We all know that if I rate this place any lower than this, it will be shuffled out of sight because negativity isn't popular on this platform. But here's the truth: it's underwhelming. If you've visited Florida, have been on any deep sea fishing trips, live near a river or spent any time near aquatic or riparian environments, you've seen all this and more. The best I can say is it does provide an adequate insight into water wildlife. If you have not been able to spend time near any bodies of water, it's a decent overview at best. The ocean section of the aquarium leaves you with the feeling of "that's all?" I CAN say that it's clean, well managed, and the staff is friendly. The layout and design is nice. It's relaxing and scenic. The buildings themselves are architecturally pretty. Beyond that though, it gets a ho hum shrug. If the tickets were any pricier, I'd say it's not a good value at all. For the current cost, it's a "fair" value at best, and that's being kind. The pics I've included are seriously the stand out sights. Sorry to be so honest, I can tell they work hard, but the true rating would be a two point five.

Great aquarium and very easily accessible. One of our group members needs easy access ramps to get to things and they had absolutely no problem getting to every exhibit in the buildings. The aquarium is very kid friendly and I highly recommend bringing children here. We saw the scuba divers playing rock paper scissors with some of the kids while they were cleaning an exhibit. There is so much to see to give yourself a few hours to experience everything. You have to get tickets in advance!

I went with my kids and extended family. Let me tell you, it's a must to visit when in Chattanooga. They have interactive pools for touching fish. The staff was inviting and the place was very clean. Just go, don't even think about it. It's good for everyone.

This was a fun experience! I have so many questions! I certainly got my steps in! The price of the tickets covered the River Journey. Both were very interesting and entertaining. Some parts are interactive. On this day the penguins seemed to protest our being there... they had their backs to us... (giggles) and the Otter didn't show up at all. I saw fish I'd never seen and I watch all things nature all of the time. Masks are required... however not enforced. All employees wear masks. Parking is tight because it's the only lot in the center of a business intersection. We walked from our hotel. The food. Food is served, or should I say sold near the aquarium. The place was dirty and well, we ate cuz we were hungry and thirsty... that won't happen again. And just be aware, see the pic, if you order a salted pretzel... a SALTED pretzel is what you get. The Aquarium and the river Journey are well worth the money. I do suggest you take lunch.

This is a fantastic date spot! I went with my boyfriend and some of his family and we all had a blast. The journey is easy to follow and the experience is beautiful. It's clean, staff are friendly, and it's an overall interesting experience. The gift shop is expensive, but the tickets are well worth your money. The website is still terrible for buying tickets, but we got in quickly with no trouble at the ticket booth.

Aquariums are always on the to-do list, and the one definitely didn't disappoint! We arrived without really looking online about the tickets, but when we got there, you buy your ticket for a certain time slot. So we had to wait 45 minutes to get in, but it was not an issue cause there is so much to do outside the Aquarium that the time went really fast! They have 2 different buildings, which are both extremely wheelchair accessible. They have 2 pools where you can touch the animals, a beautiful butterfly room, lots of interactive things to do with kids, and so much more. It's definitely worth the trip, and definitely worth the money!

A beautiful and educational experience. You can take the whole family, and there's something everyone will enjoy. There is a man-made creek out front, public access, and anyone is welcome to splash and play. The exhibits are spectacular, from glorious gardens and a butterfly room to the land of glowing jellyfish. I really enjoyed the river side, as it helps to teach our children about the place they live. There are several exhibits on being respectful to our planet. Most importantly, our 2 younger children got away from us in one of the areas with little lighting. The staff was awesome! They were ready to lock that place up tight the moment we told them what was going on. Luckily, the kids turned up about 30 seconds after that. It was very reassuring that the staff took it so seriously. Plus, you're in downtown Chattanooga! You can grab a bite to eat at any of the numerous delicious restaurants within walking distance after you tour the museum! Give yourself 3-5 hours to fully enjoy. We will be back. It's already our 3rd trip.

Little pricey but it's a great aquarium! The river portion alone is massive and the size of many other aquariums we've been to. Plenty of exhibits and fun for the family. Kids love the stingray petting exhibit in the ocean side of the aquarium! Recommend buying tickets in advance so you don't have any wait and have a spot ready for you.

I have been to aquariums in 20 states. This was the first time I have seen a cold water river display. Very unique multi-tiered building. Freshwater side seems newer. Impressive. Perhaps my new favorite aquarium. Many species I have never seen. Saltwater side has one super large very clean tank that winds all through the building. A few impressive tanks on the salt side. But you are done before you want to be. The fresh water side is worth driving or flying in to see. We really enjoyed it.

Nice aquarium with plenty of interesting exhibits. Sadly, the penguin exhibit was being renovated so we didn't get to see any penguins, but everything else was interesting. The butterfly garden was very nice. The staff were very friendly and pointed out interesting things in the exhibits.

We were actually quite late entering and we're not given any issues. We had a lot of fun. The exhibits are perfect condition. The animals all seem happy. I swear some of the fish pose!

This is an amazing aquarium! It's comparable to aquariums in Florida possibly even better. I love that they have the exhibits set up to reflect the location. For example, the penguin exhibit is cold while the alligator exhibit is humid and set up like a swamp. I also like that they separate the saltwater and freshwater into 2 different buildings. It truly is a fantastic experience for the whole family to enjoy.

A very unique take on an aquarium but worthwhile. Some construction/renovation has areas unavailable. The seperation of fresh & salt water exhibits is good & gives time to enjoy, read about them & mosey along. The atmosphere & staff are very chill & helpful. The restrooms were well maintained and clean. The gift shops were also clean and organized. The staff that would provide insight at various displays were knowledgeable and courteous. We split the tour with lunch in between (we ate at Burger Republic across the parking lot from the aquarium & within easy walking distance. It is Veteran owned and operated and i highly recommend). I do suggest starting your tour in the freshwater exhibit as it will take longer to see. The saltwater exhibit is rather quick but take your time in the lemur enclosure, butterfly room and penguins. Lots of laughs to be had! Overall a great afternoon spent with family!

Our favorite aquarium we’ve ever seen! We drive almost 4 hours just to visit for a day trip when possible. We love how clean and how well the animals are taken care of. Today we got to see divers cleaning the tanks. One diver was so very sweet when he saw my autistic son holding a river toy and signed for a photo with him! That definitely made our day!

There are 2 buildings and a beautifully designed space in between. You start from the tops of the buildings and work your way down, so it is a very easy and accessible attraction. It takes about 3 hours to do both buildings if you don't stop to read all the informative educational plaques or try out the touch tanks. The River building does have more tanks to look at, but the Ocean building has equal amount of entertainment. You do have to pay for parking and there are lots of places around to go eat at afterwards. Great for all ages.

An absolutely wonderful experience! The freshwater exhibits are spectacular and they cover so many species. The saltwater aquarium is equally as cool and it also has a butterfly atrium on top

Impressive! Parking could be tricky but we got lucky and were able to park on their lot. I’ve been to a lot of aquariums but this one is so well done. You really feel like you are experiencing the world under the water. Two buildings, one for freshwater (lots of local river info and rivers around the world) and the ocean building. The staff was feeding and explaining everywhere. Really allowed you to see the animals in action. Touch pool as well. Butterfly garden. Admission was around $40 for adults but well worth it for the experience. IMAX movies were available for extra fee. Also check out the Trail of Tears memorial and the river right outside. Lots of places to sit and enjoy a beautiful day outside.

Customer service was very friendly at the front desk, we had to wait for the 1:00 p.m. tour, so we had 45 minutes where we walked around the outside and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Very nice view by the river made the time go by fast and we even walked through the gift shop and grab some concessions from the snack shack. The tour is beautiful, everything seemed to well kept, we enjoyed all of the exotic fish as well as all the information that is posted throughout the exhibit. My favorite was the butterfly exhibit, I was told that they had more butterflies in previous moments but I understand during the winter time they can't have a ton of butterflies out. But they were very nice and there were quite a few of them to watch. Highly recommend coming here, all the animals seem well taken care of and there wasn't as busy as I thought it was going to be on a Saturday.

We really enjoyed our time at the aquarium, it was fun for all ages. We loved the crawl spaces, it made us feel like we were in the tanks. The collection of animals was diverse making it more interesting. We loved how the River building flowed and wished that continued in the Ocean building. Overall it's somewhere we'd visit again!

Saturday crazy busy!! I looked online before traveling. Nothing said to purchase tickets in advance. We had to wait 3 hours before we could even schedule a time to enter the aquarium. On top of that, we had to pay 15$ to park. Ended up having to purchase tickets for the next day and come back because the next scheduled time would not give us enough time to view both fresh and salt water sides. We are not local. Hopefully, this will be worth the return trip tomorrow!! Follow up, we drove back to Chattanooga and visited both sites. We had to pay another 15$ to park. The salt water side was okay. The older fresh water side was very nice. I have to be honest, it was NOT worth 110$ for 3 of us, but it had been over 10 years since we had been. Probably will not return for another 10 years. The city was clean and there were a lot of places to eat.

Fantastic Aquarium. The split buildings were a cool way to physically transfer you from Fresh Water to Salt. The Ocean bottom walk through was the best I've ever experienced. Multiple areas to view fish 360° and spots to sit/lay and enjoy. The river walk was very unique, haven't seen any other Aquariums that focus on rivers in particular. Getting to pet a sturgeon was awesome.

Great Aquarium! We had a blast. There is a lot to see between the two aquariums that are very different one being the ocean and the building next door has native and river fish. Traveled with toddler and was a great space to walk around. Went Friday during the day and there was not many people. Highly recommend stopping. With having picnic outside before we spent three hours here. All the tanks and fish are well kept. Tanks are clean and spacious.

My wife and I visited the Aquarium on a rainy Tuesday. We did everything except the IMAX show and it took us about 3 hrs to get through all of it. It was one of the best aquariums Ive been to. This is on par or better than the Boston and Miami aquariums. The design of the buildings makes it easy to navigate all the exhibits and so you can see everything efficiently. If you’re visiting from out of town, don’t miss this place! and of course if you live around it, and haven’t gotten there yet, make it a point to go and check it out, you wont be disappointed!

Dougie D was our guide and it was well worth the entry cost just for him. He made the guided walk super fun, knew lots, and handled crowds and kids awesomely. If you’ve been to any caverns, it’s not much different except the waterfall here is a treat. It’s accompanied by a light show. The overlook is nice as well and there is a zip line option if you’d like. They also have a night guided option during certain months. Wear nonslip closed foot gear. It gets slippery and wet down in the cave. Also purchase tickets in advance they sell out fast. We went on Saturday at noon and it was sold out for the day, we had to purchase for next day tickets and return. Enjoy!

Really cool experience, 1200 feet underground which you take the elevator to. The cave tunnels have cool formations with names on the signs near them (however, our guide didn't really say much about any of them), and the tunnels are lit with neon colored lights. Note: the pathway is pretty slippery, the ceiling is only about 5'11 ish high, and the light show at the waterfall only lasts 10 min.

Ruby Falls was such a fun experience. Buying tickets in advance is recommended, as well as arriving 10-15minutes early. Individual ticket prices (plus tax): Adults $25.95 Kids (3-12) $15.95 We visited on a Wednesday morning in June at 11am and had a full tour for our time slot. Parking is free but seems to be slightly limited. There were only a handful of spots left by the time we arrived that morning. The elevator takes you down approximately 260 feet (26 stories) below the surface. The path in the cave takes you deeper into Lookout Mountain, the farther you walk. By the time you reach the waterfall, you'll be 1120ft below the mountain's surface. It is also the tallest and deepest underground cave waterfall that's in the US and open to the public. Leo Lambert discovered it in 1928, after crawling for 6 hours/650ft and then walking/climbing an for an additional 11 hours, knowing that there was something hidden away. He then named it after his wife. It was an incredible and fun experience. I'd highly recommend visiting. If I'm recalling correctly, it took somewhere between 60-90 minutes for the whole tour, light show at the waterfall, and elevator rides.

