Chattanooga. Tucked away in the mountains of southern Tennessee, the Scenic City has always been one of my favorite destinations. Not only is it absolutely beautiful, it's one of those kid-friendly places that allows for a slower-paced vacation. With two preschoolers, that slower pace is a must and we had a blast in the two days we visited. I want to share with you guys my favorite things to do in Chattanooga with kids.
Things to do in Chattanooga with Small Children
Creative Discovery Museum
Located in downtown Chattanooga off of exit 1C from I24, the Creative Discovery Museum is right at the corner of 4th Street and Chestnut. It was really easy to get to without GPS (my phone's navigation wasn't cooperating with me and I didn't want to mess with it while driving) and the road signs from the interstate made it simple enough to find without any kind of a headache. That's one thing I love about Chattanooga - getting around is easy enough with road signs and billboards that you don't have to waste time checking out a map or listening to a GPS, so you can actually pay attention to the scenery and enjoy the beauty.
Back to the Creative Discovery Museum, though. We were provided with complimentary tickets to bring the little guys to check it out, and I can say without bias that this is the best place in Chattanooga to bring kids of any age.
The Creative Discovery Museum is a hands-on children's museum packed full of interesting things to learn and do. It's so cool!
The fun starts before you even enter the doors. Outside the entrance is a huge interactive display where kids can enclose themselves inside a bubble! Sammy and Kaya thought this was the best thing ever; they've always talked about how much they would love to be in a bubble on summer days when they're playing outside with their wands and soap suds.
When you enter the Museum, you meet a line that forks - to the left is the express lane for those who have purchased tickets online or in advance, the right leads you to the ticket counter. All children under the age of 12 must have an adult with them at all times. Any adults visiting without children must leave photo identification at the front desk to ensure the safety of children. I love that the Creative Discovery Museum has a lot of safety features to make sure your little ones can play and learn safely.
Now, you can't bring any food or drink into the museum, but there is a small on-site cafe, Café Dino-Mite, that has everything from full-size meals to quick snacks on the go to make sure your little guys stay happy.
As you enter the museum, you walk through the RiverPlay exhibit. Signs everywhere indicate that it's a "Splash Zone" - meaning that your kids will probably get wet. If your little one(s) are interested in learning how rivers work, or just like splashing in water - this is definitely going to be one of their favorites. Tip: Bring an extra set of clothes, just in case!
I think my favorite part of the whole museum was the Excavation Station. The entire exhibit sits behind a life-size T-Rex and features everything paleontology-related from live critters like a tarantula and cockroaches to rocks. There's a huge sandpit to dig and "excavate" in for exploration, and various stations where kids can learn all about insects.
Kids can dress like a paleontologist, dig for bones, check out the rock gallery, and even crawl through a soil wall tunnel to learn all about the creatures that live under the earth's surface.
With lots to see and touch in the Excavation Station, the kids are sure to discover all kinds of things about the world and the animals that roam (and roamed) Earth.
Several more exhibits fill the Creative Discovery Museum, like the Corner Clinic where kids can learn what it's like being a doctor or nurse in a play-hospital setting; the Performing Arts gallery where kids can completely run a theater from the stage to the sound and light board, a puppet theater, all kinds of musical instruments to try out - even a mini recording studio where they can play instruments and learn how to control different soundboard settings like reverb and volume.
Do your kids like Sid the Science Kid? Sammy and Kaya both watch Sid all the time, and love learning anything that he wants to teach them. Well, until Sunday, September 11 there is a new exhibit featuring Sid - Sid the Science Kid: The Super-Duper Exhibit!
The exhibit encourages kids to think, talk, and work the way scientists do by building on children's natural curiosity about the world. Guests can learn many lessons in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through interactive exhibits that explore the concepts of simple machines, friction, inertia, and more!
Certain scenes from the show are set up around the Sid the Science Kid: The Super-Duper Exhibit! and kids feel like they are right inside Sid’s world.
Kids can explore and learn the Sid the Science Kid way!
