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There's plenty of great new stuff to see in this
tourist-friendly city two hours north of Atlanta up I-75. The $45
million Tennessee Aquarium is the centerpiece of a revitalized
downtown area that includes shopping, restaurants and museums.
But long before the city was reclaimed from the smokestacks
spewing pollution, there was Rock City, the private garden of
Garnet and Frieda Carter that was opened to the public in 1932.
Doubtless you've heard of it, the place where on a clear day you
can see seven states (Alabama, Kentucky, Virginia, North
Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee).
Rock City
Rock City is home to natural wonders, and some manmade attractions
But in which state is Rock City?
Gotta be Tennessee, right? Wrong. It's in Georgia, in a community
on Lookout Mountain called Lookout Mountain.
At Rock City, there are places to eat and shop, including one of
those stores that sells Christmas stuff 365 days a year. There
are also rocks -- mostly big ones -- and some look like other
things, including a mushroom and the shell of a tortoise. You
walk over, under, around and through them. The half-mile trail
also includes exhibits ranging from nursery rhyme characters to
crafts to 400 species of plants.
For more information on Rock City, call (706) 820-2531. There are
two other popular attractions on Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls
(423-821-2544) and Incline Railway (423-821-4224). Ruby Falls is
a spectacular 145-foot waterfall inside the mountain.
Downtown
Chattanooga's most popular attraction is the Tennessee
Aquarium (800-262-0695), where visitors are guided on a journey
beginning at the Tennessee River's source.
Within walking distance are shops, restaurants, hotels, museums,
riverboats, nightlife, family activities, parks and a riverwalk.
Two popular spots are the Creative Discovery Museum for kids
(423-756-2738) and the Hunter Museum of Art (423-267-0968).
At the other end of downtown is the Chattanooga Choo Choo/Holiday
Inn (800-TRACK29), at the site of the city's famed railroad
station, which closed in 1970. A fleet of electric-powered buses
shuttles downtown visitors for free.
Shopping
Opportunies abound, but a popular spot downtown is Warehouse
Row (423-267-1111), home to 45 stores including factory outlets
for Ralph Lauren/Polo, Perry Ellis, Coach and Guess?
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Chattanooga's aquarium boasts more than 7,000 animals
Tour Rock City without leaving your armchair.
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