Quick -- what's the first thing that comes to mind when I say Chattanooga ?
Choo-choo? Rock City ? Ruby Falls ?
While those iconic attractions are what put Chattanooga on the tourism map, and most are worth a visit for some old-fashioned fun, the city's riverfront location, and a revitalized downtown give travelers new reasons to visit. Here are ten must-visits for this vibrant city, just a two-hour drive from Atlanta .
Golden Oldies
Lookout Mountain is the site of one of the Civil War's greatest battles, where soldiers from that war recounted in their letters and journals that they could surely see seven states from the top of the mountain. It's also the site of Chattanooga 's most famous attractions.
" See Rock City !" It used to be that you couldn't travel through the Southeast without seeing those words painted on the side of a rural barn as an advertisement for Rock City Gardens . Rock City is a delightfully vintage tourist experience, filled with garden gnomes and fairies peeking out from behind rocks and plants along meandering rock paths, many of which are completely natural formations.
Ruby Falls is a natural wonder that was discovered by mistake, when a visionary local was drilling into Lookout Mountain to reopen the first known cave, which had been sealed off for a train tunnel. The waterfall is more than 160 feel below ground, and accessible via elevator and a long walk through the cave; a decorative castle gives entrance to the falls.
The Incline Railway is a mile-long train ride up the side of Lookout and is the steepest passenger train in the world; the first trip to the top was in 1895. The grade is an astonishing 72 percent, which can make you feel as if you're coming out of your seat during the ride up the mountain. A stop to at the snack shop on the top of the mountain may or may not be a good idea, depending on your stomach's reaction to the steep ride.
The Chattanooga Choo Choo and Track 29 were made famous through song by the Glenn Miller Orchestra. The train itself is long gone, but a similar engine is housed at the old train station, now a hotel. Sleeping in the restored train cars is an option as well, although the accommodations both in the cars and the hotel are somewhat worn and the train display and adjacent model railroad museum are probably best left to serious railroad buffs.
Take Me to the River
Along the Tennessee River , downtown Chattanooga offers up countless attractions, all spaced within a few city blocks.
The watery wonders of the Tennessee Aquarium are housed in two riverfront buildings, one dedicated to river ecosystems, the other to ocean ecosystems. Both are intriguing, multi-level experiences and include exhibits of the land animals which are part of each environment.
From the aquarium, the Bluff View Art District is a short stroll up a pretty glass and steel pedestrian bridge. The Hunter Museum of American Art , houses an excellent collection of Hudson River School and genre paintings, as well as works from America's modern masters including Pollack ad de Kooning, and contemporary glass and sculpture pieces.
Near the Hunter, the Art District offers a variety of galleries and shops on the bluffs over the river, and watch chocolate makers and bakers craft their delectable goodies. After taking in the arts, the kids will probably beg you to take them to something more for them -- so head over to The Creative Discovery Museum where they can blow bubbles over the city from the rooftop play area, create music, dig for dinosaur bones or fashion their own work of art.
Spend a little time on the other side of the river in Coolidge Park , accessible via the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge. A restored carousel and a huge play fountain will entertain the kiddos; the antique stores and boutiques along Frazier Avenue are the reward for a walk across the river.
Chattanooga 's south side, home to the infamous choo choo, is where many of the old hotels and baggage and passenger depots have been converted into boutiques, art galleries and shops.
A great place to start a weekend of shopping is at the open air Chattanooga Market, a former warehouse converted into an almost year-round farmer's market and exhibition space, with regular vendors selling everything from handcrafted pottery and jewelry to soaps and sculptures. .
Wander the area between the market and the Chattanooga Choo Choo for American and French antiques, as well as mid-century pieces at the antique and furnishings shops; pop into the hip St. John's Meeting Place in the old St. John's Hotel, on Market Street for their amazing appetizer: Gorgonzola cheese rolled in dried cherries, apricots and nuts and baked until melted. In a word, it's divine.
Hotel options range from the family-friendly chains near the waterfront to our choice, the upscale Chattanoogan Hotel on the south side, with its lush boutique-style rooms, a spa and rooftop pool and patio.
