Backstage Pass: Model Victoria Henley does the Chattanooga Choo Choo

by VICTORIA HENLEY
CTFashionMag.com

Nestled in the foothills of the breathtaking Appalachian Mountains, Chattanooga, Tenn. draws around 3 million visitors annually. They flock to the city for its vast array of unique eateries, world class attractions and activities, and awe-inspiring natural wonders.

Introduced to a global audience through the 1941 smash hit, “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” initially performed by Glenn Miller and later further popularized by The Andrews Sisters (and following the 1992 opening of the landmark Tennessee Aquarium downtown as well as concerted beautification efforts made by the community in the early 2000s), the city had cemented its status as a highly desirable tourist destination.

Accompanied by photographer Lynn and Russ, I scoured Chattanooga (as well as the nearby city of Ooltewah) for the top attractions, lodging, and dining options for your next Southeastern Tennessee vacation.

WHERE TO EAT (DINING SPOTLIGHT)

THE LOCAL GOAT (Ooltewah TN)

Following the tremendous success of Local Goat in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., owner, serial entrepreneur Tom Horne, decided to open a second location in beautiful Ooltewah.

Derived from a Cherokee Native American word meaning “owl’s nest, Ooltewah is a city as beautifully unique as its name, conveniently located near the perfect blend of one of a kind attractions (including Ruby Falls and Rock City, just to name a few) as well as many upscale malls and shopping plazas.

Founded with the objective to only serve the freshest locally sourced ingredients, and ardently committed to the very highest standard in quality, you can be guaranteed to experience the best of the best local cuisine, expertly crafted cocktails (as well as a staggering selection of local craft beers), and endless made from scratch goodness on any visit to Local Goat.

Opened in March of 2021, the Ooltewah location offers many favorites –such as the sumptuous bread pudding and the Caramel Appletini—enjoyed at the beloved Pigeon Forge location. There also are many unique and one of a kind selections, specifically tailored to suit the tastes of the Ooltewah fan base.

Our server, Austin Miller, was exceptionally well versed on every intricate detail of the menu and keenly focused on each aspect of our overall guest experience

Miller said, “Local Goat fosters an incredible relationship with its employees, and as someone who has worked with several corporations, I’ve never gotten the quality training like I have here. I truly love my job.”

Bar manager Taylor Lamm, equally skilled at and committed to his job, echoed Miller’s comments and spoke of the palpable good morale among the Local Goat Team.

Excellent customer service, high quality ingredients and a dining experience unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere all contribute toward Local Goat’s namesake (which is, of course, an Acronym for “Greatest of All Time”).

DRINKS:

Goat Nog: It’s that time of year. Curl up with a little Kraken Spiced Rum, Amaretto Frangelico and Godiva chocolate liquor. All topped with fresh grated nutmeg.

Mt. Gay Rum Punch: (Mt. Gay Rum, Blue Chair Coconut Rum, Banana Liquor, grenadine, fresh orange and Pineapple Juice)

Strawberry Daiquiri: This frozen, fruity island classic is truly “paradise in a glass.” Featuring a delightful blend of rum, fresh strawberries and lime juice for added flavor, this frozen concoction will have you feeling summer vibes all season long.

APPETIZERS:

BBQ Nachos: Sliced Chicken, melted cheese, pickled red onion, cilantro, jalapeños, house BBQ sauce, guacamole and sour cream.

N’awlins style BBQ shrimp: Jumbo shrimp, New Orleans BBQ Sauce, served with grilled bread.

SOUP:

Crab bisque: One of the many factors that sets this remarkable soup apart from the rest is that the restaurant makes their own stock from the crab shells, filled with tender crab meat, coastal flavor and garden-fresh tomatoes.

ENTREES:

Flame grilled salmon: Seasoned fresh salmon, house butter, steamed broccoli, and caramelized onions. Russ substituted sweet potato soufflé and spinach for the included sides. While many mainstream eateries have garnered an unsavory reputation for inflexibility, Local Goat strives to meet the customer’s needs by making substitutions and alterations whenever possible.

