Things To Do In East Chattanooga

A Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and winner of the 2009 Larry MacPhail Trophy for inventive promotional efforts in the community, the Lookouts induce crackerjack-tossing cheers thanks to a skilled roster of battle-ready bat-and-glove brandishers. Settle into an up-close lower box seat (the seating areas in green) at scenic AT&T Field, where guests can absorb majestic views of the surrounding greenery and use their souvenir program to call out the opposing first baseman's credit score.

Chattanooga DanceSport's qualified instructors can assist dancers of all skill levels, from beginning two-step stompers to professional rug rippers. Private classes allow couples to learn together and solo-swingers to pair off with an instructor in any of the available dance styles, including Rumba, Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, and California Raisin Shuffle. The main dance floor and its mirror-lined walls set the mood for group classes, which take place from 7–8 p.m. on select weekdays. During each class, a troupe of tyro trotters covers a specific style of body movin'—upcoming sessions include Rumba, Merengue, and the classic waltz.

The Chattanooga Zoo opened its doors in 1937 with an exhibit containing two rhesus monkeys. Pretty soon, it had expanded to include bobcats, lions, and gators, until eventually becoming the venerable non-profit institution it is today, supporting conservation efforts for rare and endangered species around the world.

In the zoo's forest area, chimps, wildcats, and tortoises roam their habitats to the sound of churning water beneath two waterfalls. Red pandas scurry around a Himalayan habitat, and spider monkeys spin gossamer webs in the jungle area. Kids can play with goats and sheep at the petting zoo, or take a few revolutions on the carousel. With a refurbished frame from 1927, it spins guests on the backs of hand-carved seats fashioned after endangered animals such as snow leopards and low lying gorillas.

Behind the scenes, the zoo's caretakers work to rehabilitate hundreds of animals each year so that they can return to the wild. They also lead conservation efforts for rare species—including snow leopards, fennec foxes, and cotton-top tamarins—and educate thousands of students annually with interactive events catered to school curricula.

For more than 25 years, Choo Choo Diving and Aquatic Center's SSI Open Water instructors and assistants have been helping people feel comfortable and confident in the water. During the three-hour Scuba Rangers program, children learn about scuba safety and scuba gear assembly, then experience the sensation of breathing underwater without accidentally swallowing bubble bath. Each class takes place from 6–9 p.m. on Saturday evenings and teaches kids how to interact with underwater life and identify different types of fish, while providing them with basic underwater communication skills, such as the super slow-motion high five.

Thousands of dragons glitter and glimmer within the Dragon Dreams Museum. So many, in fact, that the museum owner is working on her entry in the Guinness Word Records book for—you guessed it—the biggest collection of dragons on earth. One-of-a-kind antiques and handcrafted figurines made from silver, jade, and ivory highlight the expansive collection. The on-site gift shop can help you start your own collection as well as purchase other items such as jewelry, magnets, ornaments, and posters.

Chattanooga Billiard Club is a place for purists and billiards aficionados, however, that shouldn’t scare away newbies who want to learn or practice on some of the best equipment available. The billiards room protects an arsenal of 18 Brunswick Gold Crown IV 8- and 9-foot tables, as well as two championship-tournament 9-foot Diamond tables, all of which are equipped with high-quality Simonis felt. Players can arm themselves with Aramith balls and Nick Varner cues to experience tournament-caliber game play.

Chattanooga Billiard Club also features a dart league, a cigar room that sells rare and hard-to-find cigars, and a plush Havana Room lounge equipped with overstuffed leather furniture and flat-screen TVs that broadcast sports. A full bar and restaurant also serve up tasty fare such as USDA Choice ground-chuck burgers, flagship cuban sandwiches, and pub-style fish 'n' chips.