What to do in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga Named Oustide Magazine's "Best Town Ever"

Chattanooga claims top spot in Outside's annual issue highlighting the Best Places to Live. Outside magazine, America's leading active-lifestyle publication, has selected Chattanooga, Tennessee as the winner in its search to determine the best Outside town in America, following a three week competition held on Facebook.

Outside sourced the nation to find dream cities that offered a balance of great culture, perfect scenery, stree-free and reasonable cost of living, and, of course, easy access to the outdoors. Chattanooga came out on top, receiving the official honour of Outside's "Best Towns Ever" and is featured on the October 2011 magazine cover and features on Outside Online.

Chattanooga was selected from a list of ten finalists, and competed for the top honour against Charleston, SC; Madison, WI; Portland, OR; Portland, ME; Santa Fe, NM; Ashland, OR; Boulder, CO; Burlington, VT; Tucson, AZ.

"Putting this issue together is always a tough process when choosing between a number of truly great places. This year we tried something new and allowed the Outside community to help us in the decision making process," said Outside Editor Chris Keyes. "In addition to possessing all of the great qualities that we look for in determining the quality of life, Chattanooga was a town that everyone rallied to support."

Outside is America's leading active lifestyle magazine with 2.5 million readers every month. For more than 30 years, the magazine's mission has been to inspire active participation through award-winning coverage of travel, sports, adventure, health & fitness, gear & apparel, personallities, the environment and the style & culture of the world Outside. Along with receiving many other accolades, Outside is the only magazine to win three consecutive National Magazine Awards for General Excellence. Visit the magazine online at www.outsideonline.com.

Chattanooga Makes it Easy to Stay & Play with Top 10 Summer Adventures

Summer in Chattanooga, Tennessee means events, festivals, music, arts, extreme outdoor adventures, baseball, delectable delights, shopping and so much fun you'll find something for everyone in the family to do. Chattanooga is less than a two-hour drive from Atlanta, Nashville, Knoxville, Huntsville and Birmingham. Located along the Tennessee River and surrounded by mountains.

Once you arrive, you can park your car and explore the city aboard the free electric shuttle that connects you to downtown hotels, attractions, boating options, restaurants, riverfront scattered with parks, green spaces and a minor-league baseball stadium, coffee shops and shopping venues throughout the Downtown/Riverfront, North Shore and Southside Districts.

Chattanooga was named a top destination to live, work and play by Outside Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and Southern Living magazine - and it's easy to see why. Chattanooga is a holiday paradise for people who want to escape the real world for a while and indulge in a wide variety of activities.

Chattanooga's Top 10 Adventures

1. BOATING CRUISES: Explore the downtown riverfront and the Tennessee River on an eco-cruise aboard the Tenneessee Aquarium's River Gorge Explorer or on the Blue Moon; a sightseeing lunch or dinner cruise on the Southern Belle Riverboat or a scenic ride along the riverfront aboard the amphibious Chattanooga Ducks.

2. WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS: Come face-to-face with sharks, stingrays, penguins & thousands of other animals that swim, fly and crawl at the downtown Tennessee Aquarium; go on an exotic voyage into the wild at the Tennessee Aquarium's IMAX 3D Cinema or venture near snow leopards, red pands, jaguars and more at the Chattanooga Zoo.

3. FESTIVALS & LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Be entertained at numerous downtown music festivals throughout the summer including the 9-day Riverbend Festival featuring Miranda Lambert, Brian McKnight, Beach Boys, Casting Crowns & more; 5-month Nightfall Concert Series; Riverfront Nights Music Series; Southern Brewer's Festival or year-round concerts at Rhythm & Brews.

4. CULINARY DISCOVERIES: Whether you're lookingfor upscale restaurants or trendy dives, you'll find an array of establishments downtown that have attracted food reviewers and celebs. For fine-dining, Wine-Spectator-Award winning restaurants, you can't miss Table 2 and 212 Market or the James-Beard nominated St. John's. If you are looking for to-see-and-be-seen in places, check out one of the watering holes with the finest local brews at Big River Grille, Market Street Tavern, Hair of the Dog Pub, Urban Stack of The Terminal.

5. HISTORICAL EXPLORATIONS: Visit the famous Chattanooga Choo Choo in the Southside District; the Trail of Tears passage at Ross's Landing on the downtown riverfront; the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park, International Towing & Recovery Museum; Bessie Smith Cultural Centre or the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, only 15 minutes drive from downtown.

6. ARTS & CULTURAL ACTIVITIES: Take in one of the nation's largest collections of American art at the Hunter Museum of American Art; stroll through museums & galleries in the North Shore, Bluff View Arts & the Southside Districts; create your own masterpiece at the interactive Creative Discovery Museum for children or enjoy public art along First Street, Main Street and the downtown area.

7. SHOPPING SPREE: You'll find an eclectic variety of boutiques, galleries, quaint shops, antiques & restaurants in the downtown North Shore and Southside Districts; and just 15 minutes from downtown visit Hamilton Place, Tennessee's largest mall, that features over 200 shops and eateries.

8. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FUN: Cool down high atop Lookout Mountain, just six miles from downtown. Venture through the trails at Rock City Gardens; 260 feet below the ground at Ruby Falls; straight up and down Lookout Mountain on the world's steepest passenger railway, the Incline Railway; and much more!

9. THRILLING ADVENTURES: If you're up for a thrill, try hang gliding 2,000 feet in the air along Lookout Mountain; whitewater rafting on the wild Ocoee River only 45 minutes from downtown; or plummet 14 stories to the ground 50 miles per hour on the OH-ZONE! at Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park.

10. OUTDOOR RECREATION: Land, air and water - Chattanooga's got it all! Try out rock climbing downtown at Coolidge Park or numerous other places, biking along the Tennessee River on the Tennessee Riverwalk, kayaking or canoeing downtown, hiking, fishing, golfing and more. Outdoor Chattanooga is the central resource for information about outdoor recreation. They also host guided hiking, biking and kayaking trips, classes and demonstrations.

For more information on Chattanooga's Summer Adventures including maps & intineraries, visit www.summer.chattanoogafun.com.

WHAT'S NEW

Chattanooga is dedicated to continually enhancing the city, always making it a better destination. So whether you've been here before or it's your first time, you'll find some great new ways to have fun, topping off an already impressive array of things to do.

High atop Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls opened the ZIPstream Aerial Adventure, an obstacle course built in trees with ladders, nets, bridges, tunnels and zip lines. More information...

Chattanooga River Market is every Saturday from March 19 - September 24 on the Aquarium Plaza and includes live music from local and touring artists, produce, special events and arts & crafts. More information...

Tennessee Aquarium started a Backstage Pass program that gives you VIP access with up-close encounters only accessible by animal keepers. This month they opened an all new exhibit, "Ranger Rick's Backyard," that brings together kids, nature and fun in partnership with National Wildlife Federation. More information...

The nationally acclaimed Civil War Trails Program has arrived in Chattanooga, with 13 interpretive signs and maps - making it even easier to visit the area's historic sites. More information...

Discover seldom-seen Civil War photographs in the exhibition, "Between the States", at the Hunter Museum of American Art. More information...

Bikers' Dozen is a series of scenic loops that are about experiencing life on the back roads of the Tennessee Valley - on your motorcycle or car. This website includes 13 detailed routes, with maps, images, road signs and written route descriptions. More information...