What To Do In Chattanooga When It Rains

My husband and I were so excited to find ourselves in Chattanooga for a weekend without our kiddos!  Only to find that the forecast called for rain, rain, and more rain.  

So, what do you do if you're in this fabulous city and it's raining?? 

First, you're gonna need to suck it up.  Put on your big girl panties, or boxers...  

We headed over to the mall (not my first choice when on a vacay, my husband is not a shopper) but I needed some shoes for the rain.  We went to Acedemy and purchased these snazzy galoshes.  We already had raincoats and an umbrella.  

It absolutely poured down rain all day.  We headed over to Rembrandt's Coffee House in the Art District.  What a wonderful find!  Charming place, fabulous coffee, muffins, chocolates, cookies, they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner...  Yummmmm

A great place to go to stay out of the rain is the Tennessee Aquarium.  We've been a million times and my husband LOVES it!  I loved it too because it's nice and dry in there!!

Shut up.  Do you see that leopard print stingray?  I want one!!  And I love the jellies...

Did you know that male seahorses carry their young?  Learn something new everyday.

Tennessee State law requires that every tourist attraction end with a gift shop.  

If you have your children with you in Chattanooga, you will love (and they will love) the Creative Discovery Museum.  We took our boys when they were younger.  We also love Ruby Falls, we didn't make it there on this trip though.

There are lots of yummy places to eat in Chattanooga.  After our visit to the fishies, we found ourselves at the Mellow Mushroom.  Super fabulous. 

 They. Have.The. Best. Pizza. Evah.

Have you been to Rock City?  We went the next day.  It is amazing.  So beautiful.  We love Rock City!  If you've never been , this is a must see.  The first time I remember going as an adult I thought it would be dorky, who needs a swinging bridge, who cares about Lovers Leap?  But it's beautiful.  Flowers tucked in everywhere.  Plants and trees indigenous to the area.  Kids love it, adults love it.  We go every year! 

(At this point it had quit raining, but our plan was to go in the rain, I mean I had my galoshes and snazzy raincoat...)

Rock City is awesome.  But beware of the wild hydrangeas...

Unlike my tame hydrangeas at home...

Oh my goodness!  It's a Starbucks!  At Rock City!!! 

 I loooovvvveee Starbucks!!  

Woohoooooo!!!!!

 I am in heaven.

Did I mention we were celebrating our 20th anniversary?  At first, Jim didn't know why people were honking at us...

So, guess what?  Chattanooga has a glass bridge!  And it's kinda scary...

We also went on the pedestrian bridge.  We drove by a few hours later and these bridges were packed!

Before heading back home, we went back to the Bluff View Art District and ate at Tony's.  Great Italian!  Highly recommend it!

 

Enjoy your stay in Chattanooga!  We miss it already and can't wait to get back!  Do you have any attractions or restaurants you recommend?  Let me know!

So you don't like Starbucks, now what?

I know, I know, I can't believe it either, but yes it is true.  Some people don't like Starbucks.

But there is hope, an aha moment, a light at the end of the tunnel.

In my infinite wisdom, I think if you don't like Starbucks, then you just haven't had the amazing drink that calls to you, that sings to your tastebuds, that begs you to come back so you can become a Starbucks Gold Card Member in record breaking time!!

First, let me assure you, I was not always a coffee lover.  Yes, it is my confession, and much to my mother's dismay, I would not drink coffee with her.  As I approach my 40th (woot woot!!!) birthday, I think back on birthdays growing up and I promise you every year she would set a steaming mug of joe in front of me with an expectant look in her eye.  "Today?  You'll start drinking coffee with me?  Please?  You'll love it!"  I did not.  Not even a little.  And I'm not kidding, every year she begged me to start drinking coffee with her.  Bless her heart...

But now I have seen the error of my ways, my wayward heart has found it's home, or my tastebuds have anyway!!

First, because all the cool kids are doing it, you need to download the Starbucks app.  Get yourself a Starbucks gift card to get started.  You register the card on the app and then you can use either the app on your phone or your card to pay when you go to Starbucks!!  After every 12 visits, you get a free drink or food item of your choice.  

It's so easy, even a caveman could do it...

What, you think this menu is confusing?  grande... venti... frappuccino?

Oh and I have to throw this out there.  Don't get their hot chocolate.  Sorry Starbucks...  It tastes like a wet shoe.  How they can achieve perfection in so many areas and yet fail at America's staple, pure unadulterated Hot Chocolate?  It is truly a mystery.

Back to the menu...

Small=Tall
Medium=Grande
Large=Venti

See?  That's not so hard! 

Espresso=Hot coffee flavored with yumminess
Frappuccino=Frozen coffee yumminess

For either of those, just choose your poison.  Iced coffee drinks are also super yummy.  Didn't know I liked them til someone brought me one and I fell in love...

If you've never had a Starbucks you liked, I suggest you start with a White Mocha.  Good hot, cold, or as a frappuccino.  From there try the Salted Caramel Mocha (my happy place, it's like grown up Hot Chocolate (not Starbucks hot chocolate but like super fabulousness Hot Chocolate, like Starbucks wished their hot chocolate was like)).  Next if you like pumpkin, I suggest the Pumpkin Spice Latte.  My friend, Terri, said don't get that bad boy cold, first of all it's orange.  We just don't need to know we're drinking orange cold coffee. 

If you get something at Starbucks that you don't like, they will happily make you something else.  Their customer service is (normally) unparalled.  Just one of the reasons I keep going back.  Have to say, I like it when people are nice...

But what if you just can't stand coffee and nothing but nothing is going to change your mind? 

It's all good.  Have a Caramel Apple Spice!  Liquid caramel apple pie rolling down your throat.  It's so delicious, it's sinful. 

How about something yummy to eat?

Is this cookie not precious?  And it is so delicious!!! 

How about some hot wonderfulness?

The oatmeal is good.  Not great, not bad.  It would be better if they would give me some butter and brown sugar (they do have brown sugar) and maple syrup.  I'm like Elf, I love syrup!

We, my whole family, adore the Bacon, Egg, and Gouda breakfast sandwich.  It is awesome!!!  They also have lots of treats in their bakery case.

Which Starbuck's drink is your favorite?