Chattanooga, Tennessee Travel Guide

If you’re planning a trip to Chattanooga, TN here’s a list of what we did, where we ate and more!

This past week, my family and I along with our cousins drove up to Tennessee for Thanksgiving. It was our first time visiting and we were pleasantly surprised with how much there is to do. From “touristy” attractions to quaint, local experiences there’s something for everyone.

We stayed at an AirBnB that was located just 5 minutes from downtown and it was about 15-20 minute’s distance from everything.

It’s scenic, welcoming and charming and overall such a nice place to visit!

Chattanooga, Tennessee Travel Guide

DAY 1

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum – We visited the historic railroad museum and went on the North Pole Christmas train on an hour-long ride that was decorated for Christmas and enjoyed with scenic views.

Feed Tavern & Table Co. – After the train ride, we went to a local spot known for their bar and comfort food. We ordered beer-battered fries, wings and I had a tasty “Johnny Be Good” cocktail. I also ordered a burger and I personally felt this spot was more of an apps and drinks kind of place.

Explore Choo Choo Station – This area in downtown is definitely worth a visit! It was a former railroad station which now has restaurants, bars, and more.

Coffee at Frothy Monkey – At the Choo Choo station, we grabbed some iced coffee which was one of my favorites in town! I had a delicious rosemary honey latte.

DAY 2

Sleepy Head Coffee – Started off the day at this local coffee shop to do some work

Tennessee Aquarium – My family visited the aquarium while I was working but they absolutely loved it! This is one of the top aquariums in the nation and there’s lots to do and see.

Lunch at Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant – This was one of my family’s favorite spots from the entire trip, though I wasn’t able to join them. It was a tasty meal to fuel up before more exploring.

Ruby Falls – We had heard great things about this place and were really looking forward to it. Overall, it was a really cool experience and Ruby Falls itself was so nice.

DAY 3

Rock City Gardens – We started the day exploring the scenic Rock City Gardens. It had the most beautiful views and such pretty, whimsical garden areas. At the top of the Lookout Mountain overlook, we took a hot cocoa break which was such a treat since it was quite chilly!

Incline Train – Next up, we did another classic Chattanooga experience which was the Incline Train. It was very cool and it goes VERY high up, so you get really nice views of the entire city.

Dinner at Pizza Bros – After the days activities, we grabbed dinner at Pizza Bro’s. This pizza really hit the spot! They had a gluten-free option which was great.

Ice Cream at Clumpie’s – Next up, finished off the day with a scoop of ice cream at Clumpie’s, a local favorite! Calories don’t count on vacation, right?

DAY 4

Morning Hike at Lula Lake on Lookout Mountain – We booked a guided hiking tour with Experience Chattanooga and I could not recommend it enough! The tours are run by husband and wife Hope and Ryan, and they made the experience truly amazing. They carried snacks and water, were very knowledgeable, took professional photos and were just the kindest people I’ve ever met. This is a MUST if you’re visiting!

Lunch at The Purple Daisy – After hiking we surely worked up an appetite and decided to have barbecue at The Purple Daisy (recommended by locals) located at the foot of Lookout Mountain. It’s a casual, local spot that had DELICIOUS barbecue. I had the pork with hash brown casserole and coleslaw. So good! I mean, you can’t go to a Southern state and not have barbecue, right?

Distillery Tasting at Gate 11 – We did a tasting at this micro distillery and it was interesting to learn about all the spirits. Everything here is brewed and distill in small batches. The experience was all right, I actually recommend the Chattanooga Whiskey Distillery instead since it was just focused on whiskey and the distillery is a lot larger and the tour is more in-depth.

Ice Cream at Ice Cream Show – To finish off a busy day, we grabbed a yummy ice cream cone at Ice Cream Show. This place was neat since you can customize your very own ice cream flavor!

Sunset Walk on Walnut Street Bridge – Finally, we walked along the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge which had the most spectacular views of the Tennessee River at sunset.

DAY 5

Rembrandt’s Coffee House – For our last full day in Chattanooga, we had to stop by the best local coffee shop in town. We picked up a couple of bags of coffee beans to take back home and I sipped on a festive cup of coffee and had a breakfast sandwich. Overall, I found that the drinks at the other coffee shops were better than the one I got, but my cousins said they enjoyed theirs, so maybe it depends on what drink you get.

Walk around Bluff View Art District – My mom and I then explored Bluff View which is such a charming historic neighborhood with galleries, restaurants and gardens.

Dirty Jane’s Antiques – We spent a few hours perusing this grand store which had so many unique relics and vintage treasures. A great place to visit if you love all things antique. I loved that they offered complimentary hot cider to keep you warm.

Horseback Riding – In the afternoon, we went to Hidden Hills Farm for a horseback ride. It was such a wonderful, peaceful experience with beautiful views.

Hot Chocolatier – We finished off the trip with a sweet cup of hot cocoa and which was definitely much-needed on this chilly night!