Chattanooga

"Pardon me, boy, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?" – Glenn Miller's swing hit made the name world-famous in 1941. Today, a vacation in Chattanooga takes you to a city on the Tennessee River that has transformed from a soot-stained industrial town into one of the most popular outdoor destinations in the southern United States.

Rail Hub, Battlefield, Fresh Start

In the 19th century, Chattanooga was an important railroad hub and was therefore hotly contested during the Civil War. The battles at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge in 1863 opened the way into Georgia for Union troops. Later, heavy industry made the city wealthy, but also dirty: in 1969, its air was considered the worst in the country. The successful cleanup, with a new riverfront, green spaces, and high-speed fiber-optic internet, is now seen as a model example of urban renewal.

Chattanooga Attractions

The Tennessee Aquarium on the riverfront presents freshwater and ocean worlds in two buildings. From here, the Walnut Street Bridge, one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world, leads to the North Shore with Coolidge Park, a carousel, and shops. The historic Chattanooga Choo-Choo station houses a hotel with restaurants. The Incline Railway, one of the steepest funiculars in the world, climbs Lookout Mountain; at the top you'll find the gardens of Rock City with views across several states, as well as the underground Ruby Falls in a limestone cave. Point Park is part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. In the Bluff View Art District, the Hunter Museum of American Art sits spectacularly on a cliff above the river.

Eating and Going Out in Chattanooga

Typical dishes include Southern classics like fried chicken, biscuits, and shrimp and grits, but there is also a growing number of breweries and restaurants using regional ingredients. The Southside around Main Street and the neighborhood around the Choo-Choo complex are the go-to nightlife areas, where you'll find live music and craft beer. A classic treat to take along is the MoonPie, a chocolate-marshmallow sandwich cookie that has been made in Chattanooga since 1917. On Sundays, the Chattanooga Market with regional producers is worth a visit.

The Outdoor Capital of the South

Few cities in the U.S. have so many outdoor opportunities right on their doorstep. Climbers appreciate the region's sandstone cliffs, and boulderers love the Stone Fort area. Hang gliders launch from Lookout Mountain, home to one of the best-known flight schools in the country. On the Tennessee River, you can paddle past the skyline by kayak or stand-up paddleboard, and the Tennessee Riverwalk connects parks and neighborhoods over many miles. Mountain bikers will find extensive trails at Raccoon Mountain and in Enterprise South Nature Park.

Getting Around Chattanooga and the Best Time to Visit

The small Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport has connections to major hubs, and Atlanta with its international airport is about a two-hour drive away. Free electric shuttle buses run downtown. The best times to visit are spring and fall, when you can climb, kayak, or hike in the surrounding area. The Ocoee River is a well-known whitewater destination, and the Cumberland Plateau with Signal Mountain and the Prentice Cooper forest area offers views of the Tennessee River Gorge.