The Lodge in Mentone, the Perfect Weekend Getaway from Nashville

Last Updated on November 13, 2026 by Tori Pines

Disclosure: Our stay at The Lodge in Mentone was provided to me free of charge. All of the opinions are my own!

If you’re looking for an easy weekend getaway from Nashville, let me introduce you to my new favorite: The Lodge in Mentone, Alabama. Tucked into the trees on top of Lookout Mountain, Mentone is a charming little mountain town just about 2.5 hours from Nashville, close enough for a quick weekend from Nashville and far enough to feel like a true escape.

We spent the weekend at The Lodge in Mentone with our girls, and it was everything we hoped for and more. The house has 6 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, a huge gourmet kitchen, a massive living space, three stories of decks, and a hot tub. And the part that won over our three-year-old instantly? A downstairs playroom with its very own CLIMBING WALL.

We loved the house so much that we cooked every meal right there in the kitchen, and only left to explore. We hiked to a waterfall and had a picnic at DeSoto State Park, and we broke up the drive with fun family stops in Chattanooga on the way there and back.

In this post, I’m sharing a full tour of The Lodge, the best things to do nearby with kids, our favorite Chattanooga stops and restaurants, and what to pack for your own mountain weekend.

Our stay at The Lodge in Mentone

The quick details: 6 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, a huge kitchen, a massive living space, a downstairs playroom with a climbing wall, three stories of decks, and a hot tub. The house sleeps 20.

BOOK THE LODGE IN MENTONE HERE

WATCH MY FULL TOUR HERE

The kitchen (my favorite room, obviously)

This kitchen is HUGE, and it’s the kind of gourmet kitchen that makes you actually want to cook on vacation. A huge island, 2 sinks, a coffee pot and a Keurig, all of the utensils and tools you need plus almost every spice you could think of. It was incredibly well stocked.

And here’s my little confession. There are some really cute places to eat in Mentone, but we decided to eat every single meal right here at the house. We just wanted to soak up The Lodge! We made relaxing big breakfasts, Chicken Parm and Tacos for dinners, and warm chocolate chip cookies for dessert of course.

With little kids, cooking in is honestly a GAME CHANGER. But there are no big grocery stores close by, so order a grocery pickup on your way in so you never have to leave the mountain. We stopped at a Publix in Chattanooga and it was perfect.

The living space

The main living area is MASSIVE, and it’s where everyone naturally ended up all throughout the day. Theres a huge fireplace, wrap around windows, the insane view, comfy couches and plenty of space for the kids to play twister. After a full day outside, we’d all pile in, in pajamas, and it was just sooo cozy.

Want to fly for FREE?

I swear by the Southwest Credit Card for earning free flights around the US and the ability to earn the companion pass where you can take anyone on a flight with you for FREE!

The playroom (with a CLIMBING WALL!)

And then there’s the downstairs playroom. Friends. There is a climbing wall. For the KIDS. In the HOUSE.

Scarlett thought this was the greatest thing that had ever happened to her, and I’m not sure she’s wrong. It’s also the perfect solution for a rainy morning or that pre-dinner witching hour when everyone needs to burn off energy. There’s also a pool table and tv down there as well. It was such fun.

Bedrooms and bathrooms

With 6 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, there is room for EVERYONE, which makes The Lodge amazing for multiple families, a family reunion, or a weekend with friends. Nobody’s fighting over the shower in the morning, and the kids can each have their own space to actually sleep. Most of the rooms were super large and had tons of space for a pack and play if needed. And the beds are incredibly comfortable with those pillows that feel very expensive.

Here’s the room breakdown: There’s 2 primary bedrooms with king beds and private bathrooms. Upstairs is a queen room and a bunk room that sleeps 8, those two rooms share a bathroom. And downstairs is 2 more queen rooms with a shared bathroom. Plus a half bath by the living room.

Three stories of decks and the hot tub

And THIS. The Lodge has three stories of decks, which means you are never far from that mountain air and epic views. I had my coffee out there every single morning, and I kept thinking, this is exactly what my tired mama heart needed. And the hot tub on the deck was a huge added luxury!

Other Noteworthy Outside Spaces

In addition to the decks, theres also some noteworthy spaces out front. First and foremost, the fire pit! We loved having a fire and roasting s’mores with the kids one night. And be sure to look up because the night sky really shows off here!

Parking is important to note as well. There is enough space for 6 cars here as well, which is super important with big houses like this! I also really love that there is no driveway, so there’s no worry about driving a steep icy driveway if you visit in the winter! Even the road is super easy to drive getting up there, and I would have zero concerns driving here in the winter. And trust me, I’ve been to plenty that are terrifying…this is not one!!

Things to do near The Lodge

Explore the town of Mentone

Mentone is the tiniest, cutest little mountain town. It’s just a handful of spots, but every one of them is SO charming. Wildflower Cafe is the one everyone talks about, and it’s just the sweetest place. 

We didn’t eat out this trip (hello, that kitchen), but if you want a cozy lunch in town, Wildflower Cafe is where I’d go. It’s top of my list for next time!

