Nestled at the base of Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo is a surprising little town. On your way in, you will be greeted with the International Towing Museum. Wait… what??? Yes, a towing museum. The only one in the world to be exact. The first recovery vehicle was created in Chattanooga. The Museum features a replica of the first towing vehicle as well as vehicles from other countries and decades.

Then you will want to earn some bragging rights by riding the world’s steepest passenger railway, the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, at an impressive 72.7% grade! The new cars have clear roofs with an incredible view of the Tennessee Valley, and when you get to the Upper Station, you’ll get a breathtaking panoramic view from the tower.

Take in some natural beauty walking or biking the 15-mile Tennessee Riverpark (or just some of it!) that runs adjacent to the Tennessee River or hike one of the nearby trails on Lookout Mountain – including two of the most scenic views at the Chickamauga Chattanooga National Military's Point Park and Sunset Rock, a division of the Military Park. Tucked away along Lookout Creek, the 300-acre Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center offers hiking, biking, paddling, and more.

For such a small geographic area, St. Elmo packs in some culinary options to fuel your adventures. Grab food and drinks from The Naughty Cat Café bar and then cozy up in the Cat Lounge. You may end up taking home a sweet cat so go ahead and bring that cat gear with you. For quick bites, check out Mr. T’s Pizza & Ice Cream. When you have a little more time to relax, enjoy a “Southern coastal” meal at 1885 Grill, The Tap House, Purple Daisy Picnic Café, and Sawasdee Thai. You cannot leave St. Elmo (or Chattanooga, they have a couple of locations) without indulging in a handcrafted scoop from the local Clumpies Ice Cream Co.

Lookout Mountain

Lookout Mountain is full of bragging rights experiences. People may not believe you when you tell them you took an elevator 26 stories below ground then walked deep into a cave past stalagmites, stalactites, and drapery formations to see the largest and deepest underground commercial waterfall in the United States, Ruby Falls. Above ground, it’s ok if you scream while your heart’s pumping on the...

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Southside

The Southside neighborhood is flourishing with restaurants, small businesses, galleries, entertainment and nightlight. Spanning the area between 12th and 20th streets, this district is anchored by the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo. You can find a bit of everything here whether it’s beer in a train car at American Draft, coffee by day and wine by night at Frothy Monkey, cocktails at STIR, and live...

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MLK/UTC

Standing in front of the impressive, 42,000 sq. ft. “MLK Mural: We Will Not Be Satisfied Until” is powerful. Created in 2016 by world-renowned artist Meg Saligman, the mural is the largest in the Southeast, one of the five largest in the nation, and the first to wrap an entire city block. It is quite a sight and preserves our cultural heritage with lush colors and locally-sourced imagery of...

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West Village

What was once a forgotten part of Chattanooga is now one of the most memorable areas of our downtown footprint. From delicious eateries to luxury hotels and events throughout the year, the incredibly walkable West Village is waiting for you. If you’re looking for a romantic spot to grab a bite, check out Paloma Bar de Tapas, the rooftop restaurant and bar at the Westin with views looking out at...

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City Center

Some might say that Chattanooga's City Center is "where the magic happens" and we really can't argue with it. Chock full of local restaurants, shopping, and some of the coolest start-ups in town, it's the place to be. Be sure to visit Warehouse Row to get a peek at what’s inside. Pick out a new outfit at Anthropologie or lululemon athletica, a cool piece for your home at Revival, a latte from...

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Bluff View Art District

Overlooking the Tennessee River, the Bluff View Art District provides some of the best scenery in the Tennessee Valley. Bite into hand-made chocolate filled with whiskey and sip on a steamy latte on the patio at Rembrandt’s Coffee House while literally smelling the next batch of beans being roasted a few hundred feet away. Choosing between the create-your-own-combo house-made angel hair pasta with...

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Riverfront

The epicenter of outdoor events in Chattanooga is the expansive Riverfront area with plenty of green space, local eateries and peaceful views of the Tennessee River. Looking for a stroll? The area surrounding Ross’s Landing offers paved trails — even a zig-zag one — and nearby access to the Bluff View Art District, Walnut Street Bridge and everything downtown has to offer. Start your riverfront...

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Northshore

The grass is always greener on the North Shore! Maybe not greener, but definitely more of it! The North Shore is connected to downtown by 4 bridges, including the Walnut Street Bridge which is one of the longest pedestrian-only bridges in the world. You can toggle between the shores of the Tennessee River by walking, using a bike from Bike Chattanooga or taking the free electric shuttle. So easy....

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Signal Mountain

That other mountain community gets all the love, but Signal Mountain is a dream for those seeking to get away from it all and deep into the natural beauty of the region while still staying close to the city and all it has to offer. Named one of the “best places to live in Tennessee,” the mountaintop community is also a great place to visit. One word: trails. Just 20-minutes from downtown, Signal...

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St. Elmo

Nestled at the base of Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo is a surprising little town. On your way in, you will be greeted with the International Towing Museum. Wait… what??? Yes, a towing museum. The only one in the world to be exact. The first recovery vehicle was created in Chattanooga. The Museum features a replica of the first towing vehicle as well as vehicles from other countries and decades. Then...

Learn More