Such a cool cave walk, took our group about 90 minutes total. An elevator takes you straight down into the cave where you begin. The experience starts with a group photo that can later be purchased and a short video of who and how the cave and falls were discovered. The falls is on a timer, so when we entered it was dark and then the lights came on and it was sooo beautiful! Highly recommend!!

This was an awesome experience, the underground elevator, the caverns and the underground fall was worthy. Buy the tickets in advance, online is faster, there is no wait time. Tickets 25.95.

Bought 8 am Tix, hoping to avoid crowd, and still had 20 or so on tour ( but it was Spring break?). Had a great tour guide, Emma ♥️. We have a slow poke, who required cane assist to walk, and they gave us time we needed. Mile walk to falls, hand rails available in parts, some slick but grooves in path, some steps, but mostly level (for a cave). Stories of discovery, formations and falls come with tour. Recommend to all who can manage a walk, great experience for young and older. Tickets online available. Cafe on site. Visitor center/gift shop. Observation tower. Kid friendly. Kennels on site. Zip lines closed when we visited, 🙄.

Never seen a waterfall inside a cave before. This place is super awesome. There is like 15-20min tour inside the cave with the guide explain the history of it. The waterfall is a must visit if you are around Tennessee. Please buy the ticket online if you want to save your waiting time.

Walk up to counter to pay for the tour. You get access to the viewing tower and a guided tour of the cave and falls. You enter the cave via an elevator ride a couple hundred feet down, then there's is an approximately 1/4 mile walk to the falls through the cave. The cave itself is beautiful and the falls are gorgeous. Parking out front is easy and accessible for all. Discounts for military/veterans.

We stopped by here for a little stop to stretch our legs so we didn't end up going in the caves but we did go up to the tower to get a look at the view. It was a beautiful place to stop even if you don't do all the activities provided.

I purchased our tickets online per their website recommendations and left about 1 hr in between attractions. WARNING!! That was way too much time! BUT they were very accommodating and were able to move up our reservations. Perhaps it has to do with the time of day or the day of the week. We had to push all our activities up by 2.5 hrs. With that said keep in mind that Ruby falls and the Zip line are on the same property. Our guide really made the cave walk a fun experience. Joe, was very personable, knowledgeable and had tons of insights about the falls and the area in general. We started at 12:30, with a group of 13 & that was the smallest group we encountered. We completed the tour at 2 pm (1.5 hr) total. We proceeded up the tower but not much to say as you can see it was a very muggy day.

I visited Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, Tennessee and found the tour and cave experience to be nice, but I can only give it three stars. The tour felt quite rushed, with limited time to stop and take photos of the stunning formations. Additionally, the cave was quite crowded, and there were instances where one tour group had to pass another, making it challenging to navigate. Seeing the cave and the waterfall was cool, but the overall experience left me unsure if I would do it again.

Great place overall but when I went here there was a baby crying so we didn’t really hear a lot of what the tour guide was saying but the our guide was awesome loved him but we went here last here on July 3rd, 2023. Recommend buying tickets in advance of course!!

It was very beautiful with lots of interesting rock formations. We really enjoyed our visit. It is a little bit of a long walk and might seem longer because you’re welcome slow and some areas have low hanging rock. I think it might’ve been longer this time because the elevator was broken and we had to walk extra. Definitely worth a visit.

OK. The waterfall is magical and worth the visit. HOWEVER the group sizes are too big over 30 people per group. We were constantly stopping to let other groups pass. It was annoying and too many people in the groups to fully enjoy the experience. We preferred raccoon caverns. Just an honest review from our experience.

Ruby falls a nice experience. It was different and kind of cool to see the cave and the falls. In my opinion a little expensive to pay 25 dollars to go under grown to see a small fall with a lot of people for one hour and walk one mile round trip.

Spectacular! Fabulous place for a fun date or a day out with the kids. Wear good walking shoes and bring a light jacket because it gets a little chilly down there.

Lovely place to take a family trip to and enjoy something new. Drove up during the weekends and had a great time exploring the caves. The staff are competent and humorous and the overall location is easy to reach. Just be careful on the drive up the mountain, lots of sharp turns and speeding cars.

Ruby Falls was an underground adventure like no other! As I descended deep into Lookout Mountain, I couldn't help but marvel at the wonders hidden beneath the earth's surface. The highlight was, of course, the stunning 145-foot waterfall, Ruby Falls, named after the discoverer's wife, Ruby. It's a geological marvel, with its underground formation dating back millions of years. Did you know? Ruby Falls was accidentally discovered in 1928 during the excavation of a cave. It's now one of the tallest and deepest commercial underground waterfalls in the United States. The guided tour was both educational and thrilling, offering insights into the cave's history and the fascinating rock formations. Stalactites and stalagmites adorned the cave like natural sculptures. Pro tip: Wear comfortable shoes for the tour and be prepared for some moderate walking. It's a surreal journey into the heart of the earth and a testament to the wonders of nature. A must-visit for explorers and history buffs alike! 🌍🕳️🏞️

Ruby Falls was a really cool experience and I would definitely recommend it! The total tour is approximately 1 hour (underground). The walk is a little more than a mile round trip and is easygoing. It’s mostly flat, with some minimal stairs. I saw several limited mobility persons on the tour, although it was a longer walk and you could tell they were tired by the end. Minor limited mobility would be alright. Those who have difficulty with walking long distances should avoid the tour because it is walking for an hour with no stops to sit and rest. The falls themselves are beautiful. Depending on how dry or wet it has been (rainfall) will determine the strength of the waterfall. Some tour guides are really funny and point out great things. Try to be at the front of the tour or you’ll not hear everything and miss what is being said. I’ve done several cave tours and this was definitely worth doing. It’s a cool experience for kids too because it doesn’t take very long and there’s a lot to look at.

Second visit to Ruby falls after 17years. I have better cameras now so took better pictures :). The experience has been pretty consistent so I would say nothing much has changed and it is good. There are zip lining activities which I am not up for. So adventurous ones can try

They are open until 8pm. I have been here multiple times. It’s good for a one time visit and if you have not seen any other under ground caves. The staff and the tour guides are knowledgeable. I still wonder the source of water. I have never seen the water flow increase or decrease its always the same during my multiple visits. The stalactites and stalagmites are many. Worth a visit one time. Beauty of this place is it’s 260 feet below. Only thing disappointing is they really do not give enough time to spend and click pics at the main fall. It is close to a mile walk so can get a little for elders and people who cannot talk much.

It was an interesting underground Falls, and the cave was interesting, but the tour guide literally runs you through, the only place you get to actually stop and take photos is at the Falls, but there are plenty of other interesting items in the cave that you miss. Groups can be upwards of 38 people and they do many group tours a day.

We had heard about these falls and wanted to see it for ourselves and it's very impressive! It's fun to see different rock formations and the cute little names they have for each. We had a tour group of about 20 people, it can get kind of narrow, but I never felt claustrophobic. Seeing the falls at the end, it's actually very soothing to listen to. I do wish we had some more time to take pictures at that spot.

Decided to stop on the way to FL. Well worth the side trip. Really enjoyed our guide and the beauty of the caves.

2024-Feb. We arrived here on a Saturday afternoon. We previously bought tickets and reserved our tour time. There was a small parking lot in front of the entrance and more parking spaces on the side of it. We went through the souvenir shop. A restroom is located at the back. There is no restroom in the caves so better visit the restroom before you go. Also at the back of the souvenir shop is the electronic sign that shows the tour time that needs to fall in line. You have to go through the corridors under the e-sign because the actual entrance is at the end of the corridor, beside the restaurant. When your tour time is next, the staff will allow you to fall in line where our tour guide meets us. After an elevator ride, the tour begins. The cave is well-lit with different colored LED lights. The atmosphere is quite nice- not cold or warm. You are not allowed to touch any of the formations. There was also a flat-screen TV where you had to watch the history of the discovery of the cave. I believe it took us 30 minutes or so to get to the falls. We had to make a few stops to make room for the people who were heading back to the elevator. The cave ground surface has been cemented- flat in some areas and with staircases in other areas. The falls is spectacular. With the lighting installed, the visibility is great! The water under the falls is about 5-ft (according to our guide). She didn't mention how big that area was when it was discovered. After the falls, you get to see your green-screen photos. I believe it was $35+, with digital prints. We visited the castle after the caves. There is an elevator that will take you from the 1st floor to halfway up the tower. We only took a few minutes on top of the tower. There's nothing to do up there aside from seeing downtown Chattanooga. It was a good experience if you can stop by. Happy caving 😊 and give this review a thumbs up if it helped you in any way.

If you are looking for rock city and Google tells you to go down tower road that is the wrong way and address. Although that road is very off road and little streams and jeep worthy so if you are into that sorta thing go for it. The address is actually 1400 Patten Rd, Lookout Mountain, GA 30750 See my photos below. This place is a blast

It's a must see! Definitely wish we had made this an entire day trip. I believe I remember a restaurant, but there is definitely and a little shop with snacks, souvenirs and a bar. There was even a singer/guitarist performing! We saw signs about a bird of prey show but time didn't allow us to stay.

An excellent trail and view at the top were highly worth it. I recommend using all trials to ensure you don't take a wrong turn.

Was well worth the trip! Lots of fun family friendly amusement. Phenomenal view once you get to the top. Definitely recommend! You have to pay to get in, and the trails were not as difficult nor long because there was so many beautiful distractions. Time flies fast here.

If you love Civil War history this is a must stop while in Chattanooga. The view is why I rated it 5 stars. Veterans get a discount to enter the military park. There are other sires nearby relating to civil war history that are worth seeing, especially the Gordon Lee mansion and battle of Chickamauga in Chickamauga Georgia.

The fall colors on the way to the top of the mountain on the Incline Railway were beautiful!

Definitely worth the trip. We drove up to the top and were glad we did. Lookout Mountain was great, such beautiful views. After that we drove around and were surprised to how many homes are up there.

Beautiful view. Suggestion visiting the place when the weather is not hot. October would be best time.

Loved this place! My wife and I were in town for a softball tournament with our daughter. We had about 4 hours in between games which was a perfect amount of time to grab lunch at Big Rock Grill, see the rock city gardens, lookout mountain and the shops. Although we ate at the Big Rock Grill just inside the gate I would recommend holding out to eat at the Cafe 7 located right by the overlook (about halfway through the Rock City gardens tour). The view there is way better while your eating! This is a tour that anyone can like, all ages. All of the trails are paved and definitely easy to navigate, unless your in a wheel chair. There were quite a few tight squeezes that may be scary for those with claustrophobia but otherwise fun and enjoyable. If your in town do what the signs say.....SEE ROCK CITY!

It's great place to get some fresh air and see some scenic views. The history here is something worth learning. We watched the video which was helpful in understanding the different informational posts. My only downside is that there is no railing for the steep drop offs. Other than that great location with beautiful drive to the top.

Absolutely loved it!! One of the coolest places I've been... great it you love nature. it was a magical experience!

This is a great family experience. You can even bring your dog on a leash. At the end, there is a winery that has some pretty decent ones. There’s a gift shop as well. Try not to walk through too quickly. We kind of rushed through without realizing how short it was. I love the lighting and the scenery. There was also a spot to stop and see seven different cities from one point. The waterfall is pretty, but you cannot get into it from this path. Follow my Instagram @rosadivina29 for more places I’ve visited!

My best friend, her daughter (who was getting married in four days), and I decided to take a day trip to Lookout Mountain. First, the drive itself is beautiful- especially during the season when the leaves are all changing colors. It’s almost unreal because it looks so picturesque. We dined at a Cafe in town then did the Lookout Mountain tour (along with some souvenir shopping!)😊 This is one of the best places to visit for a fun day trip with family, friends, or just to get away! The sights are stunning, the other features offered along time tour are extremely interesting, and the history is amazing. I’m a huge history buff so I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the ‘See Rock City’ campaign- when over 700 barns were painted red then adorned with the ‘See Rock City’ logo. And of course I brought home the iconic birdhouse as my souvenir. Love it! The walk itself is very mild- anyone, regardless of fitness level- can complete the walk and enjoy every step!!! Multiple viewing areas (with chairs and benches) are available as well as other resting points along the way. If you haven’t been to Lookout Mountain, or is been a while since your last visit, definitely plan a day trip! It’s well worth it- I’m already looking forward to visiting again with my son and husband!