Hike to a waterfall at DeSoto State Park

If you love nature, you are in the RIGHT place. There’s sooo much to explore around Mentone, but our absolute favorite was DeSoto State Park.

We took the girls on a 0.9 mile hike out to see DeSoto Falls from the viewpoint, and let me tell you, under a mile is the PERFECT distance with 10 kids who were 5 and under. Long enough to feel like a real adventure, short enough that nobody (me) was crying by the end. All of the bigger kids walked, and the littles were worn in our carriers (The Mabē baby carrier is a game changer and you need this now). We bribed them all with goldfish and kept it interesting by playing hide and seek along the way! We looked for all different color leaves and learned about the moss growing along the trail. It was the sweetest adventure.

And then that view. The waterfall was GORGEOUS. We stopped for tons of pictures of course!

Picnic by the waterfall

Afterward, we spread out a blanket and had a picnic lunch at the park right by the waterfall. Sandwiches, snacks, ten hungry little kids, and the sound of the water. It was so simple, and honestly one of my favorite moments of the whole trip.

If you go, pack the picnic at the house before you leave. It’s one more reason that big kitchen came in handy!

Getting there: make Chattanooga part of the trip

Here’s my number one tip, and honestly it’s what makes this the PERFECT weekend trip from Nashville. Chattanooga is right on the way. It’s about two hours from Nashville, and Mentone is roughly another 45 minutes past it. So instead of white-knuckling three hours straight with a toddler and a baby, we stopped in Chattanooga on the way there AND on the way home.

One heads up: Chattanooga is on Eastern time, so you “lose” an hour going in. But then head back into central time back at the house. It gets kinda confusing so keep this in mind when thinking about check-in time!

Creative Discovery Museum

One of our favorite stops in Chattanooga with kids is the Creative Discovery Museum downtown, and we stopped here on the way home. The girls were in absolute heaven, everything is hands-on, which is exactly what you want after a couple hours strapped in a car seat. They ran, splashed, climbed, played pretend, and got ALL the wiggles out before the last leg of the drive. We had been here before but came back because it is just that good!

Rock City

We also love visiting Rock City, up on Lookout Mountain. The narrow rock paths and little tunnels make it feel like a real-life adventure for kids, and the view from the overlook is just wow. We spent hours here exploring, and I’ll be honest, it was SO SO much better than I ever could have imagined. It was so magical and so much fun for kids and adults alike!

More Chattanooga favorites with kids

We couldn’t fit it all in, but Chattanooga is PACKED with family stuff, so you could stop somewhere new every time you make this drive.

• Tennessee Aquarium: A must if you have little animal lovers, right on the riverfront.
• Chattanooga Zoo: A great size for toddlers, you can actually see it all in oe visit.

Where we ate in Chattanooga

And you know I can’t skip the food!

• Agave and Rye: Our absolute FAVORITE. Fun, creative tacos and a laid-back vibe that works with kids. We stopped here on the way to the house and ordered my favorite taco trio. Don’t miss “the Gangsta” taco, it’s the best one!
• The Daily Ration: Sooo good for breakfast. I still have never had better chicken and waffles in my life than the ones I had here! The perfect fuel before a day of exploring.

What to pack for a cabin weekend with kids

These are the things that made our weekend SO much easier, and I swear by every one of them. For a full packing list with toddlers and babies read my packing guides!

• Mabē baby carrier: If you have any kids 2 and under, this baby carrier is non-negotiable. You can explore all day without killing your back. I am obsessed with this thing!
• Portable sound machine: Comes on every single trip with us, no exceptions.
• Women’s Hiking Boots: These are the ones I have and love!
• Kids’ hiking shoes: Good grip for rocky, leafy trails.
• Waterproof picnic blanket: Ours went straight from the waterfall picnic to the deck.
• Cozy matching pajamas: Because cabin weekends deserve cute pajama pictures. (and there’s no brand better for this than Little Sleepies.
• Swimsuits: Don’t forget these for the hot tub!
• Twister: to keep the kids entertained while the adults relax! Plus there’s no little pieces to worry about losing.
• Magic Sand: The best activity for kids to stay busy and quiet for hours at a time! Just be sure to bring a plastic tablecloth to keep it all contained.

Is The Lodge in Mentone worth it?

Ummm, YES. If you’re in Nashville and you want a weekend that actually feels like a getaway, without a brutal travel day, this is it. Three hours away, a fun Chattanooga stop on the way, waterfalls and mountain air, and a house so wonderful you honestly won’t want to leave it. (We didn’t, we cooked every meal there!)

The Lodge is perfect for a big family trip, a weekend with a couple of other families, or even a girls’ trip. With 6 bedrooms, a playroom with a climbing wall, and a hot tub waiting at the end of the day, there’s something for literally everyone.

We are already talking about when we can go back.

BOOK YOUR STAY AT THE LODGE IN MENTONE

Want to see it all in action? Watch our full house tour on YouTube. And if you have questions about Mentone or Chattanooga with kids, send me a dm, I’d love to help you plan!