If You Only Do One Dog-Friendly Fall Day Trip Near Chattanooga
AND you need it to have waterfall hikes and delicious food, beer, and dessert stops along the way...do this one!
Crisp and colorful. If that's how you like your hikes, beers, and apples, you'll think you've gone to hillbilly heaven!
It was a never-miss Fall excursion when we lived in TN.
Only a 45-minute drive from Why Not Woodland Escape (and Chattanooga) is the Laurel and Snow Falls trailhead in Dayton, TN. This trail has it all — mining ruins, bridge crossings, gorges, overlooks, rock scrambling, creek crossings, and most importantly, waterfalls! There are many routes and distances to choose from based on your adventure level.
The first time we hiked it, we only made it three miles total because there was so much to take in, like the entrance to the Dixon Slope Mine, which is just 0.01 miles from the trailhead!
We recommend arriving early, especially on weekends, since this is a popular, dog-friendly area.
Now that you’re hangry and thirsty, head into town to Monkey Town Brewing, named after the famous Scopes Trial.
If you have your dog, no problem. They have a nice side yard with shade and picnic tables.
You can’t go wrong with Monkey Town’s large selection of mainstay brews, but the specialty batches they curate are primo! We had their Key Lime Pie sour and could literally taste the graham crackers followed by the tart filling. It was a mouth explosion I can’t put into words ;)
The good news: you can try a flight or two and ask ‘em to can a four-pack of your fave to take home for later.
Now let’s talk food — the menu is well-rounded from tacos to burgers to soup. The hand-battered fried chicken breast sandwich with extra pickles for me and the piled-high Reuben on rye is Candace’s fave.
Ya’ll, Monkey Town isn’t just beer and bar food. It’s high-quality, and everything is crafted with love. At least that’s what it tastes like it’s crafted with ;)
But don’t get too full because… dessert!
Dessert for us is typically ordering another beer ;)…but not during this excursion!
A softball-sized apple dumpling à la mode from Wooden’s Apple House is a must as the final stop on this scenic day trip.
Family-owned, this orchard and pie shop is adorable, homey, and dog-friendly, with picnic tables and rocking chairs on the porch.
Now let’s talk about that apple dumpling. It’s a pant-unbuckler. Sure, you could share one, but why deprive yourself of this iconic fall experience?
Wooden’s is your one-stop shop for everything Fall. Load your SUV up with apples, cider, pumpkins, jams, and even a tray of apple dumplings (or pies) to freeze and reheat for your Thanksgiving feast.
And there you have it.
Roll down your windows, turn up your '70’s Road Trip' playlist, and feast your eyes on the thousands of vividly colored trees passing by as you head down off the Cumberland Plateau and take the Sequatchie Valley’s spectacular scenic route back to Chattanooga.
And if you’re staying at Why Not, you’ll be back in plenty of time to crack open one of your Monkey Town to-go brews as you chill by the fire pit. Maybe you'll even saunter into the hot tub for the sunset show.
Have questions about this day? Email us!
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