CITY OF RINGGOLD, GEORGIA!…read more Ringgold, GA is a friendly little town just south of Chattanooga. It has a downtown center that is great for browsing, Civil War connections and plenty of eating options. The people here are very warm and friendly. As my husband and I attended the 1890's Day Jamboree, we came upon this location which happens to be the welcome center. There were a couple of ladies her selling ice cold drinks and popcorn for a dollar and souvenirs at various prices. As we explored this little house, we realized that it was dedicated to Dr. Steve who lived and worked in the community from the 50's to the mid 80's and delivered over 6000 infants. This building was once his office and still contains much of the equipment that he used during his tenure. There were hospital beds, a baby bed, his desk, a surgical suite, medicines, and old x-ray machine and more. We were guided on our tour by the Main Street Manager, Rhonda Johnson who also gave us interesting information about the doctor. I was surprised to know the the doctor had lost some of the tips of his fingers due to his frequent use of the x-ray machine without protection. He eventually added an adapter that allowed more distance between him and the machine. It is very obvious that Dr. Steve made an unforgettable impact on this town and is still fondly remembered today. The plaque on the front of this house reads: Dr. Steve's Place. At the rear of the building, there is a community room that can be rented out for meetings and gatherings. You can also have your lunch catered in if you wish. If you want to know a little bit of the town's history, this is a great place to start.

This place is so cool. So much history and so worth checking out…read more We drove through much of this but stopped by the tower. Of course I had to walk up it ....and back down. I had spaghetti legs after that, but it was so worth it. The view from the top is so beautiful.

Had an amazing visit here today. It is absolutely worth the visit. So much history…read more I can truly appreciate the self guided narration by utilizing the NPS app. It helps keep you on track as you navigate through the battlefield. Next visit I plan to do a little more walking around. This is a huge land mass and there are some areas you cannot get to via vehicle. It was nice to see lots of people on bike, flying kites and with the pets.

What a cute park! Unfortunately the zip line is broken. The bathrooms are NOT recommended if you've…read morea child with sensory disorder. The toilets auto flush are extremely loud on top of the air hand dryer that's as loud. I'm an adult w/o problems and wanted to cover my ears. The park has beautiful sidewalks, walking path , kids play area, picnic shelters, benches, bench swings... all with snack cake themed. Super cute! There's a Little Debbie Shop but we didn't make it before they closed

I'm a kid at heart and I love oatmeal cream pies so when I found out about this park, I knew I had…read moreto visit. It's super cute, spacious, and one of my favorite things is that it's sensory inclusive. I enjoyed finding all of the "hidden" snacks in the park. It's kinda like a scavenger hunt for grown up snack junkies! If you're in the area, it's a must visit spot! Pro Tip: The Little Debbie store down the street from the park was closed due to the Labor Day holiday so keep that in mind when planning your visit.

If love history and any kind then you must take a few minutes and stop and just take it in. I…read morethink sometimes we forget what this country has gone through and remembering is a way to make the future better for all.

THE BATTLE AT RINGGOLD GAP: A HERO IS REMEMBERED!…read more This little park is easy to miss if you are not looking for it along Highway 41 just east of downtown Ringgold. We drove right past it but realizing what we had missed, we stopped on the return trip. Just look for the stone wall and the large statue. This park consists of a historical monument to General Cleburne and several historic markers commemorating the Battle at Ringgold Gap and the beginning of the Atlanta Campaign. With only 4100 Confederate soldiers, Maj. Gen. Patrick Cleburne successfully defended the city of Ringgold against an army of 20,000 Union soldiers. The bronze statue, erected in 2003, depicts a man in a reflective posture with a determined expression. It pays great respect to a man who faced a sudden call to lead a demoralized group of men. With the number of men he went up against, it was sheer strategy and tenacity that allowed him to stay in control as long as he did. He became known as Stonewall of the West. This little park is a simple roadside park with picnic tables and not much else. It clearly exists as a Civil War Monument and should be respected as such. I

This was something I very much wanted to see while in Chattanooga. I remember learning about the…read moreTrail of Tears in school in Virginia but, hadn't known a great deal about it. I read about it before visiting and was very impressed by this monument paying tribute to the Cherokee nation and the suffering of those forced from their ancestral lands by mass exodus and essentially a death march, hence the name. I was surprised to see that this is a monument that the city allows you to fully walk, play, and swim in and there were dozens of families with children playing and splashing in the water. It was something I'm not used to seeing and I thought it was wonderful that the city allows this. It was extremely hot the day I visited in July but also, this is interactive and encourages people to come and spent time here. It's a physical tribute to the countless tears shed no doubt during this event and a powerful tribute to a darker part of American history.

