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Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008 , 11:56 a.m.

Roamin’ With Roman - Soddy-Daisy

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The weather is beautiful, the temperature is hot, the water is warm, so this month we are roamin’ to Soddy-Daisy to spend some time on the Tennessee River, Soddy Lake, and Chickamauga Lake.

As I discussed last month, I recently returned from Scotland and I have to admit, I still miss the ridiculously gorgeous scenery. Scotland was an incredible experience, and I highly recommend anyone to visit if they get a chance, especially the Highlands and islands. I think my experiences there for three weeks really heightened my appreciation of the beauties of nature, as I was surrounded with it at all times.

That being said, the scenic lands surrounding Chattanooga actually remind me a bit of some parts of Scotland, and upon my return to Chattanooga, I decided to set out from the city into the countryside to experience more natural beauty. There were numerous places I could go, but I decided to hit up the lakes in Soddy-Daisy on a warm, sunny afternoon and take in the atmosphere.

Soddy-Daisy is actually Soddy and Daisy, two different communities that were put together along with some adjacent areas to form what is now known as Soddy-Daisy. All of you local folk know what I mean, as locals have informed me that there is a big difference in people from Soddy and Daisy. This is, of course, depending on whom you would ask, but even though they pick at each other it is all in good fun.

The woodland hills and “cotton ball” clouds made for an excellent backdrop when navigating through Soddy-Daisy’s charming lakes.

Click to enlarge photo

The gems of Soddy-Daisy are the Soddy and Chickamauga Lakes along the Tennessee River. It had been awhile since I had been on the lakes, but the view was as magical as I remembered it. There is an enchanting feeling being out on the water with the wind hitting your face, surrounded by lush woodland hills.

Equally as impressive as the view of the hills are the lakefront properties that run down the lakes. There are some very huge houses with interesting architecture and richly landscaped gardens. I found myself in awe over some of these properties. One of the houses of particular interest to me was the house my parents were married in, which is a huge house with a massive boat dock.

There were several other boats out on the lakes as well, and many of these were quite impressive. I was out on the lake in my aunt and uncle’s boat, as they have frequented the area for years. It is interesting how a tight-knit community of “boat people” forms among those who spend a lot of time on the lakes. They seem to all know each other and wave as you pass by.

Also looming in the background on Chickamauga Lake is the massive Sequoyah Nuclear Power Plant. Though Chickamauga Lake is a prime spot for many fishermen, I’m not sure I would want to actually eat anything caught close to the plant, especially if it had three heads.

However, down on Soddy Lake is the Pine Harbor Marina, which is a good spot to dock and grab a bite to eat. The restaurant Steve’s Landing at the Pine Harbor Marina is a very busy spot for boaters to stop. The ribs there are so tender that a person with no teeth could probably eat them, and I make a point to stop there every time I venture out into Soddy Lake.

These lakes that run down the Tennessee River are a large part of what gives Chattanooga its charm, and during the summer this is a prime area for Chattanoogans to visit. When people think “Chattanooga,” the lakes and mountains are some of the first things that come to mind. Woodland mountains and hills are scattered throughout Soddy-Daisy, which makes it a popular destination for hikers in addition to boaters and fishermen.

I highly recommend visiting Soddy-Daisy at some point before summer is over, as it is truly one of the gems of the Chattanooga area. It gives you a tranquil, serene feeling to be surrounded by so much beauty all around, and is truly what summertime in Chattanooga is all about.

Coming Up

Next month I am continuing my summer tour of the world and setting out for the “windy city” of Chicago. I will be spending a week there checking out the stomping grounds of Al Capone, walking around the concrete jungle of massive buildings downtown, checking out the local fare of Chicago deep-dish pizza and Chicago style hot dogs, and hoping I don’t put on a bunch of weight. I will also be checking out a Cubs game, as this could be the year that they end their 100-year streak of not winning a World Series.

I will be roamin’ through your area soon! If you would like to make comments or have questions about any of my stories, or provide some ideas and information for future stories, you can contact me at roaminwithroman@gmail.com.