Pretty cool to walk this bridge. There's also a nice outdoor artificial waterfall about Indian Trail of Tears nearby. Bridge overlooks an island & has a nice park on the far end away from the city. Also beautiful at night. Even caught a couple musicians! It's a little hard to get to but if you pay close attention to GPS you can find a path to it.

Nice view over the river. Had a couple of buskers playing music & lots of dog friends. Safe for the family. There’s a lot of interesting history to read about too. I recommend stopping by to check it out if you’re in the area! The downtown life is great in the area too.

It's a really beautiful bridge but currently could use some TLC as far as paint and rotting wood. But it's a fantastic way to get some exercise and get from Bluff View/the art museum to the fun shops on Frazier. Don't sleep on the Ice Cream Show on the downtown side and all the sculptures in the area.

I enjoyed walking on this historic bridge. Beautiful views of the river and the city!! Plenty of restaurants, shops, gift shops, nearby parks and outdoor art displays such as in the Bluff View Art District are accessible via the Walnut Street Bridge. You can get to the local museums and learn about the local history from the art displayed throughout the area including in Coolidge Park located on the North Shore. I was able to see the Ed Johnson Memorial as well and took some time to learn and reflect. I highly recommend a stroll across the bridge and taking some time to take in the scenic views.

I enjoyed walking the Walnut Street Bridge. I've never walked along a major pedestrian bridge before, so this was a cool experience. Lots of people. There's also a bridge parallel to this one that both cars & pedestrians use. Walnut Street Bridge is cooler looking though. Good times 👍

Perfect pedestrian bridge for people (and fur babies) of all ages. The views all of the way around are beautiful! During the fall/winter, it can be a bit breezy and cold, but with a coat on, we were all still very comfortable. It is taken care of well and you learn a lot as you walk!

Nice bridge to walk across the river. There is not much scenery from either end, so I am not sure the wow factor or if this is a must do in the area, but it’s a decent walk that will take less than 30 minutes both ways.

Very cool bridge only made for pedestrians. This pretty much connects two different areas of the city that are extremely different. You could easily travel from the aquarium, across the river by this bridge. Lots of things to see and it's not too far of a walk. Once you cross there are lots of little shops and restaurants to explore and a beautiful park underneath the bridge.

Great area to walk during the day and great views at night. Well worth a visit if you are in the area. Nice architecture throughout downtown.

A nice relaxing place to sit, walk, snap a few pictures! Nice views to see, watch boats pass, and just relax for a bit!

Gorgeous bridge and easy walk, very safe and good views. There is good busking--one guitarist I stopped for played with bell harmonics. On the north side there is a cool bookshop, giftstore, and other places to stop in before turning around (if coming from the south like I was). My *biggest* recommendation is to come here to watch sunrise. Absolutely beautiful, worth the early waking, no ragrets.

Love the view from this bridge! It's a beautiful walk to the other side of town. Makes getting around easy.

Loved this! It's a walking bridge. And what a great Atmosphere. People walking & Musicians playing. I highly recommend checking this out. If you enjoy outdoor activities.

Great pedestrian, walking bridge. Lots of people, bikes, and dogs. Easy to walk across and went to the park nearby. Overall a good walk and good experience.

This bridge is in the upperclass part of downtown Chattanooga. The tourist attraction is biker and pedestrian friendly. You’ll often find people busking and sometimes artists on the bridge.

What’s good? No vehicles allowed–making it an excellent stroll for pedestrians. The wooden deck is aesthetically pleasing–it looks, sounds, and feels good. With both the original road deck and sidewalks available, it is generally not crowded–plenty of room for everyone. What’s bad? While the wooden deck is fun for pedestrians, I would imagine this to be an uncomfortable ride for cyclists. Overall, this is a fun bridge to cross and is an asset for the city.

This is most beautiful bridge I have ever seen and walked end to end. We also waited to see the sunset with ice cream. You can buy the ice cream from the corner shop at the start of the bridge. The bridge is quite old and it’s maintained well. Sitting chair with multiple dustbins available for trash. Very clean and great place for photo shoot and hangout. Loved the bridge. Parking is free after 6 with coin parking street areas near to the bridge.

Good view there, but it because it have poo onthe walk way. Be careful while you walking, Parking need to paid

The best time to visit this historical landmark is right before sundown. Leave your car in the Coolidge Park area and enjoy a stroll across the bridge as the colors change from orange glow to glittering city lights. If you work up an appetite there are many places to eat at the end of the Market Street bridge.

We were trying to order online later in the day but didn't have availability. We decided to drive there anyway & but tickets. *NOTE: she said online buying cuts off 2 hours prior to last ride. We missed the train by a few minutes so waited for the next one, but they run every 30 minutes. It's an interesting & pretty, steep ride up the mountain. At the top is an observation deck for a panoramic view. It started snow flurries while we there & was bitter windy so we didn't stay out too long. There's old pictures to look at & the machine room. I was ecstatic to see the vintage advertisement sign for the incline is still hanging on a pole on the way down. You can only buy your tickets at the bottom, the top isn't open for tickets. Parking is $2 for all day.

Really neat ride! But extremely hot ride in the summer! (They have heat in the winter but no AC in the summer! The views at the top are amazing! Breathtaking! Definitely worth it! Cost effective at $15/person and $7 for kids! Walk to Point Park while your at the top! Very interesting amd informative on TN history!

It was a fun experience riding up on the incline. You are sitting at an angle. Be careful of stepping up and down once you get inside. You can also drive up to the top. There is an observation deck on top and the view is amazing! There is also a gift shop and snack bar up there. Plan to spend about an hour up and take in the view. The cost is $15 for adults, and $7 for children under 12. It runs every 20 minutes. Parking in the lower lot is $5 for long term.

We went there on a cloudy day and so going up, the view was full of clouds. But going down, we got a view and learned that the incline we were riding was built in 2020. Really cool experience when it is on its steepest. There is a small centennial exhibit located below the gift shop that shows how it looked through the years as well as more nostalgic and older pictures showing how it looked like before near the rest room. There is a gift shop that sells souvenirs and delicious fudge! Also it is a few minutes walk to Point Park and more gift shops about the Military National Park a few minutes from there.

Excellent local attraction. The views are incredible. Reasonable pricing. Cute gift shop. Very clean and well-maintained. There isn’t any air circulation in the rail cars, so I don’t recommend going on a hot day. There were deer and other wildlife right by the tracks. Parking is $2.45 for the whole day.

Make sure you reserve your spot ahead of time. There is no guarantee you will ride if you just pop up. We did wait longer than expected as we did get tickets for a certain time and didn't get going until about 15, 20 minutes later. However, this was an adventure, yet not too much that it was overwhelming. Going up the mountain was not too bad until you got to the steep part. That's when you may want to hold on a bit. A little nerve-wracking, how ever going down was a little more intense. You can really see how steep you are because you are now facing forward. It's a must do once in your lifetime you won't regret it because the view at the top is like nothing else. Beautiful!!!

The ticketing process of online purchase PLUS check-in when we got there was crazy. Not to mention the time stamp didn't mean anything. The ride itself was good. Have to pay money to get into the National Park Service area at the top. Also have to pay for parking. I would pick Rock City over this attraction.

Taken on its own, the Incline is probably not worth the $15 per adult fee, but it can be made worth it if you combine a short walk at the top to Point Park. The rail ride up the mountain is about ten minutes and pretty cool, even if much of the scenery is just rundown parts of the city of St. Elmo. At the top is a gift shop and some interesting exhibits. Point Park is three blocks up East Brow Rd, and well worth a visit. Be prepared to stand in line: most recently we visited in early April and had a 30-minute wait one way, and about half that the other. At the height of tourist season, those times could easily double.

After helping my daughter's get over their fear of the height, we had a very enjoyable time. The incline railway was a very fun experience. Lots of things to see. The view from the overlook at the top was absolutely breath taking. We also enjoyed walking to points park.

This place is absolutely beautiful! The line for tickets was fast and easy. The line for the rail car was ridiculous. If you have a large group plan for extra time for the rail car. You may have to wait for the next car if your far back in line. The ride up is scary and intimidating. You almost need a seat belt. The tree line got in the way but in winter I'm sure it's gorgeous! The view was amazing, best I'd seen in a long long time. Price was good, wait sucked but wasn't a reason to skip it. I recommend this for anyone that wants a great view of the city and mountains! The ride down was just as intense, but the line was better. The gift shop was great, but expensive.

Lookout Mountain Incline is an amazing train ride, we didn’t expect it to go up on top of the mountain which was surprisingly amazing. It is a well worth experience every penny pays off. Its goes straight up 72.7 degree. Up station have a gift shop, and eat in spot. You will have a great time.

Wow! This incline railway was so great! It was a little scary at first going up we didn’t know the incline was that high but the views were amazing. It transports every 20 mins. Suggest to get there earlier in the day since we arrived at 4:00 pm and the park and other attractions up the hill closes at 5:00 pm we were short on time Definitely worth the ride ! Highly recommend it .

This was great! We went up a mile up a fairly steep hil. This was pretty cool because you're going up a fairly steep hill pretty slow and it's a pretty climb. When you get to the top, you can see for miles and the views are beautiful. I def recommend doing this if you're in Chattanooga.

We went during at 3:00 on a Thursday, so there was not much of a wait. I am not sure how busy it gets on the weekend. The trip lasts eight minutes and the cars pass in the middle, so there wasn't much wait to go up or down for us. The staff was friendly and helpful. There are two decks to view from up top and the view was very nice. I enjoyed being able to sit up there and enjoy the view and breeze. The have gift shops and ice cream at the upper and lower stations.

We went in the summer, and the incline was a bit warm, but still fun. Once you get to the top, it's a bit of a hike to go anywhere. Most of the stores and attractions are at the bottom, so maybe next time we start at the top and ride it down and back up again. It's best to have a car for transportation around the mountain top. There is a battlefield park that was pretty empty, just a short hike from there. Great views, but not a whole lot to keep kids occupied, and it costs like 20 bucks to get in. It's should be no more than 5 dollars, honestly.

Definitely recommend advance booking unless you can get here early and buy tickets. Very nice experience of traveling up and down the incline railways. It is claimed you can see 7 states from the top but that's an individual's judgement to decide if they can see it. The experience of going up is more adrenaline rush than while coming down. One recommendation - get the seats to the front or back, the viewing experience is best.

It was as fun as I remembered from my childhood. It was scenic and relaxing. I accidentally left my wallet at the bottom station, and the office was nice enough to hold on to it for me until I was ready to come back down. It was truly an enjoyable experience.

This was such a cool experience to give the kids. The drive up was amazing and breath taking and the shop was quaint and kind of what you'd expect, with the added bonus of some food and drinks. Definitely worth the ride!!

One the way home to Alabama from a weekend in Knoxville, my husband asked if I'd ever been in the Incline. I thought maybe, 50 years ago. So we detoured off or trip home and rode it. So much fun, the view was amazing. Will definitely want to possibly do again in Spring when trees are in bloom. Amazing how far you could see from Lookout Mountain. Loved it! Highly recommend!

