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Mar 23 - Mar 28, 2025
Starting at
2,099
Tennessee
The Best of Chattanooga: Trains, Waterfalls and Battlefields
Program No. 1902260MEADV-1116-60
Discover the Southern gem of Chattanooga as you learn about rock formations, waterfalls, Civil War battlefields and historic trains, Appalachian music and more!
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800-454-5768
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Mar 23 - Mar 28, 2025
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6 days
5 nights
12 meals
5B 3L 4D
1
Check-In, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Chattanooga, TN
2
Chattanooga History, Master Carver, Hunter Museum of Art
Chattanooga, TN
3
Lookout Mountain, Rock City, Ruby Falls, Train History
Chattanooga, TN
4
Terminal Station, Train Missionary Ridge, Music, Aquarium,
Chattanooga, TN
5
Walnut St. Bridge, Dentzel Carousel, Chickamauga Battlefield
Chattanooga, TN
6
About the Challenger STEM Learning Center, Program Concludes
Chattanooga, TN
At a Glance
Chattanooga is a Tennessee gem — where Southern charm and grand Victorian mansions meet a thoroughly modern metropolis. Embark on unique field trips to places like a wood carving school, a river aquarium and an antique carousel. Discover Cherokee and Civil War battlefields and walk across the world’s longest pedestrian bridge. Stand in the shade of the sandstone boulders of Rock City as you learn about their geological history. Feel the cool spray of America’s deepest waterfall. And soak in the sounds of Appalachian music and the charming chug of a historic Chattanooga choo choo. From high up on Lookout Mountain to the underground Ruby Falls cascade, explore Chattanooga from top to bottom.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking up to one mile. Some stairs. Standing in museums for docent talk.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Ride one of the city’s original rail lines through rolling vistas and the Missionary Ridge horseshoe tunnel, and learn about train engineering at the repair shop.
- Explore Lookout Mountain and Ruby Falls, the nation's largest and deepest underground waterfall.
- Journey to Chickamauga Battlefield to learn what happened there in 1863 and how it impacted the Civil War.
General Notes
Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Jonathan Mies
Dr. Jonathan Mies routinely teachs courses in physical geology, structural geology, tectonics, hydrology, X-ray diffraction, field methods, and geology field experience (Basin and Range, Colorado Plateau, and Central America). During the summer, he also teaches at the University of Missouri's Geology Field Camp (Branson Field Laboratory) and in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. His current research interests are focused on the origin of joints in folded sedimentary rocks of foreland fold and thrust belts.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Justin Strickland
View biography
Justin Strickland has been fascinated by trains his entire life. His first "railroad" job was with the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway at the age of 15, where he eventually became a conductor. Justin has also worked with the Southeastern Railway Museum, Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. He authored the only book dedicated to the Terminal Station in Chattanooga and has been interviewed for the railroad documentary "Tracing the Tracks."
Maury Nicely
View biography
Maury Nicely is a lawyer and historian in Chattanooga, Tenn., and author of the “Chattanooga Walking Tour & Historic Guide” and the “East Tennessee Walking Tour & Historic Guide.” Maury has served on the boards of Chattanooga History Center and Cornerstones, Inc., Chattanooga's historic preservation organization.
Carol Burton
View biography
Carol Burton attended Dalton State College, where she began her 16 years as a Road Scholar coordinator with its Center for Educational Adventure. Married to her childhood sweetheart, she grew up in Hampton, Va., and moved to Georgia in 1970. Carol said she was born with a love for animals and volunteers with her local humane society.
Camilla Comerford
View biography
Camilla Comerford is certified in leading educational adventures and has traveled throughout Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, and Ireland. Camilla also worked for almost 30 years in the commercial real estate business in Atlanta, Georgia and other cities throughout the South. She looks forward to sharing her love for the region with you!
Jim Ogden
View biography
Jim Ogden is a historian who became interested in the Civil War the summer between 4th and 5th grade. His interests in that period of history have continued to grow and broaden. He started his career at The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in 1982. He then had stints at Russell Cave National Monument in Bridgeport, Ala. and Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park in Fredericksburg, Va. He returned to Chickamauga and Chattanooga in 1988. He was born and raised in Southern Maryland.
