20 Exciting Family-Friendly Activities in Chattanooga, Tennessee
20 Things to Do in Chattanooga, Tennessee with Kids
Chattanooga is a beautiful city that is rich in history and art. It has that small-town feel with all of the amenities of a big city. From museums and aquariums to historic train rides and riverboat cruises, Chattanooga offers lots of fun activities for the whole family! We love that we live only 2 hours away from this city!
Here are 20 fun things to do in Chattanooga, Tennessee with kids:
1. Chattanooga Riverwalk
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This 13-mile, self-guided tour is a great way to see Chattanooga. These pathways run from the riverfront at Ross’s Landing to the Tennessee Riverpark and Chickamauga Dam. You can decide if you want to walk, jog, skate, or bike the trail.
The views from the river walk can’t be beaten. And, there is so much to do here! The whole family will enjoy the glass bridge and easy access to restaurants and shops. There are plenty of opportunities to stop for a break, a snack, or a restroom break.
2. Incline Railway
We recently visited Chattanooga and our first stop was the Incline Railway. It is a really fun and unique experience that we all enjoyed. The ride goes up the side of the mountain and it is about a mile long. This train ride lasts about 10 minutes and the trains run every 30 minutes or so.
We rode the train backward, which makes for some amazing views as you ride. From the top, you will get a gorgeous panorama view of the city of Chattanooga. There are two railways – one that rides to the top and one that rides back down to the bottom. The trains synchronize their trips so that they meet and pass each other in the middle of the track. It’s called “The Switch”.
At the top of the inline is the Lookout Mountain observation deck. The observation deck is actually the highest overlook point on lookout mountain. You can enjoy the beautiful views and then visit the gift shop and snack area. We got the kids some fudge and little souvenirs while we waited for the next train. They also have popcorn, pizza, and other snacks and drinks.
If you want to spend a little more time at Lookout Mountain, you can visit Point Park. It is a short walk (about 3 blocks) from the top of the incline.
Bottom Station:
The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway // 3917 St Elmo Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37409
Top Station:
The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway // 827 E. Brow Road – Chattanooga, TN 37350 // 423.821.4224
3. Point Park
Point Park is a Civil War historical site in Chattanooga. This park is part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. There are monuments, plaques, and a museum at the park. These are meant to commemorate the “Battle Above The Clouds” fought here in 1863. There are also cannons placed on the edge of the cliffs. These show where the Confederate army fought during the Civil War. You can even stand on the bluff where General Ulysses S. Grant stood at one time.
This park offers some amazing views of Chattanooga and the Tennessee River. There are also some walking trails that visitors can enjoy.
You can drive to the park, and there is a parking fee at the parking lot. The Chattanooga Incline Railway is another way to get to Point Park.
Point Park // Highway 148 – Lookout Mountain, Tennessee
4. Ruby Falls
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Ruby Falls has been a favorite spot for Chattanooga visitors for over 80 years. This massive waterfall is the deepest and tallest underground waterfall in the U.S. that is open to the public. The guided tour takes you 1,120 feet underground! It is very interesting to learn about the history of this cave and waterfall on this guided tour.
It is amazing to enter this cave and see this 145-foot waterfall and light show. It’s also cool to see all the stalagmites, stalactites, flowstone, and drapery formations.
There are three different tours at Ruby Falls-
- The Classic Waterfall Tour – Guided tour of the cave, waterfall, and geological formations
- Lantern Tour- January through November. Tour the cavern and trail by the light of a lantern.
- Extended Cavern Experience – An extended tour, additional time, and more information from senior-level guides
The temperature remains at about 60 degrees and you might want to bring a sweater or light jacket.
See more photos and information from our visit to Ruby Falls HERE.
Ruby Falls // 1720 South Scenic Highway – Chattanooga, TN
5. Lookout Mountain
Lookout Mountain is a mountain ridge that is located in parts of Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. It is about 2,000 feet above sea level and overlooks the city of Chattanooga and the surrounding areas. Visiting Lookout Mountain is a very unique experience. I mean, where else can you stand in one spot to see 7 states, ride the world’s steepest passenger train, or see the largest and deepest waterfall in the U.S.?
Things to do at Lookout Mountain:
6. Rock City
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Although Rock City is technically located in Georgia, it is part of Lookout Mountain and I felt it should be included. For many people, visiting Rock City is a highlight of their trip to Chattanooga/Lookout Mountain.
From Rock City, you can see seven states (or at least that’s what they claim):
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Alabama
- Kentucky
- Virginia
- South Carolina
- North Carolina
The whole family will enjoy visiting the gardens at Rock City. You will also love walking through the pathways. Here you can see all of the interesting natural rock formations. The kids will especially enjoy the decorations and craftsmanship featured at Fairyland Caverns.