The train ride was pretty cool, and the view at the top was great! However, I felt like the top stop could be so much better. There is some super basic food options and a gift shop, but nothing special. You’d be better off eating before/after. There is a little history spot at the lower level up top, but that’s the only thing of value I found, aside from the view. Over all, I do recommend this experience, but the train ride is definitely the highlight. Be sure to buy tickets in advance! (P.S. this is a SOLO travel friendly activity)

The Incline Railway was an OK attraction, it’s basically a funicular, which is kind of a train wagon, rolled by/on a tension cable for hills; the neat part of this is that the wagon itself has to be built with the same degree of incline of the mountain, so you will be level as it is going up or downhill. There is a gift shop at the top with a lot of souvenirs and goods as well as a couple of places to have some snacks and fresh fast food. There are two observatories, on two different stories, where you can see a nice view of the city and towns nearby. Downside of this, you’re better off just going to Rock City and have a similar or even better view, and you can save the price of the ride on this transportation, which it is only what it does, it transports you up and down a hill. I bought tickets online in advance, not sure if there was any benefit to it as there was no line when I arrived to their booth. Downside of buying online is that you have to be on time, you have a scheduled departure, so if you are late, they may disallow you to board, specially on high season or holidays. I did not check if there was a difference in price on buying at the premises versus buying online (worth taking a look, I paid $15 online per adult).

Was a fun scenic ride up look out mountain. With an enjoyable observation deck and a gift shop at the top. Down the street, there are a few historical places you can visit for separate fees.

This short ride up the side of a mountain in basically a trolley car was super cool, and my grandkids loved it. You can only take it round trip from the bottom up, you cannot just ride it down from the top. At the very top, it is almost at a vertical incline, which you can feel by the way you slide forward in your seat. The little gift shop at the top has souvenirs, a little snack area to grab something to eat, and the best homemade fudge I've had in a long time and the overlook is quite pretty, there is an elevator to take you up to the overlooks. Once you get to the top you can stay as long as you want and walk down to Pointe Park, The Chickamauga and Chattanooga Military Park, just make sure you make note of when the last trolley leaves.

We had an amazing experience today during the hour tour with Christmas lights and decorations. We called to reserve and were able to join the next group. Cory was our tour guide and he shared amazing scientific background and history about the cave. He got us very excited about going back for the 2 hour wild cave tour. My 8 year old son, who was not very attracted to science, is now super motivated about learning geology and science in general. We are definitely going back. I highly recommend this cave.

Took my son here to check out his first cave. Tour takes about an hour, and tickets are pretty pricey for that. Definitely call ahead so you can get in a group early, otherwise you may need to wait an hour or two. The tour being a smaller group was good and our guide gave us a lot of information. Everything is lit up with colored lights, as you can see in the pics. This hike was easy and only required ducking my head in a few of the rooms. Overall it was a good first experience for my son and he got to experience a lot of different cave formations. FYI, we only did the cave tour, so i can not comment on the campground.

Great campground..very friendly and accommodating! The cavern tour with our guide Tristan, was the best part of our 3 park ten day trip. He shared so much knowledge, answered all our questions, and was friendly, funny and an amazing young man. It's an awesome place you have to add to your itinerary if you're in the area. Close to downtown but still quiet and relaxing. Nice pool and great dog park too!

Camped here and really enjoyed it. Sites near us were all pull-through which was awesome. Plenty of green space for our kids, and seems to be a good place for dogs as well. Friendly and hardworking staff. Enjoyed the cave tour, but I think there are more beautiful caves out there. Corey did great job making us feel comfortable and safe on cave walking tour. Learned the facility is under new management, so curious to see if some of the old attractions are brought back. Would stay here again.

Staff was AMAZING. The Manager went out of her way to be helpful in unexpectedly accommodating and supportive of our needs and emotions. We stayed only 1 night and felt like we left great long-time friends. Can't wait to return!

We had a level campsite with plenty of grass adjacent to the site. The campground also has a "Bark Park" for dogs to run freely, play, and interact with other dogs. The restrooms and laundry were clean and well maintained. The campground amenities were well maintained. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The campground is conveniently located just off of Interstate 24. The location is close to downtown Chattanooga. We can't say enough good things about the campground and its staff. We highly recommend and would definitely stay there again.

Loved the cave tour here! Our tour guide (wish I remembered his name!) was fantastic and very knowledgeable. It was a small group of about 10 of us which made for a great experience. Plenty of time to stop and explore, everyone was very respectful of the cave formations, and we learned a ton! We did the Ruby Falls tour the next day and it was awful - highly recommended skipping the tourist trap and coming to Raccoon Mountain instead :) oh, and the cats were an added bonus!!

While I was staying in Chattanooga I decided to take the 20 minute drive out to Raccoon mountain to tour the caves. While you can’t make a reservation online for a tour (and you can’t tour them on your own) I was able to join the next tour. I recommend calling to make a reservation as they do not have consistent tours. Zachary was our tour guide and he did an amazing job sharing the science behind the cave and all the different formations. I grew up going to a lot of caves around the US and this one rivals many of the better known caves. The owners have done a wonderful job preserving the natural beauty of this cave and we had the opportunity to see all kinds of cave creatures including some bright yellow and orange salamanders. I just did the 1 hour walking tour but they also have some cave crawling experiences that looked like a lot of fun. Highly recommend!

Great place to stay. Nice, clean pool and bath house, level sites. People in the office are very nice and so helpful plus they have free popcorn and reasonably priced ice cream. It is also close to Chattanooga. Only negative is the Crystal Palace Caverns there. Tickets are very pricey and tour isn't that good. Our guide talked more about herself than what we were seeing. Also, the groups are so large that those at the back can't see what the guide is talking about.

Our visit was perfect! The campground was so nice and relaxing with wonderful views. You cannot beat the location, everything was 14 minutes away. Whether that was downtown or any of the tourist attractions (rock city and ruby falls). Sites were great, little close, but they made the most of each site. Full hooks which was great. The pool was clean and barely no one at it. The cave on site was beautiful! Such a fun experience and the tour guide was great. She was very knowledgeable and kept everyone’s interest. We would highly recommend visiting Raccoon Mountain Cavern and Campground. We’re already planning our next getaway here. Cheers

The staff was extremely supportive and took time to listen to my questions and offered great help for me to find out what was near by. They have propane available, nice bath house for those that need it, curbside trash pick up daily, exercise room, fantastic views, quiet nights, and amazing guests all around the campground. I want to come back as soon as possible.

I would love to leave a better review. First of all, the campground itself is excellent. The camp sites were an adequate size for our pretty good-sized tent, though the ground is a bit rocky. Also, the bathrooms are clean, in great condition, and very conveniently accessible from the camp sites, along with a nice playground for the kids. There's an excellent set of hiking trails just off the cavern tour parking lot, which makes for a great activity option without having to go anywhere else in the area. Finally, the service from the manager and all other employees was impeccable on our visit. So why the lower rating? Unfortunately, the nighttime noise was a significant issue for us. First, the campground is not all that far from the city, which means you can hear trains blaring their horns as they come into the city all night long. *All* night long. And you can hear the trains playing bumper cars in the train yard somewhere off in the distance, as the cars slam into one another to engage their connections. Also, the area where our tent site was located is right next to a service road that leads through the campground to a private residence at the back of the property, which the homeowners used liberally late at night (their dog also got out and wandered into our camp site, but the dog was nice at least). The gravel noise from the tires and the light from their headlights came right through our tent easily, sometimes near midnight. I really wish the review could be better. If not for the noise, it would have been a perfect camping experience. If you can add some ear plugs and maybe a sleeping mask, or if you're a really heavy sleeper, this would be a great choice.

We just took the hour long tour of Raccoon Mountain Caverns, and we loved it! Our guide, Michael, was very informative and gave us quite a few laughs during the tour. The cave is well lit and there are lots of formations to see. I highly recommend this tour.

This review is only for the cavern tour as we didn’t stay in the campground. We did one of the 45-minute guided tours with 2 adults and 2 kids. Had a fantastic experience overall. The location was easy to find, staff was friendly, our tour guide (Michael) was fantastic - funny and knowledgeable - and the cavern itself is beautiful. The only reason I’m not giving them 5 stars is due to the ticket price, which I found a little steep compared to other family activities.

We came to visit from Florida and ended up having our own private tour with Rachel. The tour was wonderful. The cave was beautiful and our tour guide was very personable and knowledgeable and really let us experience the cave and answered any questions we had. It was an overall wonderful experience and if we ever come back to Chattanooga we will be sure to revisit.

This was so much fun. I generally only have one day where I can visit my wife, and she planned a cavern exploration while I was here in town! The place has a great vibe. The cavern is huge and the guides know a ton of cool information. Highly recommend, and they also have a dirt panning experience if you're so inclined. A ton of fun for kid and adult alike :)

My stay was fine, the campground is tight but not unusual for something so close to a city, and it was clean. The showers were tiny (just over 2' wide) but they worked fine. This was odd because the counter top was chest high. No big deal, but weird. A ten year old buy could not reach the hand soap. Here's the reason for the low review. When I called to reserve, it was weird...the person was most interested in telling me about the "non refundable" part of the reservation. She told me three times about it but could not tell me a site number. Seemed really strange. When I got there all I see is nasty signs wherever I go, this is on top of the page full of rules I got when I checked in. The sign that basically said that any employee can kick you out without a refund seemed out of bounds to me. I personally had no problems but the signs are a super negative vibe. By the way, the laundry was more $ than the sign about the price. The location is good. The site we had was tucked behind the store so that was our view and there was an ice machine running all night.

We really liked this place and would definitely stay here again when we are in the area. We were only passing through for one night, so didn't get to take advantage of the amenities or the cave tour, which we really regret. We'll have to do next time. Folks were very pleasant and helpful. Campground was well appointed and clean and quiet. Sites were level (we had a pull-through) with full hook-ups.

By far one of the most hospitable places I've ever been. The rooms are updated with fresh paint, throw rugs towels and linens. The bathhouses are all refreshed and clean. The staff is engaging, knowledgeable about the area and they pay extra close attention to detail and satisfaction. Lilly, Josh and their team is amazing. Don't hesitate, book today!

This was our second time tent camping at Raccoon Mountain. We are locals with small children, so we enjoy the location close to home with the feel as if we are getting out of town, but with the closeness of all our favorite activities. The grounds and bathroom are sparkling clean and other guests are considerate of quiet hours and friendly. Our kids love the playgrounds and gem panning. Some of the tent sites with pads can be pretty rocky, but there are also sites in the grass. These can be pretty close to one another, but it is what it is.

We did the 2 hour canyon crawl tour: What an absolutely amazing experience!!! This is not for the faint of heart BUT if you want to face some fears, feel amazing about yourself and see something that will open your mind about our natural world FOREVER, then any of the caving experiences will easily do that for you. With the expertise for two tour guides, you are safely brought to a world you didn’t even know existed. Truly something I will never forget. The staff were the friendliest people that had a vast knowledge of the caving systems and everything inside of them (including many more facts about rocks and crystals.) You can’t beat the price either for what feels like a priceless experience. Thank you thank you thank you. AND SHOUT OUT TO MY MAN ERIC!!!!!!!!! Thank god he was there to make that unbeatable experience for me and my best friends that I “forced” to come. I know they were sure happy about it in the end.

This was my first time staying at this resort. The cabin was very clean, the grounds were very well manicured. If you needed firewood, they brought it to you instead of trying to carry it back yourself. Staff at check in and check out were very friendly and helpful. They whole experience from arrival to checkout was wonderful. Highly recommend.

This is our second time going through the Raccoon Mountain Caverns. The first time we stayed in the RV park. It was a very pleasant experience. The park is nice & clean and very pretty with trees all around. Both times, the tours have been wonderful! The tour guides are knowledgeable. We like that they go through a lot of the history of the caves. It isn’t “touristy” (which we are thankful for!) but is very interesting. We are planning on coming back again & again.

We had a great stay at Raccoon Mountain. The campground is tucked away in a nice, quiet area 2 minutes from I-24, walmart, and other stores/restaurants. We stayed in one of the cabins and it was very clean, comfortable, and a perfect option for our family. Staff was exceptionally nice and the other campers were considerate and quiet during appropriate quiet hours. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would definitely choose to stay with Raccoon Mountain again should we visit Chattanooga again in the future. The on-site caverns tour was AWESOME and definitely worth seeing.

