Things to Do in Chattanooga (2025)
Hunter Museum of American Art
Museum · Chattanooga
Chattanooga’s river-bluff museum anchors the city’s arts scene with regional voices alongside national names. Frequently highlighted by Condé Nast Traveler, it’s a perfect pairing with a stroll through the surrounding Bluff View Art District.
Sculpture Fields at Montague Park
Tourist attraction · Chattanooga
A 33-acre outdoor sculpture park run by a local nonprofit, open daily and free. Noted in The New York Times, it showcases large-scale works with Lookout Mountain as backdrop and often hosts community art events.
Bessie Smith Cultural Center and Chattanooga African American Museum
Museum · Chattanooga
A community-rooted museum honoring African American history and the Empress of the Blues. Expect exhibitions, talks, and the Big 9 Music Fest celebrating the legacy of Chattanooga’s storied MLK Boulevard.
First Horizon Pavilion
Event venue · Chattanooga
A producer-only Sunday market and cultural meetup with farms, makers, and live music. Celebrating its 25th season in 2025, it’s repeatedly praised by regional editors as the weekly window into local life.
Songbirds
Event venue · Chattanooga
A nonprofit museum and intimate venue celebrating guitars, sound, and Southern music stories. Rotating exhibits, donation-based entry hours, and evening shows keep it active with local players and touring artists.
Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery
Distillery · Chattanooga
Tour the first legal distillery here in a century and taste the city’s high-malt style. Featured by Condé Nast Traveler, the hour-long experience blends local history with small-batch innovation.
Barking Legs Theater
Event venue · Chattanooga
An intimate, artist-run venue championing jazz, new theater, storytelling, and community nights. Covered by local public radio and beloved by Chattanooga creatives, its calendar rewards spontaneous drop-ins.
Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center
Nature preserve · Chattanooga
A nonprofit landscape of woodlands, trails, and native plant nursery at the base of Lookout Mountain. Check the calendar for guided wildlife programs and seasonal paddling access.
High Point Climbing and Fitness - Downtown
Rock climbing gym · Chattanooga
Locally founded gym with the famous outdoor wall overlooking Broad Street plus full indoor routes and a kids zone. A fun way to tap into Chattanooga’s climbing soul right in the city core.
Ignis Glass Studio
Glass blower · Chattanooga
Make your own glass ornament, paperweight, or bowl with guidance from working artists. A hands-on studio experience that leaves you with a Chattanooga-made keepsake the next day.
Chattanooga Taste Food Tours - “Chatt Taste”
Tour agency · Chattanooga
Chef-connected walking tours through Downtown, Southside, and MLK that spotlight independent kitchens and Chattanooga food history. Praised by travelers and local media for storytelling as much as eating.
L2 Outside
Canoe & kayak rental service · Chattanooga
A NorthShore outfitter placing you on the Tennessee River beneath Chattanooga’s bridges. Frequently recommended by Condé Nast Traveler, it’s a scenic way to see the skyline and Maclellan Island.