Jonathan Mies
View biography
Dr. Jonathan Mies routinely teachs courses in physical geology, structural geology, tectonics, hydrology, X-ray diffraction, field methods, and geology field experience (Basin and Range, Colorado Plateau, and Central America). During the summer, he also teaches at the University of Missouri's Geology Field Camp (Branson Field Laboratory) and in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. His current research interests are focused on the origin of joints in folded sedimentary rocks of foreland fold and thrust belts.
Tom Morley
View biography
Tom Morley’s musical career spans thirty years and a host of genres. He's played Celtic, bluegrass, classical, swing, Americana and country honky tonk, earning a gold album for his work with “new traditionalist” country artist John Anderson. Classically trained with a degree in music education, Tom's followed his passion for Irish traditional music for the past two decades. Tom teaches privately and at fiddle workshops and string camps around the U.S., including Boston's Fiddle Hell Gathering and the John C. Campbell Folk School.
Anthony Hodges
View biography
Dr. Anthony Hodges attended the University of Alabama, graduated from University of Tennessee/Chattanooga and the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences in Memphis with a D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery) degree in 1981. He recently retired from dentistry after 35 years. He became interested in early American and Civil War history as a child thanks to family oral history and began collecting Civil War artifacts as a boy. He served as a National Park Service living history interpreter for more than 30 years.
Suggested Reading List
(5 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The Best of Chattanooga: Trains, Waterfalls and Battlefields
Program Number: 19022
Chattanooga's Terminal Station (TN)
Long before Glenn Miller made the world-famous "Chattanooga Choo Choo" an American icon, Chattanooga was already a bustling railroad community. By the beginning of the 20th century, passenger trains overwhelmed Chattanooga's two railroad depots and a larger station was needed. The solution was Terminal Station, which rivaled most Southern depots in size, expense, and aesthetic beauty. Providing transportation to cities throughout the country, the terminal made its mark as the gateway for rail from the agricultural south to the industrial north. Following its closure, the terminal was reopened as a renowned hotel and entertainment complex in 1973, becoming one of Chattanooga's many exciting attractions. Images of Rail: Chattanooga's Terminal Station follows the history of this depot in both stories and photographs.
Chattanooga Landmarks (TN): Exploring the History of the Scenic City (The History Press) [Paperback]
Chattanooga's history and heritage are embodied in the historical sites, structures and groundbreaking feats of engineering that have defined the city from its beginning. Many of the Scenic City's most important landmarks are still preserved. Yet with so many fascinating historic sites and storied destinations, seeing them all is no easy task. Fortunately, Chattanooga Landmarks offers a helpful survey of the most historically significant sites in the city and the surrounding area. Join Chattanooga local Jennifer Crutchfield as she guides you through the city's historic wonders, both natural and man-made. From the top of Lookout Mountain down to the banks of the Tennessee River and through downtown, Chattanooga Landmarks covers the breadth of the historic sites that make this Tennessee city a landmark all its own.
Truth, Lies, and O-Rings: Inside the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster
What they didn't want you to know
"We all watched in shock and disbelief when Challenger was lost. Probably no one felt more disappointment and regret than Allan McDonald, who had warned us not to launch that day. His story tells of loss, grief, and the eventual rebuilding and recovery."--Robert "Hoot" Gibson, former Space Shuttle pilot and commander
"A major contribution to a difficult episode in the history of human spaceflight."--Roger D. Launius, Division of Space History, Smithsonian Institution
Hidden History of Chattanooga
The enigmatic hills and woodlands of the Chattanooga area are a sanctuary of history, and the hometown of author Alexandra Walker Clark. Clark has chronicled the history of her hometown for the Chattanooga Times and the Chattanooga History Journal, and in this collection she combines some of her favorite stories to take readers behind the scenes for a fascinating look into the unique history and culture of the region. Absorb the city's rich ethnic diversity, travel down to the hallowed battlefields of Chickamauga and Fort Oglethorpe and grasp the compelling legacy of the Cherokee. This and so much more lies ahead in Hidden History of Chattanooga.
