Chattanooga

In the midst of a massive revitalization of its waterfront and downtown core, Chattanooga is fast becoming a worthy stop on any family's Southern itinerary. Several attractions are geared to kids and families, including the remarkable Tennessee Aquarium and the Creative Discovery Museum. The Tennessee Riverwalk is a great cycling path and winds along downtown to Ross's Landing, the heart of the waterfront. The Bluff View Arts District is the place to go to wander through galleries or sit down for a romantic dinner. For those who can't visit without thoughts of the Glenn Miller song, there's the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel, housed in a former ...

In the midst of a massive revitalization of its waterfront and downtown core, Chattanooga is fast becoming a worthy stop on any family's Southern itinerary. Several attractions are geared to kids and families, including the remarkable Tennessee Aquarium and the Creative Discovery Museum. The Tennessee Riverwalk is a great cycling path and winds along downtown to Ross's Landing, the heart of the waterfront. The Bluff View Arts District is the place to go to wander through galleries or sit down for a romantic dinner. For those who can't visit without thoughts of the Glenn Miller song, there's the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel, housed in a former train terminal. Just outside the city, Lookout Mountain has spectacular views, and the nearby Chickamauga & Chattanooga Military Park (that straddles Georgia and Tennessee) is the site where, in 1863, Union and Confederate forces fought for control of Chattanooga, which they believed to be the gateway to the rest of the south.

About the Expert

Debra Landau has written eight Lonely Planet guidebooks, including books on the USA, Caribbean, and the South.