5 Local Gems Not to Miss in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Yesterday I received a call from a friend inquiring about the itinerary of the day . I didn’t have plans and neither did she. That never stopped us from having the most amazing impromptu adventures. This is what I love about my friend, she is ALWAYS ready to go! Everyone should have a friend like her in their circle. A friend who’s always down for an unplanned adventure. If you don’t have one , get one! It’s also cool to actually be that kind of friend. Don’t be so hung up on planning and sticking to the schedule. Forgot the schedule and explore!!

Very quickly we decided that Chattanooga would be our best bet with it only being an hour and forty minutes drive outside Atlanta. We had no set schedule or plan, just an idea of what we wanted to experience. With that we got in the car and off we went.

As soon as we got into Chattanooga it starts to rain. Like really hard. Mind you, no rain was in the forecast! Ugh!! Not a problem for us though! We are always prepared. A couple little raindrops won’t stop this day of adventure finding. During our 6 hour stay in Chattanooga we were able to explore quite a few amazing establishments. Definitely add these to your list of places to visit next time you find yourself in Chattanooga.

1. Our first stop was to the very beautiful Hunter Museums of American Art. The museum sits on 80-foot bluff on the edge of the Tennessee River. It’s quite the sight to see. From the inside, you’ll enjoy more breathtaking views of the river and mountains. “The Hunter Museum focuses on American art from the Colonial period to the present day. The collection includes paintings, works on paper, sculpture, photography, mixed media, furniture and contemporary studio glass covering a range of styles and periods.” Yesterday we saw two very cool exhibits currently on display, UNDER THE MEXICAN SKY: A REVOLUTION IN MODERN PHOTOGRAPHY and NEW MEDIA, NEW MILLENNIUM: DIGITAL ART FROM THE THOMA FOUNDATION. When you’re done at the museum head to the Walnut Street Bridge for a beautiful walk across the Tennessee River.

2. We made our way to The Local Juicery + Kitchen where we picked up some amazing cold pressed organic juices. There were so many to choose from! I finally decided on the Sweet Heart Beet, which had apple, pineapple, and ginger in it. Sooo good! I also picked up a bottle of kombucha from Muse + Metta. I was drawn in by the bottle and immediately wanted to reuse and stick a flower in it! Upon looking closer, it read Mango Chili Saffron. Oh my! I needed to taste it. That flavor combination was screaming at me! Yes, I got it. Not only did they have juices and kombucha, you can also create your cold pressed juices, get an açaí bowls, and enjoy good vibes. Stop by in the Summer to snag a popsicle!

3. After a short walk, we found ourselves at Wildflower Tea Shop & Apothecary. It’s soooo cute! So this is where you want to go if you’re a tea connoisseur like myself. They offer a amazing selection of organic loose leaf teas as well as “bulk herbs, essential oils, flower essences and locally and/or regionally made herbal products.”

Another thing that you may find of interest is their fresh baked vegan treats. I was a very happy girl munching on my vegan ginger snap cookie! Yummy!!

4. You all know I love a cute coffee shops! And lattes!! Every city I’m in, I have to also explore the coffee scene. Using my trusty YELP app I found Plus Coffee Co. Located at the foot of Ruby Falls, this coffee shop is serving up coffee roasted by Quills Coffee. Off the seasonal menu, I ordered the Honey Cinnamon Latte. Yummmmmm!! My friend ordered a cold brew and was very much delighted.

5. Last stop of our impromptu trip was to a restaurant that was actually suggested by a young lady at the Wildflower Tea Shop. When we asked her where a good place to eat was she immediately said the Flying Squirrel Bar. Ok. Love the name! She went on the inform us of the chef driven menu and how amazing the food was. Well that’s really all we needed to hear so we headed to the Flying Squirrel Bar. We’re so easy.

This place was huge! Lots of seating options. We were seating in the upstairs lounge like area. Very nice. As we looked over the menu we became very excited. Everything looked AMAZING!! My friend ended up getting the special of the day, an Arugula Pasta with Braised Beef. She also got the Roasted Cauliflower which was in a coconut milk reduction with lime and cilantro. That was really tasty! I ordered the Falafel Burger which was adorned with house tzatziki, pickled red onions, bibb lettuce, and tomato on a Niedlov’s sesame seed bun. Now this is how you make someone fall in love with falafel! Like who needs meat if your alternative option taste like this? It was so good!! Like really good! Definitely stop here when you’re in Chattanooga. I highly recommend it!

Chattanooga is a super cool place to visit! There are so many more places to explore! Don’t forget to check out The Chattanooga Zoo, Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, and the Tennessee Aquarium!