Silver Linings: My Life Before and After Challenger
Twenty-five years after the very public tragedy of the space shuttle Challenger, June Scobee Rodgers has written her private story—her winding path through childhood poverty, homelessness, and family dysfunction to her teenage marriage and twenty-six years of love and life with Dick Scobee. This is the story, too, of that heartbreaking day in January 1986 when Commander Scobee and his six crewmates “slipped the surly bonds of Earth.” That day, June’s life took a new direction that ultimately led to the creation of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education and to new love and new life with Don Rodgers. Her story of faith and triumph over adversity will inspire readers of every age.
June Scobee Rodgers, originally from Alabama, is the widow of Dick Scobee, commander of the space shuttle Challenger. June serves as the Founding Chairman of the Board and as a Founding Director for Challenger Center for Space Science Education. Holding a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University and a Master’s degree from Chapman College, both in Curriculum and Instruction, she is proud of the fact that she has taught in every grade-level classroom from kindergarten through college. June is married to retired Army Lieutenant General Don Rodgers. They live in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and have three grown children and nine grandchildren.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
Chattanooga, TN
Program Concludes
Chattanooga, TN
Meals
12
| 5B |
3L |
4D |
Activity Level
Chattanooga is a Tennessee gem — where Southern charm and grand Victorian mansions meet a thoroughly modern metropolis. Embark on unique field trips to places like a wood carving school, a river aquarium and an antique carousel. Discover Cherokee and Civil War battlefields and walk across the world’s longest pedestrian bridge. Stand in the shade of the sandstone boulders of Rock City as you learn about their geological history. Feel the cool spray of America’s deepest waterfall. And soak in the sounds of Appalachian music and the charming chug of a historic Chattanooga choo choo. From high up on Lookout Mountain to the underground Ruby Falls cascade, explore Chattanooga from top to bottom.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Ride one of the city’s original rail lines through rolling vistas and the Missionary Ridge horseshoe tunnel, and learn about train engineering at the repair shop.
- Explore Lookout Mountain and Ruby Falls, the nation's largest and deepest underground waterfall.
- Journey to Chickamauga Battlefield to learn what happened there in 1863 and how it impacted the Civil War.
General Notes
Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less.
Featured Expert
Jonathan Mies
Dr. Jonathan Mies routinely teachs courses in physical geology, structural geology, tectonics, hydrology, X-ray diffraction, field methods, and geology field experience (Basin and Range, Colorado Plateau, and Central America). During the summer, he also teaches at the University of Missouri's Geology Field Camp (Branson Field Laboratory) and in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. His current research interests are focused on the origin of joints in folded sedimentary rocks of foreland fold and thrust belts.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Justin Strickland
Justin Strickland has been fascinated by trains his entire life. His first "railroad" job was with the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway at the age of 15, where he eventually became a conductor. Justin has also worked with the Southeastern Railway Museum, Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. He authored the only book dedicated to the Terminal Station in Chattanooga and has been interviewed for the railroad documentary "Tracing the Tracks."
Maury Nicely
Maury Nicely is a lawyer and historian in Chattanooga, Tenn., and author of the “Chattanooga Walking Tour & Historic Guide” and the “East Tennessee Walking Tour & Historic Guide.” Maury has served on the boards of Chattanooga History Center and Cornerstones, Inc., Chattanooga's historic preservation organization.
Carol Burton
Carol Burton attended Dalton State College, where she began her 16 years as a Road Scholar coordinator with its Center for Educational Adventure. Married to her childhood sweetheart, she grew up in Hampton, Va., and moved to Georgia in 1970. Carol said she was born with a love for animals and volunteers with her local humane society.
Camilla Comerford
Camilla Comerford is certified in leading educational adventures and has traveled throughout Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, and Ireland. Camilla also worked for almost 30 years in the commercial real estate business in Atlanta, Georgia and other cities throughout the South. She looks forward to sharing her love for the region with you!
Jim Ogden
Jim Ogden is a historian who became interested in the Civil War the summer between 4th and 5th grade. His interests in that period of history have continued to grow and broaden. He started his career at The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in 1982. He then had stints at Russell Cave National Monument in Bridgeport, Ala. and Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park in Fredericksburg, Va. He returned to Chickamauga and Chattanooga in 1988. He was born and raised in Southern Maryland.