Some of the other highlights of Rock City are the bridge, waterfall, and stunning views. Learning about the history of this area is also very interesting.
In this area, there is a restaurant, candy shop, gift shop, and Starbucks. There are some narrow paths, several steps, and a lot of walking involved in this visit, but kiddos should be able to handle it. This is a popular attraction and can get crowded. I recommend visiting early in the day.
Rock City // 1400 Patton Road – Lookout Mountain, GA 30750 // 706.820.2531
7. Raccoon Mountain Taverns
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Raccoon Mountain Caverns offers a series of caves that are located in a band of limestone that is part of the Cumberland Plateau. There are lots of outdoor activities here at Raccoon Caverns, but the highlights are the cave tours. These tours range from easy, walking tours to strenuous crawling and climbing tours. All tour equipment is provided and included in tour admission. You are given lights, gloves, pads, and helmets.
Tours include:
- Crystal Palace Walking Cave Tour – Lasting about an hour, this tour involves some walking and a few steps. This is great for all ages including children.
- Canyon Crawl Expedition Tour – This 2-hour tour involves some belly crawls, rock slides, rope climbing, and a few tight squeezes.
- Fossil Crawl Expedition Tour –Many families enjoy the fossil crawl. It lasts about 2 1/2 hours and involves navigating and crawling through some tight spaces, but it is a lot of fun. This tour seems to be really popular with tweens and teens.
- Echo Room Expedition Tour – This tour is considered pretty strenuous and requires a good bit of stamina. Active teenagers have also found this tour to be enjoyable.
- Waterfall Dome Expedition – A guided 3 1/2 hour tour that involves a lot of crawling, sliding, and climbing through the caverns and seeing an underground waterfall.
- Gypsum Crawl Expedition – This tour lasts about 4 1/2 hours and can be more challenging. There is a lot of crawling and belly-crawling down hills, up hills, and around corners. This tour is for experienced cavers only and is not for those who have claustrophobia.
You WILL get dirty so you might want to plan accordingly. Some families wear old clothes and bring a change of clothes to change into after their adventures. The caverns offer complimentary access to their bathhouse which has bathrooms and showers.
8. Chattanooga Choo-Choo Railroad Museum & Hotel
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The Chattanooga Choo Choo is actually a historic hotel located in the Historic Southside neighborhood. You can stay here in a standard hotel room, or luxury room, or even spend the night in an authentic Pullman railcar.
You don’t have to stay at the hotel to visit the hotel and the surrounding complex. The Terminal Station (pictured above) is gorgeous and it is well worth a visit. This station is also where the hotel check-in/lobby is located. Right outside the Terminal Station, you can walk along the retired train tracks. Here you can see the different trains. Many of these train cars are also hotel rooms. Others have been converted into restaurants or bars.
The Glenn Miller Gardens are also located here. It is a beautiful and peaceful area here at the hotel/museum complex. There are pavilions, rocking chairs, and picnic areas.
Families will also enjoy playing life-sized checkers, Jenga, corn hole, and bocce ball. In colder months, the hotel has an outside skating rink and even a hot chocolate food truck. It is best to call ahead to see when these are available. The hotel/complex is within walking distance of several restaurants and shopping areas.
Chattanooga Choo Choo // 1400 Market Street – Chattanooga, TN 37402 // 423.266.5000
9. Tennessee Aquarium
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The Tennessee Aquarium takes you on two journeys – the River Journey and the Ocean Journey. The kids will also enjoy the butterfly room, the diving show (in the Ocean Journey), and petting the stingrays. Seeing the otters, lemurs, and penguins are also a favorite with the kiddos.
The River Journey area showcases animals, fish, and insects that live in the Tennessee River. These areas include:
- Mississippi Delta
- Rivers of the World
- River Giants
- Discovery Hall
- Tennessee River
- Appalachian Cove Forest
The Ocean Journey includes:
- Tropical Cove
- Stingray Bay
- Lemur Forest
- Butterfly Garden
- Penguin’s Rock
- Secret Reef
- Boneless Beauties
- Undersea Cavern
Aquarium Plaza: The Tennessee Aquarium has an outdoor, landscaped area that is actually part of the museum. It is a great way to spend some time after visiting the museum. The kids will love the streams and wading pools in the plaza. I recommend bringing a towel/change of clothes since the kiddos will get soaked.
Tennessee Aquarium // 1 Broad Street – Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 // 1.800.262.0695
10. Ross’s Landing Park
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Ross Landing Park is a newly renovated park that offers a pier at the river, a natural amphitheater, and a marina. Chattanooga Green is also located here. It’s a great place to stop for great views of the river. Sometimes, concerts, festivals, and special events happen at Chattanooga Green.