Shrimp Scampi: Jumbo gulf shrimp, garlic, butter, sherry wine, Parmesan cheese, oven roasted tomatoes, spinach and parsley. An immensely flavorful take on the often minimalistic and monochromatic, classic Italian seafood dish.

The Schrute Burger: Plant-based, sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions, BBQ sauce, Garlic Aioli. Named after Dwight Schrute, a famous character on the smash hit television series “The Office” who grew beets on his farm, this headline making veggie burger simply cannot be missed. Beets, the main substance of the plant-based patty provides outstanding flavor and a shockingly realistic texture and taste to “the real deal.” Even the most committed meat eater should try this outstanding burger that achieves the often seemingly insurmountable feat of being, at once, extremely healthy and delicious.

All burgers are served with a mound of fresh, hand cut French fries, which the Local Goat team prepares by cutting 50 gallons of fries daily, then blanching them for optimal flavor and freshness. We recommend pairing the made from scratch condiments of ketchup, honey mustard and ranch as dipping sauces for your fries.

Even the burger buns, much like the majority of everything else you’ll see on the menu, are made completely in house.

DESSERT:

Creme Brulé with Seasonal Berries: Delectably sweet, light, and airy, topped with an array of juicy fresh berries , this French classic is a perfect “cherry on top” to a decadent feast at Local Goat. Nothing radiates indulgence, refinement, and simplicity quite like a well-made Creme Brulé.

Local Goat also features a vast collection of locally produced artworks adorning the walls of the elegant , yet inviting, dining space, and locally made soaps and lotions (using goats’ milk and other regionally sourced ingredients) are available in the gift shop area.

Local Goat lives up, on every level, to its claim to be “Greatest of All Time”, with an unparalleled standard of freshness, customer satisfaction, and employee training, making this gem the premiere dining destination of your next trip to the Tennessee Valley .

WEBSITE: https://www.localgoatpf.com/

PHONE NUMBER: (865) 366-3035

WHERE TO STAY (LODGING SPOTLIGHT)

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS (OOLTEWAH)

Conveniently located within walking distance to The Local Goat, Holiday Inn Express Ooltewah offers all the amenities you and your family have grown to love and expect from IHG brand hotels, including a pool and hot tub, a free hot breakfast buffet, fitness center, 24-hour business center, as well as spacious, luxuriously designed rooms.

Holiday Inn Express Ooltewah is located within easy driving distance to some of the most popular attractions and activities in Chattanooga; therefore, if you are looking for the perfect hotel to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city while on vacation, look no further.

Here’s what to expect during your stay:

GUEST ROOMS

Each of the guest rooms at our hotel in Ooltewah is well-equipped with all the amenities of home. Keep in touch with free high-speed Internet access. You can watch all your favorite shows with a 37-inch flat screen TV. With a desk and speakerphone, you will be able to complete all your work.

ROOM FEATURES

SLEEP

Black-out Shades
Rollaway Bed/Cot Available
Crib Available
Iron/Ironing Board
Separate Hanging Closet
In-Room Heating and A/C Controls

BATHROOM/PERSONAL CARE

Private Bathroom
Bathroom Amenities Available
Hair Dryer
Bathtub
J.R. Watkins brand luxury shampoos, conditioners, and shower gels.

IN-ROOM FEATURES

Mini Refrigerator
Microwave
Coffee Maker (with included gourmet coffee and tea pods, as well as a variety of sugars and creamers, which can be added for taste.)
Flat-screen TV
Work Desk with Lamp
Desk-level Electrical Outlet
Free Local Calls
Cable/Satellite
Premium Channels
Direct-dial Phone
Phone with Voicemail
120AC
Complimentary Morning Newspaper

COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST BUFFET (INCLUDED IN YOUR STAY)

Featuring a rotating line up of scrambled eggs, omelets (with fresh bell pepper, sharp cheese, onion, and ham), turkey sausage, sausage links, freshly baked biscuits and gravy, and many heartier hot breakfast options.

