Reasons to Visit Chattanooga Tennessee

Recently I moved back to my childhood home in Chattanooga, Tn. I had been gone over 20 years and when I returned I found a whole new city!
Chattanooga has always been a fun place with a lot of things to do for young and old and today it is even better.

Nestled at the foot of Lookout and Signal mountains (Part of the Smokey Mountains) the city has everything from walks along the Tennessee River to fine dinning and entertainment. I thought I would take a moment and write to you about why maybe Chattanooga should be on your list of places to visit.

1. Tennessee Aquarium and iMAX Theater: Voted one of the top ten aquariums in the USA by Trip Advisor, this place is huge! One price gets you in to both buildings. In one you will find a room filled with free flying butterflies. Many people spend hours here walking amongst the insects and taking photos. Hundreds of butterflies are flying around and on you in this tropical room. Pet sting rays and sharks if you have the guts! The other building is filled with fresh and salt water animals. Walk below the large tank and view the sharks from underneath. While the building doesn’t look very big initially, inside you will find it is set up to provide a several hour experience, even at a brisk walking pace.
2. Hampton’s Vaudeville Café: Interact with numerous crazy characters and witness a crime that you help solve while you eat! All you can eat Italian food, drink and deserts. Every show is different and fun for the whole family.
3. Rock City and Ruby Falls: Probably the best known attractions in Chattanooga, both of these are located at the top of Lookout Mountain. Rock City offers a wonderful walk through gardens filled with beautiful flowers and plants. Also experience natures power by exploring the caves and rock formations. At “Lover’s Leap” you can look out and view 7 states. Ruby Falls takes you deep within the mountain where you will experience stalactites and stalagmites millions of years old and view a waterfall coming from deep within the rock. One price will get you into both attractions.
4. The Incline: Don’t want to drive up the windy “W” road to get to the top of the mountain (Some find it very intimidating)? Try the steepest train track in the world! This passenger train takes you to the top of Lookout Mountain at the steepest part on a 72.7 degree angle using a system of electric cables.
5. Chattanooga ChooChoo: Built from an actual train station that closed in 1970 and made famous by the song of the same name, this is one of the south’s most renowned and unique landmarks. A hotel, convention center and fine dinning establishment, you have the choice of staying in a standard room, a suite, or sleep in an authentic Victorian era train car! These restored cars keep the excitement of the luxury wealthy travelers enjoyed in the early 1900’s. Keep in mind that due to the metal construction, WiFi signal is not able to penetrate the cars.

These are only a handful of attractions available and some of my favorites. You may also want to take a ride on a riverboat up the Tennessee River, visit the Battles for Chattanooga, or a host of other things. You will find Civil War monuments and plagues all over the city and surrounding areas, both in public areas and on local home lawns. The Battle for Chattanooga was one of the last battles in the Civil War and was a strategic site. It was a crossroad that offered a highly sought after supply line both by river and road. Chattanooga was held by the North and South numerous times throughout the war. You may also enjoy the many walking trails up the mountain that offer spectacular views and are available at different difficulty levels both with or without a guide.