I arrived at my Tennessee destination well past midnight after traveling across the country through several time zones. I didn’t even know what to expect the next day but had a good feeling. Several days later I found I was stuck on Chattanooga. It’s’ genuine Southern charm just got to me. Here’s why.
Welcome
Chattanooga had me at its peculiar identity – from a storefront placard promising, “Everything you need and nothing you don’t” and an endearing road sign wishing a 90-year-old resident Happy Birthday, to a warning beside the life-sized elephant topiary at the entrance to my hotel, “Please do not touch or feed the animals,”. Days later I’d heard stories of long-time residents who had come to the city for a four-year stint at UTC (The University of Tennessee) and stayed. Soon it couldn’t be denied – Chattanooga’s warmth was contagious and its advocates convincing.
TIP: Talk to locals and get recommendations. They love to share their favorite haunts.
Where is It?
Chattanooga is bound by a river – the Tennessee River. The landscape is punctuated by Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain, and its terrain ranges from big peaks and small hilltops to vast valleys and sweeping waterways – a hint at the outdoor activities potential.
Its downtown – an eclectic combo of old and new – is clean, safe and walkable. Pictorially, it’s quite impressive. Four main bridges – the Market Street Bridge, Olgiati Bridge, Veterans Memorial Bridge and Walnut Street Bridge (a cyclist/pedestrian–only crossing) span its iconic river and connect the Riverfront and Northshore to the Tennessee Riverwalk and Bluff View Art District.
I walked across the Walnut Street Bridge from downtown to Northshore’ s Frazier Avenue and found myself in a funky neighborhood that felt like an insider’s secret. Among my discoveries: I Go Tokyo for high-quality Japanese products, admittedly an unexpected find in Tennessee; In-Town Gallery, one of the nation’s longest-running co-op galleries and Local Only, featuring “everything” Chattanooga. Home of the MoonPie – a graham cracker, marshmallow sandwich covered in chocolate – a stop in Local Only was a “must” for this treat.
TIP: Visit Chalk Alley, located between storefronts along Frazier, and mark the spot and moment with your chalk-written message (a variety of colors are provided complimentary).
During the railroad’s early 1900s golden age, the city’s Terminal Station (listed on the National Register of Historic Places), welcomed thousands of travelers. The iconic depot’s renowned hospitality continues with the Chattanooga Choo-Choo entertainment complex – complete with a refurbished train car hotel (The Hotel Chalet), fine dining (STIR, Blue Orleans Seafood Restaurant and others), and even a formal rose garden.
Like the complex, Warehouse Row harks to the past – it was the city’s Old Stone Fort during the Civil War. Today, this shopping center showcases a variety of indie retailers (Hemline was a standout for women’s clothing – smart and casual with a twist).
TIP: Across from the Choo-Choo Terminal is the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery, the city’s first distillery in more than a century. Take a personal tour with a whiskey tasting.
Out and About
Lookout Mountain straddles the Tennessee/Georgia border. At an elevation of 2,389 feet, on a clear day you’ll have views of seven states – Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia, along with Georgia and Tennessee.
For more than 90 years, visitors have enjoyed Rock City Gardens – its massive rock formations, a 140-foot-high waterfall cascading down Lookout Mountain and the Swing-A-Long Bridge which spans 200 feet. A choice of three trails allows exploration at all levels.
And what about deep inside Lookout Mountain? After descending 260 feet in a glass elevator then following along a cavern trail, we discovered Ruby Falls, a thundering underground waterfall. This geographic wonder, discovered almost 100 years ago (1928) is open to the public, and is the nation’s tallest and deepest cave waterfall.
TIP: Consider purchasing the Chat Pass, which provides admission to several of Chattanooga’s attractions for one price. And if possible, make reservations.
Culture Crawl
Situated high above the Tennessee River, the Bluff View Art District was classic old school, and lovingly run by locals. Dedicated to the visual, horticultural and culinary arts, its restaurants, cafes, patios and pathways alongside the dramatic bluffs are a nature-filled urban retreat. It’s anchored by the Hunter Museum of American Art, but the public works of art on display in the River Gallery Sculpture Garden should also be seen.
Nearby, the distinctive glass pyramids atop the Tennessee Aquarium define its unique architecture. It offers two distinct experiences, the River Journey and the Ocean Journey.
TIP: Don’t overlook the Hunter’s special exhibit and make time for the Aquarium’s IMAX film.
Eat and Drink
Beyond MoonPies, Chattanooga has long been known for catfish, barbecue, hush puppies, pickled everything and fried anything. But it would be a mistake not to acknowledge the city’s more cosmopolitan eateries. Easy Bistro, manned by Chef Erik Niel, two-time James Beard nominee for Best Chef, was a repeated recommendation by locals. Alleia showcased handcrafted Italian cuisine using local ingredients. Fresh-from-the-oven bread with garlic cloves baked into the loaf and its legendary lasagna made Tony’s Pasta Shop and Trattoria a favorite. Coupled with its terrace seating, it could have been “the” favorite. Julie Darling Donuts was the home of the donut sundae (translation: donut and ice cream).
For me, however, the high point was experienced at a low-profile deli, River Street Deli. Owner Bruce Weiss, a quintessential New Yorker who usually mans the counter, made suggestions. “You really want to order that?” he asked of my first selection (though not in the confrontational style of Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi). His recommendation, the special of the day, made my day.
Good Night
Located in West Village, The Westin Chattanooga’s location was perfect. With 260 rooms, a cabana-lined pool, a rooftop bar & restaurant, Alchemy, and a noticeable Chattanooga vibe, I could not have been more pleased.
Upshot of Lowcountry
All told, Chattanooga projects a small town feeling without the problems of a big city. A local said it best … “We don’t want visitors to feel like visitors, we want them to feel like one of us.”
When to Go
- Chattanooga Motorcar Festival, October 17-19, 2025
- 11th Erlanger Chattanooga Marathon, early March 2026
- Pops on the River, 4th of July Celebration
The Westin Chattanooga
801 Pine Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
423-212-4938
www.visitchattanooga.com