I'm Lindsay Ferrier, a Nashville writer with a passion for family travel, exploring Tennessee, and raising kids without losing my mind in the process. This is where I share my discoveries, along with occasional deep thoughts, pop culture tangents and a sprinkling of snark. Want to get in touch? Use the CONTACT form at the top of the page.
September 9, 2009
>This past weekend, we made the first of what will surely be many journeys to Chattanooga to visit my oldest stepdaughter at college.
I thought that Chattanooga would be a slightly hokier version of Nashville. I was wrong.
I sort of fell in love with it.
This probably had something to do with Friday night, when we all walked over the Walnut Street Bridge, which is the world’s largest pedestrian bridge and spans both the Cumberland River and the city’s Coolidge Park.
It was a beautiful, cool night, the bridge was filled with families and smiling couples walking over the wooden planks and best of all, below us, a swing band was playing Count Basie in the park’s ampitheater. I felt like I was transported back in time. It was lovely.
Once we crossed the bridge, we walked down to the park, where there was a meticulously restored, enormous carousel and an amazing interactive fountain that’s surrounded by stone circus animals. The kids were clamoring to play in the water, so we promised them we’d bring them back the next morning in their swimsuits.
Of course, when we awoke the next day, it was cool and raining.
After about 30 minutes, we told them it was time to go. Bruiser immediately ran to the farthest corner of the fountain area and wagged his finger at me when I approached. “No, no, no, no!” he told me. Of course, I had to capture that moment.
That afternoon, we went to the Tennessee Aquarium, which was absolutely wonderful, starting with the whimsical “river” outside that’s designed to look as if it ripped the sidewalk apart and made its way right through the center of the Aquarium’s two buildings.
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.