Best Dark Tourism In Canada: It Cannot Get Gloomier Than This

Sep 30, 2024

Last Updated on: Sep 24, 2026

Travel Guides

Even if you don’t believe it, Canada has many locations and abandoned sites with ghostly stories and a dark history. This has led to a massive online interest in dark tourism in Canada.

Haunted places like the Fort Edmonton Park and Princess Theatre in Edmonton, or the Disaster-struck Alberta Frank Slide, are a few examples of how dark tourism in Canada offers a vivid experience. 

Further, sites like Asbestos (now Val-des-Sources) show how mining asbestos has caused long-term health hazards to Canadian people and victims beyond borders. Also, there is Halifax, where an explosion took the lives of around 2000 people in 1917.

So, let’s explore the scary and unusual sites. 

THESE Are The Best Sites For Dark Tourism In Canada 

Best Sites For Dark Tourism In Canada

In 2020, the small town of Asbestos changed its name to Val-des-Sources, or the Valley of the Springs. However, the name change could not wipe out the history of disease and suffering, as it once had the largest asbestos mine in the world. 

So, like the nuclear plantations that pushed numerous human lives to death, Asbestos in Canada was also a town of breathing poison. Today, it is one of Canada’s most prominent dark-tourism destinations. 

Canada has many dark-tourism sites that tell tales of human tragedy or are infamous for spooky experiences. Let me share brief accounts of these sites if you want to walk into the shadows. 

Asbestos 

Asbestos, a town in southern Quebec, once epitomized health-hazard horrors. Asbestos mining is no longer done here, but breathing problems and other hazards caused by that “magic or miracle mineral” persist in the town. 

The town had an open-pit mine for mining chrysotile asbestos, and it boomed for a century. However, in 2011, the mine stopped its operations.  

Unfortunately, asbestos use became widespread by the mid-20th century. It was a chosen material for roofing, insulation, and fireproofing. Slowly, people discovered it caused many health hazards for workers in the industry or those living near an asbestos plant or mine. 

Asbestos

Despite the drop in global demand and many other countries banning its use, import, and export, Canada kept it until 2018. Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister, banned the use, sale, import, and export of asbestos in 2016, and the ban came into effect in 2018. 

Nevertheless, today, the town of Asbestos, or Val-des-Sources, is a popular dark tourism site with an abandoned mine. The mine now looks like a gigantic playground.

Halifax 

Halifax 

In June 2016, the Canadian Government designated the Halifax explosion as a “national historic event.” Halifax was a busy port for the loading and unloading of food, aid, relief, and other essentials during World War I.

On 6 December 1917, the French ship SS Mont-Blanc and the Norwegian ship SS Imo collided. Both were carrying explosives, and the collision caused a major explosion. Almost 2000 people died, and many were injured, making it the biggest manmade explosion before the atomic bomb disaster. 

This human tragedy, however, marked a milestone in changing Halifax’s medical landscape. Two prominent examples were improvements in pediatric surgery and the establishment of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

Today, the Fort Needham Memorial Park is a prominent site for dark tourism in Canada. The commemorative plaque there gives you a brief account of the incident. Also, the Halifax Explosion Memorial Bell Tower here has an annual memorial service for the explosion on 6th December.

Edmonton: The Hub Of Dark Tourism In Canada 

Hub Of Dark Tourism In Canada

Edmonton has many destinations for paranormal encounters, and Fort Edmonton Park is one of them. On paranormal tours here, you can explore paranormal equipment and meet experts for an otherworldly experience.

You can also visit Edmonton’s haunted buildings. The stories of these buildings will scare you to the bit. Also, you never know when an unknown entity gets close to you, and you can feel its breath. 

Princess Theater: The Most Haunted Place In Edmonton

Another important haunted landmark here is the Princess Theater. In the 1920s, the theater was about to have an additional rental space. A bride-to-be rented that space, but her fiancé left her on their wedding day. 

So, she committed suicide by hanging herself by the neck. When the staff of the hotel found her, her body was swinging from the rope. 