We did the 45min tour of the caverns. We were lucky enough to be Emily’s first tour but you’d never know because she was so knowledgeable about everything. The caverns themselves were beautiful and there’s some cool history behind it! Definitely check it out if you’re in the area.

Ally was the most amazing tour guide for the crawling canyon tour! We had so much fun, she was so knowledgeable, let us try and do things at our own comfort level and guided us every step of the way (and cheered us on)! She truly made the experience 10x more enjoyable and I highly recommend her! I only wish the tour had water pouches along the way because there’s no way as a novice you can take a water bottle or backpack into the crawl spaces and it is a WORKOUT. We were sweaty, exhausted and beyond thirsty, especially after 2 hours. All that said, 10/10 would recommend!!

Raccoon Mountain - 3.5 hour Waterfall tour - what a great day with my son. Guide did a great job keeping us safe, pointing out features and offering challenges. The tour is moderate to strenuous with optional passages depending on size and physical abilities.

Had a tour yesterday. Great experience. Would most definitely recommended. We did Ruby Falls today and thought the Raccoon Cavern was better. Less rushed, less crowded, and more educational. Our guide was a young girl with glasses and braids. We didn't catch her name, but she did a great job!

The cave was cool, we saw 3 bats and a couple tiny salamanders but that's all. We loved the way it was lit up and overall it was fun. We had a small group and it felt a little rushed. We have also visited Wind Cave and Mammoth Cave and this came in 3rd for us but still a must visit.

Went on the canyon crawl tour. The guide was great...we were his first solo trip and he nailed it. The overall experience was the perfect length, and being that I am not in the best physical shape, was never made to feel like I was a burden if I needed longer. Can't wait to come back!

Wonderful trip. Leaves were changing colors and we're absolutely stunning. The train ride was very comfortable. We took a picnic lunch and snacks along with a lot of other passengers. Commentary was full of so many interesting stories and facts about the area and history of the train. We had some delightful halftime entertainment. Train employees went out of their way to make our trip enjoyable. Highly recommend this excursion.

Came for the afternoon tea and trains ride, and had an absolutely wonderful and delightful time. Tea was every bit as elegant and delicious as we hoped. The selection of food and drink was great. Service was above and beyond. The train ride was a lot of fun, with great guides. Will absolutely bring more family here again!

Justin did a great job narrating the tour. This is a great experience for somebody who wants to have a nice short train ride and be able to watch how they turn a train around. There are both air conditioned and non air conditioned cars. The car without air conditioning has Windows that can open. It is just the right amount of time for those to get the train ride experience but short enough that little children will not become impatient. We thoroughly enjoyed it and would do it again. Also they started on time and were prompt. Buying the tickets online was quick and easy and when we arrived they actually had tickets printed out for us.

Such a fabulous experience this evening during the Dinner on the Diner trip. Booked online and was such an easy process. Received an email earlier today reminding us with additional helpful info. Arrived at the station and were quickly checked in and then boarded. Did notice that they also made arrangements for another guest to be picked up on the ramp after most boarded, so I would assume that means they are very understanding of guests with mobility issues. ❤️ Our table had the beef and salmon options and they were very good. Salmon was different than I expected but in a good (and unique!) way. Mashed potatoes were excellent! Our service was amazing! Drinks were continually refilled and while we opted out of coffee with dessert, many around us partook, and they offered cream as well. Dessert was the 'icing on the cake' and well received all around. Glad we went during the summer when everything was green but recommend going for the experience of eating on the train and ambience, not the scenery. Although the kids loved seeing several deer and fawns. So glad we got do this!

My husband and I purchased the basic train package. If you purchase a train package, you get free entry to the museum. It was a fun 1 + hour ride. We got some history with our ride. I would try to arrive at least 30 min prior to your departure time to find parking and to walk to the depot. The one thing I would recommend is putting non-slip grip like tape on the ramp going to the train itself. I feel like the ramp was newly built, but it was raining when we visited, and I almost slipped while going back down the ramp (as we were heading back into the depot). Other than that, I would love to bring our kids to visit (ages 13, 15, 19). Kid friendly attraction as well!

We had such a great time! We were on 630 and the 1925 car. It was so much fun! I especially enjoyed the turntable and the WYE turn at the end. The staff was extremely nice (even with the Day Out with Thomas craziness) and very helpful. This was my son's first train ride and he had a blast!

My wife and I took the New Year's Eve train ride as part of our honeymoon. We dressed up, as did most who were in the train. We enjoyed the ride, the food, and the service. The servers and conductor were very nice and informative of the train cars and their history. Dinner consisted of rolls, tomato bisque soup, an entree, and a dessert. I ordered baked salmon with a roasted red pepper sauce and my wife had the roast beef. The sides were mashed potatoes and green beans. Both entrees were good, but we preferred the salmon to the roast beef. For dessert, I had apple pie and my wife had triple chocolate cake (the other option was cheesecake with strawberries). The wife liked the apple pie so much she requested apple pie instead of the chocolate cake. Our server was very kind bringing out the extra dessert with no issue. The ride itself lasted about two and a half hours. The station had their own light display and there were several places through town that still had Christmas lights. We both enjoyed the experience and have expressed interest in doing a train ride again in the future. We would recommend it.

Very friendly staff who were energetic to serve and make your experience the best it could be. We went for the tea and lunch. It was really a lovely atmosphere and delicious finger foods and desserts. The tea was excellent. The offered 5 options and you can choose two. The tea pots were all unique. Each tea cup was also unique and they set a lovely table. Foods were small portions and just a wonderful variety. The train ride was a nice length and the gentleman giving info did a good job. We stopped and observed the train table turn the engine around. We got to see the maintenance shed where they are restoring and maintaining. All around a great time for a couple or a family outing.

We love The Hiwassee River Scenic Railroad! It's a fantastic ride for the whole family. Everyone with the Tennessee Valley Railroad is so friendly and helpful, and we loved every second spent with them. The scenery is absolutely beautiful. Schedule a trip, and you will not regret it!

Our first experience at the museum was Saturday, with a family group of ten, ranging in ages from 4 to 70! It was the first train ride for several, and it revived happy memories for the experienced rail travelers. The narration was great, just enough info and with some great jokes. The turntable demonstration was impressive. We all found appropriate souvenirs, and we are interested in returning for a dining experience. With a 3 hour commute, we will definitely have to plan ahead. The tea might be another option to consider. I was SO glad we scheduled on Saturday and were able to ride on the train drawn by the steam locomotive! I would enjoy a return trip to spend more time in the museum I HIGHLY recommend this destination!

We took the 11 am train for a round trip. It was very easy to prebook our tickets online and printed the email to receive hard copy tickets at the train station. We got there early to look at all the trains in the area and the gift shop. There is a snack bar with food which you can bring drinks and snacks onto the train. The gift shop had great little things for anyone that loves all things train related. Next once the train pulled into the station we got to line up outside and get our tickets punched. There are two options an a/c train and open window train section which because of the temperature we picked the first one. We had an employee sit with us in the cart to give us a tour when we rode. At the end of the line we get off and tour that area and turn the train around. It is fun to watch this as only a few places still do this. Then we ride back. Overall I was very pleased with the whole event. Very relaxing and fun for all ages. I would recommend it.

What a great experience. Our second time to ride the train. The crew member did a wonderful job of explaining historical spots along the ride. Really enjoyed his humor, too. Perfect day trip!

Everyone was so very friendly and happy! They were personable and took time to talk a bit and ensure our experience was what we wanted it to be. The drinks and treats were delicious! It was obvious that the elves enjoyed what they were doing. Santa and Mrs Clause were perfect and made it special especially for our 13 year old The scenery was stunning and I want to come back to visit the riverside parks I saw along the way! It was fun, entertaining and relaxing…it was exactly what we wanted it to be!

We went the weekend of December 15th and had a wonderful time. We were in car # 4 and it was comfortable. The staff did a wonderful job. The story about how the train started was perfect. The kids loved the interaction from the staff, and enjoyed the hot chocolate and cookies. Santa was great and did not disappoint. We went at dark and I would definitely recommend it, it just felt more like a “polar express” experience. Would come back again. The ride lasted almost hour and half going to Santa’s Warehouse and back.

Fantastic end to our family vacation! Loved hearing the history of the area & of the train. We did the Missionary Local which was 65min. We had our 2yr old & 7yr old with us and they both really enjoyed it. The midway stop showed a demonstration of the turn table which is how they are able to turn the cars around and a train restoration shop. Great gift shop! Highly recommend. Ticket prices were reasonable too - $24/adult, $15/child. Under 2 free.

Fantastic day out! I haven’t been since I was a kid, so today I enjoyed seeing my kids light up with excitement! Justin and Matt were great conductors! The ride was fun and filled with education on our Chattanooga History. I also thoroughly enjoyed all the “Dad jokes” told along the way. Thank you for keeping this history alive and well. We will be back!

Had a fun time! The "museum exhibit" seems to be a work in progress, but had some neat information. We took the 55 minute train ride. It was informative (narrated) and fairly quick on the way to East Chattanooga. It was not narrated and seemed a bit slower on the return trip. Train enthusiasts will enjoy seeing and riding the locomotive and hearing the history was a fun bonus. We went ahead and bought the season pass and look forward to returning for subsequent trips!

As a child in the 80’s, my grandparents took us to the TV Railroad during our summer breaks. I wanted to create similarly memories for our grandchildren and this visit did not disappoint. The staff were all super friendly. The train conductor and engineers were very informative and kid-friendly. The price point is affordable for the experience. Great activity for any age.

The train was nice. They had an air conditioning side and a non-air conditioning side. This is a great family adventure. Just a few minutes off of i-75 well worth the detour. The real cars are all refurbished old post 1930 rail cars. The trip on the local is about 15 minutes each way and has a great historic tour to go long with it. The museum itself does not have a lot of exhibits, but a nice little quick walkthrough is worth it. The gift shop in Deli is good. Follow us for more great reviews ™

Outstanding tour, phenomenal trains, super friendly staff. This is a ‘must-do’ if you’re anywhere near the area. Kids of all ages will love it. I’m a big railroad buff and watching a steam engine on the turntable was a first time thrill for me. I can’t recommend a visit and a ride enough. Make sure you don’t miss the exhibits set up in a separate building. You will not be disappointed!

I went on the Evening Ridge Runner run. It was supposed to be the 4501 engine, but it had to be replaced with the 630. It actually meant we got to ride behind an even older engine from 1904. The entire staff was great, very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. You get a nice history lesson while riding down the tracks being pulled by an engine that was built almost 120 years ago. I recommend booking online in advance, well in advance if you want something like the dinner trip. I didn't and it wasn't available during my trip. They say the specialty trips book fast and I can see why.

The ride on the Summerville Steam was an exciting one! We loved everything. The train is majestic. Her looks and sound are unmatched. The food in the dining car was really good, as well as the servers. The conductors and other staff were great too. The whole experience was one for the books. And letting us off to watch her come down the tracks? WOW! Thank you all for such a wonderful day. We did not go to the museum though.

We took this trip for my birthday. This train ride extended to Copper Hill where my mother’s family come from. The ride was interesting 1/2 way with the conductor giving information about the areas we would pass. The last 1/2 of the ride you were on your own. The speed of the train was a slow pace to me which made it feel like a long ride. On way back, the first 1/2 was quite time and last 1/2 the conductor spoke again and played the banjo for us. We are history buffs so we enjoy taking in the info. I think it would be cool to have old movies of the mines and mountains we traveled. That’s just us.. I read one review and they complained about too much talking on mic and they couldn’t talk or sleep. I guess each to his own.. but we really enjoyed it and the people are really trying hard to keep a part of this history alive. We are thankful for the opportunity to have traveled in a time of the past..Thank all of you on the train for what you do.

