Chattanooga is the fourth largest city in Tennessee located on the Chickamauga Lake and Nickajack Lake, both of which are part of the Tennessee River.  The city lies between the ridge-and-valley portion of the Appalachian Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau.  Surrounded by various mountains and ridges, Chattanooga’s official nickname is the "Scenic City."

Chattanooga Attractions

Chattanooga attractions are world-class with breathtaking views surrounding you everywhere you turn.  It is also one of the South’s top travel destinations.  In fact, the New York Times named Chattanooga one of the “Top 45 Places to Visit" in the world. 

Whether you want to take in a play or concert, visit a museum, enjoy the outdoors or experience a piece of history, it’s all here.  Popular destinations include the Tennessee Aquarium, Lookout Mountain, Rock City, Ruby Falls and the Hunter Museum of Art, just to name a few.

Chattanooga Outdoors

Chattanooga is also known as a premier outdoor destination.  Voted in 2011 as the "Best Town Ever" by Outdoor Magazine . With access to some of the nation’s top venues for rock climbing, road and mountain biking, hiking, white-water rafting, hang gliding and more, all within a short drive of downtown, the Chattanooga outdoors offer unique opportunities for even the most hardcore outdoor enthusiasts. 

Locals and visitors from all over the world enjoy the ease and access of more trails within 20 minutes of downtown than Boulder, Co. Several events attract athletes from all over the world to Chattanooga. These include a full IronMan race, a half IronMan race, the Seven Bridges Marathon (a Boston qualifier), the Scenic City Half Marathon, several 50 mile trail races  including the Stump Jump and Lookout Mountain 50 miler, and a month long outdoor festival which includes water, trail and climbing sports (River Rocks). 

 For those looking for something a little less adventurous, you can take a bike ride or leisurely stroll down Chattanooga’s beautiful 13-mile Riverwalk that runs along the Tennessee River, enjoy a picnic in one of the many parks and so much more.

Chattanooga Businesses

It’s good to do business in Chattanooga. With a range of economic indicators that show our city outpacing the national average, Chattanooga’s economy was recently recognized by The Wall Street Journal as “one of the nation’s strongest local economies.” Chattanooga’s astounding success has also caught the attention of national magazines like The Atlantic, which recognized Chattanooga for its unusual diversity and ability to support startup businesses. In addition, Business Facilities marked Chattanooga as the American metro with the most “economic growth potential” and Industry Magazine recognized Chattanooga as “one of the best manufacturing locations in the U.S.”

Adding to those successes, the Chattanooga-made VW Passat has gained national recognition as Motor Trend’s 2012 Car of the Year, Kelley Blue Book’s “Best Family Car of the Year,” and Cars.com’s “Best of 2012.”

Since 2008, over $3 billion has been invested in our city by major companies such as Volkswagen, Alstom, Sanofi Aventis, and Amazon.com.   

During the Chamber’s 2011-2012 fiscal year, more than $143 million in business investments were announced for the Chattanooga area, including ADM Flour Milling, CarMax, and Kalenborn International.

Through its recent renaissance, Chattanooga has become what CNBC called a “manufacturing magnet.” Approximately 31,200 workers are employed in manufacturing jobs in the Chattanooga metro area.  With nearly 20 auto suppliers, Volkswagen’s sole U.S. assembly facility has brought more than 5,000 jobs to the Chattanooga area.  The Amazon Distribution Center is the size of 28 football fields that also employs over 5,000 workers.

Volkert, Inc., founded in 1925, is one of the top engineering, planning and environmental consulting firms in the United States that employees more than 600 employees including civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, environmental scientists, CADD designers, surveyors, construction managers and construction inspection personnel.