She was wearing a beautiful wedding gown. Legends have it that her ghostly figure is still seen at the theater. She is seen climbing down the stairs, wandering the theater halls, and moving around the projection room. 

Historic Mackay Avenue School Archives & Museum: Meet The Restless Spirit

Moreover, if you’re in Edmonton to experience haunted activities, Historic Mackay Avenue School Archives & Museum should be your destination.

Many people have experienced a sense of choking, being grabbed, or being disturbed at this place.

It is said that a construction worker called Peter fell from a third-floor window during renovation work in 1912.

His restless spirit still lives here, and many informal investigations have captured strange silhouettes and erratic electromagnetic fields. This also suggests paranormal activity. 

The Museum of Fear and Wonder

https://www.instagram.com/p/CxsrNX5L7Al/?hl=en&img_index=1

It is unusual to find a rural museum of horror in the Southern Alberta rural valleys. It is eerie to the bone, with Ouija boards and ventriloquist dummies. 

The little jack-o’-lantern dollhouse, Kiddo, leather doll, and the haunted doll, Robertina, are the most prominent collectibles here. Also, the artificial human body parts and life-like human bodywork made of wax are the creepiest things you will come across. 

The museum carefully places all the collectibles to create a sense of fear. The aim is to show how people emotionally react to certain things. Also, Brendan, one of the museum’s founders, does not believe things can be haunted or related to paranormal activity. 

According to him, things, at most, can cause a sense of uneasiness. Thus, all the items in the museum provoke discussion about the psychological impacts of different objects on different people.

For example, an adorable doll can be an object of fear or discomfort for a person who has suffered childhood trauma. 

Even dolls or toys can get old and develop an eerie appearance through wear and tear. They can look messy or dirty, creating feelings of repulsion.

Thus, the Museum of Fear and Wonder is not about paranormal experiences or activities. It is a place to understand the human psychology behind fear and wonder. 

Saskatchewan Ghost Towns – Insinger

Saskatchewan Ghost Towns Insinger

As India has Kuldhara, Canada has Saskatchewan, where time stands still, and the deserted town lives in the shadow of the past. Unbearable winters in the Prairie region drove residents to leave.

In the 1800s, many Europeans came to Canada and received free land to set up a working farm within a year. As a result, the prairie became a bustling home for farmers and their families.

Visiting Saskatchewan And Its Many Wonders

Visiting Saskatchewan And Its Many Wonders

In Saskatchewan, you will notice a Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The old church with a domed roof stands as a witness to the bygone era.

Do you know that Saskatchewan has so many ghost towns (more than 30) that there is a “Ghost Town Trail” here? You can drive around the route to explore the towns individually.

As you walk through Saskatchewan’s ghost towns, you will never feel alone. You’ll always feel like someone is following you or walking with you.

Even at the most dilapidated structure, you feel like someone could come out at any moment.

I planned to go inside some of the structures. However, a knotty feeling in my stomach stopped me. As hours passed, I grew anxious and left.

The Ghost Towns of Alberta – Rowley

Ghost Towns of Alberta Rowley

If I were to decide, I would name Alberta the capital of dark tourism in Canada. If the haunted places of Edmonton are not enough, you can explore Rowley.  

The small hamlet of Rowley in Alberta has deserted railway cars and buildings. However, it also tells some inspiring stories.

Rowley was a town of about 500 people in the 1920s. The Great Depression hit the town, causing residents to leave. A lack of rain dried up the crops.
Moreover, a fire destroyed many of the small buildings.
However, only eight surviving residents of Rowley did a commendable job of transforming Rowley into a heritage site in the 1980s. They transformed some of the buildings. 

Very few people know that movies like Bye Bye Blues and Legends of the Fall used some of these buildings as locations.

Visit Rowley in the summer, when it offers free tours. Also, the pizza parties here on the last Saturday of every month are fun! These pizza parties fund restoration and preservation efforts. 

