Places to go, things to do
Parks, playgrounds, the lake, and the places worth knowing about.
$2.99–$5.99 per tour, or $39/year for AudaTours' full library
Starts at the Tennessee Aquarium
Self-guided smartphone audio tour uncovering hidden Chattanooga stories — a Tennessee Aquarium mystery, a Read House Hotel scandal, and a vanishing Bible at First Presbyterian Church.
Self-guided via smartphone app — needs Android 7.0+ or iOS 16+ (iPhone 8 or later). Boo…
Around $7 admission — confirm with the center
Bessie Smith Cultural Center
The Chattanooga African American Museum and performance space honoring blues legend Bessie Smith — exhibits, history and occasional concerts.
Hours: Mon-Fri 10 AM-5 PM; Saturdays Feb 1-Sept 30, noon-4 PM; Oct 1-Jan 31 by appointm…
Pay-per-ride or membership, priced on the app/site
Chattanooga Bicycle Transit System
Bike share stations around Chattanooga — regular bikes, e-bikes and scooters.
We haven’t looked closely at access here yet
Free
Booker T. Washington State Park
Fishing, birdwatching and boat/paddling access on Chickamauga Lake, with a significant civil rights history.
353-acre park on the shores of Chickamauga Lake with fishing, birdwatching, boat and pa…
Cash only — no cards
Brockdell Produce
Fresh seasonal produce, daily-baked goods, and homemade jams and jellies at a Fall Creek Mennonite Community farm stand.
Fall Creek Mennonite Community farm stand. Cash only, no cards. Closed Sunday and Monda…
Free admission
First Horizon Pavilion
The region's largest producer-only market — 300+ vendors of local produce, art and food, every Sunday April through December.
Open every Sunday, April through December, 11 AM–4 PM. 300+ vendors of local produce, a…
Free when open; paid parking
Chattanooga Skatepark & Hockey Rink
Skatepark and dog park closed for a major renovation, now expected to reopen December 2026 — the hockey rink and pavilion parking remain open.
Accessibility details for the renovated skatepark haven't been posted yet. The hockey r…
Admission charged — check chattzoo.org for current pricing
Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park
A full city zoo in Chattanooga — worth the drive for a family day out.
City zoo at Warner Park in Chattanooga.
Free
Cherokee Trail of Tears State Park
The departure point where the Cherokee crossed the Tennessee River on the Trail of Tears — near Dayton, worth the drive.
Free, open year-round. Visitor center open Wednesday–Friday, 10 AM–5 PM. Marks Blythe F…
Park entry is free; camping and some activities have fees
Chester Frost Park
Fishing, kayaking and lake recreation on Chickamauga Lake — camping, trails and a swim beach.
Large Hamilton County lake park with fishing, kayaking, a swim beach, camping and trail…
Free
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park — Chickamauga Unit
Civil War battlefield and visitor center — museum exhibits, the Fuller Gun Collection, and driving/walking tours of the battlefield grounds.
Visitor center generally open daily, 8:30 AM–5 PM (closed Christmas and New Year's Day)…
Ramp access is free; marina services and fuel are separate
Soddy-Daisy Boat Ramp
Boat ramps, fishing and open water on the Tennessee River reservoir.
We haven’t looked closely at access here yet
From $80 adult / $50 child (2-12); premium seating $115-$540
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, Delano Parking Lot
Full-day, 94-mile round-trip scenic train excursion through the Hiwassee River Gorge, with a 90-minute lunch stop in historic Copperhill.
Runs seasonally, April 1 through December 11, 2026 - check tvrail.com for specific 2026…
Cash only — no cards
Country Fabrics
Quilts and quilting fabric at a Fall Creek Mennonite Community shop.
Tue/Wed/Fri 9 AM–4 PM, Sat 8 AM–12 PM. Cash only, no cards. Closed Sunday, Monday and T…
$20 to fill a cup (cup and clippers provided)
Signal Mountain Nursery
Cut your own bouquet from the nursery's flower fields — $20 fills a cup, cup and clippers provided.
