Outdoor/Active Couple With Kids Incoming (Chattanooga, Signal Mountain: houses, neighborhood, public schools)

[Pryde1]

Hello Everyone,

My family is taking serious consideration relocating to either the Greenville, SC or Chattanooga, TN area. I also posted my questions in the Greenville forum as well. We plan to visit both areas in December after xmas. We have vacationed in Brevard/Asheville, NC area and know it pretty well but not your area.

We are an active outdoor couple in our early 40’s with kids 8 and 10. We are avid cyclists; both road and mountain biking, hiking, running, exploring, camping, etc. Obviously, this is why we are drawn to the mountains/plateau areas . I am in healthcare and can get a good job most anywhere. My wife is currently a tenured English professor and has less job opportunities but we are looking.

A) We don’t want to be in the middle of a city but would prefer VERY quick access to wooded trails, etc. for quick after-work exercise and fun. Then have the ability to take off into the mountains on the weekends.

B) With kids, we want decent public schools and safety where our growing kids can have stuff do and hang out with neighborhood friends after school. As they grow into teens we want to make sure they have an exciting area to grow in. We don’t want to be too rural for this reason.

C) We just need a basic 3/2 house around 200k or so.

Is Chattanooga a good fit? What specific areas should we check out when there based on ABC above?

Thanks for your insight and I look forward to your responses. I would love to hear how you active people get your fix on a daily basis there. Though I appreciate scenic river trails, etc. I am talking more about serious road or mountain biking, running, hiking type activity.

[An Einnseanair]

Yes, Chattanooga would be a good fit. Specifically, you are describing the Signal Mountain area. It's a rural bedroom community up on the Signal Mountain. Only one traffic light. Excellent schools. Also, excellent access to a large network of trails, including the Cumberland Trail. You can even hike or drive to the other side of Suck Creek to an even more extensive trail system in the Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area.

Do a Google Search for Signal Mountain Trails. Everything from day-hikes to overnighters.

[Pryde1]

Originally Posted by jwkilgore

Yes, Chattanooga would be a good fit. Specifically, you are describing the Signal Mountain area. It's a rural bedroom community up on the Signal Mountain. Only one traffic light. Excellent schools. Also, excellent access to a large network of trails, including the Cumberland Trail. You can even hike or drive to the other side of Suck Creek to an even more extensive trail system in the Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area.

Do a Google Search for Signal Mountain Trails. Everything from day-hikes to overnighters.

Thank you jwkilgore. I have read good things about Signal Mountain (schools, outdoors, etc.) but maybe out of our price range for a home up there? Is there a town square or center up there at all? Also not sure how well the kids would be entertained up there but we will most definitely check it out when we come down.

[An Einnseanair]

Signal prices vary from uber-high-end million-dollar brow view lots to rural shacks. I did a quick look on Zillow and found a few places for around 200k. None were in the town of Signal Mountain but they were close. If you're willing to go farther north it gets even less expensive, but you're farther from activities. It's all technically Walden's Ridge, but each major creek valley creates a new "mountain". So you have Signal Mountain, Mowbray Mt., Flattop Mt. etc.

Back to Signal, no to the "town center". Single traffic light only. However, from that traffic light it is only 20 mins or so to downtown or north shore Chattanooga. Endless activities and functions there.

Another possibility would be Lookout Mountain, Georgia. The TN side is serious old-money, but the Georgia side is much more reasonable (even considering the higher taxes). Especially once you get a few miles south of the line. Extensive networks of hiking/biking trails around the northern tip of the mountain (Chat/Chick National Military Park) and around Cloudland Canyon/5-Points/Lula Lake. Walker county schools are decent, Dade county not so much; so stay on the eastern side of the mountain if possible.

But the places I mentioned are for immediate access to the trails. If you're willing to drive a few miles it opens up all sorts of possibilities.

Other resources:
Hiking Chattanooga - Day Hiking Trails - Chattanooga, Tennessee
SORBA Chattanooga -- Southern Off-Road Biking Assoc.
http://www.trailforks.com/ -- Excellent source for general biking trail maps

[Pryde1]

Fantastic information thank you for your help!
I did see a few possibilities for houses on signal so that is great. looks like they have a community center, library, pool, etc. so also good news. I will check out lookout area in GA as well while there.