While on our Dixie Detours trip to the US, Kemey and I kept my hometown of Chickamauga, Georgia as our base. A small town in the northwestern corner of the state, Chickamauga’s just a short drive from the Tennessee border and the relatively big city of Chattanooga.
Chattanooga is my old teenage stomping ground. Since I’ve moved away, every year or two when I’ve managed to make it back for a visit (usually around Christmastime), the area always seemed to have gotten better than I remembered it being. Same holds true this time round.
Surrounded by mountains, rivers and lakes, it’s a great place to visit if you’re into the outdoors. The bar scene, nightlife and opportunities to catch live music are pretty ace too – and probably much better than you might otherwise think.
Stay
Well, we stayed at my mom’s, but there is a good range of accommodations in the area. For somewhere that’s a unique blend of class and quirk consider booking a Victorian train car converted into a hotel room at the one and only Chattanooga Choo Choo.
More at choochoo.com.
Eat
I’m certain there are restaurants that are as good as and probably way better than the places I’ve listed here. In fact, I can think of a few eateries I’m really bummed about not getting the chance to visit. Still the recs below are in my opinion all safe bets. Two of them, Altena and Yellow Deli are places I crave for and always try to patronise when in Chattanooga while the other, The Brick Oven pizzeria, is a new one to me that I’ll be sure to keep in mind for the next time I’m in the area.
La Altena: This hole in the wall Mexican restaurant on Main Street offers what I reckon to be the best and most authentic Mexican food in Chattanooga. I’ve been heading here for tacos for over a decade and have yet to have a bad meal. Thanks to old friends Teri and Mike for turning me on to the carnitas! Word is the owners have opened a second outlet on Mountain Creek Road now too.
There’s no online presence that I can find, but here’s a link to the TripAdvisor listing:
tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g54946-d394201-Reviews-La_Altena-Chattanooga_Tennessee.html
Brick Oven: Located out in the rural community of Rock Spring, Georgia (about 20 miles south of Chattanooga) and not even a year old yet, this friendly little pizzeria impressed with its sourdough crusts, home made ingredients and wood-fired brick oven. For a pizza pie done up Georgia style, I went with “The Picnic” made with whole milk mozzarella, home made pulled pork and BBQ sauce, topped with a drizzle of tangy Carolina BBQ sauce and house made BBQ rub. Yummy! The home made ice cream there was amazing too. The cheesecake flavoured ice cream was intriguing and tasty, and I loved my scoops of pecan ice cream.
Find out more at bobswoodfiredpizza.com.
Yellow Deli: I once described this rustic Chattanooga restaurant with a gigantic back porch as having an “Appalachian Hobbit” vibe. Open “24/5” (Sunday noon to Friday at 3pm) and run by what seems to be a hippie cult (and an especially friendly and extremely customer service oriented bunch of hippes at that!) the Yellow Deli’s food is fresh, healthy, and delicious. Brilliant spot for a sandwich, coffee, tea or even a yerba mate!
For details go to yellowdeli.com.
Keep an eye out for more highlights from my time in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida along with suggestions for planning your own southern sojourn. If y’all ain’t never been to the places mentioned in my Dixie Detours miniseries, I reckon you’re missing out.