Open during nursery hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-5 PM, Sat 9 AM-5 PM. Nursery recommends arrivin…
Free
Dog Paddle Park, Chester Frost Park
Off-leash dog park within Chester Frost Park — separate fenced areas for large and small dogs, agility equipment, and water access.
Separate fenced areas for large and small dogs, a dual fountain for owners and pets, be…
Free
Fall Creek Falls State Park
A 256-foot waterfall — the tallest east of the Mississippi — plus 29,800 acres of Cumberland Plateau trails, camping and cabins near Spencer.
29,800 acres across Bledsoe and Van Buren counties. The falls themselves drop 256 feet …
Free
Soddy Lake
Cast a line from the public fishing pier at Soddy Lake, or from the shoreline at Pine Tree Bird Sanctuary and Park nearby.
Public fishing pier at Soddy Lake, 11312 Dayton Pike. Pine Tree Bird Sanctuary and Park…
$12 admission (kids 3 & under free)
Flat Top Mountain Farm
A full fall season at the farm — pumpkins, hayrides, a corn maze, and weekend events running Sept 18 through Nov 1.
Restrooms
Park entry is free; camping and marina services have separate fees
Harrison Bay State Park
Fishing, paddling, birding and picnicking on Chickamauga Lake — plus one of Tennessee's largest fully accessible playgrounds.
Wheelchair access · Restrooms
Free
TN-111 Sequatchie Valley Overlook
A free, year-round roadside overlook with panoramic Sequatchie Valley views and a colorblind-accessible viewfinder.
Viewable from the car · Paved
Ramp fee not posted
Holly Park
Double-wide boat ramp, trailer parking, picnic tables and restrooms — access to Chickamauga Lake and its cove near Soddy-Daisy.
Seating · Restrooms
Free
Pine Tree Bird Sanctuary and Park
Launch a kayak from the bank at Pine Tree Bird Sanctuary and Park, or from the boat ramp at Holly Park.
Bank launch (not a formal ramp) at Pine Tree Bird Sanctuary and Park, 11750 Dayton Pike…
$16.95–$27.95/person depending on day and ticket type; children 2 and under free; pumpkins $0.25/lb
Mayfield Farm Park
A big fall farm day near Athens — three corn mazes, a pumpkin patch, U-pick flowers, a zip line, jumping pillow and 40+ family activities.
About an hour from Soddy-Daisy via I-75. Farm's own page publishes hours: Thu/Fri 11 AM…
Free
Moccasin Bend National Archeological District
12,000 years of American Indian history on a bend of the Tennessee River across from downtown Chattanooga — the first National Archeological District in the National Park Service.
Sites here chronicle roughly 12,000 years of American Indian occupation, spanning the A…
Stones River National Battlefield is free; Cannonsburgh Village and the Discovery Center charge separate admission
Stones River National Battlefield
A farther-out day trip built around Stones River National Battlefield, with Cannonsburgh Village's pioneer buildings and the Discovery Center's kids' exhibits nearby.
About 2 hours from Soddy-Daisy via I-24 — a real day trip. Check nps.gov/stri for curre…
No launch fee at the boat ramp; camping fees apply separately
Shellmound Recreation Area
A no-fee boat ramp and lakeside recreation area on Nickajack Lake, with camping, swimming and fishing alongside.
Near South Pittsburg, just off the I-24 Jasper exit, next to Nickajack Dam. Other publi…
Cash only — no cards
Oak Ridge Pantry
Groceries, meat, cheese, and made-to-order sandwiches at a Fall Creek Mennonite Community store.
Mon–Fri 9 AM–4 PM, Sat 9 AM–3 PM. Cash only, no cards. Closed Sundays — open Monday, un…
Cash only — no cards
Old Dunlap General Store
An old-fashioned Mennonite-run general store — farm market, furniture, mattresses, crafts, clocks, and hot deli sandwiches.