The Passage is a permanent exhibit near the aquarium, and pays tribute to the seven clans of the…read moreCherokee Nation through symbolism. The Trail of Tears, when Cherokee tribes were forced from their lands in Chattanooga to Oklahoma, started nearby. The Passage is a walkway, where people can see the Weeping Wall, representing the tears shed as Cherokees were forced from their homes and made to walk the Trail of Tears. 7 disks along the Weeping Wall tell the story of the Cherokee Nation. Facing the Tennessee River are 7 figures playing stickball. Playing the important game of stickball provided a way for members of the Cherokee Nation to settle disagreements, even to the point of players getting injured or killed. Just my opinion, but I think this a valuable exhibit that should be maintained a lot better and treated with respect. During my visit, to The Passage, there were a lot of people wading in the water, and wall that the stainless steel stickball players are on appeared water damaged.

Went here in the afternoon with my husband and kids (age 7&8). We did the guided tour and it was…read morewonderful! The inside museum is self guided. We took probably 20-30 minutes inside, then hopped on a golf cart for the guided part of the tour. It ended up taking about an hour to an hour and a half. Our guide was so knowledgeable and made learning fun (per my kids!). If you want to learn a little history in a relaxed and engaging environment, you should stop in here! Keep in mind that most of the tour/museum is outside, so if you don't want to get wet or be too cold or too hot, plan your visit with the weather in mind.

Our guide, Jody, made it great! Upon driving up to the museum, we didn't expect much and inside the…read moresmall museum wasn't much. But once we boarded the golf cart on the guided tour with Jody, that all changed. The weather was great, which always helps but the knowledge Jody shared at each stop took us back in history. As a teacher, I appreciated each detail and he (Jody) was always ready to answer questions. The property around the museum is where all of the history took place and Tunnel Hill takes great pride in their local treasure. I was surprised to learn all the seemingly small place had to offer. Kudos to all the people who work hard to keep this place alive. My kids and I had a great visit! I will note that it is more for middle school and up. And it's good for the kids to already have some knowledge about the Civil War. I only rate it one star less than perfect because the displays and mannequins need quite a bit of updating. You do have to have a good guide!

This sculpture garden is part of The River Gallery. The River Gallery is a gallery space in a turn…read moreof the century home that showcases regional and national fine arts and crafts, while the Sculpture Garden is a captivating outdoor experience in a lovely garden setting that showcases sculptures from their permanent collection as well as sculptures available to purchase. Information regarding sculpture purchases is available through The River Gallery. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed in the Sculpture Garden. Since we had our dog with us while visiting the area, we walked along the sidewalk on the street while looking down at the Sculpture Garden. From this vantage point, you're still able to admire a snippet of the lovely curved paths and public works of art. This outdoor garden landscape is supposedly on a two-acre space, and it overlooks the beautiful Tennessee River. The garden is also said to feature not only the works of art to admire but also boasts a meditation area, formal garden, and an informal garden with a recycling mountain stream. If you're in the area and dog free, it's certainly worth a visit.

The River Gallery Sculpture Garden sneaks up on you....or at least it snuck up on us. We were…read moredoing a day trip in Chattanooga, stopped to park for coffee and saw one funky statue, went to check it out and saw another, and another, and wait...what IS this place??? ***Googles*** OHHHH....Sculpture Garden! As others have said, this is really a hidden in plain sight spot that rests on a cliff overlooking a river. Very picturesque, and the sculptures range from small and neat (a group of fish pouring into water) to things that are larger than life and causes you to ponder. On a nice and warm day, you can easily find yourself missing a few hours here, especially if you bring snacks from the nearby restaurants. I was not expecting it. This was not on the itinerary, but i'm very happy we stumbled upon the Sculpture garden. It's kinda awesome, and that it's just on the outskirts of town sets the mood for how your time in Chattanooga will be. True, i'm not some artsy fartsy soul...but being allowed to dabble in this art environment was well received, and the next time I return it wont be by accident! Check this place out!!

This Memorial started within a couple of weeks of the tragedy, on July 16th 2015 when a young Isis…read moresympathizer decided to open fire here at a military recruiting center and then again 5 miles away on Amnicola Highway where the 5 died. The community rose up to support the families and for more than 2 months. Flags were being waved off bridges and the grass area here because covered in flags and notes. A flag pole went up within two weeks and money was raised for what you see here. Chattanooga stood strong during and after this event but will not be forgotten.