DETAILS

Chattanooga

GETTING THERE: Chattanooga is about 600 miles from Washington. Weekend airfares in late January start at $243 on US Airways nonstop from Reagan National or $254 from Dulles on Delta via Atlanta.

WHERE TO STAY: Riverfront district hotels on the south shore include Courtyard by Marriott Downtown (200 Chestnut St., 800-321-2211, http://www.marriott.com/ ), from $109 per night double on weekends); and the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown (311 Chestnut St., 800-445-8667, http://www.hiltongardeninn.com/ ) with doubles from $139. Near the Hunter Museum is the Bluff View Inn (411 E. Second St., 800-725-8338, http://www.bluffviewartdistrict.com/ ), three mansions restored as a bed-and-breakfast in the chic-est downtown neighborhood. Rooms start at $130 per night double, generally with a two-night minimum on weekends.

WHERE TO EAT: Porker's (1251 Market St., 423-267-2726) is old-school, with paper-napkin barbecue and booth and counter dining weekdays till 8 p.m. Decor: Elvis the Porker and Coca-Cola signs. Go for the biscuits (they sell out after breakfast). Dishes run from $4 to $13; a small serving of ribs and slaw is $6.

Southside Grille (1400 Cowart St., 423-266-9211), in a converted 19th-century building, serves fine new Southern specials, like tarragon biscuits with lobster. Dinner for two with wine (300 by the bottle, 19 by the glass) runs about $75.

WHAT TO DO: Downtown Chattanooga is flat, pedestrian-friendly and wheelchair-accessible. A Triple Value Package covering admission to all the main downtown attractions (Tennessee Aquarium, Imax Theater and Creative Discovery Museum) can be purchased at the Visitors Bureau next to the aquarium for $28.50.

Tennessee Aquarium (1 Broad St., 800-262-0695, http://www.tnaqua.org/ ) comprises two buildings, River Journey and Ocean Journey; highlights include river otters, sharks and petting pools. Tickets are $17.95 and are for a specific time, but that is generally observed only in the busy summer months.

Imax Theater (across Chestnut Street from the aquarium, 800-262-0695, http://www.tnaqua.org/ ) costs $7.95 to $9.95, depending on the film. Admission to both aquarium and theater is $21.95.

Creative Discovery Museum (Chestnut and Fourth streets, 423-756-2738, http://www.cdmfun.org/ ) offers hands-on art and sound studios and a Rooftop Fun Factory, an exploration of simple machines. Tickets are $7.95.

Hunter Museum of American Art (10 Bluff View, 423-267-0968, http://www.huntermuseum.org/ ) specializes in 19th- and 20th-century work. A cafe serves lunch items, with live music Wednesday evenings. Admission is $7.

International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum (3315 Broad St., 423-267-3132, http://www.internationaltowingmuseum.org/ ) costs $8.

Lookout Mountain Incline Railway (3917 St. Elmo Ave., 423-821-4224, http://www.lookoutmountain.com/ ) has round-trip fares of $10.

Mountain Opry (Fairmount Pike, Signal Mountain, 423-886-3252) is held Friday nights from 8 to 11 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

INFORMATION: Chattanooga Area Convention & Visitors Bureau , 800-322-3344, http://www.chattanoogafun.com/ . -- Christine H. O'Toole