Play Near Southern: Recreation and Activities in the Collegedale, Ooltewah and Chattanooga area that every one will enjoy

There's Lots To Do Near Southern

Climb a Rock, Shoot the Rapids, Explore a Cave—Learn Why This is a Great Place to Call Home

No matter what kind of fun you enjoy, you’ll find an incredible number of places to play in southeastern Tennessee. With our temperate, year-round climate, there’s no reason to stay indoors unless you want to enjoy our cultural facilities as well. Read on to learn the many pleasurable ways you can spend time in and around Southern.

Places to Have Active Fun in Hamilton County

• Test your climbing skills on the Goliath Wall located on the SAU campus featuring more than 60 feet of vertical and 200 feet of horizontal climbing space.

• Go underground in the Student Park Cave, also known as Potato Cave, open to the public the first Saturday afternoon of every month.

• Enjoy more than 10 miles of hiking/mountain biking trails with meandering streams and abundant wildlife located on the Southern campus.

• Stroll the Wolftever Creek Greenway on Southern's campus which features more than four miles (round trip) of paved walkway along Wolftever Creek.

• Go whitewater rafting or kayaking down the Ocoee River.

• Enjoy hiking, camping and backpacking in the Smoky Mountains

• Marvel at the ancient rock formations at Lookout Mountain's Rock City.

• Cast your line in a freshwater stream, lake, reservoir or river.

• Float your kayak or canoe along the Tennessee River Blueway.

• Bike along the greenways or in the mountains. There are trails for every experience level.

Places to Learn Something New in Hamilton County

• View endangered animals in an open-air habitat at the Chattanooga Nature Center.

• Cross the 113-year old Walnut Street Bridge/Pedestrian Park connecting Chattanooga’s North Shore with the Bluff View Art District.

• Visit the nation's first and largest military park, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.

• Go eye-to-eye with unusual fish at the world's largest freshwater aquarium, The Tennessee Aquarium.

• Discover the South's largest collection of American art in the historic Hunter Museum of Art.

• See one of the world’s finest collections of antique glass and ceramics, antique furniture, music boxes and other rare pieces at the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts.

• Shop to your heart’s content at the Hamilton Place Mall.

• Catch a show at the majestic Tivoli Theatre or Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga.