Chattanooga Trip

[2tinkerbells]

My mom, sis, and kids are going to Chattanooga in a couple weeks for a minivacation. Anyone have any suggestions and discounts?
We are planning to see the aquarium, lookout mountain, chattanooga choo choo.
Any other ideas are appreciated. We are traveling with 3 kids age 6,2, 1.

 

[3disAddicts]

DH, DS(who's 7), and myself were there last Aug. We did Lookout Mtn, the Incline, Ruby Falls(guided tour through a cave and underground waterfall), and Rock City. Was not at all impressed with Lookout and the Incline. Ruby Falls was okay, but have read mixed reviews from others. But being we'd never been inside a cave, it was worth the trip. We also went to Rock City which is in the same general vicinity. We really enjoyed that. Really worth seeing. If you go, just be prepared for a lot of walking. But there are lots of places to sit and rest. There are also places as you walk up the mountain where it's a really tight squeeze to get through. But the scenery is really nice. The family that owns it has put a lot of work into it. I'm a member of AAA, so we got a ticket deal on the Incline, Mtn, and Ruby Falls. Never been to the aquarium, but from reviews I've read on other forums, it's supposedly really nice. We stayed in a cabin, and even they offered a combo pass. I'm sure many of the hotels do as well.

 

[kittymarcy]

Do the children's museum too - it's right by the aquarium and it's awesome! You should also check out the actual train too if you have time...just go to the "chattanooga choo choo" - now attached to a Holiday Inn that is fun to wander around in.

 

[crazelion]

Check out a Lookouts Baseball game at ATT Field which is behind the IMAX theater. The prices is really cheap. The box seats is 8.00 dollars. The other is 4.00 dollars kids is 2.00 a ticket. Plus I work there.

Downtown has excellent food choices. My fav is Big River Grille. Children's museum is excellent. aquarium , Imax theater , children's museum and ATT Field is close to each other really is all one place. There is free shuttle bus to take around downtown Chattanooga.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Theres also the IMAX theatre right by the aquariuam that is pretty neat

 

[merekc]

We always go to Sticky Fingers BBQ when we are in this area.

 

[jennifer293]

In the Bluff View Art District (near UTC) there is a restaurant called Tony's Pasta Shop and it is WONDERFUL!!! It is my favorite place to eat!! I would def. go to the Aquarium, IMAX, Creative Discovery Museum, Rock City, and maybe a Lookouts Game. I would skip the Incline and the Choo Choo, but that is just me. Oh and they have this new boat called the River Gorge and you can get a discounted pass with the Aquarium I believe. There is a park called Coolidge Park that has an indoor carousel and a water fountain that is fun, and a ice cream shop behind it that has really good ice cream. I wanna say it is called Clumpie's (it has bee a couple of years since I have been there).

Welcome to my neck of the woods and have a BLAST!!!!

 

[DalGal]

If you can, go to the aquarium during the week to avoid larger crowds. They're now giving you an timed entry ticket like the Georgia Aquarium if you use the kiosks but they didn't hold us to that time (we went in earlier). As Jennifer mentioned, Coolidge Park is great. Walk across the Walnut St. Bridge if you don't want to deal with parking on the North Shore.

If you are really interested in trains, I would recommend visiting the TN Valley Railroad Museum. Its not at the Choo-Choo, its out off of Jersey Pike. They have several rides you can take, from the short Missionary Ridge trip (you get to see how the train uses the turntable to turn around) to longer excursions. Check out http://www.tvrail.com/

Ruby Falls may not be that spectacular due to lack of rain. Its gorgeous when we have plenty of rain.

 

[seeking pixie dust]

My parents just retired in the knoxville area. When we visited two weeks ago, we took two day trips to Chat... My kids (18 months, 4.5) LOVED the Children's Discovery Museum. It's probably the second best children's museum I've ever been to. They loved the Clifford Exhibit of Birdwell Island (could have spent hours playing there) - the museum is just awesome. We visited the Aquarium, and although nice, my kids weren't excited about it. You can get a discount at the Children's Museum by showing your tickets to the Aquarium.

We also visited Lake Winnepesauke (www.lakewinnie.com). It's a great little amusement park - lots of rides for the little ones. We plan to go back there every year...and to the Discovery Museum, too.

Have fun!

 

[2tinkerbells]

Thanks to everyone with the great ideas.

We were considering the kids museum but my sis isn't interested since she only has a 1yo. My kids would love it and I may try to talk her into it.

Does anyone know if it is possible to take strollers around Rock City and Lookout Mountain?

