We recently had the chance to catch up with a college friend who lives in Australia. He was working in Nashville for the summer, so we decided to split the distance and meet in Chattanooga for a weekend. We’re usually hotel people, but we wanted to have plenty of space to hang out and make the most of our short time together, so we searched Airbnb for a place. My friend and I both independently fell in love with the “Tremont Treehouse.” While it’s unfortunately not a true treehouse, this hilltop house is surrounded by trees, giving it a secluded feel. The two bedroom, one bath bungalow was exactly what we wanted for the weekend: two private bedrooms, comfortable common areas, close to downtown, and a reasonable price.
Good for:
Couples, families
How to get there:
By air:
The closest airport is Chattanooga Airport (CHA), which has arrivals from a handful of destinations from US cities. The closest international airport is Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL), about a 2 hour drive from Chattanooga.
By car:
Chattanooga is nestled in the intersection of three major interstates, I-75, I-59, and I-24, which grants easy access from several Southeastern cities. It’s around a 2-hour drive from Nashville, Knoxville, Birmingham, or Atlanta. However, with those interstate intersections comes a lot of rush hour traffic, so plan accordingly. This house is located just north of downtown Chattanooga.
Best time to go:
It’s hard to go wrong with spring, summer, or fall in Chattanooga. Spring and fall have mild, layer-wearing weather. Summer’s hot and humid days are tempered by cooler nights thanks to the elevation. In springtime, the lush valley around Chattanooga is in bloom; in fall, the surrounding forests are ablaze with different colors as the leaves change.
House:
The house has a large, fully-equipped kitchen ready for cooking family-style meals. If you want to cook a grand feast, you’ll find what you need, including pots and pans, updated appliances, spices, and dishes. There are barstools in the kitchen and an adjacent dining room for eating. For groceries, there’s a Publix supermarket and a Whole Foods nearby, both about 1 mile from the house. If all you require of the kitchen is a coffee maker and some mugs, they’ve got that, too.
The living room is a great space for hanging out, playing games, or reading a book. Sit down and stay a while on the large couch, armchair, or floor pillows by the fireplace. Entertain your friends with the electric keyboard or curl up for a movie on the large flat screen tv (with Apple TV!). And have no fear, there’s wifi.
If outdoor areas are more your style, the large front porch overlooks the neighborhood and is outfitted with several types of seating. It has room for yoga mats if you’re into morning sun salutations like I am. The small backyard area is more private–it’s walled off and covered by a canopy of trees. There’s a fire pit and string lights for a perfectly Instagramable evening spent outside.
The electronic lock on the front door makes for easy check-in and check-out (no need to meet someone there) and means you don’t have to keep up with a key during your stay. Before leaving, guests are asked to wash dirty linens (to be left in the dryer), load and start the dishwasher, and turn off the lights.
Rooms:
The master bedroom has a queen bed flanked by quirky hanging lights. It has a small vanity and closet, and plush robes waiting on the back of the door. Its position in the back corner of the house keeps the room a little darker if you’re a light-sensitive sleeper like me.
The light-filled second bedroom in the front of the house has a double bed, vanity, and small closet. Between the rooms is a shared bathroom with shower/tub combo. We found a gracious stack of clean towels awaiting us.
Nearby:
Just down the street is Aretha Frankenstein’s, a local pub-turned-brunch-spot on the weekends. Go early to avoid the weekend morning lines for their giant pancakes or stop by after dinner for a specialty beer.
Up and over the hill is Southern Sqweeze, a mostly-vegan, all-organic juice shop. Grab a cold-pressed juice or vegan snacks to take on a hike in the surrounding mountains. This North Chattanooga location is open everyday, and they have another Downtown Chattanooga location that’s open on weekdays.
Less than a mile walk gets you to the riverfront where you can run or walk the Riverwalk, kayak, fish, paddleboard, or just enjoy the views. Along the north side of the river is Clumpies Ice Cream and many other shops and restaurants.
Why I love it:
The Tremont Treehouse is a quaint, historic home with updated finishes, making it equal parts charming and comfortable. It has cute and quirky decorations all throughout the house–I could’ve spent hours inspecting the shelves! The location was perfect: situated in a quiet neighborhood, but close to all of the restaurants and activities downtown. The homeowner, Beth, was very helpful and responsive during the booking process, and based on her home, she seems like a fun, well-traveled kind of person. From morning yoga and tea on the front porch to late nights chatting in the living room, this home was the perfect weekend escape!
We traveled as a couple + a single in August 2017.
Coming soon: Chattanooga City Guide