On the right day, just a few minutes outside during a Chattanooga summer can make a person feel like they’re in a sauna. So it should come as no surprise that some Chattanoogans prefer the colder temperatures of winter, free from the heat and humidity that run rampant ’round these parts. For these outdoorsy folks at Christmas, the Scenic City really is a winter wonderland.
Christmas on the River: Randy Hale
When Randy Hale first decided to take his canoe out and go paddling on Christmas Day, it wasn’t because the Ebenezer Scrooge on his shoulder was whispering, “Bah humbug” in his ear.
“Christmas can be very monotonous, because you end up doing the same thing all the time,” Hale says, explaining his decision to go canoeing. “As a kid, you’re running to open presents. As an adult, you’re waiting for dinner, and then go open presents. I don’t have any kids, so I just thought I needed to do something different.”