How to Camp and Get Engaged in Chattanooga, TN
I’m so glad I’m finally getting to update the blog with the trip to Chattanooga because we absolutely loved it. Chattanooga for us was the perfect balance of nature and historic charm. You may be thinking that the title of this post is a bit odd. I would agree, but I would be remiss if I didn’t include something about my engagement in this post, which was a surprise and happened on this trip!
In total, the trip was three nights, two of which we spent at the Chester Frost campgrounds and the last of which we spent at a lovely little cottage close to downtown Chattanooga. Even just hanging out at the campground was amazing because it’s surrounded mostly by water which was truly a vibe.
For those of you thinking about a quick weekend getaway or planning last minute, you should definitely be able to make Chattanooga work. We booked this trip fairly last minute with minimal issues and didn’t see too many people downtown or at the campsite even though we expected crowds given that Chattanooga fall foliage is at its best late October/early November. So maybe camping in Chattanooga around Veteran’s Day is a good idea timing wise.
Below I’ve compiled a list of our favorite parts of Chattanooga as well as some things that you might consider passing on.
Chattanooga Highlights:
1) Weekday Hike to Edward’s Point
We hiked to Edward’s point on a Friday and had the place almost all to ourselves, so perhaps consider going on a weekday. Another plus of this hike is that the entire hike was pretty, not just the lookout at the end. We encountered several overlooks showcasing the fall foliage as well as a rather rickety swinging bridge that was interesting to cross.
2) Sunrise at Snooper’s Rock
I know that not everyone will get engaged when they go to this rock, but let me say your chances might not be so bad, because on the day I went there were two engagements, one being my own.
Snooper’s Rock is a flat rock that overlooks a beautiful bend in the Tennessee River. You can get to this spot either by driving to a parking lot and walking a few steps, or by hiking in the dark about an hour to an hour and a half. AllTrails hike linked here. My now fiancé planned this hike as part of the proposal which in hindsight I’m glad we did instead of driving to the parking lot and walking a few steps, but I must say, the hike was a bit creepy.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a good sunrise hike, normally we strap on our headlamps, see a few other early morning risers, and drink our hot chocolate pleasantly at the top. However, there were no other people on this sunrise hike and no other cars at the trailhead. The lack of other hikers mixed with a chilly, windy, and pitch-dark morning sufficiently freaked me out.
All in all this is such a cool spot, especially if you are lucky enough to have low clouds moving thru, which may block the actual river, but give the visual effect of a cloud river. This didn’t happen while we were there, but I’ve seen pictures and it looks incredible.
3) Breakfast at Frothy Monkey
Both food and atmosphere were 11/10 here! And on top of that they have some fun and funky latte flavors that are to die for. I enjoyed both hot and iced, we do be trying all the coffee 🙂
Don’t worry if there’s a wait when you go because this restaurant is located in an old train station which is especially festive around the holidays and has some history to read and things to look. Also be sure to explore the outdoor area which houses the historic Chattanooga Choo-Choo!
4) Camping at Chester Frost Campground
I mentioned this campground already, but it makes the list of highlights again because it was one of the prettier campgrounds I’ve been to. In addition the bathroom and shower were decent for a campground. Pictures don’t do this place justice, so you might just have to go see for yourself.
There was only one shower in the bathroom, so consider showering at dinner time when others are less likely to be there. That being said, the water pressure was solid and the water was hot, which made me quite literally, a happy camper.
5) Dinner at Easy Bistro & Bar
One of the most ~treat yo self ~ highlights of the trip was Easy Bistro & Bar. I would recommend anyone going to Chattanooga have a splurge dinner here. The atmosphere was especially cozy on the outdoor patio.
As for food, we tried the chef’s choice for a selection of dishes and loved almost every single thing we tried. My absolute favorites were the beef tartar, the focaccia, the house-made pastas, the steak main, the grits (believe it or not, I still don’t believe it), and the DESSERT. The dessert knocked my socks off. We had the chocolate pudding and the cream puffs. Chef’s kiss. Need to go back.
P.S. the wine pairing with the meal was the foam on top 🙂
Things You Could Skip:
Ruby Falls (Controversial, I know)
This is one of the more touristy things to do in Chattanooga, and although we had a good time because we made the best of it, Ruby Falls was a tad overpriced and overcrowded for what you get in my opinion. However, if you have kids, it may be worth it.
The actual falls are very cool and I even liked the way they lit them up. Even some of the other rock formations along the tour were interesting to look at, but for me the issue was how many tours they set up at once. They want to make money so they are constantly running several tours, so you have to press yourself up against the wall every 10 minutes to let another large tour group pass.
Plus, they do that thing where they take pictures of you even if you don’t want it then print those pictures that you still don’t want to try and get more of your money. I would double-check whether this is a must-see for you. Ruby Falls is also near/part of Lookout Mountain, which we didn’t get to, but I’ve heard great things about! So perhaps if we had done both it would have been higher on the list.
This was such a lovely fall getaway, especially for camping, or glamping. Reach out if you have ay questions! Happy travels 🙂
Congratulations!! What a lovely, special weekend!