This Southern Destination Just Became North America’s First National Park City

Chattanooga—once considered the dirtiest city in the USA—is the third place in the world to receive this designation, joining London and Adelaide, Australia.

Lookout Mountain offers views of Chattanooga and the winding Tennessee River Photo by Christopher P/Shutterstock

Just over 50 years ago, in 1969, Chattanooga, Tennessee, was labeled the most polluted city in the United States. At that time, unregulated industrial emissions had degraded air quality so much that drivers often had to use headlights during the day. But that environmental crisis spurred a community-driven initiative that revitalized the downtown and riverfront areas, transforming former industrial sites into public spaces like parks and trails. Now, the community has claimed a brand-new title: the first National Park City in the United States.

This distinction is granted by the U.K.-based National Park City Foundation, a grassroots effort aiming to make cities more environmentally friendly that is inspired by the “long-term and large-scale vision of national parks,” per the organization’s website. (To clarify, this is not part of the U.S. National Park System, which includes national parks, national monuments, national preserves, and more.) The designation means Chattanooga is one of the cities leading the charge on what the future of urban life could look like—greener, healthier, and more connected to nature.

“Here in Chattanooga, we’ve used the National Park City movement to encourage folks to think about Chattanooga as a city in a park rather than a city with some parks in it,” Chattanooga mayor Tim Kelly said in a video announcing the designation. “The outdoors is our competitive advantage. It’s at the heart of our story of revitalization, and it’s core to our identity. We’ve always known how special Chattanooga’s connection to the outdoors is, and now it’ll be recognized around the world.”

It’s now the third National Park City in the world—London became the first in 2019, and Adelaide, Australia, was named the second in 2021. To earn the title, Chattanooga had to submit a comprehensive digital portfolio explaining how it met the 23 criteria, including detailing its environmental stewardship efforts and sustainable agriculture practices.

According to the National Park City Foundation, whose members traveled to Chattanooga earlier this year to verify the application and approved the bid a month later, the city’s campaign was grounded in its “legacy of change” from one of the most polluted cities in the nation to an outdoor destination.

In a news release after the designation’s announcement, Alison Barnes, trustee of the National Park City Foundation, said the status “introduces a new chapter for a city with a long history of revitalization and renewal through connecting its unique landscape and the history of its people.”

Take a trip to Chattanooga

There’s plenty to see and experience in Tennessee’s fourth largest city. Here’s a quick guide.

What to do

Visitors keen on experiencing Chattanooga’s outdoor opportunities can hike the bluff trails at Stringer’s Ridge for skyline views or head up Lookout Mountain for the jaw-dropper combo of Sunset Rock, Point Park, and Ruby Falls. The Tennessee Riverwalk runs 13 miles from St. Elmo to Chickamauga Dam, making it nice for cyclists, runners, or for a lazy stroll with coffee in hand. Paddleboarders can cruise the calm downtown stretch of the Tennessee River, while adrenaline-chasers have the option of heading to the Ocoee River for whitewater rafting. And if you just want to relax in the sun, Coolidge Park has a carousel, splash pad, and the kind of riverfront lawn made for picnics.

Where to eat

After a day exploring Chattanooga’s scenic landscapes, check out the city’s vibrant culinary scene. For a taste of the South, Public House is a local favorite for dishes like buttermilk fried chicken and shrimp and grits, while Ernest Chinese offers modern Sichuan dishes. When it comes to drinks, No Hard Feelings is a chic spot downtown known for its creative cocktails, like a pistachio Mai Tai.

Where to stay

The Edwin Hotel, Autograph Collection, is a newer, dog-friendly option downtown with an impressive art collection. Suites have marble bathrooms, spacious living areas, and views of the Tennessee River. There’s also a rooftop pool, spa, and a patio bar called the Whiskey Thief.

https://www.afar.com/authors/bailey-berg

Travelore News: Los Angeles Airport LAX Unveils Revamped Terminal 1

Los Angeles World Airports and Southwest Airlines on Nov. 30 officially unveiled the revamped Terminal 1, which has undergone $516.7 million in renovations. The updated terminal features a more efficient, centralized screening area, more seating, and new dining and shopping options.

Mayor Eric Garcetti, also attended the ceremony which saw the unveiling of the $516.7m redevelopment by Southwest which includes new dining and retail options. The new facility also features ‘a larger and more efficient’ centralized screening checkpoint and larger seating areas in gates.

The Terminal 1 renovation, which began in 2014 is part of an overall LAX modernization program. The first phase was completed in 2016, with the final 10 of 20 retail and dining options revealed earlier this year.

Constructed in the early 1980s in advance of the 1984 Olympic Games, the project was completed with minimal impact to customer service and flight operations, keeping around 10m customers moving through the facility each year of the development.

Deborah Flint, CEO, Los Angeles World Airports said the T1 modernization had been a phenomenal effort by all partners at LAWA, Southwest and URW Airports and the results raised the bar for what guests could expect when they came to LAX.

The major objective of the T1 project was to eliminate queues that crowded the approaches to ticketing, security and at shops and restaurants in ‘previously cramped’ gate areas.

Now, the 13-gate terminal features new self‐service check‐in stations, the relocated security checkpoint and additional retail and dining offerings post‐security.

Gary Kelly, CEO, Southwest said: “Southwest carries more California travellers to, from and within the Golden State every day than any other airline and is scheduled to offer a record 800 departures a day from California next summer.

“This redeveloped Terminal 1 facility at LAX will host many of those customers and is the perfect venue for our award‐winning people to showcase their world‐famous hospitality.”

With 22 dining and retail destinations spread across 23,543sq ft, the new offerings introduce 13 new brands to LAX and eight which are making their airport debut.

Westfield Corporation entered into an agreement at Terminal’s 1, 3 and 6 to develop, lease and manage retail, F&B and other services in 2012 for a period of 17 years. Construction by the same project team is underway on Terminal 1.5, a connecting structure between Terminals 1 and 2. This will further expand baggage claim areas and offer Southwest Customers connectivity to the new LAX automated people mover.

Source: www.airlineguideonline.com