Guide to Chattanoga’s Top 25 Attractions

By The BACKSEAT VIEW

Chattanooga is nestled between the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and the Tennessee River, where there is something for everyone, from the outdoors to the arts. Tennessee’s 4th largest city is the perfect romantic weekend, girl’s trip, or family vacation. The city offers stunning mountain views with the Tennessee River running by. Chattanooga has made several lists of “hottest small cities to visit,” so national tourism is rising. Being only a couple of hours from my home, this is the perfect weekend getaway. Let’s walk the city with the world’s steepest incline passenger rail line, the world’s longest pedestrian bridge, and one of the best aquariums in the country, in the Guide to Chattanooga.

Guide to Chattanooga

Let’s start with all the entertainment options.

Tennessee Aquarium

1. The Tennessee Aquarium stands toe-to-toe with every aquarium in the country. My guys love aquariums, so we visit a ridiculous number, and Chattanooga’s is one of our top favorites. It’s the world’s largest freshwater aquarium, with a massive building for fresh and salt water. It’s hands down the winner of the best attraction in Chattanooga. Newsweek Magazine named the Tennessee Aquarium the best in the country for 2024.  The tickets are bought in advance at $40 for adults and $30 for kids, with under three being free. The aquarium is located downtown by the river and the pedestrian bridge. Since everyone comes to the Aquarium, I’ll start with the attractions nearby.
   

Walnut Street Bridge

2. The Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge is the longest in the world, so everyone walks on it during a visit. We always spend an hour strolling through several shops, ice cream stores, and the Moon Pie store nearby. If you make it all the way across, it connects to Coolidge Park.

3. The National Medal of Honor Heritage Center is next to the Aquarium for WWI and WWII exhibits to learn about the country’s heroes. It’s $17 for adults and $10 for kids.

4. High Point Climbing and Fitness has two locations in downtown and riverside. Riverside has a beginner climber wall. It’s a really neat place with people of all skill levels climbing walls. Day passes cost around $30.

The Creative Discovery Museum

5. The Creative Discovery Museum is a couple blocks from the Aquarium downtown. The children’s museum is one of the best in the country and we went several times with younger kids. There’s dress-up play as Lords and Ladies, sand pit, water play, and numerous learn-and-play options. It cost $20/person.

The Riverwalk

6. The Riverwalk is 13 miles long and runs through downtown for biking, walking, and jogging. Ross Landing for music festivals is here. Along with The Passage is a walkway that marks the beginning of the Trail of Tears, which has a “weeping wall” of the seven clans of the Cherokee Nation.

7. The Southern Belle Riverboat Cruise departs for lunch, dinner, and scenic cruises on the river. Burger Bars has couches and games for bored teenagers on the third deck. It costs around $30/person.

8. The Hunter Museum is the largest American Art collection in the country. It’s a unique and beautiful building near the aquarium. I’ve never been inside but it cost around $20/person.

Chattanooga Lookouts

9. Baseball at the AT&T Field is a few blocks from the aquarium. We have watched a few games for the minor league team, Chattanooga Lookouts. We are baseball fans so it’s a fun and affordable night at $10/person.

10. Classic Arcade Pinball Museum is downtown and allows you to play on its vintage machines. I love pinball, so I’m stopping in. It’s $20 to play all day, and tickets are limited, so purchase a day in advance. You can play, leave, and come back.

11. Coolidge Park is on the other side of the long pedestrian bridge. It has an antique carousel with rides for $1 or $2 and an interactive dancing water fountain that kids love. Frazier Street has quaint shops, coffee shops, ice cream stores, and restaurants. Milk & Honey is here for the best Gelato. During summer, there’s a market and food trucks. This park is NOT for dogs. There’s a Civil War walking trail, too.

Chattanooga Choo Choo

12. The Chattanooga Choo Choo is 1.5 miles from downtown, with a train station turned into an iconic landmark and restaurant. If you have a train lover, you can stay in one of the train cars.

13. Warehouse Row has shopping about a mile from the aquarium. There’s a shuttle that will pick you up and take you to other parts of downtown. Tupelo Honey Café is here for a fried chicken lunch.

Look Out Mountain

Look Out Mountain is home to Ruby Falls, Rock City, and the Incline Railroad. The views over the city are the second-best attraction in Chattanooga. We usually pick one of the three while on vacation. The colorful fall leaves draw crowds from the end of September to the first of November. The Central and Eastern Time Zone line runs through here, so double-check the time zone with reservations. Most of the Look Out Mountain Attractions are in the Eastern Time Zone.

Ruby Falls

14. Ruby Falls is the largest underground 145-foot-tall waterfall on a cave tour in the U.S. Everyone does it once, and it’s probably the 2^nd tourist attraction in the city. It’s a very slow walking, one-mile roundtrip cave tour that gives you about 5 minutes to take photos of the falls before heading back. Tickets are timed entrance and sold online at $27 for adults and $17 for kids. The cave is 60 degrees year-round.

The views from the lockout areas of Ruby Falls are fantastic. Ruby Falls is a 15-minute drive up the mountain from the downtown aquarium area. Ariel Adventures with zip-lining, rope walkways, and wall climbing is here. People traveling with older kids and teenagers had reservations after their Ruby Falls tour, so we couldn’t walk up to play. All my nieces and nephews wanted to do these activities, so plan. The tour runs 60-90 minutes, so it’s a two-hour stop.