I really enjoyed this train ride. I was up in the dome and loved the view! It was especially pretty with all the changing leaves. The narrator/guide/entertainer was so fun and animated! I loved how he explained everything and that he would tell us car by car when to be on the lookout for what was coming up. He definitely kept it fun! It's a bit of a long ride at just around 4 hours but it was worth it. It's very nice that snacks are included in the dome seat price. I will be back :)

We had never been on a train ride before so we enjoyed all the things of the whole experience. After traveling all morning one of my kids was tired of more riding, but as far as our overall experience it was great! We got there about an hour early so we could look around and not be rushed. We departed at 3:30 so we got to see out the window and was knowledgeable when we went through the tunnel and was able to see other trains traveling. When we got back they had the Christmas lights on all the decorations so that was nice to see. Our train was from the 60s and even had its original seats which was cool. Well organized!!

We had a wonderful time on the diner train. Excellent food and service and a very comfortable ride. We even got to tour the train after some narrated history. After dinner we got to go to the casual seated car for return trip. Such a wonderful evening for a couple, or a small group! ☺️ Highly recommend..5 stars

We took our two year old grandson who is a little train enthusiast, and this was the best experience ever!!!! The staff went above and beyond to make sure he had the experience of a lifetime!! I wish I was good with names so I could give a special shoutout to the conductor that really brightened our little junior conductor’s day, he didn’t want to leave to go home. We will definitely be returning to do a day with Thomas the train. Thanks!!!!

It was nice to see the old trains up close in the train yard. The short ride was informative and interesting. The turn table and tunnel were my favorite. The view from the train ride would probably be nicer on the longer rides. The train and the depot were very clean.

What an absolute amazing experience. It's one of those put your phone away and live in the moment moments. So much priceless information and quite the history lesson all at the same time. The staff had their conductor uniforms which brought it back, and we could listen to Johnathan speak all day (he said he could speak all day too) The knowledge he has is plain awesome. Already planning our next trip, it'll be something we definitely will do next time passing through Chattanooga.

So much fun! My nephews (11 and 13) and I had a wonderful time. We went on the hour long excursion. The history was interesting, the tunnel, exciting and the turn-table, amazing. We also enjoyed the exhibits and walking through the old trains. Can’t wait to go back and take longer train rides!

Great outing! We did the high tea with the train ride and it was so enjoyable. The staff is friendly and very accommodating and the high tea experience was wonderful, the teas were delightful and the food was tasty (from the scones with clotted cream and lemon curd to the pimento cheese and mini quiche). It was a nice Saturday date activity with my husband!

Brilliant afternoon at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. The weather was kind - blue sky and sunshine - and while the time spent travelling on the train is quite short the whole experience is well worth it. The informative chat about the turntable along with the work carried out by the workshop is as much fun as the ride!

Took the only trip that was available during my stay in Chattanooga. Just a little one hour trip to Missionary Ridge and back. That was lovely weather, the employees were all very nice and knowledgeable and I had a very enjoyable time. The exhibit building was a little unusual in my opinion. I was expecting it to focus on railroading in Southeast Tennessee, Northwest, Georgia and Northeast Alabama. All I can say is it was more unusual than that. It’s definitely well worth going to see. Some will like it immensely while others can get through the whole exhibit building in 15 minutes or less.

We were in Chattanooga for a family vacation and wanted to take in some of the history of the area. The Missionary Ridge train ride was a great way to do that! We really enjoyed experiencing the turntable demonstration. It was neat to look around at the old engines and cars.

LOTS of fun, hands-on learning for our 4- and 7-year-olds! It was pretty busy on this spring break weekday afternoon, but still loads of fun. We stayed just over two hours but certainly could have been entertained for the whole day. Some favorites were the water tables and the dino-excavating. And this mama was so touched to see a special Guatemala exhibit.

We enjoyed the trip to CDM with my kids. They had a great time playing and learning. They climbed the playsets and dug for dinosaur bones. They splashed in the water area and went to the top of the tree house. It was a great place to take kids under 10.

Fun fun. My kids enjoyed this museum. So many interactive things for them to do. Their favorite was probably the kitchen and the doctors office. I enjoyed myself as well. Convenient parking which wasn't really expensive $7 for the full day. I definitely recommend!!

Absolutely LOVED this place! We have a 4,2,and 1 year old. Spent 2.5 hrs here and honestly could’ve stayed longer. It was the best most creative place I have ever taken my kids. We are from Florida and typically go to the Orlando Science Center and I WISH ours was half as good as this place. Such friendly staff and so so so much for every kid to do. I can’t wait to bring them back.

Okay but this WAS SUCH A HIT with the kids on our trip there this weekend!!! The weather made it a little short cause we couldn't go to the outside patio area that had a tower that overlooked downtown, but the inside had so much for us to explore! I, a 23 year old but a 5 year old at heart I guess, climbed in with all of my nephews and enjoyed the whole thing! I went down the slide, I climbed up the tunnels, and I even sat down and colored!!! Such a great time and awesome interacting activities for parents and their kiddos!

One of my new favorite children's musuem. So much to see and do, could spend all day there. We rushed through and still didn't get to see everything after a few hours there. Everything was interactive and meant for kids which was nice compared to other museums.

My whole family loved this museum. If your kids are creative and love to make things like mine do this place is perfect for them. Mine had so much fun making crafts and playing on the huge jungle gym. I saw that if you get EBT you can get in for $3/person which is really nice of them too. I highly recommend coming here if you have kids under 12 or so, even my 12 year old really liked it.

My toddler loved it. Was a bit smaller than I had anticipated but there were lots of activities to keep them entertained. We spent a good 2 hours there. We went during the week so it wasn’t crowded and parking was a breeze, streetside. This is great if your kids love arts and crafts because there’s an awesome art room to paint and stuff.

We were blown away by this kids museum! We were there for 3 hours and didn't get to everything. My kids are a little older 7 & 10, and they loved it. There is also a bunch of stuff we skipped geared towards little kids. Ate lunch here, it was good like ball field food: hot dogs, pizza, nachos. We live in AL, here with family, and we stayed a few hours to tour the museum. It would be worth coming back for a day trip. There's a show we didn't get to. I saw on the sign they do $3 tickets if you bring your valid EBT card. I really love that they make it affordable for lower income families to learn about science too! I've never seen that before at a kids museum.

What an amazing place for kiddos to explore, play and discover. Do not be fooled by the entrance and first few activities available. There are so many areas to explore and unfortunately we did not get to all of them. Comparably this experience is priced fairly and offers a day of fun for everyone! The one improvement needed is the food area. The items are mostly junk food and over priced.

I would recommend this place to anyone with kids. My 3 year old grandson and 10 year old granddaughter had a blast. Only downside was my grandson pitched a fit not wanting to leave... Lol

We had a wonderful experience for Sensory Sensitivity Family Night this week. My daughter's thoroughly enjoyed the visit and learned a lot while making new friends. I appreciate the museum inviting us as my oldest daughter has sensory delays and sensitivity.

The place was incredibly busy on a rainy Saturday and some of the attractions were closed due to the weather. The space is huge and there was an area for every kid no matter what their interests are. The location has several bilingual areas featuring both English and Spanish so kids who speak those languages can participate. I only included photos without children in them for privacy reasons, but the museum has a large area for children 5 and under, a dinosaur area and water play zone as you walk in. Parking is a bit of a hassle. We ended up in a parking garage a block over and had to go back for our parking ticket that we left in our vehicle with tired kids.

Loved it here so much we’re going two days in a row! We’re from out of town with a 1 and a 4 yr old, and three hours wasn’t enough time to see everything, so we’ll be back tomorrow! Both kids absolutely loved exploring the different exhibits, and the river explorer and ship exhibits were especially fun. Upstairs is the STEM lab with all kinds of fun things for all ages. My kids loved it and since we’re members of our local children’s museum we were able to get half priced tickets. It was busy since it’s spring break week, but it was still a lot of fun!

This was an awesome place for the kids and he must check it out when visiting Chattanooga. We ended up buying the membership because it was just a little bit more and I'm sure we will go back within the next 12 months.

My ADHD kid loved this stimulating and engaging atmosphere. He found moments of excitement and moments of focus as he learned without effort. There are several engaging crafts and activities for the kids that I had not expected. It was super crowded when we went because parents brought their kids when they were out of school, but that didn't keep us from having fun.

This place is a must-visit for children. The educational nutrition, exploration opportunities, and STEAM engagement provided here are exceptional and make it one of my top choices to bring my children. However, I have noticed that the security guard at the front can be unfriendly and intimidating at times. I am unsure if this is intentional or not, but it may discourage some people from participating. If you manage to get past the potentially selective initial encounter with the guard, your children will have an amazing adventure and a wonderful learning experience.

I'd have to go 50 more times to leave a full review because there's so much to see and you need to visit it as your kid gets older to understand the full range of it's capacity. We were there on a Monday morning and it was popping. Truly a great place for kids and even adults. Will be back 20 more times I'm sure. Clean, good staff, only downside is not a ton of great parking even in their lot. Too popular!!

If you are going just to see the Choo Choo or have a drink and some dinner at the several restaurants/bars there then it is absolutely worth going to see the old train depot and have some great food and a strong drink....even listen to some live music as several of the places have live music on Friday's or Saturday's. The hotel itself I would skip all together. The room itself was fine. It was updated, and clean, though the beds were much to hard. The staff at the front desk were very polite and helpful. The building both inside and out I swear hasn't been updated since 1973 when it became the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel. We are from the Chattanooga area and I guess maybe we just had high expectations of the hotel? They are doing some kind of construction out back so it's in shambles though we didn't see single piece of machinery around. Maybe the train car rooms are better and live up to bigger expectations. But if the outside is any indication of the inside, I would say not. Definitely don't miss eating at Nick and Norman's, breakfast or lunch at the Frothy Monkey, and drinks at the Back Stage bar. None of these disappointed and were amazing!

We recently stayed at the Choo Choo with our two small children. They were excited about staying at a former depot and to see some rail cars. As others mention the hotel is not located inside the old building but is actually a short walk past 7 dilapidated rail cars. This gloomy realization is followed by entering the lobby to find it under construction. Parts of the hotel appear as though it was built in the 1970s and never updated. Our room was on the second floor but the rails that protected the balcony were wide enough either of our children could have fallen through. To add to our dismay, our room (although clean) was very aged. The bathroom was a grungy and lacking in basic necessities (no hand soap or bar soap). An additional disappointing aspect was the closure of the pool and garden area. Both of which are often the most necessary parts of our family get-aways (luckily there is a lovely “river” designed for children near the aquarium). The most shocking point was lack of a coffee bar altogether. There is a tiny little one cup pot in the room, but a small packet of sugar and powdered creamer is the only accompaniment. Overall this hotel is not worth any rate they request. Particularly since it competes with other legitimate 2-3 star hotels which charge the same.

Decided to stay at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel to stay in a place that has some history to Chattanooga, as a TN resident, this sounded great. Not so much. We were not notified the hotel was being remodeled until we had checked in and stay was in-refundable. Well actually it was via email 3-4 hours after we had checked in. This place has great potential upon the remodel being completed. But makes sure you check before booking if the remodel is completed. I called as a travel agent and should have known since there were no travel agent rates being offered

This hotel will surely be beautiful once complete. However, the hotel should note clearly that this location is under MAJOR construction. We stayed in a wing that had carpet pads only down on the floor, wet paint on walls outside our room, and an opening to a completely unfinished hall where construction was ongoing. The lobby is completely unusable and under construction so we had to use a side/back door by the dumpsters, with zero lighting, where groups were gathered for smoke breaks. The room was very nice other than the strong smell of wet paint. For the price, there are ZERO amenities at this hotel, other than the pastries and coffee that were set out in the extremely loud and dusty/dirty lobby. (And you have to walk around the outside of the building from your room to the front to get there.) Our stay was almost $300 (including additional charges for parking two cars) and it seems like this hotel should be offering some sort of serious discount during this period of construction. Really disappointed. I would not consider staying here unless you contact the hotel directly to verify the renovation is complete. We were there for one night or we would've moved to a different location if we were staying in Chattanooga one more night.

