North Shore: Chattanooga

Chattanooga's North Shore is the latest in a string of local success stories. Once a forgotten industrial site filled with warehouses and shipping yards, the area has been transformed into a tourist Mecca with specialty shops offering everything from caviar to kayaks. In its new home on the North Shore, The Chattanooga Theatre Centre offers Broadway-caliber productions year round. Coolidge Park offers miles of riverfront walking paths and cafes, along with the wildly popular Coolidge Park Carousel and Fountains. The classic, century-old merry-go-round features hand-carved horses and sleds that were restored right here in Chattanooga. The fountains include huge water-spewing lions, tigers and bears used to help cool youngsters during the hot summer months. The Walnut Street Bridge spans the majestic Tennessee River and connects the North Shore to Chattanooga's downtown area. Once a vital roadway for local auto traffic, the bridge is now only open to foot traffic and is the nation's longest pedestrian walkway. © WCities