Why So Many People are Visiting Chatanooga, Tennessee

Nestled right in-between Nashville, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia is a rather large city called Chattanooga. You can find it 70 miles northwest of the Chattahoochee National Forest and a few miles east of the Prentice Cooper State Forest.

Downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee is surrounded by the Tennessee River, which coils around the city like a snake. Many of the top attractions in the city are found along the Tennessee River Chattanooga, which we’ll go into more depth in below.

The nearest airport -- Chattanooga Airport -- is just nine miles from downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee and there’s easy access if you take the Wilcox Blvd. or Shallowford Road. It shouldn’t be more than a 20 minute drive from the airport. Wilcox Blvd. will take you right near the Tennessee River Chattanooga, if you wanted a more scenic route.

What Is Chattanooga Known For?

Before Chattanooga was a city, it was inhabited by the Native Americans -- mainly the Cherokees. In 1838, the Cherokees were forced from their homeland to a designated territory in Oklahoma. It became known as the Trail of Tears.

One year later, the land originally designated as Ross’s Landing was renamed Chattanooga and the city was born. It actually didn’t take long for the city to flourish due to its proximity to the Tennessee River Chattanooga. The popularity only grew when the railroad was introduced and became known as the “city where cotton meets corn.”

Chattanooga had deep roots in the Civil War and was known to be a center for battle. Once the war ended, it went right back to what it was known for -- railways and manufacturing.

Nowadays, the city is home to over 180,000 residents, making it the fourth-largest city in Tennessee -- behind only Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville. 

Things to Do in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga is filled with fun activities to do with the family, giving you a mix of history and nature. To ensure you have an exciting time when you visit downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, we’re going to highlight four of our favorite destinations in the city.

Let’s take a look:

1.   Lookout Mountain

Located just a few miles southwest of downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, Lookout Mountain is one of the city's top destinations. It’s actually home to three major tourist attractions -- the Incline Railway, Rock City, and Ruby Falls. If you want some beautiful pictures to take home with you, this is the spot.

2.   Chattanooga, Tennessee Aquarium

The Chattanooga, Tennessee Aquarium is always a must-see when in the city. It’s located north of the city right along the Tennessee River Chattanooga and has a wide range of exhibits to enjoy. It even has an IMAX 3D theatre, in case the animals aren’t enough to fill in a whole day of activity.

3.   Hunter Museum of American Art

Located a stone’s throw from the Chattanooga, Tennessee Aquarium is the Hunter Museum of American Art. Also along the Tennessee River, it’s filled with all of Chattanooga’s greatest history. Built in 1906, it covers more than 100 years of architecture and events. It can easily be paired with the Tennessee Aquarium if you really want to get the most out of your day.

4.   Chattanooga Zoo

Just in case the aquarium wasn’t enough, you can take the family to the Chattanooga Zoo. It’s located a few miles east of downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee on the corner of 3rd Street and Holtzclaw Avenue. With 13 acres of land to explore, there’s no way you or your children will get bored here.

Now that you have a much better idea of where Chattanooga is, what it’s known for, and some of the best destinations to check out while visiting, you can finally plan a trip here with confidence. Don’t waste any time and get started today!