I’m waaaaaayyy behind, but just have to get this in. (I’ll back fill later. Maybe). Thanks to a friend’s suggestion (thanks Kristy!), I put Chattanooga on the itinerary. Good move. I grew up in Memphis, but never been here. In 2 days I made up for lost opportunities, but there’s more to do. These few pix can’t do it justice, so see the drop box links if you want more. (WARNING: Redundancies!)
Audubon Acres (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lb4nm835o14u3nz/AAAWxvZE4d_8B4O7JOyV15Kza?dl=0) is a beautiful nature preserve but also part of the Trail of Tears historical blight on US westward expansion.
Lovely hikes, but many poor markings. I spent about an hour lost, wondering how to get back to civilization. At that point I stopped taking pictures and focused on getting out. All’s well that doesn’t kill you.
The Hunter Art Museum (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c4pedl8i1x9ierl/AABMzITLJLN790doehiERDAra?dl=0) is on the banks of the Tennessee River. The building itself, including the views from it, is worth the visit, although admission is a bit pricey at $20 (unless you’re senior, student, etc.). Some decent art, esp in the contemporary dept if you like sort of whacky stuff hard to make sense of, but intriguing for some reason.
Fragmented self-portrait with mask
Riverpark and Walnut Street walking bridge are adjacent to the Hunter. The walking bridge just to its left as you look out from the museum. The Riverwalk passes in front and extends for miles, dotted with outdoor sculptures, picnic areas, benches, and calming views.
Lookout Mountain (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/x557iwxw4x20yqh/AAARbEmHmL6w-ktMjWbxUkgEa?dl=0) provides some of the most breathtaking sights EVER. Plus it has some important Civil War history—a Union victory that was important in its own right but also launched Sherman’s “march to the sea” that cut a devastating swath through Georgia. You can read about some of the military moves on signs in Point Park and the larger wartime context in the brochure provided by the National Park Service. Point Park is probably the best place to take in the view. There’s a lot of tourist hype for assorted sights such as the "Incline Train," which goes up (and down) the mountain at something like a 75º angle. These might be ok, but driving up and down the mountain (assuming you don’t mind switchbacks and driving down in 2nd or 1st gear) and going to Point Park seems to me the preferred option.
Gallery 1401 (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/71ehnsnvk8cmq13/AADcxPaK2U8OZxEmVBAl7LHza?dl=0) is another place to see contemporary art if you like sort of whacky stuff hard to make sense of, but intriguing for some reason. I happened by on an evening where a local artist was having a showing. It was a semi-fancy affair with an open bar (I declined, fyi), hors d’oeuvre (I had only 2 small ones), chat among the—I assume—local art cognoscenti, and lots of art on walls and horizontal spaces.
The place
The space (and people)
The art….
“The Hunter Becomes the Hunted"
“Jaxon"
“Central Park” (obvi. what else could it be?)
Falls Creek Falls (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/94ipxrd60ed3ttg/AAAIqEA6dJt2Y6ybBVt1jfM5a?dl=0) is about 90mins north of Chattanooga. Beautiful state park; beautiful waterfall that you can see from the top, then hike down to the base.
The final thing I saw in the Chattanooga area was the Children’s Holocaust Memorial at Whitwell Middle School in Whitwell, TN. That deserves a post of its own, so see next post if interested.