Chattanooga

I'm very fond of Chattanooga. Or, as a sticker I saw called it, "Noog". The city has clearly been making an effort, for many years now, and it shows. It's doing things right that so many cities, of any size get wrong -- targeting neighborhoods for redevelopment, encouraging a diversified economy, encouraging local arts, renovating and expanding public spaces. There are real neighborhoods in the city. Free electric shuttle buses on the tourists routes downtown. What's most impressive to me are the number of local shops. It's too easy to give over all shopping to chains. It's great to see the support of local entrepreneurs. There's even good sushi. It's one of the few cities that small that seems livable to my tastes (normally I get that feeling only in much bigger cities).

Perfect day with the kids:

• Chattanooga Aquarium. Two buildings now. I love the conceit of the original building: a vertically-aligned experience that starts at the top as a mountain trout stream, and winds its way down to the gulf.
• Lunch at Big River Brewery. Decent beers. Stout variable, IPA is excellent. Some home-made sodas for the kids with free refills, too. Roomy, good service, both family-friendly and adult-friendly. The menu does not push the envelope, but they really seem to take pride in the execution -- both the separate pizza oven and the main kitchen are open to public view -- and the food has always been impressively good for me. E.g. the kids chicken tenders are made from strips of actual chicken.
• Cross the river on the cool pedestrian bridge and wander around the North Shore. Stop at River City Cycle shop, because it's cool. Stop at the kayak shop and ogle the kit there. Drop by the excellent used book shop and local folk art shop. Pet the shop dogs. Step through all the dances helpfully diagrammed on the sidewalks.
  
• Clumpies: encourage children to eat their own bodyweight in ice cream.
• Wander around the riverfront park, back across the river, watch a movie or grab coffee (I like Perky Piranha) or amble about.
• Catch a Lookouts game at the downtown park. AA ball, Southern League. I like sitting on the 3rd base side, right behing the visitors' dugout. Man, those guys are nice. I thought so a while ago when a visiting coach tossed my oldest a ball. This trip, one of the players gave my youngest a bat that had developed a hairline crack. Talk about a cool souvenir!
• Have kids fall asleep on the way home. They'll wake up later to throw up.

Plenty of good stuff for adults, too. We used to like staying at the Bluff View Inn, but more recently much prefer the Mayor's Mansion Inn, right at the edge of the university and more our style. The Bluff View Art District is still worth a visit. It's heavy on crafts, moreso than art, in many instances, but still should have something of interest for everyone. The Hunter Museum is up there, too -- have seen excellent photo exhibits there in the past. And very nice views. The North Shore is fun. Good little sushi place, in addition to the shops. And Clumpies of course.