Discovering Summer in the Scenic City

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Writer: Amber Lanier Nagle

About three million tourists will visit Chattanooga this year, infusing some $762 million into the local economy, according to a recent report by the U.S. Travel Industry of America. Why do they come? Ask the area’s half million residents and most will cite stunning views and the great outdoors. That may be why they call Chattanooga home, but many have yet to experience attractions that are enormously popular with visitors. Do tourists see a different side of Chattanooga than locals? What keeps them coming back? According to experts in the Scenic City’s visitor industry, the three top reasons may, or may not, surprise you.

REASON #1:

A DYNAMIC, WALKABLE DOWNTOWN

“We are fortunate to have a very dense, and intense, downtown,” says BobDoak, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Chattanooga has so much to offer its guests, and everything is so close together and convenient. Parking the car and exploring downtown on foot is very appealing to a lot of people.”

Accessibility is key, adds Doak, and many tourists prefer to walk a city these days. Tourists love the fact they can step out of their hotel or car and be right in the middle of an intimate city experience, complete with cool local shops, spirited restaurants, and places where they can just hang out. In Chattanooga, everything blends together seamlessly. Historic landmarks and contemplative public art complement public parks, greenways, and stunning buildings, new and old. The soft hum of traffic and conversations intermingle with the delicious, lingering aromas drifting from bakeries and coffeehouses. It’s an experience that many will treasure.

Adding to the city’s ambiance, dozens of quality downtown restaurants like Hennen’s and Easy Bistro lure pedestrians in from the streets like the Sirens beckoning to Odysseus. A few, like Big River Grille and Terminal Brewhouse serve up locally-crafted brewskies to thirsty passersby.

But Doak says that tourists are spending a little less time here than they did a few years ago. “People take shorter, less expensive vacations when the economy is weak,” he notes. “And when they do get away, they want to see as much and do as much as they can in a shorter period of time, close proximity of our attractions enables guests to navigate the city quickly, and that’s why we are a perfect, long-weekend destination.”

Pedestrians can easily map out day outings from a long menu of sights and interesting landmarks, most of which are connected via neat, tidy walkways. For example, visitors can enjoy the world-class Tennessee Aquarium as well as the IMAX 3D Theater in the morning, then march over to the Southern Belle Riverboat for a luncheon cruise, take in the Hunter Museum of American Art in the afternoon, and end their day exploring the Bluff View Arts District on foot.

The Walnut Street Bridge is another attraction popular with visitors. Walkers enjoy traversing the 2,376-foot span connecting the bustling downtown with the more eclectic North Shore neighborhood, where fine dining establishments and hopping hot spots coexist with galleries, salons, and day spas. Coolidge Park instantly takes roamers back to their childhoods with a beautifully-restored, 100-year-old carousel and interactive play fountain.

On Friday evenings, summer tourists and day-trippers trek the few blocks to Miller Plaza for the Nightfall music series— an example of Chattanooga’s vibrant downtown music scene.The nine-day Riverbend Festival attracts over 700,000 locals and out-of-towners every June when world class performers entertain along the edge of the Tennessee River. The Riverfront Nights music series and the Southern Brewer’s Festival also wow outdoor music lovers.

REASON #2:

ATTRACTIONS GALORE!

“We have dozens of world-renown attractions—all within a ten- or fifteen-minutedrive from downtown,” says Steve Genovesi, Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s vice president of Sales and Marketing. “In fact, the attractions pages get most of the traffic on our website.”

Genovesi says that Lookout Mountain is a major draw. “It’s nearby and offers a full day of fun and adventure,” he adds. Indeed, who hasn’t heard of Rock City, Ruby Falls, and the Incline Railway? These attractions are the stuff of legends—and billboards. But Genovesi and other industry experts say many locals have never experienced the region’s most remarkable attractions.

Many history buff s visit in order to absorb the gravity of the Chattanooga- Chickamauga National Military Park, the oldest and largest of America’s Civil War parks. Others come to relive the golden age of railroading at the Tennessee Valley Railroad, or to see the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo.

Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park provides fun for all ages with over thirty-eight rides, games, food concessions, paddleboats, miniature golf, interactive water play area and a shaded picnic area. The park’s Silly Saucers thrills younger guests and the OH Zone! Freefall keeps older visitors screaming with delight.

Raccoon Mountain Caverns offers guests camping, gem panning, Go-Karts, and guided tours through one of Tennessee’s highest rated caves. Spelunkers choose between an easy 45-minute guided Crystal Palace Tour, or a more involved excursion that winds deeply into the remote portions of the cavern.

The Chattanooga Zoo hosts naturalistic exhibits featuring Snow Leopards, Red Pandas, Chimpanzees and Jaguars.

REASON #3:

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

“Nature lovers and the adventurous find great pleasure in Chattanooga’s wild rivers and ample natural resources, a major reason why visitors choose to come here,” adds Genovesi.

The Ocoee River, with its Class III and Class IV rapids, is perfect for whitewater rafting or kayaking. Over 200,000 locals and visitors take on the Ocoee’s rushing waters each summer, and it’s never too crowded to have a thrilling, memorable experience. Others prefer boulder or rock climbing on mountainous terrain like Foster Falls Wild Area or Sunset Park, also known as the “Crown Jewel” of southern sandstone climbing. thrill-seekers test their limits during tandem hang glider rides, soaring thousands of feet in the air above Lookout Mountain.

The Chattanooga area is home to magnificent vistas and more than 300 varieties of trees and 900 species of wildflowers. Hikers love the waterfalls at Cloudland Canyon, and everyone raves about the Riverwalk, the path winding alongside the Tennessee River from the Chickamauga Dam to Ross’s Landing Park. The trail length stretches for 13 beautiful miles and attracts daily walkers, joggers, and sightseers.

Anglers find fulfilling fishing opportunities at Tennessee Riverpark, on one of the numerous lakes, reservoirs, and ponds just beyond the city limits. And golfers love to play the region’s many golf courses.

THE CHATTANOOGA RIVERBOAT COMPANY

201 Riverfornt Parkway, Pier 2

Chattanooga, TN 37402

Some belles would turn as red as a tomato if their age was revealed, but the Southern Belle Riverboat is bellowing about its 25th birthday. The popular vessel, offering daily scenic cruises up and down the Tennessee River since 1985, has literally grown up with Chattanooga.

“When the Southern Belle first decided to highlight the Tennessee River around downtown, it wasn’t really a big deal to come downtown,” says Erika Veller, group sales manager for the Chattanooga Riverboat Company. “People came to work, and that was about it. The Southern Belle is one of the features that made the river what it is to the community.”

The company recently added another attraction, Pier 2, a refurbished, stationary boat that serves as a gift shop, ticket center and gangway for the Southern Belle. Although the debutante may not have dancing shoes, remaining in place while the Southern Belle glides through its one-and-a-half-hour day trips or two-hour night cruises, Pier 2 is a wonderful venue for any community activity, charity event, and business or family activity, says Veller. The food and unique experience draw frequent praise, she adds.

Its three rooms on two decks off er an elegant or casual setting for smaller parties, or groups as large as 475 persons, to wine, dine, dance and soak up the beauty of Chattanooga’s nighttime lights or abounding natural beauty. Delicious plates or buffet options are available to suit any theme. While no one will want an event aboard Pier 2 to end, there is constant shore access.

WHAT’S NEW AROUND TOWN?

Ruby Falls has opened its new ZIPstream Aerial Adventure, an obstacle course built in trees with ladders, nets, bridges, tunnels and zip lines.

Outdoor Chattanooga Center opened recently in Coolidge Park, offering guided kayak trips and more. The nationally acclaimed Civil War Trails program has come to Chattanooga, with interpretive signs and maps making it easy to visit the area’s historic sites.

The Chattanooga Market, featuring entertainment and local artisans, introduces a weekly version on Saturdays from June through September at the Aquarium Plaza.

The Tennessee Aquarium launched a new Backstage Pass program off ering VIP access with up-close encounters, accessible only with keepers.

The Delta Queen Riverboat opened as a boutique hotel and offers live music, lounge entertainment, card games, historical lecture series, and more.

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