Your Chattanooga CME conference.

Chattanooga after your study day

Study days finish at 2:00 PM Chattanooga time. For an easy afternoon, choose one outing near where you are staying: the Tennessee Aquarium on the riverfront, the Walnut Street Bridge, or Coolidge Park, which has a restored carousel and a play fountain. Visit Chattanooga describes all three as within walking distance of one another, so one of them can anchor the afternoon and the others can follow if you still have energy. Check each attraction’s hours against your 2:00 PM finish, and leave time for parking and the walk.

Travel, lodging and attraction admission are arranged separately. Your conference is built around your own interests; Chattanooga is simply the setting you choose for it.

The riverfront and the bridge

The Walnut Street Bridge is a pedestrian-only crossing of the Tennessee River, 2,376 feet long and built in 1890, according to the city’s parks department. It gives you river views without needing a car, and it connects to the North Shore district on the far side of the river. Coolidge Park, near the bridge, also hosts events, so check what is on before you go.

For a longer walk, the Tennessee Riverpark is a 13-mile paved greenway that links downtown to Chickamauga Dam and the St. Elmo neighborhood. Renaissance Park, a 23-acre preserve along the river, was once an industrial site. The tourism board also lists an electric shuttle, bike share and walking as ways to move between the downtown neighborhoods, which can make a car unnecessary for a short outing.

Museums or the Bluff View Art District?

The Bluff View Art District sits above the Tennessee River and combines restaurants, galleries, museums and lodging in one compact area. Its River Gallery Sculpture Garden covers two acres overlooking the river and Maclellan Island, with sculptures, a butterfly garden and a meditation area. The Houston Museum of Decorative Arts holds Native American artifacts, Tiffany glassware and antique music boxes.

The Hunter Museum of American Art is also here, in a building that combines architecture from the late 1800s, 1970 and 2005, with an outdoor sculpture garden. The Hunter is closed on Tuesdays and on a few holidays, so confirm that it is open on your day. From the museum you can cross to the Walnut Street Bridge on foot.

Lookout Mountain outings

Lookout Mountain rises about 2,000 feet above sea level and overlooks the city. The Incline Railway, a 1-mile climb, links the St. Elmo neighborhood with the top of the mountain. Point Park is a Civil War battlefield site known as the Battle Above the Clouds; its visitor center has a large battle mural. The park is part of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, which also includes Cravens House, a rebuilt home near the site of heavy fighting. A hiking trail runs from the house to Sunset Rock, which suits a walk.

Rock City advertises views of seven states from the top of the mountain, and Ruby Falls is a 145-foot waterfall inside the mountain, reached by elevator. These are separate attractions with their own entrances, so check each one’s current hours and reservation rules before you plan an afternoon around it. Allow for the drive up the mountain and for parking.

Southside for an evening walk

Southside spans the area between 12th and 20th streets and is anchored by the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo. Visit Chattanooga lists restaurants, small shops, galleries and live music, along with local breweries and a whiskey distillery. Station Street is a pedestrian-friendly strip, and Main Terrain Art Park suits wandering. The tourism board says the electric shuttle runs to Southside and suggests riding it to the final stop to explore. Choose Southside if you prefer a neighborhood with evening options close together.

When to visit Chattanooga

Visit Chattanooga describes mild winter temperatures, pleasant spring and fall temperatures and summers that are not too hot. That makes April through June and September through November a sensible starting point for outdoor plans such as the riverfront and the mountain overlooks. Use the local forecast when you decide which afternoon to spend outside.

Getting to Chattanooga and your study setting

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) is the arrival point shown in this guide. Its website lists rental cars, taxis and limousines, shuttles and ride sharing for ground transportation. Choose your accommodation and getting around with both your study setting and your plans outside study hours in mind.

The map shows straight-line distances from Shift’s designated center. These are orientation distances, not driving distances or travel-time estimates. Check your exact address against the conference’s check-in area before booking.