Tom Morley
Tom Morley’s musical career spans thirty years and a host of genres. He's played Celtic, bluegrass, classical, swing, Americana and country honky tonk, earning a gold album for his work with “new traditionalist” country artist John Anderson. Classically trained with a degree in music education, Tom's followed his passion for Irish traditional music for the past two decades. Tom teaches privately and at fiddle workshops and string camps around the U.S., including Boston's Fiddle Hell Gathering and the John C. Campbell Folk School.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking up to one mile. Some stairs. Standing in museums for docent talk.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(5 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
Year
- 2025
Date
- Mar 23 - Mar 28
- Apr 20 - Apr 25
- May 04 - May 09
- Sep 21 - Sep 26
- Sep 28 - Oct 03
- Oct 19 - Oct 24
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
- 2025
- Mar 23 - Mar 28
- Apr 20 - Apr 25
- May 04 - May 09
- Sep 21 - Sep 26
- Sep 28 - Oct 03
- Oct 19 - Oct 24
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
12 meals | 5B | 3L | 4D |
5 expert-led lectures
11 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-In, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Location:
Chattanooga, TN
Meals:
D
Stay:
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chattanooga Downtown
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Program Registration. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the main lobby to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Educational leadership will be provided throughout the program by a series of local experts. Travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Next, we will have an elective walk with our Group Leader to the riverfront with those who would like to begin becoming familiar with the area. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Chattanooga History, Master Carver, Hunter Museum of Art
Location:
Chattanooga, TN
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chattanooga Downtown
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 35 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking about 3/4 mile, up to 2 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll be joined by a local expert for a presentation on the history of Chattanooga. We’ll then ride to the nearby city of Soddy-Daisy for a special and unusual field trip to meet and learn from Master Carver Larry Ridge, owner of the hand-carving school, the only one of its kind. The former owner, Bud Ellis, is notable for restoring the 1894 Dentzel carousel in Chattanooga’s Coolidge Park with its 52 hand-carved figures of camels, fish, giraffes, horses, ostriches, pigs, and rabbits. At the school, we’ll see first-hand examples of students’ carving abilities and also learn about the history of the carousel. We will ride back to the hotel after our field trip.
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
We’ll board the motorcoach again with our Group Leader for a field trip to the Hunter Museum of American Art, situated on an 80-foot bluff on the edge of the Tennessee River. We will explore the exceptional collection — recognized as one of the country’s finest — with a museum expert. The Hunter has a particular focus on American art from the Colonial period to the present day. The collection includes contemporary studio glass, furniture, mixed media, paintings, photography, sculpture, and works on paper covering a range of styles and periods. The artists include Ansel Adams, John James Audubon, Thomas Hart Benton, Albert Bierstad, Mary Cassatt, Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Dale Chihuly, Currier & Ives, Salvador Dali, Willem de Kooning, Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, Fitz Henry Lane, Louise Nevelson, Frederick Remington, John Singer Sargent, and Andrew Wyeth, to name a very few. We’ll also be able to enjoy splendid views of the river and surrounding mountains.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
We will gather with a local expert who will set the stage for tomorrow’s field trip to explore the geological wonders of Lookout Mountain, Rock City, and Ruby Falls.
Day
3
Lookout Mountain, Rock City, Ruby Falls, Train History
Location:
Chattanooga, TN
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chattanooga Downtown
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 15 miles, less than 1 hour riding time. At Rock City, walking 100-foot trail; 35 stairs in sets of 4-5 stairs with handrails; uneven, some inclines. Ruby Falls building entrance handicapped accessible; cave not wheelchair accessible. Elevator down to starting point of cave walk, approximately 4/5 of a mile each way; hard packed dirt, uneven paths. Should be able to comfortably be on their feet for up to 90 minutes.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
To begin a full day of exploration, discovery, and wonder, we’ll board the motorcoach with our Group Leader and take a short ride to Lookout Mountain. The mountain was the setting for two historic battles. The so-called “last battle of the Cherokee” took place in August of 1794. The 1863 Battle of Lookout Mountain —also known as the Battle Above the Clouds — sounded the death knell of the Confederacy when Union troops prevailed. As we ponder its history, we can marvel at the panoramic view of seven states. More than 200 million years of weathering have produced the massive, unusually shaped sandstone boulders in what is now known as Rock City, situated at 1,700 feet above sea level atop Lookout Mountain. During this self-directed exploration — each at our own pace — we will have an opportunity to traverse a walking trail more than 4,000 feet long that features not only these ancient rock formations but caves and gardens with more than 400 species of native plants. There are places along the trail to sit as well as easy access back to the starting point. Our Group Leader will be available to answer any questions about the site.
