The 20 Best Things To Do In Chattanooga, Tennessee
When the wanderlust kicks in, an outdoor oasis awaits you in the South's Scenic City.
Chattanooga is a city on the move. On any given afternoon, you'll find locals and weekenders launching into the Tennessee River with their boats and boards, biking up and down hilly streets through town, walking and running along the pedestrian bridge, and throwing footballs at one of the city's many parks, which are bordered by bike lanes and dotted with benches and public art. There are a lot of things to love about this river city, not least of which are the fantastic restaurants, character-filled neighborhoods, and bounty of opportunities for adventure in the outdoors. Set your sights on this river city, spend a weekend exploring, and you'll soon be planning your return journey.
See The Sights
Walk the Walnut Street Bridge
Picture it: You're strolling along Chattanooga's pedestrian thoroughfare, the Walnut Street Bridge, with an ice-cream cone in hand. On one side, the summer sun sinks over the city skyline, a view punctuated by the scoreboard of AT&T Field and the glass peaks off the Tennessee Aquarium's pyramid-studded roof. On the other side, the sky fades to pink and purple over the gently rolling Tennessee River. Kayakers weave beneath the bridges. A paddle-boarder pauses between pulls on a long, slow journey between the riverbanks. On the bridge, people bustle by, taking their dogs on evening walks and pushing strollers into the warm night.
Explore the NorthShore
The aqua-hued Walnut Street Bridge connects downtown Chattanooga to the North Shore, a neighborhood with excellent theaters, greenspaces like Coolidge and Renaissance parks, and a stretch of local boutiques and restaurants on Frazier Avenue. As you walk along Frazier, keep an eye on the pavement below you. Embedded in the cement at different points along the road are numbered footprints that instruct you on how to do popular dance steps, including the waltz, the twist, and the hokey-pokey. Follow the steps to local boutiques and restaurants located along the avenue.
Meander the Waterfront
In this city, access to the river is always top of mind. That's why you can stroll there from practically any point in town. Once you reach it, you'll find plenty of places to drop in and launch a kayak. While other stretches of the Tennessee River are busier, the waters curving through downtown Chattanooga are calm enough for small watercraft, ducks, and even swimmers. The fastest boats you'll see here are the racing shells of crew teams from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (and they really do fly). Chattanooga makes it easy to have fun outdoors. At Coolidge Park in the NorthShore neighborhood, steps lead across the rocky riverbank and straight into the water. You really don't get much closer to adventure than that.
See Rock City
While you're in Chattanooga, you'll likely notice small red-and-black barn-shaped signs proclaiming "See Rock City." Rock City Gardens, the attraction that the signs are pointing you to, are located just about six miles away from downtown Chattanooga. Head up Lookout Mountain to visit the gardens, see the art installations, marvel at the rock formations, and celebrate the wonders of nature found in this corner of Tennessee. Also spend some time at Ruby Falls and the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway while you're there.
Check Out the Tennessee Aquarium
Located along the riverfront, the Tennessee Aquarium is one of the city's best-loved attractions. Filled with aquatic species and educational programming, the aquarium features an IMAX theater, special exhibits, in-depth tours, and much more. All work together toward the organization's goal of "connecting people with nature and empowering them to make informed decisions about water and wildlife." Here, you can explore the biodiversity of Tennessee with the whole family and develop a deeper appreciation for the water world that surrounds us all.
Take In Arts And Culture
See Public Art Installations
Chattanooga is known for its abundance of public art (which includes the previously mentioned dance steps in the sidewalks along Frazier Avenue). According to Visit Chattanooga, "Scattered throughout Chattanooga’s streets, you’ll find exciting artwork on almost every corner. The city is filled with 125+ pieces of public art," which span sculptures, murals, and installed pieces that speak to the parts of the city in which they live. Other places to see the city's public art include Ross's Landing, First Street Sculpture Garden, downtown sidewalks, and the Bluff View Art District.
Visit the Bluff View Art District
If you only have a few days to spend in Chattanooga, you might miss one of the most charming neighborhoods of them all, so be sure to put it at the top of your list. Tucked away on a cliff overlooking the river is the Bluff View Art District. This is where you can find excellent views over the water and inviting local businesses like Rembrandt's Coffee, a cozy coffee shop; Tony's Pasta Shop and Trattoria, a spot perfect for whiling away an evening over wine and pasta; and Bluff View Bakery, an excellent shop for baked goods.
Experience the Hunter Museum of American Art
If you're in search of places to wander indoors, point your compass to the museums in and around the Bluff View Art District. The Hunter Museum of American Art anchors this stretch of the waterfront, and it's home to special exhibitions as well as a robust permanent collection of paintings, photographs, sculpture, and decorative art objects. Also nearby is the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts, which is housed in a Victorian structure filled with more than 15,000 glass objects, from decorative vases to oil lamps.
Book A Comfortable Stay
Find a Home Base at The Edwin Hotel
When you visit Chattanooga, you'll have your pick of hotels, from the family-friendliest to the most elegant of getaways. The Edwin Hotel, an art-filled boutique property, stands just steps from the Hunter Museum of American Art and the Walnut Street Bridge. (The hotel is named for local engineer Edwin Thacher, who designed the walking bridge.) You can leave your car with the bow tie- and suspender-clad valets (don't worry; you won't need to drive again until you've packed up to leave town) and check out Whitebird, the ground-floor restaurant that serves up modern American cuisine—including a beloved Biscuit Board at brunch. Their menus feature ingredients sourced from farmers and artisans in the surrounding Tennessee River Valley.
