Visiting Rock City Gardens with Kids (Lookout Mountain)
Are you looking for reviews of Rock City Gardens in Lookout Mountain, Georgia? Rock City is a super popular tourist attraction for families visiting the Chattanooga, TN area. Since it sits just 6 miles from downtown Chattanooga, Rock City is the perfect spot for those looking for fun activities to do with kids.
The article below features photos of the amazing views you’ll find at Rock City Gardens along with a full review of my family’s visit with a toddler. Whether you’re interested in viewing the botanical gardens or the true marvel of nature that is Lookout Point, your whole family is sure to have an amazing time at Rock City. So continue reading all about Rock City to see why you should add it to your list of things to do in Chattanooga!
Rock City Gardens
As mentioned above, Rock City is located just a short drive from Chattanooga, TN. For those familiar with the area, you know that Chattanooga sits really close to the Georgia state line. Therefore, it’s not completely surprising that Rock City Gardens is actually located in Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
Still, visitors to the city of Chattanooga can easily explore Rock City because of its short proximity to the downtown area. If you have never visited Chattanooga (aka the Scenic City), you are missing out on a really beautiful and easy getaway! Families travel to the Chattanooga area year round to visit fun attractions like:
Plus, the downtown Chattanooga area is full of amazing restaurants, kid-friendly attractions, and outdoor activities. The nearby Lookout Mountain area offers additional experiences for those visiting Chattanooga. These picturesque attractions include Ruby Falls, the Incline Railway, AND the impressive Rock City Gardens.
Tickets
If you are planning a trip to visit Rock City Gardens on Lookout Mountain, you are probably curious about the ticket prices. You can often find special rates if you are traveling with a group of 15 or more. Rock City has broken down the ticket prices based on the date and time you plan to visit. You can view details on their official website, but it typically looks like this:
General Admission tickets on a typical visit to Rock City will cost you around $21.95 for an adult or $14.95 for a child (ages 3-12).
If you are visiting during one of the Rock City special events like Shamrock City, Summer Music Weekends, Rocktoberfest or Enchanted Garden of Lights, you can expect to pay Premier Event Prices. These premier tickets start at $31.95 for an adult and $21.95 for a child.
Those planning to tour Rock City during the peak season and holidays can plan to pay Premium Day Prices. These premium tickets will cost you around $26.95 (adult) and $16.95 (child). If your trip is scheduled during the months of January and February, you can often luck out and find Value Prices. These tickets are some of the cheapest deals you can find for Rock City. They tend to run about $16.95 for adults and $8.95 for kids.
Things to Do in Rock City
While you are touring Rock City, make sure to take time to experience the beautiful views and these fun activities:
Live Show
Depending on the date you visit Rock City, you may be able to attend a live show. On our most recent trip to Rock City Gardens, my family and I were able to watch the Rock City Raptors-Birds of Prey show.
It was AMAZING! I’m not really that interested in birds, but the husband-and-wife duo who run the birds of prey shows are extremely knowledgeable. We found them to be just as captivating as the birds they introduced. The presenters also walk up really close to each family, so you get a great view of each bird. My daughters LOVED this show!
Fairyland Caverns
Fairyland Caverns at Rock City is a kid favorite. You can wander through the caves to view scenes from popular fairy tales like Cinderella and Snow White.
There’s also a large room known as Mother Goose Village with scenes from just about any nursery rhyme you can imagine. This is a really fun stop, especially for little kids who enjoy popular nursery rhyme characters.
See Seven States
At the top of Lookout Mountain, Rock City offers panoramic views of the lands below. You can even see seven separate states and view their different flags while standing at this high point.
Cafe 7 is a restaurant located inside Rock City. You can dine outside and enjoy gorgeous views of the outlying land while you eat.
Swinging Rope Bridge
The swinging bridge is another popular attraction at Rock City. If you aren’t too afraid of heights, you can find some incredible views from the suspension bridge.
Rock City offers a second (less scary) stone bridge for those needing to cross as well.
Rock Formations/Caves
You can spend loads of time just exploring the massive ancient rock formations on the pathways. Visitors even stroll through caves and tight spaces like Fat Man’s Squeeze.
The caves are also super cool with some offering really narrow passageways you can squeeze through.
Waterfall
You’ve undoubtedly seen pictures of the massive waterfall at Rock City Gardens. This waterfall is even more spectacular in person!
The pathway leading up to the waterfall provides lots of spots for picture taking too.
Places to Stay at Rock City
If you are planning to spend time at Rock City, you may be searching for places to stay nearby. These are some of the most popular options:
Campgrounds
Racoon Mountain Caverns and Campground are located near Rock City and Chattanooga. If you are open to driving just a bit north of the city, Chester Frost Park is another kid-friendly option for campgrounds in the area.
Cabins
If you are wanting a rustic feel with more amenities, you can rent a cabin near Lookout Mountain. We like to use VRBO when renting vacation homes, and these are some of the cabins near Rock City with awesome reviews:
Hotels
Since you won’t really find many options for hotels on Lookout Mountain, you will probably want to choose one closer to the city of Chattanooga. Some of our favorite options are:
- The Edwin Hotel Chattanooga (Luxury Hotel with Prime Location)
- Springhill Suites Downtown Chattanooga (Moderate Prices)
Bed and Breakfast
If you are set on staying as close to Rock City as possible, you may want to check out the options for a Bed and Breakfast. These are two highly reviewed options that are close by:
Final Review of Rock City Gardens
Rock City Gardens on Lookout Mountain is a beautiful spot to spend time while visiting the Chattanooga area on your Tennessee vacation. I do want to make a note for those families visiting with babies and toddlers. Rock City is NOT a super stroller friendly location. You could possibly make it work by using the accessible path, but you would need to skip several of the attractions on the main route.
We have always opted out of taking our stroller with us. Rock City is really shaded and tends to feel a lot cooler than the hot, humid Chattanooga temperatures. So, it’s not too bad of a walk even with a toddler in tow.
Touring the rock formations, caves, and attractions normally takes us around an hour. Even though it’s a lot of walking, you can easily stroll at your own pace. If you plan to catch the birds of prey show, listen to live music, or enjoy lunch at Cafe 7, you will probably want to add on another 30 minutes for each.
As you exit Rock City Gardens, don’t forget to stop in the regional gift shops or fudge kitchen for souvenirs! What is your favorite thing to do on Lookout Mountain? Comment below to share with us!
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I am looking to purchase a vacation package for my family of 7. There is 2 smaller girls. So I’m looking my ore at the fairly land in rock city. Was needing help finding something reasonable for low income and about a 2 night 3 day stay.
Hi Loretta,
Rock City is a great place to visit with family, and I’m sure your girls will love it! If you’re looking for a budget-friendly hotel option near Lookout Mountain, I believe there are several choices available, including the Comfort Inn and Suites, Fairfield Inn and Suites, and Hampton Inn Chattanooga West. All of these are located near the base of Lookout Mountain, so they would be fairly close to Rock City. If you are visiting during the warmer months, the Hampton Inn features a water slide at their outdoor pool. Hope that helps, and thanks so much for reaching out!