back on the road soon.

Oct 28, 2010 - Raccoon Mountain....

Quite a change from our spacious lots in Hendersonville!! But we're in the shadow of the mountain and there's really neat stuff to see. We can walk over to this : http://www.raccoonmountain.com/html/cave.html. But don't think we'll take the time to go. I'm sure it's beautiful! It was an interesting trip in here off the Interstate! ... They have Huge yellow billboard signs but it's not quite clear if they mean the campground or the cave... actually they're one and the same! But after we turned on the supposed right little road ... and the...

Oct 24, 2010 - Choo Choooooo . . . 'Board!!

Rather than lament about our house/vehicle problems, suffice it to say the dents in the truck tailgate resulting from a hit and run have been fixed, the trailer braking system has FINALLY been resolved, the power switching device that melted in the RV has been replaced, the washing machine now works, and the furnace produces sufficient heat to keep us warm on chilly nights. That said, it was a truly great time in Ottawa visiting with son, Brent, his significant other, Carrie, and their friends. The unplanned, extra days gave us more time to...

Sep 24, 2010 - Another Trip- Starting in Chattanooga

Hi Well we got here in the end started out from Uplyme on Monday catching the 14.06 train to Heathrow stayed the night at the Arora, up at 4.30am to get the bus to Heathrow. First flight 10 hours to Houston Texas where we were meant to have 3 hours to relax but instead we were in a queue for over 1.5 hours getting through customs finally our turn ,were they going to let us in again we were not sure SO MANY questions AGAIN anybody would think they did not like us spending our money in America!!!! Next flight to Birmingham Alabama straight...

Aug 27, 2010 - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Pardon me boys…is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo? Sing along if you know the words! Yup, we’re in Chattanooga, TN, the same city made famous by the big band song Chattanooga Choo Choo in the 1940’s. And yes….there is a Chattanooga Choo Choo in the city. But, we started off by visiting Lookout Mountain and taking a tour of the caverns which have a 145 foot water fall inside. Lookout Mountain was an easy drive toward the downtown area from where we’re staying. The mountain is quite well known as it was a battle field during the Civil War and...