Day Trips from Chattanooga, TN

Chatsworth is often referred to as the "Gateway to the Appalachians".

Most visitors are drawn here by the abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation; the city provides easy access to the pristine Cohutta Wilderness Area, and the nearby Fort Mountain State Park boasts a 17-acre lake and plenty of hiking trails, one of which leads to an ancient, mysterious stone wall.

You might be exhausted after a day of enjoying the great outdoors, but before heading home, try to stop by one of the wineries in the area to sample their delicious fruit wines and meads.

Named for its location on the reservation land of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation, the town of Cherokee offers an excellent selection of historical and cultural sites for visitors of all ages.

You can get a glimpse of the 18th-century Cherokee lifestyle through the living history exhibitions at the Oconaluftee Indian Village, watch an authentic Cherokee story unfold at the Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama, and learn about the community's history at the Museum of the Cherokee.

The town is also located near the entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and there are two beautiful waterfalls within driving distance.

One of the largest Civil War parks in the country, the Chickamauga Battlefield was the site of an important battle between the Confederate and Federal forces in 1863.

The first stop on your itinerary should be the Visitor's Center, where you can learn about the battle, see an impressive gun collection, and watch a short orientation film about the park.

If you're lucky, you can join a ranger-led tour of the park, but it's also entirely possible to drive through the park on your own. The driving tour takes about two hours either way, and all key stops are equipped with information panels.

3370 Lafayette Rd, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742, Phone: 706-866-1159

Encompassing more than 3,500 acres on the western edge of Lookout Mountain, Cloudland Canyon State Park is a spectacularly scenic park filled with cascading waterfalls, sandstone caves and cliffs, and canyons cut deep into the mountain.

The park offers more than 25 miles of enchanting hiking trails, including a popular 5-mile loop that meanders along the forested rim before descending into the canyon, and there are also approximately 20 miles of mountain biking trails.

Other attractions in the park include an 18-hole disc golf course, a fishing pond, and caves that can be explored by guide tour.

122 Cloudland Canyon Park Rd, Rising Fawn, GA 30738, Phone: 706-657-4050

Found inside the Cherokee National Forest, Coker Creek is best known as the site of the first gold rush in America.

Gold panning is still permitted in certain areas along the creek, and although most of the gold in the area consists of small flakes that need to be picked up with tweezers, it's still an interesting way to spend the afternoon.

If you're more interested in simply enjoying the area's natural beauty on your anniversary vacation, you can hike along the peaceful Coker Creek Falls trail, which winds its way through the forest and past countless beautiful swimming holes.

Known as the "Apple Capital" of Georgia, the charming town of Ellijay, GA is surrounded by heritage apple orchards and picturesque vineyards.

The town is especially popular with visitors during the autumn, when local orchards offer apple picking and hayrides, but there are plenty of things to do no matter what the time of year.

Visit one of the family-owned wineries for a tasting, tee off at one of the area's challenging golf courses, or simply wander through the downtown streets and browse the town's many antique stores.

If you're visiting in April, you might be lucky enough to catch the town's apple blossom festival.

Established in 1938, Fort Mountain State Park is home to a 2,850-foot peak that gives the park its name.

Approximately 60 miles of multi-use trails meander through the park, leading past blueberry bushes, across cascading creeks, and around a beautiful lake.

There's a small swimming beach that's popular with visitors in the summer months, and there are plenty of beautiful picnic spots and day-use areas where you can relax on your birthday vacation.

Hikers who have the energy to make it to the top of the mountain will also have the opportunity to see an ancient stone wall, which stretches for 855 feet along the peak.

181 Fort Mountain State Park Rd, Chatsworth, GA 30705, Phone: 706-422-1932

Only an hour away from Chattanooga, Foster Falls is an impressive 60-foot waterfall that plunges over a cliff and into a deep pool below.

A short hiking trail leads from the parking lot to a lookout point at the top of the falls, and from here, visitors have the option to continue on to the base of the falls.

The pool here is a popular swimming spot during the hot summer months, but caution is advised due to the strong current.

If you're an avid hiker, you can also consider hiking the 13-mile Fiery Gizzard Trail, which leads right past the falls.

498 Foster Rd., Sequatchie, TN 37374, Phone: 931-924-2980

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, and Gatlinburg is the perfect place to kick off a day of hiking and wildlife watching in this incredible mountain paradise.

If you'd prefer to stay in town, it's easy to spend an entire day here as well; sample the treats at one of the famous downtown fudge shops, browse the boutiques in The Village, and stop by one of the moonshine distilleries to enjoy a drink.

During the summer, Gatlinburg offers a complimentary open-air shuttle service to bring visitors up and down the downtown Parkway.

Stretching from the Appalachia Dam to the Tennessee River at Blythe’s Ferry, Hiwassee River is a 55-mile waterway that flows through the Cherokee National Forest and past historic towns like Charleston and Reliance.

The upper section of the river features gentle whitewater rapids and is popular with tubers and rafters, while the middle and lower sections are much calmer and offer excellent fishing, boating, and stand-up paddleboarding opportunities.

Visitors can bring their own equipment to float down the river, but plenty of companies renting tubes and inflatable kayaks can be found in the area during the summer.