Chattanooga Choo Choo

The Chattanooga Choo Choo, as it's website proudly states, is now a 24-acre complex, with the original 1909 train terminal at its heart. It's a Beaux-Arts-style building, with a brick facade, beautiful arched windows, and an enormous central dome. This spot now functions as the lobby, a renovated space that's slightly sterile but attractive, with a central skylight and modern decor. There are few clustered couches and chairs for guests to relax, but it's mostly a place to check-in and admire the architecture. With a restaurant set in a terminal wing and some of the finer guest rooms in vintage train cars, historic charm is the selling point here, but in many spots, the hotel feels more outdated than vintage. Most of the hotel's guest rooms are in the not-so-historic MacArthur Building, situated across the rail yard from the lobby. The hotel appeals to families with train-loving kids and to railroad buffs looking to soak in the historic ambiance.

The Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel is on the southern end of Downtown Chattanooga, slightly outside the city center. It's situated directly off the area of Main Street lined with restaurants, and just a six-minute walk from the shops and eateries on Warehouse Row. Getting to the downtown bars, restaurants, and attractions (like the Tennessee Aquarium) near the riverfront is easy with a free electric shuttle that leaves from outside the hotel. The ride is about five minutes. The Chattanooga Convention Center is a 10-minute walk, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a five-minute drive, and Rock City, a popular regional attraction, is about a 15-minute drive. Chattanooga International Airport is roughly 20 minutes by car.

Most of the hotel's guest rooms are situated in the MacArthur Building, which is somewhat charmless in comparison to the hotel's vintage highlights. The rooms may lack that "wow" factor, but they're clean and contemporary thanks in part to a 2016 renovation. Blue wall-to-wall carpeting pairs nicely with sunny-yellow accent walls behind the beds, furniture is wood and white laminate, and historic black-and-white photos of trains add a little flair. Basic beige-tiled bathrooms are brightened up by teal accent walls, and they contain shower/tub combos and a stock of Neutrogena toiletries. Rooms situated in the historic Pullman train cars are a mixed bag -- with decor that wavers between appealingly old-fashioned and downright outdated. They're smaller, low-ceilinged affairs with vintage wood furniture, upholstered armchairs, wallpapered accent walls behind the beds, and wood blinds. Guests sometimes complain about old carpeting, musty smells, or tourists knocking on train car doors. Bathrooms are basic like other units -- they're compact and functional. Train car rooms have queen beds, and units with additional pull-out beds are available, ideal for those traveling with kids.All rooms have flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and coffeemakers, plus irons and ironing boards. Rooms in the MacArthur building also have mini-fridges.

Chattanooga Choo Choo isn't just a hotel, but an historic attraction that features dining, shopping, and entertainment venues -- most open to the public. The on-site restaurants include a 50's-style pizza parlor in a train car, a coffeehouse that also serves up drinks and casual dishes, a chic oyster bar, and a charming bar situated in the main train station (aptly named the Victorian Lounge). A breakfast buffet is served off the lobby, but it costs extra. On-site entertainment venues include Comedy Catch, a popular comedy club with an accompanying bar, and several performance venues, including Track 29 for larger shows, and the Revelry Room and the Songbirds Guitar Museum for more intimate shows. Gift shops sell all the requisite Chattanooga and train-themed merchandise. Guest can also wander the outdoor gardens in the rail yard between the train tracks, which include fountains, historic Pullman train cars (now guest rooms), a gazebo, and a giant chess set. The hotel used to run a heritage streetcar throughout the multi-building property, but it's no longer in use.The hotel's pool is situated in a spacious room in the MacArthur Building, with a high ceiling and lots of windows, but it's dated and verges on tacky, with a faux rock mountain at one end and white plastic lounge chairs around the pool. Fitness facilities are an afterthought -- the "gym" is a windowless, carpeted room with just two treadmills, a stationary bike, and an elliptical. The hotel has self-service laundry, a computer and printer for guest use, and free Wi-Fi throughout. Meeting and event facilities include the Imperial ballroom, which can host up to 500 guests. On-site parking is offered for a modest  fee, and a free bus runs from outside the hotel to Downtown Chattanooga. Pets are allowed with a deposit and extra per-stay fee.