Explore the Mountains, Rivers and MoonPies

Explore the Mountains, Rivers and MoonPies of Chattanooga, TN. Tucked between the mountains of southeast Tennessee, you will find the splendid city of Chattanooga. Situated along the Tennessee River, this outdoor lover’s sanctuary will be sure to inspire the adventurer in you.

What is Chattanooga known for?

Chattanooga is known as a fun, scenic city located on the Tennessee River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Chattanooga has a cozy feel, with wonderful views of mountains and an overall intimate atmosphere to the town. The city prides itself on its scenic and natural beauties offering a wide range of outdoor activities such as the Incline Railroad, Ruby Falls and Rock City Gardens. Furthermore, the downtown district has spacious sidewalks and many shopping and dining options including the MoonPie General store where the original MoonPie was created.

Where to Explore the Famous Attractions of Chattanooga

Tennessee Aquarium

1 Broad Street

The Tennessee Aquarium is highly rated and my personal favorite attraction in Chattanooga, TN. This amazing exhibit is top of the line and should be a part of any travelers itinerary when visiting this magnificent city.

The Aquarium consists of two separate buildings. One of the buildings is the Ocean Journey and the second building is the River Journey. The two buildings contain displays that will not only amaze you but educate you as well. The exhibits are designed to allow visitors to trace the path of water from the mountains to the sea (3). The aquariums house some fascinating creatures that live throughout our rivers and oceans (3).

The Ocean Journey

The Ocean Journey is a replica of the exotic, multi-colored coral environment of the Flower Garden Banks, which is in the Gulf of Mexico (3). The exhibit is spectacular as it houses some truly exotic sea life such as 10-foot sand tiger sharks, green sea turtles, and thousands of colorful reef fish (3). The exhibit gives the visitor an authentic approach as they can tour through replica ocean caverns that provide a realistic experience one would only have if they were to go snorkeling.

My wife and I really enjoyed the ocean journey exhibit. It was a self-paced walking tour allowing us to take our time exploring. The exhibit started at Penguin Island where we could see the penguins dive and swim. We walked through the various levels of the ocean, concluding at the tide exhibit, which showcased the effects a rising and declining sea tide can have on the ocean creatures. The Ocean Journey presented multiple parts of a reef from the surface to the ocean floor. The aquariums that housed all of the sea life were incredible and well designed so one could see all aspects of ocean life at multiple depths.

One exhibit that I found to be impressive was the jellyfish display, which is a part of the boneless beauties exhibit. The displays are well illuminated and give the jellyfish an exotic look. Watch below to see these wonderous organisms pulsate and dance through the glass aquarium.

The River Journey

The River Journey is a unique exhibit as it describes not only life in the Tennessee River but also rivers around the globe. This attraction showcases how the rivers make their paths into the oceans of the world. The exhibit is a self-paced walking tour that starts at a replica river basin and takes you through the water journey. This attraction reflects the water journey and how it starts as a waterfall that turns into rivers. This process creates the suitable environment to house the exotic and necessary creatures that flourish, such as turtles, salmon, and other organisms.

Prior to this experience, I never knew just how important a turtle was. Through this exhibit I learned that turtles serve a vital role in seed dispersal and environmental alterations (3). Furthermore, I learned that cultures around the world revere turtles as symbols of patience, longevity, wisdom, and perseverance (3). The River Journey exhibit is remarkable in the creative approach they took in creating this world-renowned display. Moreover, the river journey is a great educational feature for all its visitors.

Discover Lookout Mountain

Lookout Mountain is the most notable mountain near the city of Chattanooga, TN. This mountain has many of Chattanooga’s most visited attractions such as Ruby Falls, Rock City, The Incline Railroad and Point Place. In this section we will talk about several of those attractions and why they appealed to us.

Incline Railroad

3917 St. Elmo Avenue, Chattanooga, TN. 37409

In operation since 1865, the Incline Railway is one of the steepest passenger railways in the world (1). The rail car travels about a mile in total distance up to Lookout Mountain. The ride is approximately 15 minutes long. The rail car windows are large and allow for an unobstructed view of the entire ride. The natural surroundings make the journey up the mountain a very enjoyable experience.