Lunch:
At a restaurant on Lookout Mountain.
Afternoon:
We’ll hop back aboard the motorcoach for a short ride on the mountain top to Ruby Falls. With a Ruby Falls expert, we will discover the mysterious and beautiful underground hidden cave at Lookout Mountain. We’ll learn how this extraordinary geological wonder was discovered in 1928 by a team of excavators who came across it 1,120 feet beneath the surface. The waterfall is 145 feet high, falling through a cavern created by the same geological forces as Rock City and Lookout Mountain itself. When they say don’t drink the water, they mean it! The water in Ruby Falls contains high concentrations of magnesium.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
We’ll be joined by a local expert who has been fascinated by trains his entire life. He authored the only book dedicated to the Terminal Station in Chattanooga and has been interviewed for the railroad documentary “Tracing the Tracks.” In his presentation, we’ll learn all about Track 29 and the Terminal Station. We’ll then take a short walk to see trains and the grounds of the Choo Choo Hotel, returning to the hotel via trolley.
Day
4
Terminal Station, Train Missionary Ridge, Music, Aquarium,
Location:
Chattanooga, TN
Meals:
B
Stay:
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chattanooga Downtown
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 10 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking at Missionary Ridge; uneven, unpaved terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll then set out on a field trip that will take us through Missionary Ridge by train. We’ll ride to Grand Junction Station for a train trip that will take us along one of the original railroad lines in Chattanooga, crossing four bridges and passing through pre-Civil War Missionary Ridge Tunnel, completed in 1858. It played an important part in the Civil War as we will hear from our local expert. The train stops at East Chattanooga, where we can see the locomotive rotating on a turntable. We’ll have time to look into the railroad restoration shop before re-boarding for the return trip. Back at Grand Junction Station, we’ll return to the hotel by motorcoach. After a short break, we'll gather in the conference room for "Fiddlin Thru The Tennessee Valley". Sit back and relax to the fiddling skills of this expert musician.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
Next, we will set out on a walking field trip to the Tennessee Aquarium. The Aquarium opened May 1, 1992, as the first major freshwater life center in the world dedicated to the understanding, conservation, and enjoyment of rivers. Exhibits will take us (figuratively) on a journey from the Tennessee River’s source in the Appalachian Mountains, through its midstream, to the Mississippi Delta, and on to the great rivers of the world in Africa, South America, Siberia, and Asia. We will see and learn about living environments that accurately re-create the habitats of over 7,000 fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and insects that rely on the river for survival. We’ll leave the Tennessee Aquarium with a new appreciation of the world around us and the flora and fauna that inhabit our own backyards. Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the afternoon is free. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The free trolley is available and can be boarded half a block from the hotel.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The hotel is within walking distance of some of the finest local restaurants.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to attend a performance or other event, explore independently, or relax at the hotel with new Road Scholar friends. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Day
5
Walnut St. Bridge, Dentzel Carousel, Chickamauga Battlefield
Location:
Chattanooga, TN
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chattanooga Downtown
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 25 miles, approximately 3/4 hour total riding time. Walnut Street Bridge is a walk of 2,376 feet — a little less than 1/2 mile — depending on personal preference. Walking about 1 mile; uneven battlefield terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Next, we’ll board our motorcoach and ride to the Walnut Street Bridge. If you’d like to walk, it’s just over half a mile from the hotel. The bridge was erected in 1891 and at 2,376 feet (0.45 mile) is the world’s longest pedestrian bridge. It connects downtown Chattanooga to the north shore. We’ll then walk over the bridge to the 1894 Dentzel carousel in historic Coolidge Park at the other end. (The motorcoach will take anyone who does not want to walk.) This is the antique carousel we learned about on Day 2 that was restored by master wood carver Bud Ellis and a devoted team of craftspeople and volunteers. The owner of the carousel carving school will meet us at the carousel and talk about his work on the 52 whimsical hand carved animals, the calliope band organ, and ornate, gold leafed benches. We’ll also get to ride the carousel! We’ll then ride back to the hotel.
