Tennessee goes by many names, each its own patch on the great state’s Coat of Many Colors. Some recognize it as the home of Memphis-style barbecue, a music city, or the Gateway to the South. Regardless of which chapter you’re most familiar with in the state’s storied legacy, a stop by Chattanooga, which joined our Readers Choice Award winners for small US city this year, will make you fall in love with its Southern charm, inviting riverfront, and rich history from its past as a key railway hub in the 19th century.
Also known as the Scenic City, Chattanooga is blessed with a wealth of natural beauty from its position on the Tennessee River between the Appalachian foothills and the Cumberland Plateau. And though the city has always been a playground for the up-and-active, it’s also coming into its own as one of the best food cities in the country, and is known for its blossoming downtown arts community, cozy boutique hospitality scene, and sustainability-focused dining.
Roughly 130 miles to the southeast of Nashville and 150 miles to the southwest of Gatlinburg, Chattanooga is joining its celebrated neighbors in collecting some well-deserved flowers. These are the best things to do in Chattanooga, a rising destination where you can truly feel that y’all means all.
The best things to do in Chattanooga
One of the Scenic City’s greatest assets is prime access to the Tennessee River. Rent out kayaks and stand up paddle boards online from L2 Outside and pick up your rental at their brick-and-mortar shop on Market Street, an ideal location just steps from the river and Coolidge Park. For a beginner-friendly choice for those just starting to get a hang of their paddle, try Chattanooga Guided Adventures, where routes are designed to tour through placid sections in the river and enthusiastic and knowledgable guides help with set-up and safety at every step of the way. But even experienced rowers will learn lots on tours of the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, where visitors can see wintering sandhill cranes, and on journeys down the Chickamauga Dam Lock.
For postcard, panoramic river views, head to majestic Lookout Mountain, where the water is just one part of a picture that includes Georgia, North Carolina, and downtown Chattanooga. While you’re there, check out Rock City, a collection of towering ancient rock formations and gardens with over 400 species of local flora, and bask in the cool mist at Ruby Falls, the tallest underground waterfall on the planet.
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