ROAD TRIP

CHATTANOOGA

Chattanooga is changing. The “scenic city” so beloved for its walkable downtown and family-friendly activities—from the Tennessee Aquarium to the kitsch-infused Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga Choo Choo—can also add boutique hotels, chef-driven restaurants, craft cocktail bars, a dynamic art scene, and a pretty spectacular supper club to its long list of attractions. And fall marks the perfect time to take in East Tennessee’s autumn-hued landscape, while exploring newer developments folding gracefully in with the old, across this continually evolving city.

The recently opened Edwin Hotel, perched high atop the Bluff View Art District, beckons visitors to spend more time in this creative corner of town. With luxe rooms and an enviable location just steps from the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge, it’s a short stroll away from the “hip and historical” NorthShore neighborhood, too

Stop by the bright and airy Provisions at The Edwin for your morning latte and muffin, or walk the block to Rembrandt’s Coffee House and peruse the glass-enclosed cases layered with drool-worthy breakfast treats; their cozy patio has welcomed locals and visitors alike since 1994.

Just down the street from both stops is the Hunter Museum of American Art, where a diverse collection of paintings, drawings, prints, photography, sculpture, video, and new media from the 1700s to the present are on exhibit in three separate buildings that span 100 years of architecture between them: a Neoclassical-style mansion; a 1970s Brutalist-inspired East Wing; and the 21st Century West Wing, which was completed in 2005, adding 28,000 square feet of space.

Across the river, NorthShore is abuzz with an eclectic collection of locally owned shops and restaurants, all surrounded by acres of walking trails, parks, and wetlands. Explore the funky boutiques and galleries, then grab some New York-style deli sandwiches from lunchtime staple River