Sometimes you just need to get away. Whether jetting off to a far away land or driving a few exits down the highway, a change of scenery can sometimes be all you need to recharge your batteries.

When the road trip itch struck me a few weeks ago, my dear friend Kara agreed to a one-night adventure in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where we ate, drank, danced and laughed our way through the charming small town.

Here’s how to spend a perfect 48 hours in Chattanooga.

Where to Stay

We LOVED our stay at Moxy Chattanooga. The Moxy collection, a Marriott concept, touts stylish and chic boutique hotels popping up in cities nationwide. Built for the “young at heart,” the Chattanooga property featured bold, modern decor sprinkled with catchy phrases and filled with cool people. Seriously, were they paid actors?

Perhaps my favorite part of the hotel stemmed from their commitment to minimalism. Instead of in-room amenities like a fridge, microwave or even a closet, the hotel has a community break room (for lack of a better descriptor) complete with coffee, food prep tools and my favorite thing ever, A FILTERED TAP WITH STILL AND SPARKLING WATER!

WHY DO HOTELS NEVER HAVE ACCESS TO WATER. Problem solved at the Moxy, and this little detail has made me a fan for life.

What to Do

Cliche, I know, but Chattanooga really does have something for everyone. With tons of attractions for kids (like the Tennessee Aquarium and Creative Discovery Museum), plenty of outdoor activities (anyone else dying to do a duck boat tour?) and surprisingly great dining options, a visit to Chattanooga could certainly extend beyond one night.

With Dunkin’ in-hand and Morgan Wallen on the radio (Alexa, play: Chasin’ You), we rolled down I-24 from Nashville to Chattanooga, making a perfect pit stop at Top of the Rock – a restaurant and brewery in Jasper, Tennessee. The food was great, the mimosas were flowing (responsibly) and the views really were incredible. This will be a must-stop detour on any future roadtrips.

When we arrived in Chattanooga, we grabbed a bottle of wine and checked in our hotel (at Moxy, you check in at their bar and are offered a welcome cocktail). We took a quick wine break rest before enjoying a drink at Moxy’s trendy lobby bar, then freshened up before hitting the town.

We walked past the Chattanooga Choo Choo (you know my love for train-themed hotels) and stopped for a drink at Flying Squirrel before continuing on to drinks and dinner at State of Confusion – this would be a perfect spot on a nice spring or fall day. Unfortunately for us, it was about 900 degrees outside, so we threw cocktails out the window and opted for a bucket of Bud Light (and free Koozies!). Perfect fuel for a sweet heart-to-heart.

From there, my friends Lindsey and Katie recommended a nightlife hot spot that definitely turned our night from sweet to spicy. A mini version of Broadway or Beale, we wandered to Station Street where bars and nightclubs were booming. We chose Westbound because both the playlist and DJ were hot, and we had no regrets (ok, maybe some). Line dancing and cheap beers kept us going into the wee hours of the morning where we giggled our way back to the hotel.

Sunday morning came with a fury, but Moxy’s water tap came to the rescue and had us on our feet in no time. We grabbed coffee from Moxy’s coffee shop concept (honestly, would absolutely not recommend) and headed out for a walk around town.

We clocked four miles wandering the city streets, with our favorite stop being the charming West Village. This would be a fantastic area to stay if you’re looking for less booze and more luxury. Be sure to stop for a photo at Umbrella Alley (you’ll have to wander for 30 minutes to find it just like I did)!

On our way home, we had a chaotic pitstop in Sewanee for lunch at the aptly-named Shenanigans. The perfect end to a perfect getaway!

Where to next, Kara?!