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
During the Civil War, Chattanooga was a key rail center and gateway to the heart of the Confederacy. The Battle of Chickamauga was fought for this prize and is essential to understanding Chattanooga’s history. Only the Battle of Gettysburg was more lethal but, unlike that notorious conflict, Chickamauga was a huge Union defeat. An expert historian will lead our field trip to Chickamauga Battlefield where we’ll learn what happened September 19-20, 1863, and how it impacted the war.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure after our closing session in the morning.
Day
6
About the Challenger STEM Learning Center, Program Concludes
Location:
Chattanooga, TN
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out 11:00 am.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll be joined by a guest speaker from the Challenger STEM Learning Center who will tell us about its work and educational mission of introducing students to real-world applications. The space shuttle “Challenger” exploded after take-off from the Kennedy Space Center on January 28, 1986. Challenger Learning Centers were developed as a memorial to the seven astronauts who died and to the goal of educating students in STEM: science, technology, engineering, and math. There are now 45 around the world. The first integrated into a university was on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. We’ll also have time for Q&A. The lecture session will end at approximately 9:15 a.m. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
12 Meals
5 Breakfasts
3 Lunches
4 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Oct 19, 2025 - Oct 24, 2025
- Mar 23, 2025 - Mar 28, 2025
- Apr 20, 2025 - Apr 25, 2025
- May 04, 2025 - May 09, 2025
- Sep 21, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025
- Sep 28, 2025 - Oct 03, 2025
- Oct 19, 2025 - Oct 24, 2025
Participant Reviews
Based on 31 Reviews
Sort By:
The Best of Chattanooga was an enjoyable and uncomplicated way to see Chattanooga and it's train history, geography, battlefields, museums, aquariums, etc. The presenters were knowledgeable and enthusiastic and our friendly leader, Camilla, kept us moving and on time. The DoubleTree was in a convenient location near the river, restaurants and sights. Don't miss the Rembrandt Coffee Shop up on the Bluff near the Hunter Museum. The downtown hotel is an easy and inexpensive ride from the local airport--so no car is needed. Chattanooga is a forward looking Southern city that is clean and comfortable.
— Review left October 27, 2024
The program presented a widespread variety of things that are unique to Chattanooga. The leader was enthusiastic about the area and having us learn about it.
— Review left May 6, 2024
LOVED, loved, loved this trip! The history, geology, natural beauty, arts & culture, and everything we learned and experienced about Chattanooga was so exciting, educational, and fun! The presenters were beyond FANTASTIC! Our group leader was a gem, and the hotel location was wonderful. We are so delighted that we were able to experience this memorable and fun trip! THANKS, Road Scholar!
— Review left May 1, 2024
This was a really fun trip. The presenters were all engaging and insightful. Special props to our bus driver Ciara on some steep roads; she managed them with grace. Our local leader Carol was cheerful and kept us on track. I especially found the National Park Service representative speaking and touring a Civil War Battlefield to make it understandable and fascinating. Chattanooga is a pleasant city with many attractions in walking distance. As a bonus, the daily destinations are all a short ride away. The host hotel was centrally located although their group food service was not remarkable. There's lots of staff available there. The weather was very nice and I got a great visit to the attractions of and history of Chattanooga. I would recommend this trip to anyone.
— Review left April 29, 2024
The Best of Chattanooga: Trains, Waterfalls and Battlefields lives up to its name. It is a well-designed program that illustrates the fascinating natural and human history of this city.
— Review left April 27, 2024
The variety of activities on this program is what made it so great. There was something different every day, and I learned so much. Carol Burton was a terrific leader!
— Review left March 31, 2024
A diverse richly varied experience which is both entertaining and educational.