THESE Are The Places You Can’t Miss At Rowley

The historical buildings to visit in the ghost town of Rowley are:

  • Rowley Trading Post (Built in the 1920s)
  • A Printing Press
  • A School
  • Now Abandoned Former Hospital
  • Abandoned Railway Tracks
  • A Saloon with Swinging Doors (Dedicated to the memory of a previous owner)
  • Municipality of Starland Office
  • Canada National Telegraphs Building

Along with these historical structures, you will also find a building labeled Funeral Home and Embalming. Going inside, you will find paraphernalia and historical artifacts used in Bye Bye Blues.

The only thing I find creepy about Rowley is the mannequins. The residents have used mannequins in many places to recreate 1920s scenarios. 

So, if you have a faint heart, avoid peeking through the glass windows of the historical buildings. It is not very pleasant to find a mannequin looking back at you. 

Overall, the experience felt like being in a classic Western movie. 

Alberta Frank Slide 

Alberta Frank Slide 

Alberta Frank Slide is one of Canada’s most tragic dark-tourism sites. 121 years ago, this place witnessed Canada’s deadliest slide. The tragic incident took the lives of 100 people.

What Happened At Alberta Frank Slide?

It was 4:10 am on 29th April 1903. The 600 people in the mining community were still asleep as Mount Turtle crumbled and released 110 million metric tonnes of rock. This incident took the lives of around 100 people. 

Even today, if you pass through Highway 3 in Alberta or visit Frank Slide, you will find bodies and various belongings still buried under rocks. 

“It was loud enough they could hear it up by the town of Cochrane, 200 kilometers away,” said Joey Ambrosi, the facility supervisor of the Alberta Frank Slide Interpretive Center. This interpretive center, built in 1985, tells the true stories of human tragedy and dismisses the myths around it. 

However, the intrigue around this biggest slide does not end here. The mountain moves a few kilometers each year, and scientists suspect it will come down again. 

That said, there is still time for such an incident, and it will not be as deadly as the one that happened in 1903. 

When you’re in Alberta, don’t forget to visit The Crowsnest Pass. A landslide and a mine explosion in 1910 hit the area hard. Again, at a stone’s throw away is the Hillcrest town, where 189 miners died in a coal-dust explosion on 19th June 1914. 

Also read

Share on Social Media

Sibashree is a travel, culture, and leisure writer who has been writing since the age of 12 and professionally since 2014. With more than a decade of travel writing experience and journeys across India and several parts of the world, she brings a deeply personal and thoughtful perspective to her work. A student of English Literature and Mass Communication, Sibashree has always viewed travel as more than movement — for her, it has been a way of understanding people, cultures, and herself. Her passion for spiritual exploration has also led her to many unusual and meaningful destinations over the years. Outside of writing, Sibashree enjoys watching European cinema, reading about global politics, and reflecting on the stories hidden within everyday places.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

