EMERGE 2023 Tuesday Afternoon Tours

Aug 29

Arrive early to EMERGE 2023 and join one of these great excursions on Tuesday, January 24. You may select one of these complimentary tours during your registration. A HUGE thank you to our partner Visit Chattanooga for hosting these tours!

TENNESSEE VALLEY RAILROAD MUSEUM

All Aboard! This tour will include storytelling with a local Historian on your ride to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. As you arrive at Grand Junction depot, you will experience the Missionary Ridge Local. This tour-guided train ride takes passengers along one of the original railroad lines into Chattanooga, crossing four bridges and passing through a pre-Civil War, horseshoe-shaped tunnel.

As the train stops in East Chattanooga, passengers will be allowed to hop off watch the historic turntable demonstration, and take a brief tour of the train restoration shop before re-boarding for the return trip.

CHATTANOOGA HISTORICAL TOUR

This 90-minute (hop on / hop off) historical tour will explore the city center of downtown Chattanooga. During this tour, we will discuss the architecture, railroad heritage, Cherokee history, Civil War experience, African American history, and manufacturing heritage of the “Dynamo of Dixie.” Your tour guide, Maury Nicely is a local attorney and Chattanooga historian, and author of numerous books, including Chattanooga Walking Tour & Historic Guide.

GUIDED HIKE ON RACCOON MOUNTAIN

Join Outdoor Chattanooga's experienced guide staff for a one-way, guided hike on Raccoon Mountain. We chose this hike as a beginner-friendly yet moderately paced adventure on a rolling single-track wooded trail where hikers may need to high step over rocks and roots. The distance is about 3.5 miles and is expected to take a little over 2 hours. Raccoon Mountain rises to the west of Chattanooga, TN. Over 30 miles of trail offer overlooks of the valley and Tennessee River as well as a variety of recreational opportunities including the popular mountain bike and hiking trails. The majority of the mountain is a state-designated wildlife observation area, with nearly 800 acres that slopes adjacent to the Tennessee River. The top of the mountain is controlled by the Tennessee Valley Authority as a pumped storage facility which operates essentially as a battery for electricity demands.

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN

With options to explore Rock City and Ruby Falls.

ROCK CITY: is a true marvel of nature featuring massive rock formations, gardens with over 400 native plant species, and breathtaking "See 7 States" panoramic views. Experience the Enchanted Trail where each step reveals natural beauty and wonders along the woodland path and the magic of Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village.

RUBY FALLS: Journey deep inside historic Lookout Mountain to see the tallest and deepest underground waterfall open to the public in the United States.