When guests come to visit you in Chattanooga, where do you always take them? Do you hit the hot tourist spots? After all, Rock City is nice, and if you aren’t claustrophobic then Ruby Falls is gorgeous. Of course the Aquarium is a jewel, so that might be on your list. But, if the tourist thing just isn’t your style, or your wallet can’t make it happen, there are still plenty of ways to impress your guests and have fun, too.
The Walnut Street Bridge offers a great starting point for any tour of the city. You can stroll across and point out awesome things to your visitors, from the Hunter Museum to the inevitable stand up paddleboarders you’ll see. It’s a good way to get a feel for what your guests are interested in and balance out some of the great food you’re sure to consume!
First, there are some great restaurants here, so dining shouldn’t be a problem. Whether you and your guests want pizza, or you prefer some farm-to-table fare, or you are seeking a fantastic cocktail, there are options! Chattanooga is home to some good food.
From either end of the bridge, there’s no shortage of things to see and do. Keep on walking and enjoy the sculpture garden at the Hunter Museum and the Riverwalk, or browse the shops and galleries scattered across the North Shore. Either way, you’ll encounter sights and places that are unique to Chattanooga.
If your visitors are from a bigger city, you probably won’t be able to impress them with the art/theater/culture scene in Chattanooga. But, the beauty of the natural landscape here cannot be denied. Take a drive up to Signal Point on Signal Mountain, or to Point Park on Lookout Mountain and spend a few minutes enjoying the grandeur and beauty of the Chattanooga Valley in its entirety.
While we might not be able to boast about the number of clubs or other nightlife venues in Chattanooga, there are some fine places to enjoy a 
good craft beer. In fact, it seems like new places pop up every other week or so. Taking some time to visit local breweries and retailers of local beers could be fun — depending on the tastes of your visitors.
Warner Park and the Chattanooga Zoo are great at any time of year. Coolidge Park, Renaissance Park, and the Riverwalk are nice places to walk, picnic, or just hang out. From Cloudland Canyon just to the south of Chattanooga to Fall Creek Falls north of the city, there are plenty of places to show off the natural splendor of the area.
We asked our Facebook and Twitter communities where they take out of town guests, and here are their answers, ranked in order of popularity:
- Walnut Street Bridge
- Bluff View/Art District
- the Sculpture Garden at the Hunter Museum
- the Aquarium
- Point Park
- the Southern Belle
- Snooper’s Rock
After those places, several people mentioned local restaurants:
- Canyon Grill
- Lupi’s Pizza
- Hot Chocolatier
- the Boat House
What did we miss? Where do you take out of town guests?
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