Chattanooga Off The Beaten Path

The lost sea is an incredible underground lake (America's largest) inside a cave outside of Sweetwater, TN. The tour takes place on a Glass Bottom Boat. It's pretty cool - but I'm a cave geek so I really like that sort of thing. The lake, covering 4 1/2 acres, is recognized by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a Registered National Landmark.
I think it was also in the Guiness Book as the world's largest underground lake. I borrowed this picture from the website...

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dayton is the county seat of rhea county tennessee. dayton is located on US 27 35 miles north of chattanooga. of interest to the tourist is the rhea county courthouse which was the site of the 1925 scopes "monkey" trail. the trial was a publicity stunt to gain attention for the town. john scopes was hired to teach a chapter of a text supporting charles darwin's theory of evoluntion which was against the law in tennessee at the time. the famous orator william jennings bryan was hired as the prosecuter and the famous trial lawyer clarence darrow was hired as scopes defence council. the trial became an international media circus. over 200 newspaper reporters decended on dayton and trained chimpanzees performed on the courthouse grounds. the scopes "monkey" trial was the first trial in the united states to receive national radio coverage. in the basement of the courthouse is an interesting museum on the trial.
the courthouse is located at 1475 market street in downtown dayton.

an interesting side trip from chattanooga is russell cave national monument. russell cave is located in northeast alabama about 35 miles southwest of chattanooga. russell cave was home to native americans from 6500 BC to 1650 AD. the cave was inhabited by the paleo, archaic, woodland, and mississipian native american cultures. along with the cave there is a hiking trail and a very nice picnic area. for those interested in native american history and culture russell cave is a very worth while side trip from chattanooga.
from chattanooga take I-24 west past the I-59 cut off then south on US 72. near bridgeport alabama take CR 98 to the park. the address is 3729 CR 98 bridgeport alabama.

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Don't think that this is out of reach. It's only about 35 miles to the west (I-24 for 26 miles, then US 72 south to Bridgeport (it's were the Union crossed the Tennessee on it's way to Chickamauga & Chattanooga - for the Civil War interested). Follow the signs west into a remote valley and there you are.

Russell Cave National Monument has been inhabited for over 4,000 years and maybe even over 10,000 years. Like Europes caves (So. France & No. Spain) which have cave paintings, this is North America's ancient peoples. They may not date as far back, but they're the root of the peopling of this continent.

About an hour north of Chattanooga is Athens, TN, which is home to the Mayfield Dairy. You can take a tour of the milk bottling plant and also see where they make some of their ice cream products. The tour lasts about a half hour or so. You'll learn why you may not have heard of Mayfield if not from the area (they only ship so far away to maintain quality.) While there are no free samples, they practically give the ice cream away at the gift shop for $1 per scoop!

Leave your camera in the car, or they will ask you to check it at the front desk before the tour begins.

About and hour and a half west of Chattanooga is Lynchburg, TN, home of the Jack Daniels distillery. Tours go from 9-4:30 and run a little over an hour. You'll get to see the process from start to finish, and although there are no free samples, you'll get to take in plenty of intoxicating aromas. The finale in the bottling plant and where the barrels are stored is the highlight of this free and fun food tour.

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One can see these signs over much of America, and again like Ruby Falls, though I had lived in the area before I had never visited. Again like Ruby Falls, on a hot summer day, this is a cool, cool place to visit. High atop Lookout Mtn, having driven the twisting and curving roads, following sign after sign, we finally arived! Typical theme park set up in the front, a little restaurant, souvenir shops, guides ready to help you if you´d like (they are optional) or you can take a map of the grounds and wander around yourself. The maps and history was printed in 9 different languages, very helpful as they get visitors from around the world.

Rock City is not only known for its sites, being able to look off the top and see seven states, but also for its gardens, its unique rock formations and nature. We had a wonderful time wandering around, touching the cool stones, listening to the echoes of the birds, other tourists (which was few, and quite nice). Some of the highlights, are Deer Park, a special park were rare albino deer are kept; the swing along bridge you will see on one of the fotos, I had especial fun at that. My mother doesn´t like the heights, so of course I had to jump up and down on it and scare her LOL Also there is Lover´s Leap, the bluff from where two young people from warring Native American tribes leapt to their deaths, because they could not be together. The "Fat Man´s squeeze, is a REALLY tight pass one could very well get stuck in. Along the way, stop and have a bit to eat or something cool to drink, there are stands and a gazebo at a special section near Flag Court.

Besides my fotos, one can visit the website and take a virtual tour, or visit on your own sometimes. We had bough our tickets in a package discount, seeing Ruby Falls and Rock City for 24.95. Its $12,95 at the door to enter. You can buy online and print your tickets yourself also.

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The original discovery of the falls was in the early 1900´s, a young man was caving, and did the completely brave/foolish thing by crawling into a narrow tunnel in a cave and kept going and going for 17 hours, deeper and deeper until he found the great opening in the caverns inside the moutains and found the falls, which he named after his wife, Ruby.

For thousands of years, part of the cave system had been used by Native Americans, as well as later, as a hideout for outlaws, but Leo Lambert was the man who had a dream to open it up to the world. Amazing rock formations, fossils from millions of years ago, a water system, and still living and growing rock, stalactites, stalagmites, columns, drapes, and flowstones plus the end line of the falls is a great adventure for everyone. And on a hot summer day, this is one of the coolest places you can go. Its always about 60°F inside.

BEWARE of the low ceiling however! One has to watch their head and feet at all times. Because of the humidity, the rock floors can be slippery (our tour guide hd just broken a thumb a week ago falling, while giving a tour!). If you are claustrophobic, you might want to pass on this tour. Its very close and narrow many ways, very cramped. I am very tall and my neck and back was tired from crouching for so long, but the getting to see the magnificent falls was worth the trip!

You can buy your tickets online before going, or once you get there. Also can purchase tickets in combination with other nearby tours for a discount price. Great if you are visiting for a few days, the Incline, Rock City, etc. Its $12,95 for one adult to see Ruby Falls, for Ruby Falls and Rock City, its $24. If you include the Incline ride, get all three for $33. Children 3-12 years are about half of each price. We chose to do Rock City and Ruby Falls at one time. See my tip for Rock City separately for more about it. The tickets don´t have to be used all in one day, you can come back with 2 or 3 days.

see more fotos of specific formations in the t´logues