Nestled
between the mountains and the river, Chattanooga provides
the perfect atmosphere for romance.
NATURAL ATTRACTIONS –
Day Trip
Morning:
• If you think your sweetie brings out the animal
in you, check out the critters at the Tennessee Aquarium. Stroll through
the beautiful forests under glass and learn more about
animal courtship. With thousands of animals that swim,
fly and crawl there's always something new. Begin your
Aquarium adventure in the River Journey building and follow
a drop of water from streams high in the Appalachian Mountains
to the Gulf of Mexico - and all the places in-between. Check out
the river otters, marvel at the enormous catfish and maybe
even get "hands-on" with a lake sturgeon in
Discovery Hall. Don’t miss the special exhibition,
“Seahorses: Beyond Imagination.”
Then cross the Plaza and visit Ocean
Journey, the Aquarium’s new $30 million expansion.
You’ll enter a Tropical Cove, island hop and touch
harmless sharks and stingrays and visit a garden with
hundreds of free-flying butterflies. You’ll also
discover a Secret Reef with 10-foot sharks, dramatic coral
formations and thousands of colorful reef fish. Complete
your visit by exploring the Undersea Cavern, where sharks
swim overhead and amazing reef creatures surround you.
And you might want to check out our behind-the-scenes tour to learn more
about how the Aquarium staff cares for the animals.
• After your Aquarium
visit, cross the street to the IMAX 3D Theater. With its six-story screen and digital surround
sound, you don't just watch the movie — you feel
as if you're in it! It's so real, it's
unreal!
• Then it's time to have lunch at Big River Grille, located just one
block from the Aquarium & IMAX. Indulge your sweet
tooth and split a slice of their signature carrot cake
or another selection from the dessert menu!
Afternoon:
• Take a short drive down Broad Street and up Lookout
Mountain to Rock
City where you'll explore massive ancient rock
formations, gardens with more than 400 native plant species,
and panoramic views 1,700 feet above sea level. A 100-foot
waterfall cascades from Rock
City down Lookout Mountain
and the Swing-a-Long bridge spans nearly 200 feet. Rock City's
Lover's Leap has proven a popular destination for those
popping the question, "Will you marry me?" Nothing
is quite as breathtaking as the view from 1,700 above
sea level.
OR
• See
Ruby Falls,
the "jewel of Lookout
Mountain,"
with the one you love. Your visit takes you into the heart
of the mountain, where a 145-foot waterfall cascades from
the rock. The falls have delighted audiences since the
1930s.
OR
• If the weather
allows, don't miss the hiking
trails and scenic overlooks on Lookout
Mountain.
The trails are a great way to experience Chattanooga's
"wild side."
Evening:
• Head back downtown and have dinner in the Museum District -- the cozy restaurants have a real European
feel. You can explore the Sculpture
Garden before dinner and you'll have a great view of
the Tennessee River.
• Check out the Valentine
Package at the Chattanoogan resort. This February
package includes overnight accommodations, champagne upon
arrival, dinner, massages, and more. Call 877-756-1684
for reservations.
2. DOWNTOWN ROMANCE –
Day Trip
Morning:
•
Begin your day at the Tennessee Aquarium. Stroll through
the beautiful forests under glass or learn more about
animal courtship. With thousands of animals that swim,
fly and crawl there's always something new. Begin your
Aquarium adventure in the River Journey building and follow
a drop of water from streams high in the Appalachian Mountains
to the Gulf of Mexico – and all the places in between. Chick
out the river otters, marvel at the enormous catfish and
get “hands-on” with a lake sturgeon in Discovery
Hall. Don’t miss the special exhibition, “Seahorses:
Beyond Imagination.” Then cross the Aquarium
Plaza to the Ocean
Journey building – the Aquarium’s new
$30 million expansion. You’ll enter a Tropical Cove,
island hop and touch harmless sharks and stingrays and
then visit a garden with hundreds of free-flying butterflies.
You’ll also discover a Secret Reef with 10-foot
sharks, dramatic coral formations and thousands of colorful
reef fish. Complete your visit by exploring the Undersea
Cavern, where sharks swim overhead and reef creatures
surround you.
•
Sign up for a sightseeing cruise and lunch on the Southern Belle Riverboat. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of
the Tennessee River Gorge, “the Grand
Canyon of the South,” and keep your
eyes open for great blue herons and other wildlife.
Afternoon:
• Take a walk across the Walnut Street Bridge. Enjoy the views from the bridge (one
of the world’s longest pedestrian-only spans)as
you stroll to the North Shore
for shopping. You and your sweetie can reach for the brass
ring as you take a spin on the carousel at Coolidge
Park.
The fun and funky shops along Frazier
Avenue are the perfect place
to find unusual gifts. Be sure to stop by Clumpies Ice
Cream shop for a cone.
Evening:
• Take the Walnut Street Bridge back downtown.
You can catch a ride in a horse-drawn carriage in front
of the Aquarium. Enjoy the lights and sounds of the city
as you ride in style through downtown Chattanooga.
• Then relax in cozy
elegance at the historic 20-room Stone
Fort Inn Bed & Breakfast located in the
heart of downtown Chattanooga, within walking distance
from the city's best restaurants and most popular attractions,
including the Tennessee Aquarium.
2. ROMANTIC WEEKEND
Friday evening:
•
Check out our sponsor
hotel deals to find the perfect place to stay. Have
dinner at one of the downtown restaurants.
SATURDAY
Morning:
• Begin your day
at the Tennessee Aquarium. Stroll through the beautiful forests under
glass or learn more about animal courtship. With thousands
of animals that swim, fly and crawl there's always something
new. Begin your Aquarium adventure in the River Journey
building and follow a drop of water from streams high
in the Appalachian Mountains to the Gulf
of Mexico – and all the places in between.
Chick out the river otters, marvel at the enormous catfish
and get “hands-on” with a lake sturgeon in
Discovery Hall. Don’t miss the special exhibition,
“Seahorses:
Beyond Imagination.” Then cross the Aquarium Plaza
to the Ocean Journey building – the Aquarium’s
new $30 million expansion. You’ll enter a Tropical
Cove, island hop and touch harmless sharks and stingrays
and then visit a garden with hundreds of free-flying butterflies.
You’ll also discover a Secret Reef with 10-foot
sharks, dramatic coral formations and thousands of colorful
reef fish. Complete your visit by exploring the Undersea
Cavern, where sharks swim overhead and reef creatures
surround you.
• After your Aquarium
visit, cross the street to the IMAX 3D Theater. With its six-story screen and digital surround
sound, you don't just watch the movie — you feel
as if you're in it! It's so real, it's
unreal!
Afternoon:
• Have lunch downtown
and explore Chattanooga’s
newly revitalized 21st
Century Riverfront. The Trail of Tears Passage (located
between the Tennessee Aquarium Ocean Journey building
and the Market Street
Bridge)
gives you a chance to learn more about Cherokee culture
and perhaps wade in the cool water of the fountain. Follow
the Passage down to the river, check out the boats along
the dock and then make your way along the shore to the
Chattanooga Pier. You’ll get great views of the
Tennessee River and the
riverfront.
OR
• Take the short
drive up Broad
Street and have lunch in historic
St. Elmo. Then, head up Lookout
Mountain where
you can see Rock
City,
visit Ruby
Falls or take the Incline Railway.
Then, make your way back to downtown Chattanooga
Evening:
•
Have a romantic dinner at one
of the fine restaurants in the Museum
District. Afterwards, you can stroll through the sculpture
garden or challenge your sweetie to a game of bocce ball.
The sunset view of the Tennessee
River is amazing.
SUNDAY
Morning:
•
Sleep late and have brunch at
one of Chattanooga’s
downtown restaurants: Aretha Frankenstein’s on Tremont Street offers Southern fare with
a twist; the Bluff View Inn has a variety of treats; Rembrandt’s
offers hot breakfast sandwiches, French toast and other
goodies.
• Visit the Hunter
Museum of American Art. Perched on an 80-foot bluff on the edge of the Tennessee
River, the Hunter Museum of American Art offers
stunning views of the river and the surrounding mountains.
This panorama is equaled only by the exceptional collection
of American art inside recognized as one of the country's finest.