This park is located across from the Tennessee Aquarium. It seems to be a nice, quiet spot amongst all the excitement of Chattanooga. It’s a great place to enjoy some peaceful moments. Visiting this park is perfect for enjoying views of the river, the Walnut Street Bridge, and the surrounding architecture
11. Creative Discovery Museum
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The Creative Discovery Museum is considered one of the best children’s museums in the nation.
Things kiddos will enjoy at the museum:
- Inventor’s Clubhouse
- Make It Area – Sewing & Woodworking
- Back Alley Theatre – Put on plays
- Lookout Tower – Observation tower with great views of Chattanooga
- Artists’ Studio – Create clay sculptures, design, draw, and create art.
- Excavation Station – Dig for dinosaur bones in the sand
- River Play – Interactive play area where kids can sail boats and shoot water jets. This area also had a 2 1/2-story climbing area.
- Little Yellow House – Play Area for Smaller Children (Ages 0-4)
Creative Discovery Museum // 321 Chestnut Street – Chattanooga, TN 37402 // 423.756.2738
12. Southern Belle Riverboat
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A cruise on the Southern Belle Riverboat is a great way to see the sites in Chattanooga. The narrator does a great job in explaining the history of the local area. If you want to see the sunset or the fall foliage, you might want to plan accordingly. The fall and winter cruises will be after dark in the evenings.
Southern Belle Riverboat cruises include:
- Daily Cruise – 1 1/2 hour cruise. See Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, and Historic Sites while cruising down the Tennessee River.
- Lunch Cruise – Buffet Lunch and Drinks on the cruise.
- Dining Cruise –Dinner while cruising down the Tennessee River
- Sightseeing Cruise – 1 1/2 hour sightseeing tour from the Tennessee River
- Seasonal Cruise – Fall Color, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day Cruise, Easter, Fireworks, and Senior Citizen Cruises – lunch and dinner
- Charter Cruise – Cruises for private events, parties, and weddings.
Southern Belle Riverboat // 201 Riverfront Parkway – Chattanooga, TN 37402 // 423.425.9285
13. Cardboard Sledding Hill at Renaissance Park
Renaissance Park is 23 acres of unspoiled riverfront wetland park. It features piers/observation platforms to see the skyline. There are also several pathways and a wetland area. The park also has different stone art sculptures with information showing the history of each structure. There are also BBQ grills and picnic tables available in the park. Pets are allowed at Renaissance Park.
This peaceful, riverfront park may seem simple to some, but the highlight of the park is the huge mound. Be sure to bring some sturdy cardboard and let the kids have a blast “sledding” down the hill.
If you need a restroom, you will need to walk to Coolidge Park which is located right next to Renaissance Park. There are many restaurants and shops nearby if you want to grab a meal or snack after sledding.
14. Coolidge Park
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Coolidge Park offers lots of open space and is a popular spot for music festivals. Families love the restored 100-year-old carousel (Carousel is $1) and the play fountains that are both located here. A pavilion and the Outdoor Chattanooga Center are also in this area.
15. Walnut Street Bridge
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The Walnut Street Bridge is fantastic! It lets families enjoy both sides of the Tennessee River with a simple walk across the bridge.
If traveling on the south side, the bridge connects the Tennessee Aquarium and the Hunter Museum of Art. If on the northern side, the bridge lets visitors visit Renaissance Park, Coolidge Park, restaurants, and shopping areas.
You can enjoy the beautiful views of the river and the city without having to worry about the traffic! It’s a nice way to let the kids run around and get some fresh air and sunshine.
16. Hunter Museum of American Art
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The Hunter Museum of American Art is comprised of three different buildings – an early 1905 antebellum mansion, a 1970’s building, and a 2005 modern glass and steel building. All of the museums are perched on the edge of a cliff!
This museum is the largest art museum in East Tennessee and has a collection of over 5,000 pieces of art. The collection showcases drawings, paintings, photography, prints, and sculptures. The American art collections range from modern all the way back to the Colonial period.
The museum also has a program called Hunter Kids. When visiting the museum with kids, you can stop by the Visitor Services area for a Hunter Kids Activity Sheet and a Family Guide. This program includes Homeschool Workshops, Pre-K Days, and Summer Art Camps.
Hunter Museum of American Art // 10 Bluff View – Chattanooga, TN 37403 // 423.267.0968
17. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is an interactive museum located in Chattanooga. It has a railroad yard, train depot, and train rides for its visitors. This is not your conventional museum since you can climb on many of the trains in the rail yard and go on trips on a steam or diesel train.
