Trending
By Jill Robbins
Wealth of Geeks
According to Tourism Economics, Chattanooga and Hamilton County, Tennessee, saw over $1.5M in visitor spending in 2021, which ranked fifth out of the state's 95 counties. This uptick in tourism revenue marked a 40% year-over-year increase, making Hamilton one of only 10 Tennessee counties to see that level of growth.
Whether your summer vacation plans are completely outdoor-focused or balance urban adventures with meaningful nature breaks, outdoor tourism has become increasingly popular everywhere, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, is no exception.
A peaceful sunset paddle to a bat cave
From late March through early October, visitors can paddle across Nickjack Lake to the mouth of Nickjack Cave to watch thousands of endangered gray bats emerge at dusk for their nightly feeding. Local tour companies such as Outshine Adventures and Chattanooga Guided Adventures offer several options for organized stand-up paddle boarding and kayak tours that offer a front-row seat to one of mother nature's most spectacular and mystical occurrences.
If you want to see the bats from land, you can do so from the Maple View Recreation Area viewing platform.
Explore Rock City Gardens
Lookout Mountain is six miles from downtown Chattanooga. Rock City Gardens is a 4,100-foot walking trail atop the mountain that treats guests to views of unique rock formations, lush gardens, and a 140-foot waterfall cascading down the mountain.
Guests will navigate paved pathways, bridges, and steps to reach the top of Lookout Mountain, where they are treated to views of seven states on a clear day.
Walk, bike
or segway along the Tennessee
riverwalk
The Tennessee River Park extends from the Tennessee Valley Authority's Chickamauga Dam to the foot of Lookout Mountain. Walk or bike along the wide paved paths and explore parks, green spaces, and public art while enjoying river views.
If you want to explore on two wheels, grab a bike at Bike Chattanooga, the city's bike-share system. Bike Chattanooga has 42 bike stations around the city and over 400 bikes. If you want to try a different way to explore on two wheels, book a tour with Chattanooga Segway Tours to discover the Tennessee Riverwalk and parts of downtown Chattanooga.