Location: Chattanooga
Top Things to do in Chattanooga
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What to do and see in Chattanooga, Tennessee (TN): The Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day
The name "Chattanooga" comes from the Creek Indian word for "rock coming to a point." This refers to Lookout Mountain, one of the city's major attractions. Here visitors can explore extraordinary rock formations, see a roaring enclosed waterfall and travel by train to the top of the mountain for truly awesome vistas. Back down on the ground, don't miss the world's largest freshwater aquarium, the Tennessee Aquarium. History enthusiasts will love the city's museums dedicated to Civil War, Native American and 20th-century history. More than anything, Chattanooga is a scenic city, full of natural wonders waiting to be explored by foot, car, bike or train.
Restaurants in Chattanooga
1. In-Town Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 28 reviews
In-Town Gallery is a cooperative gallery of fine art and fine crafts by Chattanooga-area artists established in 1974. The gallery is located on the "Hip to Historical" North Shore. All safety precautions are in place regarding the COVID virus. Masks are required while in the gallery.
2. Hart Gallery Tennessee
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By michaelmE3420HY
During a recent visit we stay in Chattanooga we actually stayed an extra day just to get this into our plans since they were opened this day. I LOVE the mission statement of this organization. Amazing artwork created by local superstars with gifted talents. I only wish I had more money to get more art to help in any way I could. The employees were amazing and were preparing a lunch for the artists while we reviewed the art work. Special thanks to the ‘hat man’ as the kids love the art he prepared and now is displayed in their rooms. Keep up the great work and please stop in and help out some great individuals.
3. Coker Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 144 reviews
The Coker Museum is open with a new entrance in Honest Charley Speed Shop. This is a self guided tour with a $10.00 general admission ticket sold at the front desk of the speed shop. Each general admission ticket has a $3.00 coupon towards any one Honest Charley apparel item. Veterans, first responders, anyone 65 and up and children 6-12 are $8.00. Children 5 and under are free!!
Reviewed By WooBa07 - Murfreesboro, United States
This was a self guided tour so you can look at items you like as long as you want. Largest collection of old motorcycles I have ever seen that were very well presented.
4. Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 918 reviews
Opened in March of 2015, the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery is making the first legal whiskey in Chattanooga is over 100 years. Daily tours include insight into our history, education on the production process and rounds out with a whiskey tasting! Come learn how we're building upon tradition and bringing whiskey back to the people. Our tasting room is now open Friday and Saturday evenings as a full-service whiskey lounge featuring seasonal cocktails made with Chattanooga Whiskey!
Reviewed By bostonbound-1 - Huntsville, United States
In addition to making great whiskey, Chattanooga Whiskey offers guided tours of the distillery and a whiskey tasting. Our guide was Smiley, who was friendly, courteous, and incredibly knowledgeable on the history of whiskey in Tennessee, the history of the Chattanooga Distillery, and the whiskey making process. She answered all our questions in detail, and her infectious enthusiasm made the tour all the more enjoyable. After the tour the distillery offers a whiskey tasting, which in our case featured their 91 and 111 Whiskeys, a white whiskey barely aged (one week), a coffee liquor, their new rye whiskey, a cocktail (Sazerac) made with the 91 Whiskey, and an experimental whiskey. Each offering was explained in detail by our server, Alex, who also showed both detailed knowledge and an enjoyment of his job. Knowing that I would enjoy the 91 and 111 Whiskeys, I was pleasantly surprised by the rye and the coffee liquor, while the experimental whiskey was phenomenal. Needless to say I left with a case of mixed bottles of the three offerings I cannot purchase at home. I highly recommend this tour to any whiskey lover, and for a great time ask for Smiley as your tour guide and Alex as your bartender. P.S. They were also kind enough to care for our standard poodle, Sofia, while we took the tour. I don't know how they could be more friendly.
5. Naughty Cat Cafe
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 347 reviews
Naughty Cat Cafe is a comfortable and healthy space to interact with adoptable cats and enjoy coffee, tea, beer and baked goods. Ages 11+.