This place is so pretty & lots of history. We didn't realize the trains were hotel rooms at first, what a great concept! I'd love to see what they look like inside, we were told the hotel is renovating. I love the layout of the whole thing- open concept, keeping the feel of a train station with the lines of trains but other activities such as an ice rink too.

2 stars for simply feeling misled. First off, you have to give it to their marketing team! Because the website to this hotel was so good that we decided to stay here for the experience over paying more for a newer or nicer hotel. The hotel is not the big beautiful historic building you see on the website. It looked like the big historic building was where you would check-in but now there is a sign saying that check-in was relocated to the hotel building. This is a huge mistake in my opinion because the building is truly beautiful and worth experiencing, and the hotel is a glorified Days Inn. The staff is absolutely amazing and very friendly, but the hotel is very dated and not in a good way like the historic building in front of it. Halls are very bare, and there is hardly any decor throughout the hotel. Rooms were clean, but the mattress was rough. One bed had a lump in it. Bathrooms are small and had a lot of cracked caulk in it which just feels unclean and uncared for. Return vent was loose so when I went to fix it I happened to see how filthy the air filter was. While the fountains were out of order, the gardens are very nice and have a lot to do, and it will be cool when they renovate the carts for guests to stay in again. Just a deflating experience from what we thought we were walking into.

We stayed for a night on our way to Florida. The hotel is old but the rooms are clean. It appears they are under construction, so the area is dirty and not much curb appeal. The gentleman at the front desk was very nice and helpful. We ate at nic and norms, food was good. There is a free trolley ride to the riverfront. Once at the riverfront, they’re a lot of stuff to do and eat. I would stay here again if only one night. If I was looking for a weekend getaway, I would stay along the riverfront.

Disappointed that when we made the reservation we weren't notified that the Hotel was under MAJOR construction. From the parking lot to the lobby to the rooms it wasn't ready to receive guests. They were gracious enough to refund our money and recommend an amazing hotel nearby. Travel + Leisure magazine just did a nice piece in them with the promise that construction was to be done in October. I'm sure it will be fantastic. CALL first to be sure. I was so excited to stay here and the only reason this isn't a 1 star is how understanding and friendly the staff were when we told them we couldn't stay.

One of the best hotels to stay at. I’ve stopped here a couple of times on road trips. It’s the perfect location to explore the city. I love being able to take a walk and explore all the trains then be able to take a short walk and be near many restaurants within and even more outside the hotel area. Stay here if you stop in the city you won’t regret it.

This is a very interesting place. The actual hotel has little to do with the architecturally interesting train station seen on its ad. It is a separate building built in the 70s which, while in good shape, could use some updating. However, the front desk personnel are amazingly friendly and helpful. The room was very comfortable and clean. The best part is the train station area next to the hotel which contains multiple restaurants (can't say enough about Nick and Norman's) and bars under one roof. Really fun place. It was a great change from our usual overnight stay at a Tennessee interchange hotel on our annual road trip from Texas to Pennsylvania.

Don’t waste your time or money. We were so excited for our stay here in Tennessee. The photos and reviews online of the hotel seemed alright. Unfortunately, not enough of the 1-3 stars are showing up and only are now after some digging. The train station is NOT the hotel. The train station is now an empty foyer with overpriced restaurants and jewelry shops that resides on the Main Street not at the hotel. None of the trains are accessible, the fountains don’t run, parking in a construction zone will cost you an extra $15 a day. The rooms smell, are dirty and there’s been nothing but construction out our window since we arrived today. Currently trying to figure out how to leave and where to go, DO NOT RECOMMEND. Note: the staff wasn’t even present when we arrived for check in. Once we called the number someone came to help and once checked in they seemed more interested in the 10% coupons for the walking dead restaurant than us or the hotel. Edit to add: there’s no continental food, no access to drinks because there’s not even a vending machine or a place to get water. WORST EXPERIENCE EVER!

What's quite intriguing is learn the history of the Choo-Choo's deep dark past, the enchanting elegance of the railway, and now how it has evolved back into its haunted space. Recommend a visit to experience the nostalgia and how the Terminal Station is kept alive with bars & restaurants and a quaint gift shop! Grab a Golden Monkey latte from the Frothy Monkey - it will deliciously calm the spooks...

We were very excited to stay here. We learned of construction back in spring, but we're told sections were going to be finished by the time we arrived. The lobby was clearly under construction when we arrived, but we assumed the room would be updated and tried to remain optimistic. The hallways were filled with construction tools and dust. When we arrived in the room there was a bed. I have stayed at roadside hotels with more accommodations than a bed. The cost of the room, I had hoped for more. The staff completely understood our concern and helped us set up a room at a nearby hotel. Until the construction is done at this hotel I would recommend finding another place to stay.

The hotel is undergoing massive renovation. The pool and fitness room were not available. The gardens are under construction as are the train cars and the renovation is much needed. No discount given for the unavailable amenities. They could have, at least, gave free parking. They did offer coffee and pastries in the lobby each morning, but, the lobby is not very clean with the construction going on there. The gentleman that checked us in was very nice as were the cleaning ladies we seen. The location is good to get on the free trolley. It looks like it will be a nice property when finished, if they fix up the gardens and train cars, too.

Staying at this hotel was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had at a hotel. Despite their warnings of construction in the lobby we had an amazing time. From the moment we arrived at the front counter Evan made us feel exceptionally welcome. He chatted with us, gave us some local history, and always was so friendly when we passed by the lobby that I needed to dedicate a small review portion to thanking him for his exceptional service! The hotel rooms were comfy, with a cool layout and comfortable beds. I was so busy getting lost in the hotel and the complex it’s part of that I unfortunately forgot to take photos, but you can easily check other reviews for that. 10/10 experience, I can tell my mother adored every moment in this hotel <3

Under renovation when I went but still nice. Will be great when they're done. Right in the middle of many things to do downtown. I removed one star because the mattress was quite hard. Nevertheless, the service is fantastic.

We knew about the renovation going on, so not upset about that. But we were informed when we got there to check in that we had been "upgraded" to a king room... Not an upgrade when there are 4 people and 1 bed. Couldn't put us in the room we booked. The first night it was my husband, me, and our 8 year old, so we made it work. Ate at Nic and Norman's, got food poisoning. 8yo threw up in the room the next morning. Call the desk to get stuff brought up to clean up, no problem. So far, everyone has been nice, etc. I clean up the mess but didn't have a broom or vacuum, just paper towels, Lysol, a microfiber towel, and Freeze... so I put the please clean sign out. Got back 15+ hours later, guy at the desk said no option for the double bed room again, they don't have a roll away cot, but he can bring a blanket to make a pallet in the floor. Get to the room, it wasn't vacuumed and the trashcan I put in the shower stall (because it had vomit residue in it and was broken so splashing everywhere when I tried to clean it) had a fresh bag over the vomit.... He brings the blanket and I asked if they had water, vending, ice, or Pepto because my youngest and I are both sick... nope. He said he could bring us a Cliff bar, but that was it. The tap water tasted like rusty dirt, so I drove around to find a gas station open late. Not their fault we got sick, understand that the renovation was needed and ongoing, but I have never stayed anywhere that charged so much for so little. Couldn't even be bothered to find the roll away we were offered from the first guy that checked us in. My husband (and youngest) slept on the floor of the hotel room he paid for because he let me and our 16 yo share the bed... And no manager was available. Just a terrible experience, but it was within walking distance of Finley Stadium and the Bands of America competition we were there for.

This hotel could very well be 4 stars but they're currently undergoing major construction. So much so that I would not even consider this place ready for occupancy. They are still redoing the floors so at times you can't even access the halls, construction crews outside start at 7:00 a.m. and the inside construction crews start at 8:00 a.m. and start banging on your walls with hammers by 8:30 a.m. I understand hotels need to update and undergo construction but they should not be renting rooms with this level of construction going on. It was an absolute mess, and forget trying to relax and/or sleep in.

This hotel was very disappointing. I saw the previous reviews about construction so I called the hotel and asked them about it. They assured me that there was minimal construction going on and it would not effect our stay. They lied. Uptown arriving our room wasn’t ready when they said it would be (we have 3 small children so not ideal) then they were painting everything and out luggage for paint on when trying to get through the freshly painted doors. Cords, wires and dust everywhere, the next day they are painting walls and the paint fumes were so bad. We had to ask for towels 3 times before we got them. And forget sleeping in because they were back running machines and such at 7 am! Unfortunately we had no time to find another hotel as we had already paid for attractions to take the kids to and had to be there at certain times. I would not stay here until the construction is completely finished!

Small zoo with the experiences of feeding giraffes at certain times and camel rides on certain days. The animals looked well fed and their areas were clean and maintained. The website says 2 hours for the experience but it is so small that one could cruise easily through it in about an hour. Also this zoo is an easy walk for anyone with mobility issues.

Nice small zoo, perfect for a leisurely stroll to check out some animals and just enjoy a day out and about. It doesn't take long to go through the entire zoo so make sure you take it slow and enjoy each of the animals to the fullest. We played with the Tamarin for quite awhile, they were very entertaining and interactive. The giraffes are the main attraction and they know it! They prance around and show off, not camera shy at all! The grounds are well maintained and the enclosures are adequate size for the animals comfort. They all seemed content and healthy in their environment. We visited the zoo back in April and there were several signs and promises of things to come so we'll be back when we return to the area. The only issue is the staff, they seem very disinterested in any of the visitors or their job in general. They didn't affect our visit, we enjoyed ourselves despite their attitudes but they definitely didn't enhance our visit.

I would recommend getting their tickets online. Pretty spacious parking lot and typically not that crowded. Kids would enjoy. There are quite some unique animals over there like tortoises, peacock and peahens, Red Pandas, Giraffes, ant eater, commodo dragon, chimpanzee, camel, goats and a train. Feeding Giraffe and farm train within the zoo is additional and per person charge for those are $5. Pretty much you could spend close to 2-2.5hrs out there.

Playground was amazing! So much for the kids to do. They have great inclusive swings. The parent + toddler swings were the best I've seen so far. Some shading is nice for the sunny days! I highly recommend. I hear the splash pad and pool are also great!

What a fun little zoo! My daughter and I had a blast walking around and looking at the animals. She loved the Red Pandas, the peacocks, and the goats. They had some really fun activities and a petting zoo! Also they give military service members free entry, that made me spend more money in the gift shop. Great experience! We will be back

Absolutely worth visiting. It's conveniently accessible and ideal for organizing a small event during the day. The giraffes, naturally, steal the show as the main attraction. Personally, I was particularly captivated by the diverse array of primates.

I have been planning my trip to Chattanooga for over a month I had previously called and asked questions but had to leave a voicemail and they did get back with me. They answered all my questions and were very informative. They are such a great price and have a great service. It is a smaller zoo but they make the most out of what they have. I enjoyed every minute of it. Will definitely be back.

A great zoo for young children. The merry go round and the train were a big hit along with the animals. It's small enough you can see everything in a couple hours and doesn't break the bank. We loved feeding the giraffe.

I’ll save you the trouble and upload pictures of everything you’ll see. Don’t bring a stroller unless you want to carry it up the stairs to see the indoor red panda exhibit. And if a sign says “exit only”, it’s guaranteed not to be the exit. Maybe it’s cool when it’s not under construction, but none of my kids enjoyed it. The only good thing about it is that it isn’t crowded…..with good reason. The children’s petting zoo goats are also amazing.

The zoo was under construction when we visited but we had a great time.the zoo wasn't that big as in square feet. However, the number of and variety of animals was HUGE! The staff were all super nice and there wasn't alot of walking required. I'm a veteran so I got in free and my son was half price we were actually surprised by all the cool animals and the whole atmosphere was very enjoyable. The giraffes were our favorite. The carousel was fun too.

This zoo is small but DENSE. Plenty to look at and learn for both adults and kids. Even the day after Christmas had a good crowd and most of the exhibits were open. Watching the feedings, petting the goats, or riding the camels will leave lasting memories. Not a place you just go once!

