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Chattanooga has been dubbed the “Scenic City” of America and it’s easy to see why. During our trip we visited scenic viewpoints, waterfalls, lush forests, and river carved canyons. After spending the perfect 3 days in Chattanooga, I can’t wait to share with you the best places to eat, where to stay, and activities you can’t miss.
Where is Chattanooga?
Chattanooga is located at the Southeastern tip of Tennessee, right by the Georgia state line. It’s conveniently located just two hours from Nashville and Atlanta.
How to get to Chattanooga
We flew from San Diego and while Chattanooga does have their own airport, it was much more convenient and economical to fly to Atlanta. The flight was just 4 hours long and our tickets were affordable. You can also opt to fly into Nashville or Chattanooga depending on where you’re coming from.
When is the best time to visit Chattanooga?
Spring: We chose to visit in the spring since we were hoping to see the waterfalls during their prime viewing time. This was also a great time to go before it starts to heat up in the summer.
Summer: Summer is also a great time to visit since there are quite a few swimming holes to enjoy. You can also visit places like Ruby Falls which is an underground waterfall, a great escape on a hot day.
Fall: If I had to pick another time to visit Chattanooga, it would be in the fall. They do get beautiful fall foliage and places like signal mountain really pop during this time of the year.
Winter: To see the beautiful waterfalls and canyons during the snow would be quite the sight to see wouldn’t it? Winter would be a great time to visit their holiday markets and go ice skating. Rock city also does an incredible light show during the holidays.
I truly think there’s no bad time to go, it just depends on what you’re looking to see during your trip.
Where to Stay
There are quite a few unique stays in Chattanooga. Some of my recommendations if you’re looking for something different are:
- Treetop Hideaways
- Wander Chatt
- Bolt Farms
- The Crash Pad
We stayed in the Luna Loft in Treetop Hideaways and I can’t recommend it enough. Staying in a place like this made it hard for us to want to ever leave though. Our treehouse was very luxurious and had all the supplies we needed. It also has some historic charms like the 1960’s reclaimed wood and windows.
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Best Things To Do in Chattanooga
Visit Rock City
If there’s ONE thing you need to do, you must go to Rock City. They have beautiful gardens and the viewpoints will make you feel like you’re in a castle in Europe. We also loved the viewpoint where you can see 7 states.
Watch the sunrise or hike Signal Mountain
We grabbed coffee and watched the colors turn on Signal Mountain for sunrise. The view of this river carved canyon is one of my favorites. You can also do some short hikes in the area like the trail to rainbow falls.
Ride the Incline Railway
Ride one of the steepest railway in the world with a 72.7% incline. This is a great way to see the lush mountains and valley. The ride is a mile long and it does go slow so it’s not nearly as scary as it sounds.
Hike Cloudland Canyon State Park
We only had time for one hike here but we’re so happy with our choice. Hemlock falls is a must see if you’re in the area. Not only is the waterfall gorgeous but the whole way there was filled with lush trees and big rocks.
Go On a Brewery Tour
There’s a growing number of small breweries in Chattanooga and the best way to get to know them is by taking a brewery tour. Our guides had such a wonderful relationship with the brewery owners so we got to learn so much about the beer we were tasting. This tour was also a great way to meet other travelers and get a local’s insight on where to go while you’re visiting.
Visit Ruby Falls
One of the most popular attractions in Chattanooga is Ruby Falls. It is the tallest underground waterfall in the US. The cave walk to the falls was such a unique adventure and we learned a lot about how Ruby Falls was discovered. Get Tickets
Take a Sunset Bat Cave Tour
This was such a unique experience! We kayaked around Nickajack lake and waited until hundreds (maybe thousands) of endangered grey bats came out of their cave. They swarmed all around and somehow did not hit any of us. It was truly an amazing sight to see and I highly recommend it if you’re looking to do something you can’t do anywhere else. Book your Bat Cave Tour
Where to Eat & Drink in Chattanooga
1885 Grill St Elmo
If you are looking for a place to get a taste of the best Southern and comfort food, you need to come here. They have amazing happy hour deals and a cute patio in the historic St. Elmo. You need to try the wings and shrimp and grits.
Niedlovs
I would go back to Chattanooga just for this bakery alone. It is THE spot to grab breakfast and pastries. It was very busy when we were there during the week so I imagine it’s a zoo on weekends. Their pastries are some of the best I’ve had. You must try the orange marmalade croissant and lemon crumpet.
Main Street Meats
Almost every local recommended Main Street Meats and they were spot on. We had lunch here and their food was top notch. They also have a butcher shop if you’re looking to take something home to grill.
I hope this blog has been helpful with planning your trip to Chattanooga! If you want to find more travel inspo check out my destinations page.