Things to do in Chattanooga
If you’re going to be in town for a little while, the city has a lot to offer. Here’s a short list of our favorites, but check out the Chattanooga Visitors Bureau for more (they also have an office on the river if you want to go by and pick up more information). There are also printable coupons available for most attractions available on the Visitors Bureau site.
Tennessee Aquarium (www.tnaqua.org)
Located on the banks of the Tennessee River in Chattanooga and surrounded by the natural beauty of the mountains, the Tennessee Aquarium takes visitors on a remarkable journey from the mountains to the sea.
Beneath its six magnificent glass peaks, guests explore three living forests and meet amazing creatures that swim, fly and crawl in natural habitats. Discover giant catfish, crazy otters, prehistoric sturgeon, enormous snapping turtles and baby gators. Or deep sea dive where fierce sharks, stealthy stingrays and colorful reef fish glide through amazing coral formations. Experience a shark and ray touch pool, mysterious jellyfish and a rainforest where visitors are surrounded by hundreds free-flying butterflies. In Penguins’ Rock, see macaroni and gentoo penguins waddle, walk and dive in to the water to rocket past you.
Rock City Gardens (www.seerockcity.com)
Take an unforgettable journey high atop Lookout Mountain! Enjoy the quiet woodland paths and gardens. Discover ancient rock formations. Explore the 400 species of plants, flowers, and shrubs. Each step is a discovery! Cast your wish upon the 140-foot high falls. Stand mightily upon world-famous Lover’s Leap and wrap yourself in the magnificent view. Wind your way through massive rock boulders and caverns that bring you to Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village. Magical adventures await you! Be Adventurous!
Hunter Museum of American Art (www.huntermuseum.org)
Built on a ninety-foot limestone bluff overlooking the Tennessee River and comprised of a 1905 classical revival mansion, a low-slung 1970s building and a 2005 contemporary structure, the Hunter Museum of American Art showcases 100 years of architecture and houses the finest collection of American art in the Southeast. The collection of the Hunter Museum spans the history of American art from the colonial period to the present-day, and covers a wide variety of media including painting, sculpture, contemporary studio glass, and crafts.
Southern Belle Riverboat (ChattanoogaRiverboat.com)
True Southern Hospitality prevails in the old riverboat tradition aboard the 500-passenger, climate-controlled Southern Belle riverboat. While you are cruising on the Tennessee River you can dine on some of Tennessee’s finest meals. Enjoy our ‘Dixieland Dinner Cruise’, complete with our world-famous slow-cooked prime rib, shrimp Creole, and the toe tappin’ music of the Riverboat Ramblers. Other dinner cruises include our Pizza Cruise, Classic Country Cruise, Gospel Cruise, and Family Night Cruise. History unfolds in a unique manner during the Southern Belle’s Sightseeing Cruise. Enjoy the informative commentary as you float down the beautiful Tennessee River. The daily Lunch Cruise features our ‘Build-Your-Own-Sandwich’ Buffet with a delicious assortment of meats, cheeses, breads, and condiments.
Chattanooga Choo Choo (www.choochoo.com)
It’s a train. It’s a song. It’s a hotel. Welcome to one of the South’s most renowned and unique landmarks. The Choo Choo combines history and fun in a delightful blend that appeals to visitors of all ages. We have just what you need to make this your home away from home. Experience our train cars that you can sleep in, the array of restaurants and shopping, the appealing swimming pools, one of the world’s largest working “HO” gauge model railroads, the authentic New Orleans trolley, the beautifully landscaped gardens, and our fascination with restoring the history of a bygone era. Come and encounter the wonder of the Chattanooga Choo Choo!
International Towing and Recovery Museum (www.internationaltowingmuseum.org)
Yes, this really exists.
Come take a walk through history and learn how the towing and recovery industry started right here in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1916. See 18 antique tow trucks and two Model T automobiles on display as well as hundreds of collectible toy tow trucks. Visit our unique gift shop with towing related items not found anywhere else. Take time to walk through our Wall of the Fallen memorial grounds dedicated to the men and women who have lost their lives in the line of service in the towing & recovery industry. Open 7 days a week, closed for major holidays.
Creative Discovery Museum (www.cdmfun.org)
Created with children’s input, Creative Discovery Museum is full of ‘WOW’ for adults and kids. With a wide variety of fun, hands-on exhibits, the Museum inspires a love for learning through play. Whether you create a clay sculpture in our Artists’ Studio, zoom a message through a pneumatic tube in Inventors’ Clubhouse, dig for dinosaur bones in Excavation Station, or create an ensemble cast of characters in our Back Alley Theatre, Creative Discovery Museum has it all. Children 4 years and younger can spend time tinkering in the garage or exploring the infant garden of Little Yellow House. All ages can discover floods of fun in RiverPlay’s 2 1/2 story high climbing structure and design an interactive watercourse where you can sail boats, learn about locks and dams, and shoot jets of water to make whirligigs spin!