Along the Tennessee River at the base of the Appalachian Mountains, the Scenic City lives up to its name. With outdoor adventures, museums and haute cuisine, even three days might not be enough. To find more to do, go to visitchattanooga.com.
Day 1: Fall Fun
Photo Credit: Kelly Lacy12:00 PM
The air is getting crisp and pumpkin spice-flavored everything is back, which can only mean one thing: it's leaf-peeping season. In South Tennessee, peak leaf colors can be seen during October and November, when visitors can hike a number of trails surrounded by reds, oranges and golds. Even the colorblind can enjoy the fall foliage at designated locations using special viewfinders equipped with lenses that alleviate red-green colorblindness.
Photo Credit: Wendy and Brandon Buckner5:00 PM
After a day outdoors, warm up at the Hot Chocolatier. Enjoy their creamy concoctions-in-a-cup on the outdoor patio, or buy a box of bon-bons to go.
Day 2: Trains and Spirits
Photo Credit: Chattanooga Tourism Co.10:00 AM
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum offers a deep dive into Chattanooga's railway history, dating back to 1850. Train fanatics can even hop aboard an historic rail car for a scenic round-trip ride.
Photo Credit: Chattanooga Tourism Co.4:00 PM
If you still haven't satisfied your train love, grab a drink at Gate 11 Distillery in the Chattanooga Choo Choo terminal. Tours, tastings and flights are available at Gate 11, as well as cocktails at the indoor and outdoor bars.
9:00 PM
The Scenic City is rife with paranormal activity, from the 151-year-old Read House hotel to the Painted Lady Tattoo Parlor. Head out with Chattanooga Ghost Tours for a murder and mayhem history tour, cemetery visits, and more.
Day 3: Caves and Cuisine
Photo Credit: Ruby Falls11:00 AM
Discover Ruby Falls, the tallest and deepest cave waterfall open to the public in the United States. Excursions head down 260 feet inside Lookout Mountain in a glass-front elevator to see ancient rock formations, followed by a guided walk to the waterfall.
Photo Credit: The Edwin Hotel7:00 PM
End the trip with a relaxing meal at Whitebird, named for Chattanooga's founder, Chief John Ross, whose Cherokee name was Mysterious Little Whitebird. At the foot of the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge, the restaurant works with local producers to create dishes like mushroom bruschetta and buttermilk fried chicken.