Taking in the Trail
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chattanooga area self-guided driving tour Welcome to the Tanasi Trail. SEE THE DRIVING TOUR MAP ON PAGE 14. Taking in The TRail Up for an Adventure? You are about to embark on a • These 295 miles are full of historic sites, preserved homes journey into the wild side of Tennessee. You’ll explore this and museums that bring the stories of the Tanasi Trail to life. Many of them require advance reservations, amazing region through its rails, trails and roads, admission, or both to experience our history. including early Native American footpaths, the passages of • Many historic buildings open their doors to visitors. the early West-bound settlers, the railroads that changed life Many properties remain as they have for over a century: and commerce forever, and today’s protected scenic byways private residences. Please be respectful of the private land and homeowners on our tour. and gorgeous overlooks. • This is a drive that promises an off-the-beaten-path Out here on the Tanasi Trail, you’ll find some of the most Tennessee experience. What we can’t promise is steady picturesque panoramas America has to offer, with the cell phone service. Don’t be surprised if you don’t always Blue Ridge Mountains bordering the route on the east and the have a signal, particularly in the Cherokee National Forest or on the off-trail routes. R A TENNESSEE ROAD TRIP? We’ve got Tennessee River and its array of lakes to your west. The drive READY FO • Please be mindful of fuel levels. There are several places you covered on the new, self-guided driving trails of the also includes five of the state’s most scenic rivers: Ocoee, where you may be in a long stretch of highway or rural areas Discover Tennessee Trails & Byways. On the Rocky Top Trail, you’ll explore the Great Smoky Mountains area; its quaint Hiwassee, Tellico, Tennessee and Little Tennessee. with limited options for refueling, particularly on Sundays. small towns, bustling tourist villages, exciting outdoor Every stop along the way helps to shape the story of the • Summer through early fall is a great time to stock up on local adventures and so much more. Pick up a self-guided map at land and the people who have called it home for centuries, produce at farm stands along the trail. Many stands are any Smoky Mountains Region Welcome Center cash-only, so visit the ATM before you hit the road. RockyTopTrail.com. You’ll find the directions, including the early European settlers, Civil War soldiers, or visit • Traveling through the mountains means beautiful views, stops and stories that make the Rocky Top Trail a one-of-a- and copper miners. You’ll also explore the legacy of the kind Tennessee road trip you won’t want to miss. but also steep grades. Motorcoaches and RVs should use area’s early inhabitants, including the Yuchi Indians and caution and plan ahead for alternate routes. the Overhill CheroKee, forced to leave this beautiful • While all of the roads on this trail are paved and place over 170 years ago on the Trail of Tears. Their legacy maintained, wintertime in the mountains can make travel treacherous. Please be mindful of weather conditions as remains in the names of streams and towns; visit exhibits you plan your trip. and memorial sites along this trail that commemorate the • This trail may take 2 to 4 days depending on how much history and culture of the Cherokee people. you see and do. To enhance your trip, we’ve added Let the landscape, sites and towns tell you the stories of “off-trail” scenic routes with lots more to discover! Southeast Tennessee on Tanasi: Rapids to Railroads Trail. • Don’t forget to visit your favorite online review sites (like tripadvisor.com or yelp.com) and help us blaze a trail to these wonderful hidden gems. Symbol Key: Great Motorcycle The colorful stories and interesting facts you’ll find along the Outdoors Route Tanasi Trail have been uncovered with the invaluable help of African- National county tourism partners and historians in these communities. American Land Trust Register of heritage for Tennessee Historic Places Live Music Civil War native American Venue heritage Tennessee Pictured on cover: Whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River; Cherokee Festivals Lodging Picture Spot Main Street Memorial at Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, Vonore; Tennessee Valley Program Railroad. Pictured above: The Lost Sea, Sweetwater; Fort Loudoun Motorcoach- State Historic Park, Vonore; Chilhowee Overlook on the Ocoee National For complete visitor information Paper contains Food & Wine state-owned (R) Right (L) Left on Tennessee, call 1-800-GO2-TENN 10% recycled Friendly historic site Forest Scenic Byway; Chattanooga Choo