Here is my personal favorites from our past visits. But just know, this is just the tip of the iceberg of what this city has to offer.
1. Tennessee Aquarium
This first thing on my list is The
Tennessee Aquarium and butterfly Garden. This aquarium is one of the world's largest freshwater aquariums and easily Chattanooga's biggest attraction! The
Tennessee Aquarium isn't your average fish tank. This 60,000 square foot structure is equivalent in height to a ten-story
building and therefore there is not a bad viewing area in the whole aquarium. The aquarium is home to more than 12,000 animals representing almost 800 species. You will get to see electric eels, penguins, sharks, otters, turtles, alligators, jellyfish, dragon horse fish, sturgeons, lemurs & more.
There are themed exhibits where you get to explore the "Ocean Journey" and "River Journey." There is also a IMAX 3D cinema at the Aquarium offering dazzling adventures on one of the biggest screens in
Tennessee.
Along side of the Aquarium there is also a Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden. This is a beautiful, glass walled part of the aquarium. The
habitat features exotic flowers, a beautiful waterfall, and the sounds
of tropical birds. along with hundreds of butterflies including Glass Wings, Monarchs, and Indian Leafs.
Make sure when you leave that you don't have any hitchhikers on your shoulder.
2 . Rock City at Lookout Mountain
By the late 60's, as you traveled along our nation's highways, you would have no doubt came across a barn or two with SEE ROCK CITY painted on them. This adverting promotion started way back in 1935 and has stood the test of time. The Rock City barns were the marketing brainstorm of Rock City
founder Garnet Carter. He decided to turn some country barns into billboards that
spread the word about the attraction's charms. By the time he retired he had painted on 900 barns in 19 states. I personally hope this is not one of the things that I see go by the wayside.
Lookout Mountain has an elevation of 2,389 ft. It also touches parts of Georgia and Alabama. This popular 4,100-foot
path located on the Georgia side of Lookout Mountain offers fun for the whole family. Everyone will
enjoy weaving through the tall boulders at Needle's Eye and Fat
Man's Squeeze and crossing the 180-foot Swing-a-Long Suspension Bridge. The Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village are a delight for any age. There's a photographic view at Lover's Leap with a 140-foot waterfall. And, of course, the See Seven States viewpoint is a must. Have fun trying to see how many states you can spot from this 1,700 feet above sea level viewpoint.
3. Lookout Mountain Incline Railway
The one mile, 72% grade incline railway is one of the steepest in the world. At 10 mph, it takes about 15 minutes in each direction. In addition to the ride, there is an
observation deck atop Lookout Mountain, and food service and gift shops
available at both stations.
From the observation deck at the Lookout Mountain station you will see the best panoramic views of the Tennessee Valley.
4. Ruby Falls
Ruby Falls is a giant underground waterfall at Lookout Mountain. A
glass-front elevator takes you down 260 ft to the cavern trail and
guided walk to the cave waterfall known as Ruby Falls.
There is also a 700 ft zip line in operation from March through November at Ruby Falls.
5 . Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel
This building was originally a hotel before the Southern Railway
acquired it in 1905. Four years later, it opened as Terminal Station and
eventually became a major hub, transporting more than 50 passenger
trains a day. From the time it opened to its closure in 1970, all trains
traveling south passed through Chattanooga. The Chattanooga Choo Choo became a household
name when the Glenn Miller Orchestra created a song of the same name.
By 1973, the train station
was once again turned back into an ornate hotel with some of the
original station tracks still running through the property. Sleeper
cars have been restored and converted into hotel accommodations.
6. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
At this museum, you can take a ride on a series of
passenger cars built in the early 1900s powered by either steam or
diesel engines.
There are all kinds of rides you can choose at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. These include the Hiwassee Loop, Dinner on the Diner, and Wine Dinner Train. Trips range from 55 minutes to nine hours.
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is a great learning experience you shouldn't pass up.
7. Chattanooga Riverboat Cruise
In 1985, a local man named Captain Lump saw an opportunity for a riverboat on the TN River! That riverboat is now one of the top
attractions in Chattanooga and one of the top things to do!
The Southern Belle Riverboat offers a variety of sightseeing cruises
on the Tennessee River. Choose from the lunch cruise, sightseeing
cruise, sunset cruise, or dinner cruise and enjoy a relaxing time on the
water.
They also offer special holiday cruises throughout the year.
8 . Walnut Street Bridge
The 1891 Walnut Street Bridge was built to connect North Chattanooga to downtown. The bridge closed to motor vehicle traffic in 1978 and was reopened to pedestrian-only traffic in the early 1990s.
The span of the bridge is about a half-mile (2,376 ft) making Walnut
Street Bridge one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world. It’s over 2,300
feet in length and a great place to get a good look at the bluffside
museum, the aquarium, and the many boats that may be navigating the river
at the time.
9. Tennessee Riverwalk
Paralleling the Tennessee River from Moccasin Bend to
the Chickamauga Dam, the 11-mile Tennessee Riverwalk is a wonderful
linear park on the edge of a waterway. You can start your walk from downtown Chattanooga and follow alongside the
Tennessee River to the Chickamauga Dam. There are also many great places
for a picnic, or to just enjoy a leisurely stroll.
10. Coolidge Park
Coolidge Park is a gorgeous waterfront park on the North Shore of the
Tennessee River. The park features a beautiful, historic carousel,
interactive water fountain, pavilion, and the blue rhino. There are lots of shops, restaurants, and art galleries in the area too.
Our newest discoveries
11. Chickamauga National Military Park
This is an exceptional place and a
must visit, especially for history buffs. It’s located just across the state line in Georgia.
After going to the visitor center and watching the informative movie, we headed out to do
the driving tour of the outdoor exhibits, monuments, and
historic cabins.
Chattanooga is known for being a Civil War battleground. This park is the oldest and
largest of America's Civil War parks, encompassing several different
sections of land both north and south of the Tennessee-Georgia border. In 1863, battles broke out in various areas in
Chickamauga and Chattanooga, with both the Union and Confederate troops
experiencing victories and losses. The Chickamauga section of the park is free, but there is a $10 fee to
enter Point Park for adults.