Additional offerings on the expansive breakfast menus include a wide array of pre-packaged cereals (including Cheerios and Rice Krispies), hot oatmeal, dairy milk, Silk Brand vanilla soy milk, Chobani yogurt in a variety of flavors, fresh fruit, sliced breads, English muffins, heavenly signature cinnamon rolls, and many more selections which are sure to help you start your day off right.

Freshly brewed regular and decaf coffee as well as a variety of fruit juices are also available during breakfast hours.

INDOOR POOL AND HOT TUB

Sure to be a central gathering place for the kids (and the kids at heart) throughout your stay, the large indoor pool (perfectly designed in length and width for swimming laps or just relaxing with friends and family) is heated for a comfortable swim experience all season long. The extremely spacious hot tub is a perfect place to relax after a long day spent hiking the winding nearby mountain trails or exploring downtown, and a smartly designed space located far enough from guest rooms so as not to create noise disturbance, was so beloved by my group during our stay that we decided to spend a great portion of our New Year’s Eve there.

CONNECT

BUSINESS SERVICES

1 Meeting Room(s) Available
On-Site Business Center
Printer
Copier
Office supplies available

WEBSITE: www.ihg.com

PHONE NUMBER: (423) 591-8500

TENNESSEE AQUARIUM

Consistently ranked by prestigious media outlets as one of the top aquariums in the nation, the Tennessee Aquarium allows guests to explore the world and dive into the depths of the great unknown with wildly unique marine, animal, reptile and inspect species as well as comprehensive audio and visual educational materials. Exquisitely designed and exceptionally curated, the Tennessee Aquarium is split into two buildings, River Journey, which places an intensive focus on freshwater species, and Ocean Journey, highlighting living Organisms which inhabit the oceans.

Perpetually striving and making continued efforts to fulfill their objective “ to connect people with nature and empower them to make informed decisions about water and wildlife”, the Tennessee Aquarium is proudly partnered with an array of conservational and educational organizations, including the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, as well as S.A.F.E ( saving animals from extinction). One of the most environmentally conscious and conservation-minded aquariums you’ll visit, you can tour the Tennessee Aquarium with confidence that you are supporting an organization that not only places the wellbeing of its marine and animal life as top priority, but also provides an exemplary (not to mention fun! ) customer experience for all guests, insuring lots of wonderful memories that are sure to be a vacation highlight for all ages in your group.

Some highlights are:

LEMURS

Native exclusively to Madagascar, lemurs are wet-nosed primates. Highly inquisitive, energetic, and arguably a guest favorite, the resident lemurs at the Tennessee Aquarium are one of the first animals you’ll encounter during your visit.

BUTTERFLY HAVEN:

Offering an interactive, up-close and personal walk-through experience, The Butterfly Haven features a wide variety of both native and exotic species, fluttering and perching amidst a lush backdrop of foliage. Be sure to tread lightly and be mindful of these delicate creatures as they move about their habitat, and don’t forget to take plenty of photos throughout your visit to the Haven.

THE PENGUIN SANTUARY:

Living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere and highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have long been the subject of countless Hollywood films, television programs, and documentaries, due to their boisterous and lovable demeanors. The penguins at the Tennessee Aquarium are easily some of the most lively, excitable, and generally jubilant penguins I have ever witnessed on any visit to an aquarium, happily “dancing”, waving to, and interact with, each other and guests, and shimmying through the moving waters of their beautifully designed enclosure ( featuring mock icebergs and an authentic “Antarctica” themed aesthetic. )

MIGUEL THE ELECTRIC EEL:

Perhaps one of the most famous and buzzed about electric eels in the world, Miguel Wattson (best known as @eelectricmiguel , where he is verified and boasts an impressive 59,000 followers at the time of this article) emits electric voltage, which illuminates the festive Christmas tree, parked bedside his tank year-round. Follow Miguel to see tweets sparked in real time by the powerful electric shocks he spews throughout the day!

