Outskirts of Town: Red Bank Family Road Trip

1

 

Welcome to Red Bank, Tennessee, “a community of friendly people,” as the sign says. We are a city within a city — 6.5 square miles entirely surrounded by Chattanooga and Hamilton County. So, this means you can’t get a free Hamilton County library card, but you do get all the perks of small town life (think Stars Hollow vibes), with just a short ten-minute drive to downtown Chattanooga. Its proximity to downtown might be why we decided to buy a home here, but Red Bank has its own charming destinations.

Really, the longer I live in Red Bank, the better it becomes, so let me give you a tour of my favorite places.

Red Bank, Tennessee

Coffee + Treats

Tucked away in one of the oldest buildings in Red Bank is our first stop: The Meeting House, which I think is the heart of the community in Red Bank. Whether you are looking for a quiet place to connect to free wifi and work, or somewhere take your kiddo on a Saturday morning mommy date for waffles and hot chocolate, the Meeting House is the place for all that, plus they serve best coffee in town. (Open 7am to 6pm.)

Waffles at Meeting House
Eat. All. The. Waffles

If you’re on the hunt for a flaky baguette or some freshly baked bread, head to Red Bank’s artisan bakery Bread and Butter. In addition to breads, they also have a rotating daily selection of scones, muffins, and savory croissants that are irresistible. You also won’t want to miss their Cookie Happy Hour every week on Thursdays from 3pm – 7pm, where all of their cookies are just $1!

Family-Friendly Dining

In Red Bank with your family around dinner? You’re in luck. We have some great options for family-friendly restaurants. Enjoy some homemade BBQ at Dub’s Place, and top it off with a malt or chocolate dipped ice cream cone (note that they are closed on Mondays). For pizza, you’ll want to check out Crust (we always get the sleestack) and for burgers Sofa King Juicy Burger (just don’t say that out loud too fast in front of your kids). And of course, Mojo Burrito is where we head when we are craving some burritos and guac.

Parks and Playgrounds

White Oak is Red Bank’s dog park, with separate big dog and small dog fenced runs. However, I don’t recommend going after it rains unless you plan on having a puppy bath later. The fenced area tends to get huge mud puddles that my dog finds irresistible (bring a towel!). White Oak Park also has a walking trail, playground, and a pavilion with picnic tables and grills.

Another fun place to play is Kid’s Korner playground, adjacent to Red Bank’s Town Center park. The wooden playground is usually in good repair, and I hear there are plans for renovations soon. We always enjoy the sand box, swings, and covered gazebo (perfect for free, outdoor birthday parties). On your way out, you can stop by the community little free library and take a book or leave a book for someone else.

Thrifting and Antiquing

You have several different options for antique and thrift shops in Red Bank. By far, my favorite is Vintage and More on the Blvd which has eclectic vintage decor, jewelry and knickknacks. You might also check out the new Chambliss Thrift Store whose proceeds benefit Chambliss Center for Children.

Date Night Brews

Red Bank’s brewing company, Big Frog Brewing happens to be my husband’s favorite Thursday night destination. It is veteran and family operated, so you can feel good about supporting a local small business owner. All of their ales are brewed by hand, and they are each unique and delicious. You’ll have to catch them when they are open though, from 5-9pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening.

Special Events

Summer in Red Bank kicks off with the annual Red Bank Jubilee and Moonpie Festival held in May. Then throughout the summer, a local farmer’s market happens every Monday from 4-7pm in front of Red Bank United Methodist Church.

Another fun tradition we are looking forward to soon is the annual Christmas parade. This year the parade is December 2nd from 4-8pm. You can enjoy the only time our town’s snow plow gets driven, plus your kids can visit Santa for FREE. You’ll get one free snapshot emailed to you after the parade.

So, what are your favorite spots in Red Bank? Let me know in the comments!

More of our Outskirts of Town Series:

Outskirts of Town: Signal Mountain

Outskirts of Town: Soddy-Daisy

Outskirts of Town: Ringgold, Georgia

Outskirts of Town: Chickamauga, Georgia

Outskirts of Town: Red Bank

Outskirts of Town: St. Elmo

1 COMMENT

Comments are closed.