3 Best Day Trips from Atlanta

"Coolidge Park is a charming seven-acre plot of green on the north shore of the Tennessee River—small enough to fully explore, but big enough that it rarely feels crowded. The restored Walnut Street pedestrian bridge connects the park with downtown’s main drag (where you’ll find the Hunter Museum of American Art and the massive Tennessee Aquarium) and at its western border, bisected by the John Ross Bridge, neighboring Renaissance Park adds 23 more acres to explore. The manicured, tree-shaded pathways are a popular destination for runners and walkers. And no matter your age, a ride on the park's antique carousel is worth the time. Local Chattanoogan and well-known woodcarver Bud Ellis had the carousel brought in from Atlanta." - Jennifer Bradley Franklin