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Chattanooga: From trains to natural wonders, a little fun north of the state line
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Photo by Todd DeFeo
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Certainly, a trip to Chattanooga conjures up memories of America’s romantic past – an era when rail was the only way to travel.
The city’s railroad past was immortalized in “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” the foot-tapping big band classic made famous by Glenn Miller. While there are plenty of must-see railroad attractions in Chattanooga, the city is just as much for the history buff and the outdoorsman looking for the first sizeable city north of Atlanta.
What’s so intriguing about Chattanooga – nicknamed “The Scenic City” for a good reason – is the sheer number of attractions. A weekend is not enough time to take in all the sights. Still, a couple of days here will no doubt make for an exceptional getaway, no matter how many attractions you end up seeing.
For starters, a trip to Chattanooga wouldn’t be complete without heading to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, the largest operating historic railroad in the Southeast. Designated the “Official Railroad Museum of Tennessee,” TVRM trains operate over rails that were first laid in 1856, and trains pass through the 979-foot-long Missionary Ridge Tunnel, an exceptional feat of engineering when it opened in the 19th century.
The museum’s “Missionary Ridge Local” trains run 50-minute round trips daily from mid-March through October and on weekends during November. Half-way through the outing, passengers have the chance to watch the engine turn around on an historic roundtable as it prepares to complete the round trip.
The museum also offers a number of other longer excursions, including the “Chickamauga Turn” – an all-day expedition that runs from the museum to Chickamauga, Ga., on Saturdays during the summer.
Keeping the railroad theme going, the Incline Railway, also known as “America’s Most Amazing Mile,” is one of the more unique offerings, not just in Chattanooga, but anywhere. Built in 1895, the railroad whisks adventure-seekers up the side of Lookout Mountain, and its 72.7 percent grade near the top of the mountain makes it the steepest railroad in the world.
This one-of-a-kind railroad helped make Lookout Mountain a popular summer vacation destination and continues to attract visitors by the thousands more than a century later. The viewing platform at Lookout Mountain station offers a great view of the city, the surrounding region and also of the Great Smoky Mountains roughly 100 miles away.
One last rail-themed attraction worth visiting is the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Today a Holiday Inn, the Chattanooga Choo Choo dates to 1909 when it saw the departure of its first passenger train. The Choo Choo served as a functioning train station until Aug. 11, 1970, when the last passenger train departed.
The station has since found a new life as a hotel, and guests can stay in either a standard room or in a refurbished rail car. There are plenty of places at the Choo Choo to eat and shop, and a 1924 New Orleans trolley whisks visitors around the hotel’s grounds.
If railroads are one integral theme of a Chattanooga weekend, natural wonders are another.
Visit Ruby Falls. This 145-foot-tall waterfall located 1,100 feet beneath Lookout Mountain is one of the most spectacular natural wonders, as more than 300 gallons of water pour out of the waterfall every minute. Opened as a tourist attraction in 1930, Ruby Falls has remained one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Southeast.
Next, “See Rock City.” This famous slogan was painted everywhere, from billboards to the roofs of barns, making it one of the more wildly-successful advertising campaigns in history. Located in nearby Lookout Mountain, Ga., Rock City opened as a tourist attraction in the 1930s and draws thousands of visitors every year.
The highlight of Rock City is Lover’s Leap, a natural overlook where travelers can see seven states from one spot. The path leading to and from Lover’s Leap offers an adventure in and of itself, as travelers must traverse winding walkways with stairs and bridges and a number of tight rock formations – one aptly named Fat Man’s Squeeze – just to make it to the top and back to the bottom.
One last site worth visiting is Lookout Mountain Battlefield. Looking from the top of the mountain reveals the strategic importance of Chattanooga in the Civil War. Once Union forces took control of the city in 1863, Gen. William T. Sherman could then march to Atlanta and to the sea the following year.
Today, the 3,000-acre battlefield features a number of historical markers, monuments and numerous scenic views. The battlefield’s visitor’s center includes a 13x33-foot painting depicting the “Battle of Lookout Mountain.”
While the aforementioned half-dozen attractions are enough to make for an action-packed weekend, they really only scratch the surface. The city is also home to many manmade attractions worth visiting.
If your schedule permits, set aside time to visit the Tennessee Aquarium and the IMAX 3D Theater. Another attraction, the Southern Belle Riverboat, takes tourists on a cruise up and down the Tennessee River and offers a number of themed trips throughout the year.
So, take your pick. Chattanooga offers a little something for everyone, from the railfan to the outdoorsman to those just looking for a fun-filled weekend just over the state line.
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