Whether it’s spring break, summer vacation or just a long getaway, Chattanooga is the perfect place for your next trip! If you’re trying to decide what to do on a week-long vacation to the Scenic City, check out some of these top-rated attractions, outdoor adventures and family-friendly activities.

You simply can’t spend a week in Chattanooga and not visit the Tennessee Aquarium. Explore the River Journey and Ocean Journey buildings to see a variety of animals like Red-ruffed lemurs, Macaroni penguins and plenty of fish and reptiles. Once you’ve explored the Secret Reef and Lemur Forest, check out the IMAX 3D Theater to see some of the sharpest, brightest, clearest and most vivid digital images ever seen. Next, head up to Lookout Mountain for a visit to Rock CityRuby Falls and The Incline Railway. All located within a five mile radius of one another, each attraction offers something totally different. At Rock City, you’ll enjoy scenic views from the Seven States overlook, lush gardens and trails lined with giant boulders and rock formations. A visit to Ruby Falls is well-worth it, as you’ll see the largest underground waterfall open to the public – it’s over 140-feet tall! Over at the Incline Railway, you’ll soak in the views from America’s Most Beautiful Mile as you ride up the side of Lookout Mountain.

If you’re looking for ways to get on the Tennessee River, a cruise aboard the Southern Belle Riverboat allows you to see the city from a different angle. Once you’re back on land, a visit to the Creative Discovery Museum is a great escape for kids of all ages. Kids can enjoy the two-story water play section, check out an archeological dig (complete with dinosaur bones), explore the seasonally rotating exhibits, take a cooking class and even create their own art.

Creative Discovery Museum

If you find yourself on the North Shore, stop by Coolidge Park to play in the water fountains, ride on the 100-year-old antique carousel and taste some hand-crafted ice cream from Clumpies Ice Cream Co. Get there from downtown via the Walnut Street Bridge, one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world, or by the free electric shuttle. For the animal lover in the family, it’s a safe bet that the Chattanooga Zoo will be a crowd pleaser. See your favorite animals like red pandas, snow leopards, jaguars and the new tamarin exhibit. If you visit on the weekend, don’t miss your chance to take a ride on a camel!

If you’re feeling adventurous, make sure to visit High Point Climbing and Fitness for an experience you won’t soon forget. The little ones will love the Kidzone where they can climb on top of buildings, race to the top or just practice their climbing skills. Outside of the Kidzone, you’ll find plenty of top-rope climbing walls, bouldering sections and an outdoor climbing wall where you can scale the building.

 

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