Last Fall, I spent an action-packed 3 days in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a city I knew nothing about except for a reference to the Chattanooga Choo Choo. In my brief research on things for families to do in Chattanooga, I learned that it was a popular city for outdoor enthusiasts such as rock climbers, hikers, and kayakers. Go figure.

Here I thought I’d just be learning about trains.

Below is a short list of what I found were ten of the best things to do in Chattanooga for a four-day visit with your family. This list will help you with your trip planning should you decide to get some family travel in to this dynamic and scenic South East city.

1. Take the free electric shuttle around town just to get your lay of the land. Free transportation is always a gift from a city’s Visitors Bureau and you should take full advantage of it.
2. Ride a bike using the Bike Share program. Not only is it good exercise but you’re decreasing your carbon footprint on the city when you walk or ride a bike over driving everywhere. It’s a nice way to explore at your leisure. You’ll need a credit card to rent the bikes. The company puts a $101 hold on your card but refunds the hold once you return the bike.
3. Learn or practice your rock climbing skills at High Point Climbing and Fitness. Conveniently located downtown, just two blocks away from the Riverfront, you can tap into your inner daredevil and either climb an exterior public art piece or practice indoors. You’ll find a 28,000 climbing space filled with 23 auto belays, 100 top ropes multiple bouldering rooms, sport climbing, and a speed-climbing wall as well as a standard gym area. All-in-all, climbers have access to practice on 300 routes. Don’t worry if you or someone in your family has a disability. They’ve hosted events before where they’ve worked with people needing special assistance. Just inquire within.
4. Let your children roam free at the Creative Discovery Museum. It’s been ranked among one of the top 20 children’s museums in the U.S. since it opened in 1995. 

   

5. Explore the Bluff View Art District at 212 High Street. Roam the outdoor sculpture garden for a peaceful stroll. This quaint district is made up of cute homes, two restaurants, a bed and breakfast, coffee shop, and two museums. Enjoy delicious coffee and pastries (or a delicious bagel breakfast sandwich to go) at Rembrandts. Laid back and quiet, you may find yourself pulling out a book and just relaxing for a spell. If it’s later in the day, treat yourself to a plate of handmade pasta at Tony’s Pasta. After gorging on fresh bread, I kept my meal simple and enjoyed an inexpensive plate of handmade fettuccine with garlic and olive oil.
6. Get your hiking shoes out and spend a few hours at Rock City Gardens. You’ll have fun squeezing through narrow pathways etched between massive boulders and ancient rock formations. Follow wispy signs and smiling gnomes as you cross fairytale-style bridges on your way up to Lookout Mountain. There are over 400 native plant species in the garden. You’ll get a chance to see them all while you make your way to Fairyland Caverns where miniature scenes of favored fairytales are displayed. At the top of Lookout Mountain I had a chance to take in panoramic views of the valley below and the horizon leading to six neighboring states.
7. If you like fish, you have to check out the Tennessee Aquarium. It’s the world’s largest freshwater aquarium. Inside are giant tanks filled with sharks, barracuda, stingrays and more. 
8. Ride the Tennessee Valley Railroad’s restored vintage trains. The short ride takes you on a trip through history along one of the original railroad lines in Chattanooga. We crossed over four bridges and passed through pre-Civil War Missionary Ridge Tunnel. Our trip took us to a stock yard where they fix and clean old trains and engines.
9. Travel deep within the caverns of Lookout Mountain to find Ruby Falls. After an elevator ride and a half-mile walk you’ll come upon a spectacular underground waterfall, among the highest in the United States. Learn about stalagmites and stalactites as you pass by mineral pools, limestone and ancient rocks on the way to the Falls. If you want to do something a bit more daring, try your hand at ziplining through the treetops of Lookout Mountain. The course includes 30 high-wire challenge elements including ladders, nets, walkways, bridges, tunnels and more. Personally, walking through the caverns to the Falls was enough exercise for me.  

   

10. “Climb” Lookout Mountain again. This time make the climb on the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. It’s known as the world’s steepest passenger railway with a 72% grade. It’s a beautiful mile-long ride to the top of Lookout Mountain where you’ll peep secluded mountain homes and panoramic views of downtown Chattanooga. 

Sample Chattanooga Itinerary

If you’re short on time or are trying to pack in as much as possible in 24 hours (something I don’t recommend), here’s what one of my days in Chattanooga looked like. If you’re enjoying some family travel time, I’d cut these activities in half, go slow and enjoy your surroundings.

6:30 am Breakfast

8:00 am Ruby Falls

9:30 am Lookout Mountain Incline

11:00 am Chattanooga Market

12:00 pm Lunch at Taco Mamacitas / Dessert at Milk & Honey

1:30 pm Zoo

3:00 pm Hunter Museum of American Art

5:30 pm Dinner at Tony’s Pasta

Important Addresses in Chattanooga

1. High Point Climbing and Fitness

219 Broad Street

Chattanooga, TN 37402

2. Creative Discovery Museum for children

321 Chestnut St

3. Bluff View Art District

212 High Street

4. Rock City Gardens

1400 Patten Road

Lookout Mountain,GA 30750

5. Tennessee Aquarium

1 Broad St

6. Tennessee Valley Railroad

4119 Cromwell Road

7. Ruby Falls

1720 South Scenic Highway

Chattanooga, TN 37409

8. Lookout Mountain Incline Railway

3917 St. Elmo Ave

Check out more of my photos of Chattanooga on my Findery Notemap – just click above.