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Raccoon Mountain Caverns
319 West Hills Drive. Call 423-8219403 or visit raccoonmountain.com.
➥ Journey into the Earth to explore over 5.5 miles of underground passageways in one of the most geologically active caverns in the South. The roughly 45-minute Crystal Palace Walking Tour takes guests through the commercial section of the cave as a guide explains how caves form. Kids can also pan for gems, and the whole family can literally set up camp in the full-service campground.
Rock City Gardens
1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, Ga. Call 706-820-2531 or visit seerockcity.com.
➥ Arguably Chattanooga’s most well-known tourist attraction, Rock City offers a 4,100-foot walking trail in a scenic, 14-acre park located atop Lookout Mountain. Visitors can see a variety of interesting rock formations. Take in a stunning view of seven states from Lover’s Leap.
Ruby Falls
1720 S. Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain, Tenn. Call 423-821-2544 or visit rubyfalls.com.
➥ Take a guided tour that culminates with an LED-illuminated waterfall spilling into a pool in a cavern deep underground. Located more than 1,120 feet beneath Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls is the nation’s deepest commercial cave and highest and most-visited underground waterfall.
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
4119 Cromwell Road (Grand Junction) and 727 Tennessee Ave. S, Etowah, Tenn. (Etowah Station). Call 423-8948028 or visittvrail.com.
➥ Celebrating Chattanooga’s historic role as a hub of the railroad industry, the museum’s holdings include about 10 steam and diesel-electric locomotives, as well as a number of passenger cars. With daily excursions (in season) and a variety of special events — including the family favorite “North Pole Limited” each winter — trains still depart from the station.