Choo, Chattanooga. content. or visit tnvacation.com. Find more information at TanasiTrail.com. 1 Theater runs daily with movies from all over 503 Market St. 7. Chattanooga Ducks – new, 755-acre park has evidence of over the world and under the sea. Chattanooga Board a World War II 12,000 years of You saY Tanasi, Did You 423-756-3825 KnoW military amphibious human occupa- i saY Tennessee Chattanooga’s name comes landing vehicle for a tion, including from a Native American Since the European explorers and settlers spelled Cherokee 1-hour narrated down- remains of Native word for “Rock Coming to a words based on how they sounded when spoken, it was common to town tour, then splash American villages Point,” describing the out- have multiple spellings for a single word. The word “Tennessee” is a into the river as the and Civil War ? line of Lookout Mountain. variation of the spelling of the Cherokee word “Tanasi” (also spelled vehicle becomes a boat. earthworks. Bring Tannassy, Tanassee, Tenase), the name your camera and take a leisurely walk or bike Located between 3. The Passage: A Trail of Tears Memorial – 321 Chestnut St. of a famous Cherokee village located on 8. Creative Discovery ride on the Blue Blazes Trail, a 1.5-mile Market St. & Aquarium The Cherokee people are memorialized in Chattanooga Museum – There’s the banks of the Little Tennessee River 423-756-2738 loop with spectacular views of the Tennessee Ocean Journey Building this city park at Ross’s Landing Plaza. You’ll something for every- near present-day Vonore. It is thought Ross’s Landing find seven doors River. Hiking footwear recommended, bikes that Governor James Glenn of Colonial Chattanooga From pt. 1, turn R on one at this hands-on welcome. Trailheads located near parking lot. that symbolize the museum featuring art, Did You South Carolina was the first to use the seven clans of the Broad St. Go 1/2 block, turn L on 3rd St. Turn L KnoW The 1891 Walnut Street Bridge is the world’s particular spelling we use today. music, science, and Cherokee Nation on Market St. Cross river tons of family fun for longest pedestrian bridge, and six-foot disks on Market St. bridge (John ages 2-11. now a city park open from share their history Ross Bridge) to pt. 9. dawn to midnight. You can DIRECTIONS and culture. Look Hwy 27 under Olgiati 9. NorthShore Historic District – This area ? stroll across the half-mile for the Cherokee alphabet on the plaza Bridge to Veteran’s Bridge was originally called Hill City by African- 215 Broad St. 1. Chattanooga Visitors Center span to reach points 12 and grounds and the sandstone carved pictures Chattanooga Americans making a new life soon after Chattanooga NorthShore Grille 13 in the Bluff View Art District. 800-322-3344 along the upper sides of the Aquarium’s the Emancipation Retrace route back to The trail kicks off here, in downtown 16 Frazier Ave. 423-756-8687 Manufacturers Rd. At int. Chattanooga. Stop in for info on attractions, River Journey building. Chattanooga Proclamation 12. Bluff View Art District – Perched on a bluff Park at pt. 1; walk to 423-757-2000 ended slavery in of Manufacturers Rd. covering about one and a half blocks, this events, tickets and tips for visitors before Riverfront Pkwy. & Cherokee Blvd., turn visit pts. 1-8. 4. Chattanooga Riverfront River Street Deli neighborhood is you hit the trail. This is a great starting Chattanooga 1863. Today, it’s R onto Cherokee. Cross Shuttle Info Line: – Explore the banks 151 River St. an eclectic mix of a great collection 423-629-1473 place for exploring downtown’s world- Market St., continue on of the Tennessee River Chattanooga businesses run by of artisan restau- class attractions and sights, whether you at Ross’s Landing 423-756-3354 Frazier Ave. Veer L, turn set off on foot, by car, or catch the free Sweet CeCe’s passionate locals, L onto Veteran’s Bridge. rants including Riverfront Park, named Turn R on 4th St., turn R Tony’s Pasta Shop Abbreviation Key: Electric Shuttle. 330 Frazier Ave. embracing the tagline, “Hip to Historical.” for John Ross, Chief of Chattanooga Visitor and local favorites include on High St. to pt 12. & Trattoria, a coffee R Right The Shuttle Park the Cherokee Nation. 423-710-1633 411 E. 2nd St. Left NorthShore Grille, River Street Deli, house, bakery and L North Terminal is Here, several Cherokee Taco Mamacita’s Chattanooga N North located right at Sweet CeCe’s and Taco Mamacita’s. 423-265-5033 sculpture garden; three unique 1900s B&Bs groups began their 109 N. Market St. and an art gallery featuring works by S South the visitors center. journey by water on Chattanooga 10. Coolidge and See Food & Wine and E East 423-648-6262 Lodging listings on pgs. nationally known artists, all with views of Shuttles run every the Trail of Tears in 1838.