What is Chattanooga like?

Question

My fiance is planning on doing testing for a job in Chattanooga. To do this, we'll both have to go there for a few days, spending money on gas and a hotel. We kind of want to avoid even going if we won't end up liking it anyway, since money is kind of tight. So, what is Chattanooga (and the surrounding area) like? How's the crime? Are there plenty of things to do? Are people nice? Do people have thick southern accents? Is it "ghetto"? Is it trashy? Anything else I would want to know about? Thanks!

Answer 1

Chatanooga is a city that more people are moving out of instead of in to. I moved there 2 yrs. ago and stayed long enough to get out. It's very hard to rent anywhere. it's very crowded and there is a lot of crime there.

There's not a lot of southern people like you would think either.  

Answer 2

It's a great place to visit, but I don't think I would want to live there.  There is alot to do as a tourist but outside of the river front area, there is alot of ghetto. Now if you go outside of the city, you can live in one of many small rural towns and still be 15 min away from the city.

Answer 3

Chattanooga is my favorite little city. It has just the right mix of university, culture, country, outdoors, etc.

I plan to move there myself in the next few years, and in the meanwhile, I try to spend at least one weekend a month there.

Downtown Chattanooga is undergoing some revitalization. They have a great river front and they are just beginning to really take advantage of it with museums, the most amazing aquarium and plenty of outdoor art.

Chattanooga has lakes, the river, mountains and still the culture of a city.

If you go in looking for crime, or for 'trash' you'll be able to find it - just like you would in any city.

If you can, stay  in the Marriott or the Sheraton downtown. The Sheraton Read House is pricey but very much worth it. Be careful of some of the hotels that list themselves as 'downtown' online - some are in some shady areas.

You can get demographics, including on crime, here: http://chattanooga.areaconnect.com/stati...

The daily newspaper is here: http://www.timesfreepress.com/

And you can learn more here: http://www.crye-leike.com/buyerseller/ar...

Answer 4

It's in Tennessee. ^_^