We have left Chattanooga but there are a few “odds and ends” that I wanted to mention:  not enough by themselves for a post, but enough together to share.

First, we ate at some awesome non-barbecue restaurants in Chattanooga.  One was recommended to us by Death Valley Ranger Mark Shearer who is from the Chattanooga area.  The restaurant’s name is Aretha Frankensteins and we ate there close to Halloween, which seemed appropriate.  Aretha Frankensteins is located on the North Shore in a residential area.  It is off the beaten path, so you have to be looking for it to find it.  There is only seating for about 20 people inside the restaurant.  There are tables for 40 more outside, but it was raining the day we were there, so we definitely wanted an inside table.

Aretha Frankensteins specializes in breakfast food.  Tom and I both had omelets with delicious homemade biscuits.  I had a hard time deciding what to order because I love pancakes and waffles and they make a special mix that they also sell.  I was tempted to buy a box of the mix but I don’t make pancakes for myself.  Aretha Frankensteins’ was a fun and funky place to eat.

Another place we really enjoyed eating was the Dalton Depot in Dalton, Georgia.  This is a restaurant right next to a very busy rail line.  We watched the trains go by as we ate supper – there were at least six of them.  We also enjoyed watching a model train go around the ceiling above us.  It reminded us of the restaurant that used to be at Quaker Square with the model trains.

The food was excellent, but the best part was the mini drop biscuits that were hot out of the oven, crisp on the outside and chewy and gooey on the inside.  We limited ourselves to one serving of those or we never would have progressed to our supper.

One “odds and ends” that is not a restaurant is The International Towing Museum.  Tom and I were surprised to learn that the tow truck was invented in 1916 in Chattanooga by a mechanic, Ernest Holmes Sr, who needed a reliable way to get cars to his shop.  Not only did he build the first tow truck, he went on to found a company that built towing rigs for all sizes of trucks.  Many of these trucks are exhibited in the Towing Museum.  There is also a Hall of Fame for tow truck drivers and company owners who have gone above and beyond the ordinary.  There is an induction ceremony each year in Chattanooga.  The museum is small but it has changing exhibits and the historical aspect is very interesting.

One last “odds and ends” (very odd) is the flying saucer house on Signal Mountain.  This is a real house built to look like a flying saucer.  It was featured on Roadside America and is now available as a vacation rental if you are in Chattanooga for more than a day or two.  It is such a popular attraction that there is even a pull-off across the street so you can stop and take a picture.

Chattanooga has plenty to see for a vacation or as a place to live.  We really enjoyed exploring so many diverse and wonderful spots.