Chattanooga in 10 Stops

In Chattanooga, where the Tennessee River meets the Cumberland Plateau, you'll find all the amenities of a city with the accessibility and ease of a small town. Known as the Scenic City, Chattanooga combines striking natural beauty, rich history, and a thriving cultural and entertainment scene into a warm and welcoming place where there's always something new to discover. Here are 10 starting points for your Chattanooga adventure.

Sunrise in Chattanooga

1. Chattanooga Choo Choo

Before there was the song, there was the station. One of the South's first grand railroad terminals, the Choo Choo — then known as Terminal Station — was instrumental in connecting the North and South, serving as many as 50 trains a day before ultimately being shuttered in 1970. In recent years, the site has leaned more into the hotel/entertainment complex direction, but it's still worth a visit for its history and architecture.

2. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

The last train may have left Terminal Station long ago, but you still have a chance to step back in time aboard one of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum's vintage cars. Whether you opt for a 65-minute excursion or a nine-hour trip, you'll be whisked away to the golden age of train travel as you ride along historic rail routes and visit Civil War-era structures. Tickets also include admission to the exhibit building, which tells the story of railroads in Chattanooga and across the country.

3. Rock City

If you've spent a reasonable amount of time driving the highways of the South, chances are you've seen at least one red barn with a black roof proclaiming "See Rock City." It's good advice. Equal parts nature trail, cavern system, and theme park — sprinkled with a dash of gnomes — Rock City has been wowing visitors for almost a hundred years. After all, where else can you traverse the Hall of the Mountain King, explore fairytales brought to life in sculpture, relax beneath towering rock formations, and "see seven states" — all in under a mile?

The geographic and the fantastic meeting at Rock City

4. Incline Railway

One of the world's steepest railways connects downtown Chattanooga to the top of Lookout Mountain. Ascending the mountain at a leisurely 10 mph, the 130-year-old Incline Railway provides a scenic and historic overview of the city. Once you've disembarked at the upper station, you'll find gift shops, observation decks, Point Park, and the Battles for Chattanooga all within walking distance. After you make your return trip to the lower station, consider stopping by Clumpies to get a taste of Chattanooga's beloved handmade ice cream.

View of the Incline Railway from the upper station

5. Naughty Cat Café

Less than a mile from the Incline Railway, you'll find one of the largest cat cafés in the world. At the Naughty Cat Café, you'll be able to socialize with dozens of adoptable cats and enjoy locally made food and beverages in a cozy lounge setting. Even if you aren't looking to adopt right now, you can still visit with the cats and help provide them with more interaction and attention than they might receive in a more traditional shelter. And who knows — you might just come away with a new family member!

6. Ruby Falls

Deep inside Lookout Mountain thunders the nation's tallest underground waterfall open to the public. A brief walk through caverns lit by lightshow will lead you to Ruby Falls, a 145-foot waterfall hidden over a thousand feet underground. The standard tour lasts just over an hour, but the park also offers extended, specialty, and lantern-lit tour options. After emerging from beneath the mountain, consider soaring above the treetops via one of the park's zipline routes or indulging in a seasonal meal at the historic Castle Café.

7. Chattanooga Ducks

Spend an hour or two in Chattanooga, and you're almost guaranteed to see one of the city's most unique tour vessels drive (or float) by. Originally used during World War II, today the amphibious duck boats take guests on land and water tours of Chattanooga. Once you've learned about the history of the city as seen from its streets, your vehicle will suddenly plunge into the Tennessee River, and the tour will become a cruise.

8. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza

Located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, the Tennessee Aquarium Plaza is a public square where the city's history meets some of its best-known attractions. Before committing to a museum or restaurant, take some time to study the plaza itself: Hidden amongst the gardens and fountains, you'll find tokens of the city's past, like railroad tracks, Coca-Cola bottles, and stylized quotes. From there, you can venture down to the Tennessee River, visit the country's top-ranked aquarium, stop by the Visitors Information Center, or learn about military history in the birthplace of the Medal of Honor. Directly south of the plaza, you'll find a unique variety of eateries ranging from steakhouses to cookie dough cafés.

9. Little Debbie Park

MoonPies weren't the only snack cake to get their start in southern Tennessee. Just 20 minutes from Chattanooga, you'll find Little Debbie Park, a 10-acre greenspace home to larger-than-life statues of beloved sweet treats like Cosmic Brownies, Christmas Tree Cakes, and Nutty Buddies. Along the walkway, placards tell the history of McKee Foods, maker of Little Debbie snacks. If all the statues make you hungry for the real things, never fear — you're just a mile from the Little Debbie Bakery store, where you can stock up on all your favorite snacks and souvenirs.

10. Southern Belle Riverboat

Of course, I couldn't let you go without steering you toward a river cruise. Calling Chattanooga home for the last four decades, the Southern Belle and her crew know the twists and turns of the Tennessee River well. Whether you opt for a dinner cruise or an afternoon sightseeing cruise, voyages on the Southern Belle are as entertaining as they are relaxing — complete with horns and calliopes. If you're in town during the fall months, consider booking the three-hour cruise to the Tennessee River Gorge. Known as the Grand Canyon of the South, it was one of my favorite places that I ever visited with the riverboats.

Lookout Mountain as seen from the Southern Belle