title-img Related

READ MORE national parks in North Carolina

Top 8 List Of National Parks In North Carolina – Travel Guide

BY  Subham Saha Sep 29, 2021

A long piece of green land from the Atlantic Coast to the feet of the Appalachian Mountainsins is North Carolina. North Carolina is famous for its 500 miles of green stretchy land. And the multiple national parks in North Carolina are the best tourist spots in the entire nation. Nc national park is quite popular because of the natural greenery, and these parks are the home of many wildlife. From the green smokey mountain to the Atlantic ocean, all you will find is ample green land full of wild lives. When you are in North Carolina, you can enjoy your travel days with multiple activities. But when you are in North Carolina, do not miss out on any of the national parks in North Carolina. Because these parks are quite popular not only in North Carolina, the popularity of the parks is spread throughout the whole nation. Because of the rich history of the past. 8 Top Popular National Parks In North Carolina The beauty of the Atlantis ocean seashore and the smokey mountains are the best part of national parks in North Carolina. The most significant advantage of the North Carolina National parks in the area is the combination of mountains, seashores, and the ocean. All you can enjoy in one single place. Here are the names of the eight popular North Carolina national parks, which are the most attractive wildlife parks in the entire country. 1. Great Smoky Mountain National Park The Great Smoky Mountain national park is just situated in the middle of Tennessee and North Carolina. The ancient Great Smoky Mountain is carrying the impression of the past.  And the national park’s natural beauty is so attractive that Smokey Mountains are becoming the most popular national park in North Carolina. And Smoky Mountain National park has the most significant North Carolina wildland. All-inclusive resorts in North Carolina near the Great Smoky Mountain national park cater to visitors seeking both adventure and relaxation amidst the area's stunning natural beauty. 2. Blue Ridge Parkway Blue Ridge Parkway is just under the feet of the North Carolina Blue Ridge mountains. The biggest attraction of the place is the mountain trails and the passway. This parkway is so vibrant that many of the visitors want to see the national parks in North Carolina. They alert one day for the Blue Ridge mountain visit. You can enjoy the mountain view by slowly driving your car in the passway. The biggest attraction of the place is the top mountain view. Apart from the natural scenery, you can go camping or cycling to enjoy the tour. 3. Appalachian National Scenic Trail When you want to visit the national parks near North Carolina, the Appalachian national trails are historically diverse and the most popular national parks in North Carolina. This is the best national park in North Carolina. The mountain trail is 2,180 miles long. In 1937 the tracks were built for private citizens. But after that, now these trails are one of the popular national parks in Nc. When you plan to visit these national trails, many forest services, and voluntary services will help you reach the destination. 4. Cape Lookout National Seashore In the list of national parks in North Carolina, cape lookout national seashore is quite popular because this place is situated just beside the ocean. What do you expect when you are on the Cape lookout seashore? Only view? All seaside entertainments are present here. You can go fishing. Visit the wildlife sanctuary; you have to bring your own tent or rent the tent for camping in the cape lookout. Keep your camping area clean because the park has stringent rules to maintain cleanliness. 5. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site See the history and the origin of the first England settlements. One time this place is the home of the Native American, European American, and the African American. You can feel the past of the historic site’s biggest attraction is the 1869 monument. The 1.25 miles long freedom trails are passing through the forest area. When you are visiting the place, you can take a tour of these walking trails. You can feel the history and the beauty of the forest in single hiking. 6. Moores Creek National Battlefield Moores National park was a battlefield. The battle between the loyalist forces and the North Carolina patriots. The battle between the loyalists and the patriots is remembered today. Among all the national parks in North Carolina, this is built on the battleground in respect of the patriots. And this war is the starting of a new revolution in America by the winning of the patriots. From this national battlefield, you will know the history, culture, and the starting of the new generations. 7. Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site This is the home of the Pulitzer winner poet and writer Carl Sandburg. The home is in the Handerson Vallie in the village of Flat Rock. In 1945 the Sandburg family was moving here to find solitude and calm nature. This house is just right in the middle of the forest area. The surrounding areas are full of trees, and the natural, calm and quiet place is undoubtedly the best place for a writer. The library of the house is the greatest attraction. And the house has an attached farm within it. 8. Guilford Courthouse National Military Park Guilford courthouse national military park is built in honor of the patriots who have fought the war in 1781. The biggest attraction of the place is their huge collection of the armory and the weapons of the battlefield. If you are in this military park, start to see the park from the museum. The Guilford Courthouse National Military Park is just a 15-minute drive from Greensboro. You can visit the park in your car. Apart from the car, you can simply cycle around the park by bicycle. Or you can simply take a walk to see the surrounding places. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How many nationakl park is in North Carolina? Among the 41 state parks, there are 10 national parks and 4 national forests are in North Carolina. It also offers a range of outdoor activities, that includes swim,fishing, rides, biking, hicking, picnic and paddle. What is the most visited national park in North Carolina? Great Smoky Mountains  National Park is the most visited national park in North Carolina. What is the only state without a national park in North Carolina? Delaware can be considered as the only state that has no national park. Maybe not for long. What is the largest national park in North Carolina? Here is a list of largest national parks in North Carolina: 1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park 2. Blue Ridge Parkway 3.The Folkways Of Appalachia 4.Nanthla National Forest 5.Pisgah National Forest Wrapping It Up: Most of the visitors are asking about how many state parks are in North Carolina? You get almost twenty options. But these eight national parks in North Carolina are just perfect for all types and all ages of visitors. North Carolina's natural ambiance and historical value is the best option for children. From one visit, your child is going to feel the glorious past of American history, and the naturally beautiful environment boosts up their mind in an open way. So what is your travel planning? Do not forget to share your experiences with us.

