Downtown Chattanooga: the walking tour

Downtown Chattanooga did the thing most downtowns only talk about — it actually came back. The riverfront went from industrial to the best-looking downtown in Tennessee, and it’s all walkable.

The walk

Start at the Aquarium, walk the riverfront to the Hunter Museum and Bluff View Art District (coffee, bakeries, river views), cross the Walnut Street Bridge to Coolidge Park and the North Shore shops, and finish on Frazier Avenue for dinner. That’s the core loop, and it’s about three miles if you do all of it.

What to see along the way

• Tennessee Aquarium — the anchor. Two buildings, half a day.
• Bluff View Art District — coffee, chocolate, art galleries, and the best free river overlooks.
• Coolidge Park — the antique carousel (still a quarter a ride, last I checked), the fountains kids play in all summer.
• North Shore / Frazier Ave — local shops, restaurants, bars. The best people-watching in the city.

Local tips

• Parking downtown is meters and garages — the garages are cheaper for a full day.
• The free electric shuttle runs a downtown loop if your feet give out.
• First Friday of the month, the galleries stay open late with free wine. It’s a whole scene.