The TVR is one of the largest operating historic railroads in the United States. It is a great place for families to spend a few hours – especially if you love trains! The kids will love getting to learn about the history of the steam train in Tennessee and seeing different trains in the yard.
Admission to the Rail Yard and Train depot is free. The museum only charges an admittance fee on special event weekends. One example of a special event is the RailFest weekend in September.
There is a charge for train rides. These rides can last anywhere from 55 minutes to 3 1/2 hours. You can see the train rides/schedules HERE (just click on Chattanooga Grand Junction as your Departure Location). Parking is also free.
See more of our trip to the TVR Museum HERE.
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum // 4119 Cromwell Road – Chattanooga, TN 37421 // 423.894.8028
18. Chattanooga Duck Tour
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This tour takes you from land to the Tennessee River without changing vehicles. This vehicle “magically” turns into a boat once you reach the water.
The “Ducks” are renovated WWII amphibious landing crafts. They take you on a narrated tour from downtown Chattanooga to the riverfront and Maclellan Island. Tour days and times vary so it is best to call ahead/visit the website before making plans.
Chattanooga Duck Tour // 503 Market Street – Chattanooga, TN 37402 // 423.756.3825
19. High Point Climbing & Fitness
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If you’re in Chattanooga and feel like the kids are climbing the walls, then you might want to take them to High Point. It is a gym and also a rock climbing facility. It is a great place to let the kids burn off some energy!
Older kids and teenagers will enjoy the more challenging climbing walls. High Point also has a Kid Zone with fun climbing areas just for little ones ages 3 and older. The Kid’s Zone has 15 more auto belays and a 10-foot-tall kid’s boulder.
There are also climbing walls on the exterior of the building (first photo shown above). The facilities a very clean and the staff makes safety their utmost priority.
High Point Climbing & Fitness // 219 Broad Street – Chattanooga, TN 30742 // 423.602.7625
20. Chattanooga Zoo
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Known as “The Best Little Zoo in America”, Chattanooga Zoo showcases 500 animals from all over the world. Many of the 200 different species are endangered. Animal Exhibits are laid out so that it feels like you are taking a trip through a Himalayan Passage, a jungle in South America, and a forest in Africa. It is a great place for families to spend an hour or two together.
The Chattanooga Zoo features:
- Himalayan Passage – Red Panda & Snow Leopard
- Gombe Forest – Chimpanzee & Tortoise
- Corcovado Jungle – Jaguar & Coati & Capybara
- Walkin’ The Tracks – Cougar, Bobcat, Prairie Dog, White-tail Deer, & Coyote
- Zoo Choo Train Ride
- Petting Zoo
- Camel Encounters
See a zoo map and list of all animals at the Chattanooga Zoo HERE.
Chattanooga Zoo // 301 North Holtzclaw Avenue – Chattanooga, TN 37404 // 423.697.1322
You Might Also Enjoy:
- Exciting Incline Railway at Lookout Mountain, Tennessee
- RUBY FALLS – A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE
- EXCITING FAMILY FUN AT THE TENNESSEE VALLEY RAILROAD MUSEUM IN CHATTANOOGA, TN
- 15 GREAT PLACES TO EAT & DRINK IN CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE
Have you been to Chattanooga? What are your favorite things to do there?
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About The Author
KristyB
Wife. Mom. Graphic Designer. Photographer. Professional Nap Taker. Part-time Traveler (with kids in tow, of course!)
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Chattanooga is definitely a place for fun. It’s so pretty and on my list to visit.
Superb! I would definitely love it to add to my travel bucket list. Nice pictures!
Definitely, there is no reason to feel boredom here. This a good place for kids and whole family.
Luckily I have been visited majority of the attraction you have been mention above. I live a couple of hours away to Chattanooga and Nashville area. Such a beautiful city and so many places to visit at . Great list by the way, I highly recommend all the places above.
I don’t live in the US anymore but I feel like what you talked about would sparkle interest with my friends and family. My mom would love Rock City due to the fact she can see seven states. And Ruby Falls is beautiful!
We have totally got to try box sledding. I have never heard of it and we have some awesome hills near our house.
You selected a great mixture! History, outdoor, nature, and lots of fun. I would love to try the cardboard sledding.
You listed so many great places! I love the outdoor spots the best, especially Ruby Falls.
I recently traveled there with the kids. It was so much fun!
I would love to go to the Chattanooga Choo Choo Railroad Museum and hotel as I have read so much about the beginning of the trains just from my nonfiction history books. I can just imagine all the real info gathered. My grandchildren would love the Tennessee Aquarium and the entire family would like the Chattanooga Zoo.. Quite a list you have here.