READ MORE Furnishеd Accommodation

Why Furnishеd Accommodation Is The Perfect Choice For Short Stays In Melbourne?

BY  Arnab Oct 16, 2023

Wеlcomе to thе vibrant city of Mеlbournе,  whеrе a world of opportunitiеs awaits! Whеthеr you'rе visiting for businеss or plеasurе,  finding suitablе accommodation can makе all thе diffеrеncе in your stay.  That's why we hеrе to introduce you to thе pеrfеct solution: furnishеd accommodation.  Say goodbyе to crampеd hotеl rooms and hеllo to spacious apartmеnts that fееl likе homе away from homе.  In this blog post, we'll еxplorе thе bеnеfits of choosing furnishеd accommodation for short stays in Mеlbournе,  so sit back,  rеlax,  and lеt us show you why it's thе ultimatе choicе for comfort and convеniеncе! Benefits of choosing furnished accommodation for short stays in Melbourne Whеn it comеs to short stays in Mеlbournе,  choosing furnishеd accommodation offеrs numеrous bеnеfits.  It providеs cost-еffеctivеnеss and convеniеncе.  Rathеr than spеnding a fortunе on hotеl rooms or sеrvicеd apartmеnts, furnishеd accommodation allows you to еnjoy all thе comforts of homе at a fraction of thе pricе.  With amеnitiеs such as fully еquippеd kitchеns and laundry facilitiеs, you can savе monеy by prеparing your own mеals and doing your own laundry.  Furnishеd accommodation offers a variety of options to suit different nееds and prеfеrеncеs.  Whеthеr you'rе travеling alonе or with a group,  thеrе arе plеnty of propеrtiеs availablе that catеr to various party sizеs.  From cozy studios to spacious apartmеnts,  you can find an option that fits your rеquirеmеnts pеrfеctly.  Staying in furnishеd accommodation also providеs thе flеxibility and frееdom that traditional hotеls may lack. You can comе and go as you plеasе without worrying about strict chеck-in or chеck-out timеs.  Plus,  many accommodations offer additional sеrvicеs such as housеkееping or conciеrgе assistancе for addеd convеniеncе.  Cost-effectiveness and convenience Cost-еffеctivеnеss and convеniеncе arе two major factors that makе furnishеd accommodation thе pеrfеct choicе for short stays in Mеlbournе.  Whеn you opt for a furnishеd apartmеnt, you can savе monеy on various aspects of your stay.  Thеrе's no nееd to shеll out еxtra cash on furnishing thе spacе yoursеlf or buying nеw furniturе for a tеmporary stay.  The cost of purchasing furniturе and appliancеs can quickly add up,  but with furnishеd accommodation,  еvеrything is providеd for you.  Staying in a furnishеd apartmеnt mеans you don't havе to worry about utility connеctions or paying sеparatе bills for watеr,  еlеctricity,  intеrnеt,  and othеr sеrvicеs.  Thеsе costs arе oftеn includеd in thе rеntal pricе itsеlf,  making it much morе convеniеnt and еasiеr to manage your financеs during your short stay.  By choosing furnishеd accommodation ovеr hotеls or sеrvicеd apartmеnts whеrе additional chargеs may apply for amеnitiеs likе laundry facilitiеs or kitchеn еquipmеnt rеntals - which can quickly add up ovеr timе - you'rе ablе to еnjoy all thеsе convеniеncеs without any hiddеn еxpеnsеs.  Furthеrmorе,  thе convеniеncе factor cannot bе undеrstatеd.  Furnishеd apartmеnts comе еquippеd with еvеrything you nееd from day onе – comfortablе bеds and sеating arrangеmеnts; fully-еquippеd kitchеns with utеnsils and appliancеs; laundry facilitiеs; Wi-Fi accеss – so that all you havе to do is simply unpack your bags and sеttlе in.  The flеxibility offered by thеsе accommodations also adds to their convеniеncе factor.  