We are not going to Ruby Falls, I did that once in high school and I feel with the kids, the walk would be too much.

Thanks again for suggestions. Any eatery suggestions would be appreciated. Remember we have 3 young kids with us!!

 

[3disAddicts]

If you do decide to do Rock City, I would definitely do a google search for some pics of it. There are some REALLY tight spots to squeeze through as you're going up. I'm not sure if a stroller could make it through some of the passes. Maybe something compact, that you could easily fold and push, would be okay. There are one or two spots where a "pooh-sized" person would have a difficult if not impossible time getting though. I remember climbing steps as well. The only way I know how to describe the place is to say it's like a "rock garden" carved into the mountain. It's amazing what they've made out of this place. There are, fortunately, lots of places to rest and purchase refreshments. You can also do some gem grubbing if that interests you, and shopping as well. Hope this helped.

 

[TheRatPack]

Check out a Lookouts Baseball game at ATT Field which is behind the IMAX theater. The prices is really cheap. The box seats is 8.00 dollars. The other is 4.00 dollars kids is 2.00 a ticket. Plus I work there.

Downtown has excellent food choices. My fav is Big River Grille. Children's museum is excellent. aquarium , Imax theater , children's museum and ATT Field is close to each other really is all one place. There is free shuttle bus to take around downtown Chattanooga.

Hey, where can I find information on the family nights? I looked it up on the website and didn't see anything....we've been wanting to go but I liked the family night games (hot dog...etc included)...or have they discontinued those?

Thanks!!!

 

[TheRatPack]

If you do decide to do Rock City, I would definitely do a google search for some pics of it. There are some REALLY tight spots to squeeze through as you're going up. I'm not sure if a stroller could make it through some of the passes. Maybe something compact, that you could easily fold and push, would be okay. There are one or two spots where a "pooh-sized" person would have a difficult if not impossible time getting though. I remember climbing steps as well. The only way I know how to describe the place is to say it's like a "rock garden" carved into the mountain. It's amazing what they've made out of this place. There are, fortunately, lots of places to rest and purchase refreshments. You can also do some gem grubbing if that interests you, and shopping as well. Hope this helped.

Most of the time (if not all the time) they have other ways of getting around those tight squeezes. I'm scared of tight places like that and when the kids would go with a school group I would always walk the other path around....never had an issue.

 

[TheRatPack]

If you can, go to the aquarium during the week to avoid larger crowds. They're now giving you an timed entry ticket like the Georgia Aquarium if you use the kiosks but they didn't hold us to that time (we went in earlier). As Jennifer mentioned, Coolidge Park is great. Walk across the Walnut St. Bridge if you don't want to deal with parking on the North Shore.

Can you still play in the water there at the bridge, on the Chattanooga side, not Northshore? On the other side, beside the aquarium? It was the indian trail of tears water fall, we played there last year but we don't get down there often and I know they were doing construction right through there....???

It was a neat little place to play in the water, we liked that a lot. Plus it's free, well except for parking LOL

 

[DalGal]

Can you still play in the water there at the bridge, on the Chattanooga side, not Northshore? On the other side, beside the aquarium? It was the indian trail of tears water fall, we played there last year but we don't get down there often and I know they were doing construction right through there....???

It was a neat little place to play in the water, we liked that a lot. Plus it's free, well except for parking LOL

No, The Passage is closed right now for rehab. There are some structural issues and lighting problems that must be fixed. Heard on the news yesterday that it would cost at least $1.5 million to repair. Its really a shame it wasn't done correctly originally. As far as I know, there is no projected re-opening date.

 

[momm2four]

Let your sister know that the Children's Museum has a "Little Yellow Room" for kids 4 and under. There is a section with mirrored walls and "baby toys". I honestly wouldn't miss it if you have kids.

A Lookouts game is a great way to pass the night, but your little ones might poop out after about the 4th or 5th inning.

Lake Winnie is fun. We just took our boys there last Thursday.

Lots of stuff to do downtown, in the Aquarium area and in the Bluff View Art District (LOVE Rembrandt's Coffee House).

Lori P.

 

[Ladybugsy]

How about the Chickamauga Battlefield? It's kinda cool riding around and seeing all the monuments. It's nice to take a picnic basket and do a little walking. It's amazing how they keep up the grounds.

 

[2tinkerbells]

Where is the battlefield?

 

[Ladybugsy]

It's in Chickamauga..it's actually south of Chattanooga right over the Georgia State Line. Not far at all. Very cool.

 

[pugga04]

stop at state border reststops, for all coupons and discounts