Downtown is walkable to everything. Food, the riverwalk area, the aquarium, everything. There are free shuttles up and down broad and market so you can get a free shuttle to – the incline railway from anywhere in the downtown, midtown or southside area. You can also take a free shuttle across the river to the north side area if you don’t want to walk. It’s divided into 3 sections – aquarium, midtown/downtown, and southside.

There are several museums in the downtown area, plus it’s getting a new baseball stadium and has a nice soccer stadium – all walkable or via free shuttle of downtown. There is a pinball museum, a children’s museum, an art museum. Towing museum, and other attractions. Plus you have the riverwalk areas, the riverboat and more.

The only reason to stay near Hamilton place – which is a 20 minute drive to downtown – is because it’s near the interstate and for people driving on i-75 to someplace else, it’s convenient. We hate the mall area to be honest. It’s horrible driving around there and you do have to drive if you are there.

Anyone wanting to explore Chattanooga – stay downtown. It’s convenient and central to the entire county if you want to go hiking someplace or go for a drive – it’s central to everything. Also starting in May June – there are free concerts in midtown (near miller park) every Friday night complete with food trucks. It’s a good time. The Sunday market is also really fun. There is a different theme every Sunday and food trucks cater to the theme, and there are bands that play there. It’s the biggest market in the area with a dedicated building. Saturdays over the summer there is a market in the aquarium plaza.

Hotel recommendations: We like to be in the midtown area because it’s walkable to both southside and aquarium/riverwalk. And there is an outdoor shopping/food area near there (in the area between the westin and the read house). You can walk to the choo choo from there and to the aquarium area both are about a 15 minute walk. And – if you don’t want to walk – a free shuttle stops by every 5 minutes heading both directions. We like Read House for history – and class and the pool tables in the bar area. it’s on the high end. We’ve also stayed budget at Hotel Bo (a days inn) which is a passion project of the guy who owns the Westin across the street. There is plenty of good food in this area. If you want to be closer to aquarium (with kids maybe) – Hampton Inn. Plenty of hotels near aquarium. If you want something funky – you can stay at the hotel at the Choo Choo which puts you in an old pullman car (near the south side).

Hope this helps. Oh – and I created a map of places recommended by the Chattanooga Times Free Press – for their Crash Course on Chattanooga Scavenger Hunt. https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m....27898235&z=13 There are also adventure lab scavenger hunts that are available that teach about things like the Cherokee, civil war battlefields and murals. https://adventure.geocaching.com/ We have a cool small zoo – but I’m biased. LOL.

Jen