— Review left November 5, 2023
Fantastic tour guide - Carol is a real Southern Charm! The lectures were outstanding. The bus driver, Evan, really made the trip fun! I look forward to more Road Scholar trips. Thank you!
— Review left October 1, 2023
Chattanooga is such a fun town! There was a variety of experiences to make for a well-rounded week. Leaders and presenters were knowledgeable and welcoming. Check this trip out!
— Review left May 9, 2023
Carol Burton is a delightful and effective host. The hotel service was good. The showers were great! The food was good and plentiful. The bus trips were pleasant and short.
The trip was a great mixture of education and observation. Not every topic was of great interest to me, but every topic was sufficiently interesting for the length of time devoted to it.
I would add that the speakers were all exceptional: knowledgeable, personable, organized, and clear-spoken.
— Review left May 6, 2023
Chattanooga is a fun location with beautiful vistas and an interesting history. Much to do in walking distance, including Baseball!
It is in close proximity to significant Civil War battlefields.
— Review left May 6, 2023
We just returned from our first Road Scholar trip which was to Chattanooga and had a great time. Carol Burton is a great trip leader and her husband Bill was fun to have around. The hotel was very accomodating and I loved their chocolate chip cookies. Bill brought us each a cookie at our first group meeting at the hotel upon arrival. The trip was well organized, with many interesting field trips and speakers about the history of Chattanooga. My favorite speaker was Jim Ogden as he layed out the battle for us in advance, and then led us on a tour of the Chickamauga Battlefield. Dr. J. was an excellent bus driver. My second favorite outing was to Rock City on Lookout Mountain. I enjoyed hearing about the Challenger Learning Center and wish we could have visited it. Our fellow Road Scholars were all very interesting people. Thanks for a great trip.
— Review left May 6, 2023
This is an amazing program, not to be missed !
— Review left April 30, 2023
This was one of my favorite programs with such a variety of subjects and an outstanding tour leader. It is difficult to believe this city has so much to offer and learn about .
— Review left April 30, 2023
well organized program. Excellent background speakers. Showed Chattanooga at its' best.
— Review left October 31, 2022
We had a great time
— Review left October 2, 2022
Interesting and quite walkable.
— Review left October 1, 2022
The Chattanooga trip was great. Many varied activities, lovely city, and lots of fun. Our first experience with Road Scholar, but it won’t be our last!
— Review left May 12, 2022
I really enjoyed this trip! It covered so much material and we visited so many places - I truly got my money's worth and then some. Chattanooga a beautiful, vibrant city with rich history, lovely outdoor spaces, fun and educational attractions. The experts on this trip were just amazing!
— Review left May 11, 2022
The Road Scholar website is excellent. Easy to search and follow progress made toward going on the actual trip
— Review left May 8, 2022
This is a great program for people who like a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities, from art museums and aquariums to Civil War battlefields and the amazing Rock City.
— Review left May 7, 2022
I can recommend this program highly. It provides a thoughtful look at the city of Chattanooga, it's past importance and its vibrant present.
— Review left May 7, 2022
What a great time we had leaning about the city
— Review left May 6, 2022
Lots to see and do in Chattanooga. Well worth your time..
— Review left May 6, 2022
Full of Southern Charm ! Wonderful way to see and learn about Chattanooga. Don't miss it.
— Review left May 2, 2022
I have traveled the world and had many tours and leaders. The Road Scholar program far exceeded any destination I have visited. My next journey will be with Road Scholar.
— Review left April 29, 2022
Rich in culture and history, Chattanooga is nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains, verdant forests and the beautiful Tennessee River.
— Review left November 1, 2021
This is a combination of sightseeing and education. It is everything it claims to be.
— Review left October 11, 2021
A delightful program with something for everyone. Well organized, great tours, interesting speakers and wonderful group leaders. The carving school, carousel and Ruby Falls were my favorites.
— Review left October 5, 2021
If you're an active person, easy come and easy go,liking to travel,meeting people whom you never met before. Also want to learn from history to anything beyond life. Road Scholar is the best way to do.
— Review left April 21, 2019
This is a great overview of Chattanooga and the history of the aera and I highly recommend it.
— Review left April 19, 2019
