The following are some good ideas for when you are touring ‘on your own’ on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday…. 

 You can travel up Lookout Mountain via the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway where trolley cars take you “cloud high” on the steepest passenger railway in America.

From the “Rock City”, Seven State Flag Court, a marker claims that seven U. S. States can be  seen: Since 1929 “See Rock City”  has been seen painted on numerous  barn roofs in along America’s highways.  They  are, in case you were wondering, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. 

Above: Walnut Street walking bridge                       

 Above Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

 Bob thinks you engineers will really enjoy this 

 Above: Explore the mysterious depths of Raccoon Mountain Caverns!
With over 5.5 miles of underground wonders, this cave is a treasure trove of natural formations.

Get ready to be amazed by the countless, 100% natural formations that have been exceptionally preserved. 

Experience the thrill of venturing into one of the most geologically active caverns in the South. Join us for an unforgettable adventure!
                                                                        

Above: Hotel Chalet ... Our reunion hotel

After hearing this building's name and seeing its architecture, you may be wondering whether you're visiting a train station or a hotel. Well, it's both. This building was originally a hotel before the Southern Railway acquired it in 1905. Four years later, it opened as Terminal Station and eventually became a major hub, transporting more than 50 passenger trains a day. From the time it opened to its closure in 1970, all trains traveling south passed through Chattanooga.

Although well-known in the railroad industry, the Chattanooga Choo Choo didn't became a household name until the Glenn Miller Orchestra created a song of the same name, which was featured in the 1941 movie "Sun Valley Serenade."

By 1973, the train station was turned back into a hotel thanks to the efforts of four local businessmen who were fans of the song and wanted to spare the building from demolition. 

Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is among the Historic Hotels of America. 

Some of the original station tracks still run through the property and have been converted to accommodations (above)

 The courtyard at Elsie’s Daughter, where our train’s original Caboose is located, offers a menu of libations and bites. 

Settle in with locals and travel companions to exchange tales around an open fire in the evening