One of three institutions in the University of Tennessee system, the Chattanooga campus is about half the size of the Knoxville location, with roughly 11,000 undergraduates. Like its sibling school in Knoxville, Chattanooga’s athletics programs, the Mocs (short for mockingbirds) are Division I in the NCAA.
The surrounding city of Chattanooga has some intriguing claims to fame: aside from being referenced in a 1941 big band hit by Glenn Miller, Chattanooga argues that is has the speediest internet in the Western hemisphere, with 1 gigabit-per-second broadband available to every home in the city. You might not spend much time browsing the web, though: Chattanooga is ideal for outdoorsy types, thanks to it being nestled in the Appalachian mountains. Whatever your reasons for visiting Nooga, here are three of the best hotels in the area.
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From $118/ night
The exterior of this Holiday Inn is sleek-yet-welcoming, with the facade emitting a pleasant green glow at nighttime. Its insides are likewise clean and relaxingly modern. Past guests have doled out top ranks to this hotel for its staff and its location downtown, which makes many points of interest easily accessible, including the University of Tennessee Chattanooga (which is less than a mile away). Complimentary city-wide shuttle service will help you get anywhere else you need to go. The on-site restaurant, meanwhile, is distinct from the usual pubs and American cuisine: Rodizio Brazilian Steakhouse is a churrascaria serving up a plentitude of grilled meats. If Brazilian barbecue isn’t tropical enough, you can enjoy a dip in the rooftop pool —weather permitting, of course. (There’s also an indoor pool for chillier seasons.)
From $125/ night
If you’re looking for lodging within walking distance of the Chattanooga campus, the Bluff View Inn is not the ideal choice; this 16-room inn is a five-minute drive from the University. The Tennessee Aquarium and Hunter Museum of American Art, however, are both reachable by foot within ten minutes. This property consists of three historic homes repurposed into a cozy, spacious B&B. Several rooms are equipped with a private bathroom; some include toiletries and a hairdryer. Breakfast is included, and past patrons recommend Rembrandt’s Coffee House next door. Another good reason to stay at Bluff View Inn, might be its majestic view of the Tennessee River, which it overlooks.
From $225/ night
It might be a three-star hotel, but The Dwell Hotel aspires beyond its class rating. This chic boutique has lively, cosmopolitan decor, individually fitted to each of its 16 rooms. It looks like a place where literati or artists might retreat —and they very well may at Matilda Midnight, the on-site craft cocktail lounge that also does tapas. More filling fare from around the globe can be had at Terra Mae, the hotel’s à la carte restaurant. There are free newspapers and wifi, as well as an outdoor pool and fitness center. As for location: the University is less than a mile’s walk away, and Chattanooga Convention Center can be reached in nine minutes on foot.