At the top station you can enjoy stunning views of downtown Chattanooga and its surrounding areas. The top station has an additional rooftop terrace that offers an impressive view that enables you to see for miles. In addition to the view, there is also a neat gift shop which has snacks, treats, and souvenirs. If history is your passion, then take a 5-minute walk from the top station of the Incline railroad to Point Park, which is a Civil War memorial park.

Point Park is the site of the 1863 pivotal Battle Above the Clouds that helped give Union troops control of Chattanooga (1). We did not take advantage of the park as time was not on our side. Although, it did look truly amazing and beautifully kept up from outside the gate.

Rock City Gardens, GA

1400 Patten Road

Rock City Gardens is the best place to explore the nature of Chattanooga, TN. Positioned on Lookout Mountain, this attraction is approximately 6 miles from downtown Chattanooga, TN (2). This rare and botanical wonder is in Georgia, just over the Tennessee border. Rock City Gardens is an enchanted 4,100-foot walking trail that will take you through rock formations, caves, gardens, and waterfalls (2). This unique experience is a must see and one of Chattanooga’s popular attractions that all ages can enjoy.

Lover’s Leap is a rock that extends out from the side of Lookout Mountain, with a rather stunning waterfall. The name Lovers Leap gets its name from two young Native American lovers who were from two feuding tribes (2). One of the feuding tribes captured the young man and killed him by throwing him over the edge (2).

Following the man’s tragic death, his lover would visit the area frequently in hopes for his return (2). When she realized that he was not coming back, she jumped to her own death at the same place where he was thrown over the edge (2). Despite this sad story, Lover’s Leap has a magnificent view of the valley below with a beautiful waterfall emerging from the side of the rock façade.

You can also experience Rock City Garden’s renowned view of Seven States (2). The States consist of Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. This rare spot is one of the only places in the United States where you can see these many states in one location.

Another neat attraction along this incredible trail is Fairyland Caverns. The Fairyland caverns is a long underground tunnel inside the mountain. The caverns are made into various scenes from popular and beloved European folklore and fairytales. The Fairland caverns also houses the Mother Goose Village.

Rock City Gardens is an enchanting place that allows the mindful traveler to enjoy one of natures most renowned creations in this part of the country.

Ruby Falls

1720 South Scenic Highway

Ruby Falls is a series of deep underground caves inside Lookout Mountain that features a 145-foot waterfall, making it the largest underground waterfall in the United States. The attraction offers a tour that typically lasts an hour and shows you various types of rock formations that are centuries old.

The cave itself was humid, and the temperatures were around the mid-60’s. The tour ended with a breathtaking waterfall that was illuminated for our enjoyment by the tour guide. The establishment has a standalone building with a large parking lot. Outside the building are a series of terraces and decks that overlook the city of Chattanooga, giving you a very commanding view of the city from above. This would be a fun experience for a couple or the whole family.

Shopping

MoonPie General store

429 Broad Street

The MoonPie General store is located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga’s Broad Street. This iconic store is a brief escape to a simpler time. The store has an old-fashioned feel with shelves covered by vintage souvenirs and other neat trinkets that will remind you of your adventures in Chattanooga, TN.

The store became famous in 1917 for its creation of the MoonPie. A MoonPie is a graham cracker and marshmallow snack that is encased in a flavored coating (4). The store has various flavors available depending on the season. Some of the most common flavors that are available at the store include chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and banana. We visited the store in the fall, and to our pleasant surprise they had the pumpkin Moonpie flavor available. You can buy a carton or mix and match it your own.

The MoonPie General Store can be enjoyed by the whole family with something for everyone. Furthermore, MoonPie makes for a delicious road snack for those long car rides.

After a long day of shopping and exploring you may want to treat yourself to a nice ice cream waffle cone from Cold Stone Creamery on the Riverfront Parkway. We would recommend taking your ice cream cone and sitting down on the steps of the River Bend Festival Park. This park is a great spot to enjoy a meal, ice cream or to just relax and watch the calm river in front of you. This is the perfect place to relax and be mindful.

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References

1. Lookout Mountain Attractions (2015) https://www.lookoutmountain.com/incline-railway
2. 2015 Rock City (2015) https://www.seerockcity.com/privacy-policy/
3. Tennessee Aquarium (2021) https://tnaqua.org/about-us/
4. MOONPIE (2020) https://moonpie.com/about

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