Amazing little zoo. We got there as they opened the gates for a date. Coming early enhances the experience. You're one of the only people walking around, and many of the animals are still chowing down on breakfast. It was amazing sitting and watching these beautiful animals enjoy their food. Will definitely be coming again.

We took our 17 month old grandson last Saturday and had a great time. He loves being outdoors and the park has plenty of shady trails to explore and animals to see. He especially loved the goats. It only takes a couple of hours to enjoy this perfectly sized park and the admission is very affordable. It is very clean, well maintained and beautiful.

This place was amazing! Came here with my mom and service dog, which they were very accommodating of which I appreciate. The staff were so nice and attentive. The layout was just perfect. Did notice they had a lot of animals off exhibit which is very disappointing. Also, the place was not completely wheelchair accessible. Noticed a older gentleman wanting to view the red panda exhibit (which is bigger here) but had rented a wheelchair and there was no ramp provided for him to get to the exhibit and both sides had stairs.

Nice smaller zoo to visit. Very well taken care of and the people that work there are really nice. Not as big as the zoo over in Memphis but it was nice to be in a zoo that wasn't overly crowded. There's also a restaurant there that's really good. We're glad we didn't pay for the train ride because it's just this tiny fake train that drives around the zoo. The cars aren't really made for anyone over 12 years old to fit in.

Great zoo. It is very walkable. There are plenty of animals and viewing areas for them. Plus, it is very affordable. We went in October, and they had great decorations.

This is a smaller zoo. If you're expecting something huge with more enclosures, I wouldn't recommend it. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this zoo. It's clean, well kept, and it's not expensive to get in. The food, drinks and gift shop are pretty expensive. If you're just wanting something to pass the time before the rest of your day starts, I highly recommend

We went for the Asian lantern festival and it was pretty cool! Definitely worth checking out! We purchased our tickets ahead of time online and picked which time slot we wanted. It was a very easy process and a great experience! While there we got a hot chocolate & pretzel, both were good but pretty pricy. For me it was something you see once, but I probably wouldn’t go back again for a couple of years. Definitely worth checking out though & it seemed like they had a decent amount of things for kids too!

Excellent zoo with a unique variety of animals and reptiles to view. There were some neat birds as well. It was well maintained, all the animals had good enclosures and seemed content. Fun things for older kids as well as younger kids. The gift shop was great. We didn’t eat at the restaurant, but it looked good. If you’re in the area definitely check out the zoo!

Visited this weekend, we arrived around 9:45am-10am. They do wheel chair rentals in the gift shops for $10. When you first enter they are under construction for a new exhibit I believe, but other than that they have very interesting animals. I had a great time with my family and you can pet the goats too! Prices were good if you do online tickets are $14.95!

Wow 🤩 What a beautiful Zoo. Special pricing -$19pp I LOVE animals & any opportunity to sew them I’m taking it. It was packed & all parking lots were full but they offered a shuttle service that brought you over to the park. I didn’t interact with staff much but the few I did come in contact with were nice & pleasant The animal enclosures were beautiful & the animals are very well cared for, except for the Capybara he looked a little sad 😞 We did the giraffe 🦒feeding -$5 pp I’ll definitely be back if ever in the area again. ❤️

A fun zoo to walk through! A wide variety of animals to see, but they are currently doing a lot of construction. It is laid out a bit weird so you do a lot of backtracking, but still an enjoyable time! Depending on how quickly you are walking through, you could spend 1.5-2 hours here.

My friend and I went to the zoo for the second year in a row during the Asian Lantern Festival. This year it was bigger and better! Though the animals aren't really on display, the dozens of Asian and animal themed lanterns make it worth the trip. You may catch a glimpse of a few animals but most are sleeping or pulled off display for the night and the lights in exhibits are off. This year the pathway through the lanterns was better directed and there were more varied lanterns, and more Asian themed, like the Chinese Zodiac. There was also a pop-up dance display with a cellist that started at one area and moved through the zoo. The only disappointment was a small cup of hot chocolate for $6.50, which I did not get. The bathroom was also cold with a dirty, overflowing stall, which was blocked off. It is nice to see the zoo expanding and updating their exhibits to give their animals better room and care. I also like that they offer a lot of various activities outside of regular zoo admission and I've been to a few including the Lantern Festival and the Beastly Feast. Can't wait for the next exciting program!

Great zoo. A lot of expansion and updating in process, but still great for the kids. We really enjoyed the displays of the small monkeys and meerkats. They all came up to the glass for photos and interacted with us. We look forward to visiting again when the expansion is complete.

Can't review the zoo on the animals, due to I've only been there for the Asian Lantern Festival (I'll come back for the animals later). The latern Festival was very well laid out and had lots of lanterns; many even were animated. The staff there was very friendly and helpful. The hot cocoa was pretty tasty and warmed us up on a cool night. The various interactive areas were cool to experience and the kids loved the whole experience as well. Highly suggested.

Amazing park with lots of green space and beautiful water views. We had a lovely time here, there's so much to do and we were able to access the Walnut Street Bridge from there. It was such a lovely family day at the park during our visit to Chattanooga.

Wow!!!! What a gem! We had a blast. I can't get over how cheap the carousel was . $1 a person . BEAUTIFUL 😍 VIEWS All around great family outing and don't break the bank. I also encourage when you pay for parking to go ahead and pay for the 8hrs (better price) so you don't have to feel pressed for time. We explored all down town.

Nice to spend time with my family, it's a beautiful place. Lots of cops around so you feel pretty safe, I guess. That's good when you got the little ones with you...🌞

Coolidge Park is clean with nice walking paths next to the river. I enjoyed a relaxing, pleasant walk here.They have plenty of greenspace and places to sit or have a picnic. This park is home to the antique, hand carved carousel and located near the Walnut Street Bridge. Coolidge Park is within walking distance to nearby local businesses and restaurants. I really appreciated the history I was able to learn about from the displays/artwork throughout the park.

Beautiful park for families as well as couples and individuals. Lots of things to do. Bird watching, kayaking, bicycling nature walk etc. Lots of places to take pictures. The fountains at the center of the park is a great spot for the kids to cool off. Restrooms and facilities are decent. Good restaurants in the vicinity too. Overall a great place to spend half a day (or more).

Medium-sized, well maintained park on the river. Plenty of space to throw down a blanket for a picnic, throw Frisbee with the family, or play in the water fountains. There is also a pavilion you can rent for parties that houses the public restooms, and a giant carousel that you can pay to ride. The park also holds events. I came here today for a vintage clothing market.

It's a nice downtown park that has tons of free space to play ball and hang out with family, also has stores, a carasale. and sitting space with animal structured - rocks and sprinklers in the summer!

I loved this park. We’re from out of town and stopped by here with the kids and they had a blast. My 3yo was riding his scooter all over. Such a beautiful place by the water, the carousel and the splash fountain. What more do you want?? 😁

My absolute favorite park! I drive from Atlanta to come here when I can. It's a great escape, fun atmosphere, it's clean and spacious. Parking is great and very affordable, unlike parking in my area. (If I remember correctly, it's like $6 for 24hr parking). I can stay all day and downtown is just across the pedestrian bridge, with so much to do in walking distance. A great area to bring family, friends and pets !

Iconic Chattanooga park right along the Tennessee river. There are so many paths to wonder down and explore. I loved all the sculptures and the people were extremely friendly. The only reason for 4 stars was I surprised at the amount of trash. There wasn’t a lot, it was mostly floating along the shore.

Walked the bridge to this park to see the views and tue blue rhino! Nice park to relax, have a picnic or start a work out. River access is available for kayaks as well.

Plenty of stuff to do by the water kayaking carousel but plenty of places to play outdoor activities riding bicycles dog friendly cool places to eat Bridges to walk across the river on

Absolutely beautiful area with loads to do and see. Mt 3 girls, including my teenager, loved the carousel. The attendees are all super nice and friendly. The walking paths are beautiful. We will return again before we leave for home.

This park is the heart of chattanooga's river front. Wide open spaces to enjoy time with the family or have some private time basking in the sun. Its an absolute MUST to walk the bridge and enjoy the scenic views overlooking the river. There's something for everyone from kayaking to enjoying a sushi roll as you take in nature. Chattanooga's star is certainly rising.

We love Coolidge Park! There is so much space! Shops, carousel, stage for live music, clean bathrooms, Chalk Alley......it is just overall a wonderful family place!

Pay parking lots but street parking is free on Sunday. Nice paved pathways for walking or running along the river. Lots of shades. Then there’s the pedestrian bridge to get to the other side.

What’s good? In contrast to the adjacent Renaissance Park, this park brings a little more action to the table with its carousel and interactive fountain. The kiddos (or adults!) can play (seasonal) directly in this fountain with its “open floor plan”. Lots of wide open green space available at this park. The park is split by the Walnut Street Bridge–creating a unique shady spot under the trusses (you can even sit on the lower trusses!) What’s bad? My only critique is that I saw no traditional playground for children. Overall, a great park–it’s the “central park” of Chattanooga.

Wonderful park along the Tennessee River. Unique 1894 carousel with 52 hand-carved animals 🎠

Nice open space by the river to walk along and let the kiddos run out some energy. The restored carousel was great and tickets are only $1/pp, which was a pleasant surprise. Our 1 and 4 yr olds had a blast! The only thing that would make it better is a playground.

Awesome distillery tour and smooth, delicious bourbon. Fantastic, fun, and informative tour and great bar service by Alea, Jamie, Peyton, and Emma at the Chattanooga Experimental Distillery. If anyone loves or just likes whiskey and bourbon i heavily recommend visiting. They always have stock on the shelves, and because they’re always experimenting with their whiskey they have new limited time whiskeys that once they’re sold, that’s it! So you really need to stop in to see them soon or you could miss the best whiskey you’ve ever had!

Our group guide, Sarah, was fantastic. We truly enjoyed learning the history of whiskey making in Tennessee and in Chattanooga in particular. And then Sarah’s description of how whiskey is made was the best we’ve ever heard. Very interesting, educational, and well-paced. The tasting was enjoyable; Emma and Trinity were friendly and took good care of us all. Sadly, it was just a tasting; we couldn’t purchase more to just drink there. But it was still a great experience. Well worth it. We liked the 111 Bourbon and the Rye 99 the best; those are the two we purchased to take home.

Had the opportunity to visit the distillery and take the tour. That was followed by sampling a flight of the product. Our tour guide, Will, was very knowledgeable about the history of the place and process that results in a marvelous product. I ended up bringing 2 bottles back to St. Louis and will ration them to make them last! Great visit and we will return on our next visit to my cousin’s house in Chattanooga!

We had an amazing time on our tour of the experimental distillery. Chattanooga has been our favorite for quite some time. Ethan was a great tour guide and provided awesome facts about the history and process. It was great to be immersed in the environment. After the tour, Caleb and Trinity had our flights ready to go and we had a wonderful tasting. Everyone took great care of us from the time we checked in through our cash out experience so we could take a piece of Chattanooga home with us. Literally, we got a charred stave! Can’t wait to hang it, it’s awesome.

We had a fantastic experience at this unique microdistillery. We appreciated the tour and the personal experience. Will was a great host and we would recommend the visit!

I had a great experience at Chattanooga Whiskey. I did the tour and tasting. Haley was an excellent tour guide. She was informative and very patient with all of my questions :) What a great history. Sam prepared our flights and walked us through the process. He too, took his time explaining the flight and answering questions. I loved the 91 and the 111 and purchased the 111. Great stuff! Cant wait for the Rye to get restocked!

I had a fantastic time with my family for a tour of the distillery! It was reasonably priced, thorough, and exciting. I'd highly recommend anyone to visit! Molly was our tour guide and she was very down to Earth and knowledgeable about all things whiskey. After the tour, she even answered our questions about things to do in the area since we're visiting from out of state. Her kindness was greatly appreciated! Caleb was our bartender and he explained each whiskey sampling in detail. You could tell he really enjoys what he does and he is a great representation of the company. Thank you both for making our time here so worth while!