Reviewed By Sam_jack83
What a great way to foster cats! These feline fur babies are relaxed in a tranquil atmosphere that is super clean and smells that way as well. Please stop by and add a new baby to your family.
6. Creative Discovery Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 965 reviews
Creative Discovery Museum is a hands-on children's museum in the heart of downtown Chattanooga that inspires all children to explore, innovate, create, and play. Our exhibits are designed to both entertain and educate as children discover the world around them and all it has to offer including art, music, dinosaur digging, water exploration, and science. Rated the #7 children's museum in the U.S. by Trekaroo in 2015.
Reviewed By kellypM5119NE - Munfordville, United States
We had a blast with our two year old this morning! Three levels of exhibits to learn and play through; lots of opportunities for pretend play! The highlights for us were the splash zone and the dinosaur area. The more involved you are with your kid, the more fun they’re going to have! Some exhibits geared toward older kids; I wouldn’t expect this location to appeal to a kid over 10. The 2-8 crowd though will be ecstatic ???? Covid stuff- timed entry, temp checks, masks inside pretty well-enforced. The staff are making a great effort to keep things clean in an impossible environment—It’s a hands-on museum; thousands of things for kids to touch and feel everywhere you look. So fellow parents, before you go, make sure your little understands to not touch their face, not put their hands in their mouth and to sanitize often.
7. International Towing and Recovery Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 232 reviews
A museum commemorating the history of the tow truck.
Reviewed By Rhonda4713 - Moss Point, United States
We found the museum to be VERY interesting. Lots of history and timelines of vehicles and their history. Before entering the museum you are shown a brief video which reveals dates and history of this amazing towing industry. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. A big plus to their interesting gift shop! We highly recommend this museum.
8. Tennessee Aquarium
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,874 reviews
More than 9,000 animals swim, fly and crawl through this aquarium dedicated to educating visitors about freshwater ecosystems.
Reviewed By kphil27 - La Vergne, United States
My husband and I have been several times and we have a blast every time we go! I could spend all day just watching the fish swim around it's so relaxing. There is a new exhibit called "island life" which is so cool! There's more fish and turtles and lizards in this exhibit. If you go during March, April, or May be prepared to fight off armies of little dudes on their school field trips ???? Be sure to look for Oscar the sea turtle when you're in the ocean journey building! ????????
9. The Houston Museum of Decorative Arts
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Located in a century-old Victorian house, this museum houses one of the world's finest collections of antique glass and ceramics from the collection of local eccentric Anna Safley Houston.
10. Hunter Museum of American Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 529 reviews
Focusing on American art from the Colonial period to the present day, the Hunter offers amazing architecture, a stunning permanent collection and exciting temporary exhibitions, and a museum store. The museum is housed in an early twentieth century mansion, a modern 1970s era building and a sleek, contemporary structure of steel and glass. The museum's collection includes paintings, works on paper, sculpture, photography, mixed media, video, furniture and contemporary studio glass covering a diverse range of styles and periods. A few of the well-known artists whose work is represented in the Hunter include Thomas Cole, Fitz Henry Lane, Winslow Homer, Robert S. Duncanson, Mary Cassatt, Childe Hassam, Robert Henri, John Marin, Thomas Hart Benton, Helen Frankenthaler, Louise Nevelson, Jack Beal, George Segal, Duane Hanson, Robert Rauschenberg, Sam Gilliam, and Andy Warhol. The Hunter Museum is a 501 (C) 3 Non-Profit charitable institution.
Reviewed By MaizeBlueVA - Fairfax, United States
The Hunter Museum of American Art certainly follows the directive of its name: It is a modest sized but interesting museum devoted exclusively to American Art. It's not a complaint but my visit did not find any work of art by an artist who was not an American. Just so you know what you're getting when you visit. The Hunter is located on a hill at the edge of downtown Chattanooga in a gentrified section called Bluffview, which consists of former mansions as well as apartment houses built in the early twentieth century. It is a charming area which should especially appeal to those interested in architecture. The selection of art is quite good though not extensive. Parking is available on site. The museum has a charge for admission.