Part of the Fall Creek Mennonite Community (about 60 families, 25 Mennonite-owned busin…
Cash or check only — ATM on site
Oren Wooden's Apple House
Apple orchard picking, a pie shop and a market & gift shop — a family-run Pikeville tradition, six generations running.
Open Aug 1 through the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Pie Shop and produce hours: Mon–S…
Free
Overlook Park
Scenic park, easy access — mountain and valley views from North Palisades Drive.
Officially listed as a scenic park by the town, per owner-provided research — not indep…
Free
Soddy Lake
Picnic areas at Soddy Lake's fishing pier, or a shaded table at Pine Tree Bird Sanctuary and Park.
Seating
Free
Poe's Tavern Historical Park
Ball fields and picnic space.
We haven’t looked closely at access here yet
Free
Red Clay State Historic Park
The last capital and council grounds of the Cherokee Nation before removal — near Cleveland, with a visitor center, replica buildings, and nature trails.
263-acre park, no entrance fee. Visitor center with 19th-century Cherokee artifacts and…
$43-45 adult, $33-35 child (3-12), varies by day - cheaper booked a day ahead
Rock City Gardens
Rock formations, gardens and the famous "See 7 States" overlook atop Lookout Mountain.
Open daily, 10 AM-10:30 PM. A walking trail through rock formations and gardens, includ…
Free
Rock Garden
A whimsical garden of 50+ miniature castles, cathedrals and villages built from stone, shell and pebble, plus a one-mile nature trail.
About 1 hour 15-30 minutes from Soddy-Daisy - worth the drive, but a manageable half-da…
Free
Ross's Landing
The embarkation point of the Cherokee removal on the Trail of Tears — now a riverfront park in downtown Chattanooga, on the National Register of Historic Places.
Riverfront park in downtown Chattanooga. On June 6, 1838, over 1,500 Cherokee departed …
$26.95 adult, $25.95 senior (65+), $16.95 child (3-12), 2 and under free
Ruby Falls
The tallest underground waterfall open to the public in the US — a guided cave walk 260 feet down into Lookout Mountain.
Open daily 8 AM-8 PM. Glass-front elevator descends 260 feet into the cave; a guided wa…
$42.95 per person
Ruby Falls
After-hours cave and waterfall tour lit only by hand-held lanterns — extra time at the falls, small groups, a laid-back pace.
Friday nights, after Ruby Falls' regular hours - exact times not posted. Ages 10+. A 1-…
Free
Signal Point Reservation
Major overlook, easy access — sweeping views of the Tennessee River Gorge from the Cumberland Trail's southern trailhead.
Seating · Restrooms
Free
Smith's Crossroads Historical Marker
A Tennessee Historical Commission marker in Dayton where the Trail of Tears crossed the Tennessee Valley from Blythe Ferry in 1838.
Viewable from the car
Free
Soddy Lake Recreation Complex
Eight lighted ball fields, basketball/pickleball courts, a playground and walking track, plus fishing — the city's main sports complex.
Baseball fields at 150 Depot Street, softball fields at 105 Durham Street (same complex…
Free
SportSpot
A free downtown pop-up under the Olgiati Bridge with a roller-skating rink, a beginner pump track and courts — open daily, rain or shine.
2026 season runs in two windows: Sept 6-21 (pickleball courts) and Oct 4-20 (basketball…
Free
Sunrise Lookout Park
Small scenic park, easy access — a quick roadside stop for valley and ridge views.
Viewable from the car · Paved
Cash only — no cards
Sunrise Sorghum
Watch sorghum molasses being made the old way — seasonal, September through October, at a Fall Creek Mennonite Community operation.
Seasonal — molasses processing runs September through October only. Cash only, no cards…
Free
Spring City Boat Ramp
A freshly rebuilt public boat ramp on Watts Bar Lake, good for boating, fishing and swimming.
Rebuilt in 2025 with a two-lane paved ramp, a new aluminum courtesy dock, and a large, …
Cash only — no cards
White Oak Harness
Harness sales and repair at a Fall Creek Mennonite Community shop.
Cash only, no cards. Closed Sunday and Monday — the community observes no work those tw…