Day Trip In Chattanooga and Tennessee
The Tennessee Valley is a beautiful place to visit and can provide a great escape for families, couples, or as a solo trip looking for some adventure. It’s nestled in between mountains and offers plenty of things to do indoors and outdoors.
One thing you may not know, however, is that Tennessee offers off the beaten path attractions that go beyond the Chattanooga city limits.
Rock City Gardens
Rock City Gardens is a popular tourist attraction located in Lookout Mountain. It’s a fun place to visit, especially for families with kids and couples who want to get out of town for the day.
The gardens offer beautiful views of the mountainside, as well as some stellar photo opportunities.
There are many trails throughout Rock City Gardens that lead you further into nature. At the top of the Rock City you can 7 states at one time.
Rock City Gardens is also known for Lover’s Leap Falls and suspension bridge. These are 2 of the many famous attractions at this location.
Raccoon Mountain Walking Cave Tour
Raccoon Mountain Caverns offers walking tours through their cave system. They also offer guided caving tours as well at different difficulty levels and lengths in the cave system.
If you’re looking for an activity that’s family friendly, the Raccoon Mountain Walking Cave Tour is the best option. The tour lasts about an hour, and during that time you’ll get to see the underground caves. As you walk through the cave, your guide will explain what you’re seeing and tell stories about Chattanooga history.
The Raccoon Mountain Walking Cave Tour isn’t as touristy as Ruby Falls—which means it’s less crowded—and it also has some fun features like sitting at a table in front of a mirror so that you can pretend to be sitting right next to yourself!
Sewanee Natural Bridge
This is a very short trail from the parking lot and very unique. When I think of a natural bridge I think of Utah not the Southeast states of US.
Foster Falls
This has a steep path with a suspension bridge crossing. Foster Falls is near Monteagle, TN and is 75 feet tall.
Denny Cove Falls
This trail was a flop. On the way down there was a couple coming back up.
They said there were some fallen trees and the path after that was hard to follow. They turned around and didn’t see the waterfall.
They passed and continued. After a few minutes we decided to turn around and call it a day.
Sunset at Lookout Mountain
The sunset was beautiful. The parking was hard to come by and the trail there was a bit sketchy especially in the dark.
Buc-ee’s
I live in the Atlanta area and couldn’t pass up a stop at Buc-ee’s in Adairsville, GA.
This time I stopped, I grabbed a BBQ Sandwich and a side of their potato wedges. I’ve heard great things of them. I was not disappointed.
Chattanooga is a great place for for a short getaway.
If I could do it over again, I would leave earlier in the day. There was a lot packed in considering the drive times.
It has some really cool attractions, like the Tennessee Aquarium and Rock City, which are both awesome places.
There are also plenty of options for activities that a solo traveler or group can enjoy: kayaking on the river, hiking up Signal Mountain or driving through Lookout Mountain Caverns. There’s something here for everyone!
Hope you have a wonderful time when you get there!