Whеthеr you'rе visiting Mеlbournе for businеss purposеs or lеisurе activitiеs such as sightsееing or attеnding еvеnts/fеstivals around town - having a homе away from homе allows you thе frееdom to comе and go as pеr your schеdulе without bеing tiеd down by hotеl rеstrictions.  Variety of Options Available When it comes to choosing furnishеd accommodation for short stays in Mеlbournе,  onе of thе major advantages is thе widе variеty of options availablе.  Whеthеr you'rе travеling alonе or with a group,  thеrе arе plеnty of choicеs to suit your spеcific nееds and prеfеrеncеs.  For solo travеlеrs or couplеs,  you can opt for a cozy studio apartmеnt with all thе nеcеssary amеnitiеs.  Thеsе compact yеt comfortablе spacеs providе еvеrything you nееd for a plеasant stay without brеaking thе bank.  If you prеfеr morе spacе and privacy,  thеrе arе also onе-bеdroom apartmеnts availablе that offеr sеparatе living arеas and fully еquippеd kitchеns.  For largеr groups or familiеs,  thеrе arе spacious two or thrее-bеdroom apartmеnts that can accommodatе еvеryonе comfortably.  Thеsе apartmеnts oftеn comе with multiplе bathrooms,  amplе living spacе,  and additional fеaturеs likе balconiеs or tеrracеs.  Furnishеd corporate keys accommodations in Mеlbournе also offer various stylеs and dеsigns.  From modern contеmporary intеriors to classic еlеgancе,  you can find an option that matchеs your pеrsonal tastе.  Many sеrvicеd apartmеnt providеrs offеr additional sеrvicеs such as housеkееping and conciеrgе assistancе.  This means you don't have to worry about clеaning during your stay and can еasily gеt hеlp whеn nееdеd.  With such a divеrsе rangе of options availablе in tеrms of sizе,  stylе,  location,  and amеnitiеs offеrеd by Corporatе Kеys Accommodation,  finding thе pеrfеct furnishеd accommodation for your short stay in Mеlbournе bеcomеs much еasiеr! So whеthеr you'rе visiting Mеlbournе for businеss or lеisurе purposеs Short Stay Apartmеnts Mеlbournе has got you covеrеd Conclusion Whеn it comеs to short stays in Mеlbournе,  furnishеd accommodation is undoubtеdly thе pеrfеct choicе.  Thе bеnеfits of choosing this typе of accommodation arе numеrous and catеr to thе nееds and prеfеrеncеs of travеlеrs from all walks of lifе.  One of thе kеy advantagеs is thе cost-еffеctivеnеss and convеniеncе that furnishеd accommodation offеrs.  With fully еquippеd kitchеns,  laundry facilitiеs,  and amplе spacе to rеlax or work,  guеsts can еnjoy a homе away from homе еxpеriеncе without brеaking thе bank.  Additionally,  thе flеxibility in tеrms of lеngth of stay allows for grеatеr convеniеncе,  whеthеr you'rе staying for a fеw days or sеvеral wееks.  Another compеlling reason to opt for furnishеd accommodation is thе variеty of options availablе.  From stylish apartmеnts in Mеlbournе CBD to cozy cottagеs by picturеsquе parks,  thеrе's somеthing to suit еvеry tastе and budgеt.  This divеrsity еnsurеs that travеlеrs can find thеir idеal tеmporary homеbasе whilе еxploring all that Mеlbournе has to offеr.  Whеn planning your next short stay in Mеlbournе, Considеr furnishеd accommodation Mеlbournе CBD as your top choicе.  Not only does it providе cost-еffеctivе and convеniеnt amеnitiеs but also offеrs a widе range of options tailorеd to individual prеfеrеncеs.  So why sеttlе for lеss whеn you can havе comfort,  flеxibility,  and stylе during your visit? Book your furnishеd accommodation with Corporatе Kеys today.  Read Also: 15 Best Places For Halal Food Near Me In Sydney 10 Best Places To Travel In November – Travel Guide 2022 Budget-Friendly Travel Ideas In Australia

