The 19 best free things to do in Chattanooga

21.11.2024 - 17:36 / lonelyplanet.com

Nov 21, 2024 • 9 min read

The city may be a part of musical history, but there's more to Chattanooga than a catchy tune. Besides stunning scenery and outdoor activities,  visitors will also find a city full of engaging cultural experiences. 

While Chattanooga is best known for classic ticketed attractions like the Tennessee Aquarium and Rock City, affordable activities abound. From public sculpture gardens and city parks to historic sites and craft markets, there's plenty to do in the Scenic City for free. Start with our roundup of the 20 best free things to do in Chattanooga.

Once an abandoned shipping yard, Coolidge Park is a family-favorite spot. It has a fountain with stone lions, a restored wooden carousel, a 50ft climbing wall and walking paths along the river’s edge.

One end of the park is anchored by the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, which has put on fun performances by adult and youth casts for decades. The other ends with the Market Street Bridge and connects to Renaissance Park.

A kayak and canoe launch will get you onto the Tennessee River, and many restaurants and shops have back entrances opening to the park. Grab a sandwich from River Street Deli, ice cream from Clumpies, or a gourmet weenie from Good Dog and start exploring.

The best day trips from Chattanooga 

The Walnut Street Bridge has been part of the Chattanooga skyline for over a century. It became a symbol of racial divides in the Jim Crow South after two lynchings – one in 1893 and another in 1906.

The bridge was nearly demolished in 1978 due to disrepair. Concerned citizens rallied to save the bridge and got it added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Money was raised to retrofit the Walnut as one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world. It quickly attracted tourists and locals, linking the revitalized downtown and North Shore neighborhoods.

Today, the Walnut Street Bridge hosts various events like the Wine Over Water Festival and Seven Bridges Marathon. It also provides a viewing spot for waterfront events like the Riverbend Festival, Iron Man competition or downtown fireworks displays.

Towards the Walnut Street Bridge’s south end at First and Market Streets is a sculpture garden that rotates its works every year or so. Stroll down the hill on your way up to the Bluff View or down towards the Aquarium. Enjoy pieces like Louise Peterson's "High Four," a beloved statue of a Great Dane offering a paw that took on a patina as visitors paused to shake it.

The Tennessee Riverwalk is a 16-mile greenway running from Chickamauga Dam in Hixson to the old Wheeland Foundry in St Elmo. There are several restaurants and businesses to stop at along the way, from the Boathouse on Amnicola Highway (get the tableside-made guac and