Chattanooga Boogie (background sound)
or on text link: cjdoscher1@(remove this to email)comcast.net .
For mostly places to stay in Chattanooga or other locations in Tennessee, including The Smokies, see 'Some Great Tennessee Links' (about 2/3 the way down the page). For downtown Chattanooga hotels see Item #1; for various tour packages in the Chattanooga area see Item #2 in this same location.
God Bless the USA (play the midi)
A great place to visit while in Chattanooga is the Tennessee Aquarium, the largest freshwater acquarium in the world - be sure to check out the 'New To Do' link on their web site - catch a free electric shuttle to the Aquarium at the well known Chattanooga Choo Choo at the 1400 block of Market Street (or ride from the Aquarium to the Choo Choo - hear the midi file of the song by the same name at 'Carl's Favorite Midis') or take a horse & carriage ride from the Choo Choo down to the riverfront at night or during the day (the rides may leave from the Aquarium as well). Stop by the Chattanooga Visitors Center near the Aquarium and get tickets to various attractions. Also visit the IMAX 3-D Theater, the Bijou movie house nearby, the Creative Discovery Museum for the kids, or Hunter Art Gallery while in town, if time permits. After touring the Aquarium visit Ross's Landing, named after Cherokee chief John Ross (his restored house is in Rossville, GA at the duck pond), at the nearby riverfront and take a ride on the Southern Belle Riverboat, a real paddle-wheeler (see a picture at Slideshow - picture #2), where full course meals and music (type varies by day of week) are available on night cruises and sightseeing rides (lunch optional) are available in the daytime until 4:00 p.m. . Weather permitting, a walk across either the Market St. or Walnut St. Bridge (the world's longest walking bridge) to Coolidge Park (north of the river), where one might ride a carousel or buy a New Orleans style snow cone with shaved ice (seasonal) or let the kids cool off in the fountain (in the Summer of course), might be nice. For those that like long walks and some nice scenery check out Chattanooga's Riverwalk pictures at Riverwalk Tour (the guided tour is optional). Nature, fitness or arts & culture lovers visit the Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Center or have a look at Chattanooga's Warner Park Zoo. For canoeing, kayaking, whitewater tours or summer camps visit Chattanooga OutVenture (check out the kayaking class). For shoppers, look for Warehouse Row Outlets located downtown at Market and Houston Streets (both sides of Houston - formerly 12th St.) and check out the free More Card for nice savings or visit Southside Galleries or Southside Mall down Market St. at 14th St. (south of Warehouse Row) for antiques, art work and more at discount prices. For those with fine tastes enjoy a dinner at the Choo Choo Station House or Southside (behind the condos at the corner across the street from the Choo Choo bus pick-up and a short block west down 14th St.).
Click on the image below to get Chattanooga's weather at Weather Underground.
I am a life long resident of Chattanooga, TN, the "Scenic Center of the South". To learn more, or to seek out some local, statewide and Southeast job links, as well as free places to post your resume, look here.
Be sure to visit Lookout Mountain while in town and see Rock City
("the World's 8th Wonder" - get some history of Rock City at Roadside America), Ruby Falls (and the Lookout Mountain Caverns), the Incline Railway (the "world's steepest incline"), as well as (for Cival War buffs) Point Park, where the Battle Above the Clouds was faught, Battles for Chattanooga Museum (across from Point Park), Cravens House and Chickamauga Battlefield, America's oldest and largest Cival War park, located near Chickamauga, GA, south of Chattanooga via U.S. 27 (Rossville Boulevard South exit off I-24, then about 8 miles). Tickets to Rock City, Ruby Falls, the Incline Railway and other attractions may be found online at Chattanooga Fun or get an online discount package to these three Lookout Mountain attractions at tickets (direct link). If you wish you may buy tickets upon arrival at the Chattanooga Visitors Center (previously mentioned) downtown near the Tennessee Aquarium. Oh, while at the Incline Railway in historic St. Elmo (at the base of Lookout Mountain), there is a neat gourmet hamburger joint a block down the street (south) called Armando's Brownie Burgers (if you like large hamburgers) or gyro's in the Incline Snack Bar by the base station, or pizza and ice cream at Mr. T's across the street beyond the wishing well. While touring Lookout Mountain, a side trip to Reflection Riding & Gardens at the Chattanooga Nature Center would be nice (alongside the mountain in the valley below - a tour in the Spring or Fall is especially colorful). The valley between Lookout Mountain (west side) and west to Raccoon Mountain (includes what was formerly called Aetna Mtn.) and north to Elder Mountain and the river is know as Lookout Valley. Don't miss nearby Raccoon Mountain (west of I-24 at exit 174 about 1.5 miles on old Hwy. 41 N., known as 'The Scenic Parkway' or 'The Trail of Tears Corridor') and Raccoon Mtn. Caverns & Campground (formerly Crystal Caverns). Note: The Alpine Slide and chair lift along with the large track with rather fast go-karts were taken out at Raccoon Mountain several years ago for a huge high dollar development called Cummings Cove (w/townhouses, a golf course called Black Creek, etc.). A small go-kart track and batting cages are there now, as well as the campground and cabins (smoking is not allowed inside the cabins). A nice little lodge is right next to the entrance to Raccoon Mtn. called the Alpine Lodge with a pool (I assume the pool is still open in the mid-Spring to Summer months). Other places to stay may be found at 'Some Great Tennessee Links' further down the page. Have an enjoyable afternoon or evening meal at The Catfish House located on the Tennessee River (get a window seat by the river if possible), a scenic eight mile trip west from I-24 (exit 174) on Hwy. 41 N (about 6 miles beyond Raccoon Mountain). While at Raccoon Mountain stop by TVA's Pumped Storage Project (inquire at the campground) and cross the largest rock-filled dam ever constructed by TVA at 230-feet high and 8,500 feet long (I walked across it once) and view its beautiful lake or bring your food to enjoy at the picnic area and kids' play ground (hiking trails are available or bike around the lake).