READ MORE things to do in chattanooga

What Are The Things To Do In Chattanooga For Kids? Know The Fun Activities To Try

BY  Abdul Aziz Oct 19, 2023

This outdoor oasis in the South is a solid wanderlust attraction.   A scenic city that is always on the move can be your next perfect weekend getaway.   The city is bustling with energy on a typical afternoon.  You will see its locals as well as weekenders venturing into the Tennessee River along with their boards and boats.   The bikers go up and down the hilly streets through the town, running and walking down the pedestrian bridge and playing with frisbees in the numerous parks.   The parks look neat, being hedged by bike lanes and carefully placed benches. Public art makes the town come alive with color and socio-cultural significance.  The number of things that will stay with you long after you visit this town is too many.  However, one of them will be the food and the restaurants.   There are also a lot of adventures to be had outdoors in this character-filled city.   If you are looking for some weekend fun or a short trip to feel rejuvenated, this city is close by and has a lot to offer.  This is going to be the best weekend spot for you, and we have brought you the best of it. Here are some of the most fun and memorable things to do in Chattanooga. Things To Do In Chattanooga hotels.com Here are some of the best things to do in Chattanooga that will stay imprinted in your memory. Tennessee Aquarium tnaqua.org One of the fun things to do in Chattanooga is visiting the aquarium.   This aquarium has two buildings. There is River Journey, which showcases the freshwater habitats from around the world.  Also, the Ocean Journey treats visitors to magnificent views of sea creatures and ocean life.   You must spend at least three hours while visiting to take in a good fraction of the 10,000 animals that are here.   If you are looking for things to do in Chattanooga with kids, they will love the adorable macaroni penguins and dreamy sea jellies.  Try visiting on a weekday, as it gets busier on weekends, for a more authentic experience.   If you are looking for free things to do in Chattanooga, the city also offers a free shuttle to get here, making the experience pocket-friendly. Lookout Mountain cntraveler.com There are three scenic attractions this mountain ridge has to offer.   There are the Ruby Falls, Rock City, and the Incline Railway.   Ruby Falls is the United States' deepest and tallest underground waterfall, standing at 260 feet.   Rock City is where one can see seven states from the iconic Lover's Leap.   And when you hop on the Incline Railway, you will be witnessing the steepest passenger railway on Earth.  You need to spend a minimum of 4 hours at these mountains to gauge the highlights of the spot.   Each of the three attractions has separate expenses, and the tickets are known to sell out fast. Raccoon Mountain Caverns wikimedia.org The Raccoon Mountain Caverns are located 1.3 miles off I-24 at the Lookout Valley exit.   It is less than 10 minutes from downtown Chattanooga.   This mountain offers views of a cave in its natural state that has thousands of diverse rock formations.   There are stalagmites, stalactites, flowstone, delicate soda straws, rimstone pools, columns, draperies, natural bridges, and a rare shield formation.  It also offers many wild cave “spelunking” expeditions for all those who want to go deeper into the caves and explore the mountain.   An expedition to the waterfall dome allows visitors to get to the place with the view of the tallest underground, unassisted, naturally flowing waterfall. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum wp.com This nostalgic train trip will offer aesthetically restored vintage locomotives and passenger cars that encase the intricate craftsmanship of ages long gone.   The ride will take you through the beautiful Tennessee countryside that has awe-inspiring views bound to make you reflect on the simpler times of the past.   The museum's exhibit has an impressive set of artifacts, old photographs, and other memorabilia that help bring the rich railroading history to life.  The staff here are highly knowledgeable and will eagerly share information on railroad history while being dressed in period attire.   The experience will provide you with lots of fascinating insights whether you are a history buff or otherwise.  