THE SECRET REEF:

A peaceful oasis inhabited by a vast array of turtles, see just how many types of reptiles you can spot during your visit, including the remarkable radiated tortoise, a beautiful specifies native to Madagascar, which are verging on extinction due to the illegal pet trade and various other factors.

During your visit, you’ll also witness adorable and rambunctious otters, powerful sharks, and a colorful Panther Chameleon, which may just be the most striking lizards you’ll ever see.

Be sure to check out the adjacent IMAX Theater, which plays a rotating line up of mainstream blockbusters and educational documentaries, complete with surround-sound and laser technology.

WEBSITE: https://tnaqua.org/

PHONE NUMBER: (423) 265-0695

RUBY FALLS:

Leo Lambert, a chemist, explorer, and cave enthusiast, set out on a daring, history-making expedition in 1928 to discover the Ruby Falls, which he named in honor of his wife. Daring to journey where no one else had gone before them, Lambert and his team burrowed through a narrow 18-inch passageway into the deep, dark, cavernous earth, guided only by their lamps and encouraged by a burst of cool air (foreign to dry caverns), which encouraged them that something much bigger than themselves lay ahead.

Word rapidly began to spread about this larger than life, highly unique, towering waterfall within the cave, and soon, tourists from around the United States and many dignitaries, celebrities, and sports teams (Babe Ruth even paid the falls a historic visit while in town for one of his games) flocked to Ruby Falls to admire its great splendor.

Since Ruby Falls initially opened its doors for tourism in 1930, the sought-after destination has since hosted millions of guests, who travel from around the nation, and even the world, to experience the magic that the adventurous Leo Lambert first became entranced with many decades ago.

Upon entry to the beautifully designed castle-esque stone building, you’ll prepare for your descent 260 feet downward via a glass door elevator, which allows a birds-eye view of the rocky terrain you’ll pass on your rapid journey into the earth. Once you have arrived, your guide will briefly introduce themselves (our guide, Kyefer Cavins, conducted the tour with great humor and enthusiasm, creating a fun, lighthearted ambiance among the tour group) and provide insights in regard to what can be expected on the approximately 1 hour and 20 minute long tour.

The tour experience begins with an engaging short film entitled, “The Story of Ruby Falls” (lasting around 5 minutes) that focuses on Lambert as he intrepidly journeys into the unknown toward a discovery of a lifetime. “The Story of Ruby Falls,” which can only be seen at the falls, celebrates curiosity of the unknown, the power of love, and the joy of exploration.

Following the film, you’ll begin your expedition into the caverns, making your way past important landmarks, such as the opening of the cave where Leo Lambert first felt that fateful gust of cool air and the portion of the cave where he was first able to stand. Breathtaking neon-colored lights shine upon ancient rock formations, bringing to life the glistening stalactites and stalagmites, flowstone, and drapery (portions of the rocks that exhibit a “ribbon” effect), which strikingly adorn the interior of the caverns. Informational audio, prompting guests to notice noteworthy and unique formations which bear striking resemblance to various foods, animals, and other items (including “Tobacco Leaves,” “Steak and Eggs,” “Potato Chip,” and “Bacon”, just to name a few is available at certain points throughout the cave.

Once you arrive at the site of the world- famous Ruby Falls, the guide will encourage you to face forward in the darkness, focusing only on the sound of the steadily flowing cool mountain waters, until the lights are switched on, illuminating the falls’ splendor in magnificent multi-colored hues, while magical music fills the airwaves. Take turns with the other guests getting photos of, and with, the falls.