Note: If the search below is two or more words enclose it inside double quotes, e.g., "Tennessee River".
Chattanooga is the fourth largest city in Tennessee and got its name from the Creek Indian name for Lookout Mountain (and means 'rock that comes to a point'), one of the main features of the city skyline, although the city is mostly surrounded by mountains (Lookout, Signal, Raccoon, Missionary Ridge - not really a mountain, etc.). The Cherokee word ''Tanasi'', referring to what is now the Tennessee River, is where the state's name originated. Chattanooga is the birthplace of Moon Pies, miniature golf, and the first Coca Cola bottling plant (over 100 years ago). Learn about some of Chattanooga's history as well as history behind some local sites, such as Incline Railway, Point Park, Cravens' House, Signal Point, and various Cival War battles here at North Georgia's portal to Chattanooga, Tennessee. If you would like more historical reading check out the newsletters at Tennessee River Gorge Trust. One may wish to look in on the Chattanooga Regional History Museum. Those who who would like may contact the Chattanooga Area Convention & Visitor's Bureau for more information about the City and local sites of interest. Also check out The Chattanooga Times Free Press cool web site. My favorite place there is probably the link to The Great Outdoors. The local newspaper also has a nice link called Chattanooga Attractions which is very helpful giving details about numerous local sites of interest with prices, hours, web links, etc. . Learn about further outdoor adventure in Southeast Tennessee such as scenic drives through the Cherokee National Forest, white water rafting, heritage trails, arts & antiques, historic sites, museums and more at Tennessee Overhill Experience, or local tourist and government information at the Convention and Trade Center or City of Chattanooga. If you would like information about the Cherokee tribe of Native Americans try Cherokee Heartland and read about the Trail of Tears and Cherokee Memorial Park. One may want to also visit the Native American Web Site, an interesting link but not directly related to Chattanooga sites of interest except perhaps Moccasin Bend (see a picture at 'scenic pictures' link below), the land mass with the Tennessee River on three sides and which got its name from the Cherokees who used to camp there, as they likened the shape as seen from Lookout Mtn. to an Indian moccasin. It may best be viewed from Point Park, part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and which may be found at the top of Lookout Mountain. Point Park is easily reached by foot from the top of the Incline Railway (previously mentioned), the track of which runs one mile above the valley below; walking distance to the park is about 1/4 mile from the Incline (see a picture at 'scenic pictures' link below). Across the street from the park resides the Battles for Chattanooga Museum (mentioned in second paragraph above) which has a colorful electric map of the Cival War (War Between the States) battles fought in the Chattanooga area.
1. Downtown Chattanooga Hotels offers great rates on over 50 hotels near downtown Chattanooga (has a nice map of the city).
2. Look at the various tour packages for Chattanooga, TN at Vacation Packages.
3. To stay near the mountains find reasonably priced cabins at Raccoon Mtn. Caverns & Campground about 7 miles west of downtown Chattanooga off I-24 (exit 174 and north on Hwy. 41 about 1.5 miles - turn right if headed west on 24) or visit the quaint Alpine Lodge just outside the entrance. Note: Several nice motels are to be found at this same exit - this and Exit 175 are the gateways to Lookout Mountain also.
4. Explore the Smoky Mountains at TheSmokies.com.
5. Check out other neat Tennessee links at TennWeb (including the middle Tennessee area & The Smokies).
6. Visit CMT.Com, Tennessee's Country Music Television, check out various Country singers and possibly some Nashville attractions.
7. One might want to look at the Tennessee State Parks or the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development web sites.
.Note: The Real Jukebox link is the same link where you may access Real Player for streaming audio/video such as radio & film clips (if you don't have it all ready).