CHATTANOOGA

Located in the state’s southeastern highlands along the Tennessee River, Chattanooga was named by Outside Magazine as the “Best Town Ever” for an unprecedented two years in a row. That’s due in no small part to the abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities in the area, including kayaking and canoeing on the local waterways, rock climbing and hiking in the surrounding mountains, and just about every other activity from golf and tennis to whitewater rafting and cave exploration.

Downtown Chattanooga has preserved its historic churches and gracious urban neighborhoods, while also featuring acclaimed attractions like the Hunter Museum of American Art, the Creative Discovery Museum with hands-on exhibits for the kids, and the Tennessee Aquarium. You can easily walk from site to site or take the free electric shuttle to your chosen destination. The weekly Sunday market is a great place to buy farm-fresh fruit and vegetables and shop for local arts and crafts.

Population: 526,000

Transportation: Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport

Healthcare: Memorial Hospital System, Erianger Health System, and Parkridge Hospital System are the Chattanooga area’s leading medical providers.

Culture: The historic Tivoli Theatre is home to the combined Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, which offers shows that often feature visiting performers. The Chattanooga Theatre Center has three stages that offer productions nearly every week, including special shows designed for younger audiences.

Festivals: The National Folk Festival celebrates bluegrass and other traditional American music genres. The Chattanooga Film Festival features movies and documentaries from around the world, and the Chattanooga Hot Air Balloon Festival offers attendees the chance to soar with the birds.

Editor's Choice

Tennessee Riverwalk

One of the nation’s best urban waterfront paths for walking, biking, and rollerblading, The Tennessee Riverwalk is a 16-mile paved trail on the southern bank of the Tennessee River. Tours highlight the Bluff View Art District with its galleries, studios, sculpture gardens, cafés, and coffee shops. The Walnut Street Bridge offers pedestrian access across the river to historic neighborhoods and parks. VisitChattanooga.com

Lookout Mountain

Towering above downtown Chattanooga is Lookout Mountain. After riding on the Incline Railway to the mountaintop, you can explore the extensive cave system and check out the 260-foot-high Ruby Falls, America’s tallest and deepest underground waterfall. The site also offers three relatively easy nature paths of about 2.5 miles each plus three very challenging hiking trails of more than 10 miles in length. The climax of every visit is Rock City, sitting 1,700 above sea level with panoramic views overlooking the city. LookoutMountain.com

“Gig

The Electric Power Board (EPB) provides electric power to local customers. It’s also the first municipal utility in America to offer 10-gigabyte, ultra-fast internet connections along with TV and phone service. In fact, EPB’s fiber-optic network now covers a 600-square-mile area that includes neighboring towns and rural communities as well as providing free Wi-Fi at the airport and other city hot spots. Spurring a rapid growth of new start-up companies in the hi-tech sector and has given Chattanooga a new 21st-century nickname: Gig City. EPB.com