Bask in the History of The Read House Hotel
Other great Chattanooga stays include The Read House Hotel, one of the most historic properties in the area. Located in downtown Chattanooga, the hotel features gorgeous 1920s details as well as Bridgeman's Chophouse, a destination for perfect steaks, and the hotel's bar and billiards room, which is swathed in speakeasy glamour. Other fun stays in town include The Dwell Hotel, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Moxy Chattnooga Downtown, The Crash Pad: An Uncommon Hostel, Kinley Chattanooga Southside, and Hotel Indigo Chattanooga Downtown.
Explore Scenic City Cuisine
Sidle Up to a Bakery
In an inviting brick building on East Main Street, Niedlov's Bakery & Cafe is making some of the best sandwiches, loaves, and pastries you can find in all of Tennessee. Their pastry case is filled with gorgeously laminated doughs and creatively formed treats, both sweet and savory. Down the street, The Local Juicery+Kitchen has become a popular stop for fresh smoothies as well as healthy grab-and-go snacks.
Have an Award-Winning Dinner
When you're in town, be sure to save room for a meal at at St. Johns Restaurant, which has been lauded since it opened and serves artfully plated dishes from the kitchen of executive chef Patrick Sawyer. The wine list is extensive and pairs perfectly with seasonal entrees such as pork belly biscuits and elk carpaccio. Other favorite spots in town for a memorable meal include Alleia, Main Street Meats, and Taqueria Jalisco Ania. (You can find a long list of our favorite Chattanooga restaurants here.)
Slip Into a Speakeasy
For years, visitors have been turning to The Read House Hotel for its much-loved speakeasy-style bar, which enchants visitors with shimmering silver-and-gold Art Deco accents, though the city's rooftop decks are also popular places to settle in with a cocktail. At The Edwin, take the elevator up to Whiskey Thief, the rooftop bar and hotel haunt where you can order something special off the seasonal menu and settle in to enjoy panoramic views of the city and its sunsets.
Order a Creative Cocktail
Head over to The Rosecomb, which is located in a 1920s cottage on Barton Avenue, for signature cocktails like the Rabbit Rush, Watermelon Whip, Spaghetti Western, or Whistle Song. Other Chattanooga bars well worth a visit are The Bitter Alibi, No Hard Feelings, Calliope Restaurant and Bar, and Matilda Midnight at The Dwell Hotel.
Sip a Cup of Coffee
The historic James Building, a multilevel office space with mid-century decor, is home to a quiet coffee shop called Sleepyhead Coffee, which has repurposed two small rooms at the building's entrance. To the left, you can procure pour-over and drip coffee behind big, sun-filled windows. And to the right, you can lounge in the sitting room, a nook that's enveloped by wood paneling, accented with a gilded mirror, and illuminated by a neon sign that says, "Wake Up, Sleepyhead."
Drop Into a Distillery
The Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery is a must-visit for bourbon lovers. According to the them, "Opened in March 2015 and located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, [the] Experimental Distillery is the first distillery to craft whiskey in Chattanooga in over 100 years." They're reviving the form with a big roster of barrels in the midst of the aging process. They also have openings for both tours and tastings in their location on Market Street.
Pay A Visit To A Landmark Or Two
Shop Warehouse Row
While new establishments have built themselves from the ground up, Chattanooga also has a flair for transforming existing spaces. Warehouse Row is a repurposed section of industrial downtown that has earned a reputation for being the coolest shopping spot around. It's a cavernous, beautifully appointed space filled with restaurants, stores, and artistic design features.
Plan a Visit to the Choo Choo
Nearby, the Chattanooga Choo Choo—which has long been the city's most recognizable claim to fame thanks to the 1941 Glenn Miller song of the same name—has had a top-to-toe refurbishment. The landmark is looking great, and it's also anchoring a busy block where visitors can do it all. Stay at the stylish new property The Hotel Chalet at the Choo Choo, and catch a bite at the cool oyster bar Stir.
Take in a Show
The Tivoli Theater is one of the city's historic performance spaces. Its interior is breathtaking to behold, but while it is currently closed for long-term renovations, other spaces like the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Theater and the Walker Theater are hosting the city's celebrations. Their calendars are filled with musicals, concerts, and touring acts from across the genres.
Hear the Chattanooga Symphony
The Chattanooga Symphony and Opera has a rich, 90-year history, and the organization is still going strong. Each year, the symphony's musicians perform a big calendar of events spanning classical favorites and pops tunes, and much in between. They also host family and educational concerts ideal for all ages, ensuring that there's always something to delight the ears in Chattanooga.
Besides longtime favorites, the city's newly opened businesses are taking notes, learning from Chattanooga institutions, sourcing local, and using the sights and sounds of the river town to inspire delicious dishes and memorable experiences in reimagined spaces. The city's outdoor adventures, new hotels, and innovative restaurants beckon, making a trip here more exciting than ever. Chattanooga is an invitation to explore, and it just keeps getting better.
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