Fun Things To Do With Kids In NorthShore Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga has become a coveted tourist destination in the Southeast, especially for families! Chattanooga has all the charm of a small town while still having the art, restaurants, and attractions of a big city. Whether you're looking for art, good food, hiking, amazing views, shopping or family fun, Chattanooga's got it all!
Northshore is one of Chattanooga's most desirable areas to live and to visit! This area of town has loads for families to do and see so plan to spend a day exploring Northshore on your trip. We'll take you through our favorite things to do with kids in Northshore, Chattanooga.
The Walnut Street Bridge
You cannot come to Chattanooga without walking (at least part) of the Walnut Street Bridge! It is iconic to the scenic city.
Walnut St. Bridge is one of the world's longest pedestrian bridge. It connects downtown Chattanooga to the north shore. Walking the bridge is a favorite activity for residents and visitors alike. The views of the water, the city, and happy people eating ice cream cones will bring your family joy.
Coolidge Park
On the Northshore side of the Walnut Street Bridge is Chattanooga's beautiful Coolidge Park. This is a perfect spot for family fun, especially with the weather warming up.
Open Green Space
Coolidge Park has several large areas of green space to run around and play. Bring a ball to toss around, have a picnic, fly a kite, the options are endless! Even as the park gets more crowded in the summer, it's always possible to claim a space for your family to hang out.
Fountains
If you're visiting in the summer, the Coolidge Park fountains will be turned on! The kids will LOVE running around and cooling off in the water. This is a free area of the park, so there is no charge. Don't forget to pack swimsuits!
Outdoor Music
As you explore the park, there is even an area for the kids to play music on these outdoor instruments. This park really has it all!
Carousel
This 1894 Dentzel carousel is at the heart of Coolidge Park. The antique carousel was restored by local master wood carver Bud Ellis and a devoted team of craftspeople and volunteers at his studio.
The carousel provides a delightful vintage experience with 52 whimsical hand carved animals, a calliope band organ, and ornate between gold leaf benches.
Since the carousel is in a covered building, the kids can enjoy this rain or shine.
Sweet Treats
What is a family vacation without an incredible dessert?! Chattanooga's Northshore has some unique and delicious sweet treats to offer.
Clumpies Ice Cream
Clumpies is right behind Coolidge Park on Frazier Avenue. They're a super fun shop started here in Chattanooga. Whether you're looking for a classic flavor or trying an off-the-wall creative flavor (like the firecracker with poprocks!) their ice cream is a delicious treat. They even have dairy-free options for those who need it.
Milk & Honey
Where pure gelato, baked treats, craft coffee, brunch cocktails & sandwiches are made from scratch, by hand, with love, daily!
Julie Darling Donuts
We can't tell you how much locals LOVE Julie Darling Donuts! They've been around for over a decade making delicious and creative donuts. Most kids love trying oreo and cookie topped treats. This is such a fun place to take a break from exploring, and the parents can even grab a cup of coffee!
NoBaked Cookie Dough
NoBaked is the most recent dessert addition to Frazier Avenue! It's truly cookie dough that is safe to eat, and delicious! You can add toppings to your cookie dough or eat it out of a cone, just like ice cream.
Shopping on the NorthShore
After you get your ice cream fix, stroll down Frazier Avenue and Manufacturers Road into some of Chattanooga's best local shops. Most of these shops are locally owned and carry everything from gifts to books to sweet treats! Shopping on the NorthShore is unlike shopping anywhere else.
If the kids get bored on the walk, just look down at the side walk! The whole Frazier Avenue sidewalk has dance instructions to learn everything from the hokey pokey to the waltz.
Here's a few of our favorite NorthShore shops, but there's many more worth exploring.
Winder Binder
This funky shop offers contemporary books & vinyl records and always has local art on display. This is a great shop to explore, they've even got an awesome children's book selection!
Blue Skies
Blue Skies is an adorable boutique with jewelry and funny stationery goods. They even have a section of kids and baby goods in the back. The whole family will enjoy exploring this shop.
Boxcar General Store
Boxcar General Store’s shelves are full of cute home goods, nostalgic toys, and classic candy! With a bit of the old and a bit of the new, there are so many fun goodies to explore. The kids will love shopping the toys and candy and you'll enjoy the candles, foods, and whiskey glasses.
Learning Express Toys
Chattanooga's neighborhood toy store, offering an impressive mix of toys covering educational, trend, tween, outdoor, baby/toddler, building sets, magic, arts and crafts, books, candy, collectibles, LEGO, music, retro and more.
A Child’s Garden Boutique
A wonderful children's boutique and toy shop featuring clothing and toys that you can’t find anywhere else!
Locals Only Gifts & Goods
Locals Only Gifts & Goods celebrates our incredible Chattanooga maker community by selling only Tennessee-made goods, most of them made here in town! Toys, sweets, candles, mixes, dog treats, mugs, kitchen towels, stationery and so much more. Even the kids will enjoy browsing and picking their favorite flavor of MoonPie.
I Go Tokyo
I Go Tokyo is a unique boutique featuring a variety of toys, gifts, ceramics, stationary, fabrics and more from Japan.
Pedego Electric Bikes
If you're looking for more than the typical bike rental, look no further than Pedego Electric Bikes! This makes exploring a lot quicker and easier!
You can also rent a child's seat, a bike trailer, or a "stretch" bike (pictured) depending on the age of your kiddos. Bikes are allowed through the parks, on the bridge, on the roads and wherever you'd like to go!
L2 Outside
Ready to get on the river? There's no better way to enjoy the Chattanooga views than paddling down the river.
L2 Outside makes it easy to rent and return paddle boards and kayaks for the whole family. We highly recommend this activity on a nice sunny day!
Adventure Sports Innovation
If your family is looking for even MORE adventure, you'll find it at Adventure Sports Innovation. They've got all sorts of motorized scooters, boards and bikes to ride through the park on. If you're looking for more time on the river, they have some wacky water sports that are just too fun!
If you're here on a rainy day, you can try their virtual reality experiences! Ride a roller coaster, hang glide, or walk a plank 10,000 feet above the ground in their virtual reality space.
They offer motorized Chattanooga tours, too if you want to learn more about our whole city!
Don't Forget the Food!
Northshore doesn't just have fun activities to offer, it's also got AMAZING food! Here's a few of our favorites for adults and kids:
Taco Mamacita
Margaritas for the adults and a fun and fresh Mexican menu for everyone! Go to Taco Mamacita for large portions and plenty of taco options for the whole family.
Milk & Honey
Where pure gelato, craft coffee, brunch cocktails & sandwiches are made from scratch, by hand, with love, daily!
River Street Deli
An authentic New York style delicatessen boasting a unique and delicious menu with delightful daily specials. Visit the River Street Deli for sandwiches, soups, and salads made fresh daily.
Totto Sushi
Sushi for the adults and comfort food for the kiddos. They have plenty of options. Even the picky eaters will like this one.
Sushi Nabe
Located right beside Coolidge Park, it’s the perfect place to get some authentic Japanese Cuisine.
We hope you and your family enjoy your time in Northshore, Chattanooga. Let us know what you think of your visit!