Following your tour’s grand finale , the observation of the falls, it’s time to get more steps in for the day as you trek back toward the glass elevator, led by your tour guide. All ticketed guests also receive the opportunity to view some of the most spellbinding sights you’ll ever see, including a wonderful vantage point of the Tennessee Valley Cumberland Plateau, and the Tennessee River from high atop Lookout Mountain Tower and Blue Heron Overlook.

Should you and your family be feeling extra adventuresome, be sure to check out the High Point Zipline Adventure offering 700 feet of Zipline high above the treetops as well as the Lantern Tour, which allows guests to experience Ruby Falls in a whole new light, after dark.

WEBSITE: www.rubyfalls.com

PHONE NUMBER: (423) 821-2544

WALNUT BRIDGE MARKET AND CHATTANOOGA SEGWAY TOURS

The most thrilling way to explore both the landmarks and all the hidden nooks and crannies of the exciting city of Chattanooga is, without a doubt, on a Segway. Offering adventurous, high speed, and educational tours, Chattanooga Segway Tours places a high emphasis on providing not only a stellar guest experience, but a safe one as well.

Our tour guide, Kevin, gave us a warm welcome into the Walnut Bridge Market (which also serves as the main office for the Segway and bicycle rentals), which offers a large variety of top craft beer brands, sodas, snacks, energy drinks, and more to keep you energized for your high-powered Segway or bicycle tour. (Note, the market is open to the general public during business hours). Although walk ins are accepted, advance reservations for Segway and bicycle tours are highly recommended due to limited tour capacity.

Once you have settled in, Kevin, or another tour company guide will prompt you to sign a simple waiver and watch a brief safety video, which outlines all of the “dos and don’ts” on a Segway tour, in a comprehensive and visual format.

Next, you’ll select a helmet and pick out your very own “superhero” cape (available in a variety of colors) so you can stand out from the crowd as you cruise the streets and sidewalks (just be sure to carefully tuck your cape inside your shirt or jacket in windy weather to prevent the potential obstruction of your vision as you ride!)

The first phase of your tour will begin with a quick safety test as you will practice stepping onboard your Segway, standing in an upright position, making turns with precision, how to speed up and slow down, as well as other important basics you’ll need to know before embarking on your Segway adventure. No one in my group had previously ridden a Segway (Lynn opted to ride a bike alongside us throughout the tour, which she said offered a smooth, comfortable ride experience); however, we each found the Segway to be both extremely user friendly and very fun to ride.

Tours can run anywhere from approximately 45 minutes to two hours (depending upon which option you select at registration, and our tour lasted approximately an hour with up close and personal views of the iconic Coolidge Park (which features a restored 100 year old carousel, a pavilion, an interactive play fountain, and more), and a high octane ride access the world-famous Walnut Bridge (one of the world’s largest pedestrian bridges, which was erected in 1891). Other landmark locations that you will explore during your Chattanooga Segway ride include Renaissance Park (a 23 acre wetlands park designed to highlight the area’s ecology and history), the Hunter Museum (the headlining attraction of the city’s bustling Art District), North Shore (which is is known for its mix of independent clothing and jewelry boutiques, cozy cafes, gastropubs, and popular neighborhood restaurants), Cardboard Hill (a tall, grassy mound which locals enjoy “sledding” down all season long on makeshift cardboard “sleds”) as well as Market Street Bridge (a functioning drawbridge and one of the largest bascule bridges ever constructed), and many more unique and intriguing destinations.

Once your tour has come to a close, you’ll make your way back to Walnut Bridge Market to return your Segways and bicycles and reflect on the incredible journey you experienced.

Our tour guide, Kevin, utilized the knowledge he has acquired throughout over 20 years residing in the city to provide little known facts and knowledge in regard to all of the nature, nightlife, and cultural destinations which the city has to offer.

A thrilling ride, beautiful views, and enriching history can all be expected on a tour with Chattanooga Segways, and remember, you haven’t truly experienced Chattanooga until you’ve experienced it on a Segway.

WEBSITE: https://chattanoogasegwaytours.com/

PHONE NUMBER: (423) 708-5051