Chattanooga, TN

Strollin' on the River

Before embarking on the riverfront part of your trip, stop by the Visitor's Center at Ross' Landing Park for maps and a changing selection of money-saving coupons for local attractions:

• Tennessee Aquarium
  Make this your first stop. And be forewarned, it's no ordinary fishtank. You'll find fascinating amphibians, birds, reptiles, mammals, plants, and much more.
• Creative Discovery Museum
  Two blocks from the aquarium sits one of the best hands-on kid's museums in the country. Just look for the crazy turquoise tower. Budding inventors can build a robot, aspiring musicians can play instruments and make recordings, artists can sculpt and paint, and little scientists can dig up dinosaur bones or don costumes depicting their favorite prehistoric beasts.
• Coolidge Park Carousel
  For an outdoor break, cross the Walnut Street Bridge, a pedestrian-only walkway over the river with great views. When you get to the other side, there's a lovely, restored merry-go-round.
• Hunter Museum of American Art
  If your kids can hold on a little longer, make a stop at this historic riverfront mansion, where you'll find paintings by Winslow Homer, Mary Cassatt, and Thomas Hart Benton. Nearby, in the Bluff View District, take a stroll through galleries, craft shops, and tempting cafes.