While planning a trip to Chattanooga, my son said that he wanted to See Rock City On The Of Lookout Mountain In Chattanooga, Tennessee. We had been there many times before, but it was always at Christmas time. I didn’t realize that my son had never seen Rock City without being decorated for Christmas or during the daytime. Don’t get me wrong, Christmas time at Rock City is excellent. That’s why we’ve been so many times but seeing it during the daytime in its natural beauty is spectacular.
Rock City Gardens is located on top of Lookout Mountain right outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Lookout Mountain is home to Rock City Gardens, Ruby Falls, and The Incline Railway. Lookout Mountain also played a significant role in the Civil War. Lookout Mountain is rich in beauty and history.
When you arrive at Rock City Gardens and purchase a ticket, you will be lead into a square where you will find a couple of shops, a photographer, and a place to buy snacks and drinks. You are then lead guided by arrows to the entrance of the garden. Throughout Rock City Gardens, it is themed with fairy tales. You will find Gnomes, stories from the Grimm Brothers, and Mother Goose Rhymes.
Rock City Gardens are made up of paths that wind and steps, lots of steps. Along the routes, you will find rocks named after items they resemble. There are many places to sit, and around every turn is a photo opportunity, whether it be a staged area with Rock City Garden’s name displayed or the beauty of the landscape. While at Rock City Gardens, you will feel like you are one with your surrounding. The paths allow you to enjoy the gardens at your own pace, and I recommend that you take your time and soak up the beauty.
I loved all the photo opportunities along the paths. My family, not so much. They were just ready to get to the swinging bridge.
Each area of the path has a different name. There is the Needle Eye which is a tight squeeze but not as close as Fat Man Squeeze. I have to admit I was getting a little panicky, wondering if I would make it. I did fit without any problems, and it was all in my head. I didn’t think I was claustrophobic, but now I think I might be.
I prefer the swinging bridge. If you think you can’t cross the swinging bridge, I promise it was not that bad. You’re not that high off the ground. It does bounce, and I had to hold on and go slow.
The next stop after the swinging bridge was the highlight or main attraction at Rock City Gardens, Lovers Leap. It is Sitting at the highest point of Look Out Mountain.
From Lover’s Leap at the top of Lookout Mountain, you can See Seven States. The view is spectacular. There are binoculars at the top, but they were closed off due to Covid. You don’t want to put your face where someone else just put theirs. I don’t think I will ever use one of those again, but that reminds me that you should take a pair of binoculars if you are planning a trip.
While you are strolling through the gardens be sure to keep your eyes out for hiding Gnomes. The can be spotted everywhere.
When you start your journey back to the park entrance, your next stop is a cave. Throughout the cave are scenes from Grimm’s fairytale collection. They are in small dark caverns and painted with black light reflective paint. Each cavern tells a different story. At the end is a large Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhyme World model that you walk around looking at all the scenes from your childhood nursery rhymes. When you exit the cave, it is just a short walk to the end of the tour, where you leave the gardens through a gift shop back to where you originally entered.
Rock City Gardens is a fun day trip. We took our time and walked through the whole garden in about two hours. Because the rocks are cool and most of the path is in the shade, it kept us cool.
Rock City Gardens is a great day trip, or make it an overnight adventure. There are so many things to do and see in Chattanooga that you could even make it a vacation. Let me know if I can help you plan your trip. In 2019 I decided to take my travel knowledge and experience and became a Travel Agent with Enchanted Memories Travel. If you would like a free quote for a trip, I would love to help. Please email me at eclay@enchatedmem.com and follow me on Facebook at Enchanted Memories Travel Erin Clay.
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