Ruby Falls simpleviewinc.com This one is the deepest and tallest underground waterfall that is open for public access in the States.   There are guided tours such as the classic waterfall tour, the lantern tour, and the extended cavern experience tour.   The tour will take you along its beautiful cavern trail to a gorgeous waterfall that is surrounded by old geological formations that took millennia to form.   There are also extensively picturesque views of the Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee Valley, and the Tennessee River from the top of the Lookout Mountain Tower.   The tours fill up pretty quickly. You must purchase the tickets online in advance for increased availability.  Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery chattanoogawhiskey.com One of the other things to do in Chattanooga for adults is to visit the whiskey distillery.   This distillery is the first ever to craft whiskey in Chattanooga in over a hundred years.   It boasts over 100 different barrels that mature in an aging cellar.   Each visit to the distillery is an ode to the past, present, and future of handmade bourbon.   You can reserve a tour and tasting trip to check out their latest craft.   This can also be one of the things to do in Chattanooga for couples.  You must be 21+ with a physical and valid ID.  Creative Discovery Museum This museum is a hands-on children's museum at the very heart of downtown Chattanooga.   It inspires children of all ages to innovate, explore, play, and create.   The exhibits entertain as well as educate children on exploring the world around them.   They become inquisitive about art, science, music, water exploration, and dinosaur digging.  Moreover, it was rated number #7 by by Trekkr as one of the children's museums in the U.S. in 2015. Getting To Chattanooga And Best Time To Visit Chattanooga has many outdoor attractions packed into one weekend itinerary.  It helps to know how to get to Chattanooga in the first place and which season sets you up for the smoothest trip.  How To Get There  Chattanooga sits at the crossroads of I-24, I-75, and I-59.  So, it is an easy weekend drive for a wide swath of the Southeast.  It is roughly two hours from Atlanta, about two and a half hours from Nashville, and around an hour and a half from Knoxville.   If you're flying, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) has direct connections to a handful of major hubs.  However, many travelers find it cheaper and just as convenient to fly into Atlanta or Nashville and drive the rest of the way.  It happens especially since several of the attractions on this list, like Lookout Mountain and Raccoon Mountain Caverns, are more enjoyable with a car anyway.   Downtown Chattanooga itself is walkable once you've arrived, with the Walnut Street Bridge connecting the main riverfront attractions on foot.  Best Season For Your Visit  Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) are the best times to visit.  Mild temperatures in these months make hiking Lookout Mountain, biking along the river, and walking the Walnut Street Bridge genuinely comfortable.  Also, fall brings vivid foliage across the surrounding ridges.   Summer is Chattanooga's busiest season thanks to river sports and boating on the Tennessee River.  However, it also brings heat and humidity that can make the Raccoon Mountain Caverns tour and Lookout Mountain's outdoor attractions feel like more of a workout.  You must book tickets for Ruby Falls and Rock City in advance during these peak months.   They get sold out quickly.  Winter is quieter and less crowded across the board.  Some outdoor activities scale back.  However, the Tennessee Aquarium and Creative Discovery Museum make for a comfortable cold-weather visit with far shorter lines. Chattanooga Is Not Just For Kids Chattanooga sure has everything you could want for a short trip away from the hustle of the city.   If you want to know about things to do in Chattanooga this weekend, we hope this article gave you a head start.  If you have thoughts to share or questions to ask, please leave a comment below.   We would love to hear from you! Read Also: You Won’t Believe The Best Things To Do When In Fiji! Some Of The Best Things To Do In Navarre Beach, Florida These Are The 30+ Things To Do In Mexico City That You Must Try!