Rock City

15. Rock City is famous for its panoramic view of seven states, Although It is technically in Georgia. The rock formations and caverns, combined with the view, make it a fun couple of hours. There are some tight squeezes through caverns with storybook villages and gnomes. It’s a dog-friendly option. The tickets are $32 for adults and $22 for kids, with a $5 discount online, and tickets have a timed entrance. Honestly, it’s a little pricey.

When I planned a trip to bring my extended family, which included six kids ages 7 to 14, I chose Ruby Falls so I would not have to worry about anyone slipping on a rock, falling off an edge, or the summer heat.

The Incline Railway

16. The Incline Railway is the steepest in the world and can be navigated from the top or bottom at $15/trip. It’s great for people who love trains and spectacular views. Clumpies Ice Cream Company is at the Incline Railway, where everyone gets a scoop.

Nearby, The Naughty Cat Café has coffee and baked goods, and 60 cats are available for adoption. It’s a neat space for shelter cats to get attention and find a home. You must be 11 years old and up to visit, reservations are available, and $15/person.

Civil War Battlefield

17. Civil War Battlefield – Battles for Chattanooga is a 5-minute walk from the Incline Railway. The digital projector and movie help bring the battles to life for $8/person. The museum is the entrance to Point Park for the “Battle above the Clouds” fought in 1863. The views are the best in Chattanooga for $10. If you have a National Park Pass, it’s free. Sunset Rock is a popular destination for hikers, rock climbers, and people wanting to watch the sunset. It is located on West Brow Road in Lookout Mountain. There is very little parking for Sunset Rock, so people use the Bluff Trail.

Chattanooga Zoo

18. Chattanooga Zoo is an impressive little zoo that can be visited for a couple of hours. Tickets are cheaper online and cost around $15/person. It’s about 2 miles from downtown.

Racoon Mountain Caverns

19. Racoon Mountain Caverns is only a 10-minute drive from downtown. It’s a 45-minute cave tour to the Waterfall Dome, the tallest natural flowing waterfall. Honestly, I’ve never been but the reviews are good. They offer different types of cave tours besides walking.

Railroad

20. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is probably number 5 on the list of things to do in Chattanooga. Restored vintage locomotives and train rides through the countryside make for a fantastic day. The museum has photographs and memorabilia bringing life to the railroading era. During Christmas, they run the Polar Express. Spending a day on the train in a 1920s box car with a steam locomotive is fun for all ages.

21. Instagram Pink Wall and Umbrella Alley are the teenage photo spots. The pink polka-dotted wall is by Broad and Main Street near The Feed Restaurant. The umbrella alley is around the corner from The Reed House.

22. Coker Museum is open inside Honest Charley’s Speed Shop. It’s a specialty car and motorcycle museum that runs around $12/person. This is a current restoration shop, so you can watch them work.

23. The International Towing and Recovery Museum is dedicated to the history of tow trucks. This is a surprisingly interesting hour stop.

24. Hiking—I know several hiking trails are 45 minutes to an hour outside Chattanooga. We haven’t hiked or mountain biked these, so check the All Trails App for updated information. Sunset Rock and Snooper’s Rock are on Lookout Mountain, a mile hike for overlook views.

25. Ocoee River Rafting is a 45-minute drive for a day trip activity.

Arrival

Most visitors arrive by car at the Tennessee-Georgia border home to Chattanooga. Welcome to the Southeast corner of Tennessee. It’s only a two-hour drive from Atlanta, so the Atlanta Airport (ATL) is a flight option. Nashville International Airport (BNA) is also a two-hour drive. The Chattanooga Municipal Airport is seeing more direct flight options every year.

Time Zone

Chattanooga is in the Central Standard Time Zone, with the Eastern Standard Time Zone less than 10 minutes away. This can affect the surrounding areas and attraction times. Rock City, Ruby Falls, and Lookout Mountain are in the Eastern Time Zone.

Hotels

• The Hilton Garden Inn-Chatanooga Downtown is the perfect location, and I’ve stayed here several times.
  
• Springhill Suites- Chattanooga Downtown has a little more room space, a perfect location, and a fridge. It’s the only riverfront hotel in downtown.
  
• The Chattanooga Choo Choo is ICONIC and historic. We stayed here a few times when we traveled with future train engineers. The Chalet Hotel has regular hotel rooms but the train cars offer a different experience. The rooms run $200 to $400 a night depending on the season. It’s a break from the usual hotel.
  
• Unlimited Budget for 2, that’s going to be The Dwell Hotel. The Dwell is one of 10 hotels in the U.S. that’s a member of the Design Hotel Collection. The property was originally a Civil War Fort that’s been redesigned with Hollywood Glam meets Historic Charm. The photo-worthy Matilda Midnight Bar and Terra Mae restaurant are both here. Each room has a different theme, with prices starting at $700 a night.
  
• If you want luxury for a family of four, try The Edwin Hotel.
  
• The Reed House is a historically charming hotel with a setting of the 1920s jazz era.
  

Restaurants

• The Boathouse is seafood on the river.
  
• Sugar Ribs is on a hill that overlooks the city with great ribs and decent pricing.
  
• It’s near our hotel, so we have eaten several times at Sticky Fingers Rib House.
  
• Milk & Honey for Gelato near Coolidge Park.
  
• Maple Street Biscuits is a breakfast favorite
  
• Neidlov’s Café is an incredible bakery option. This place bakes the bread for restaurants in town. The café is in the Southside area.
  

Thank you for reading my Guide to Chattanooga’s Top 25 Attractions.