There's so much more to see and do at the Creative Discovery Museum. Learn more and plan your visit at cdmfun.org. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter!
Chattanooga Zoo
For the animal lovers, the Chattanooga Zoo is always a huge hit. With 13 acres of zoo, and 860 animals, your little ones are sure to see all the animals they love.
With over 300 animals representing 130 different species, many of which are endangered, the Chattanooga Zoo creates meaningful connections between people and animals. They do this by providing education and resources for their community.
It's a zoo that's specifically designed to bring the animals up close to you.
Imagine a zoo where you have time to notice the subtleties of animal behavior, instead of being pushed along by an impatient crowd. Imagine an exciting and diverse zoo that's still easy to navigate with strollers....or little legs. Imagine a zoo that provides worthwhile fun at a price that won't break the bank!
Add this must-visit attraction to your itinerary and see why everyone is calling the AZA-accredited Chattanooga Zoo “the Best Little Zoo in America”. About two miles from downtown Chattanooga, and only $8.95 for adults and $5.95 for children, the Chattanooga Zoo is definitely worth checking out.
The zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. To find out more, visit www.chattzoo.org.
Ruby Falls
Located over 1,120 feet below the surface of Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, TN, Ruby Falls is one of the Southeast's must-see attractions. If you live in western North Carolina or eastern Tennessee, you've probably seen the billboards - See Ruby Falls. I've noticed them since I was a little kid, but this is the first time I've ever visited Ruby Falls and I am so glad I was able to bring the kids along to experience it, too - thanks to some complimentary tickets!
The Ruby Falls experience is one of those magical adventures, especially for little ones. It begins with your drive up Lookout Mountain, one of the nation's most scenic and historic mountains. As you make a turn along the mountain road, you see a large castle located on the side of the mountain. Named “Cavern Castle,” it is the entrance to Ruby Falls and is deemed “the world's grandest cave entrance”. Constructed out of limestone rock excavated from the cave, Cavern Castle is a replica of a 15th century Irish Castle.
When we arrived, there were a few people milling about in the lobby and gift shop, but it wasn't too busy. Tip: Avoid heavy crowds and long lines by visiting Ruby Falls early in the morning. We got there about 10am; they open at 8am. By the time we exited the cave, there was a really long line.
From inside the Castle, you head to the ticket counter to receive your tickets and then get in line for the elevator. The glass elevator doors gave us a clear view of the rock walls as we descended 600 ft below the surface. Once we got to the bottom, we were greeted by a tour guide who gave us a brief history lesson about Ruby Falls and Lookout Mountain, had our picture taken, and began the underground hike to see some pretty awesome rock formations on our way to the waterfall.
A few of the formations were really cool - the Elephant's Foot and the Donkey really looked like their names and it's amazing how they were naturally formed into those shapes. I think my favorite was the "Steak and Potatoes": check it out. It looks just like a plate of food!
It took about an hour to walk to the waterfall. Tip: Wear comfortable shoes. It was also pretty chilly down there so if you get cold easily or if you have little ones with you, I would suggest a long sleeved shirt or a light jacket. There were a few moms with children on our hike; it's pretty slow-paced so it was easy for little ones to keep up. If you have a carrying-sized baby, I would recommend a baby carrier.
The walk back only took about 30 minutes as opposed to the long walk there. Once you've seen the Falls, you're considered a "survivor" and when your group meets other groups on the way back, they move to the side and let you pass.
It was definitely an adventure that my kiddos are going to be talking about for a long time. They loved the idea of going into a castle and exploring a cave, and they learned so much about the different types of rocks and the history of Ruby Falls and Lookout Mountain.
You can plan your Ruby Falls adventure, and learn more about it on their site: RubyFalls.com. You can also connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.
This was probably the most fun we've ever had on a weekend as a family. Now that my little guys are getting older, I do believe this is just one of many family adventures to come. We found coupons and enough information to plan our entire Chattanooga vacation at chattanoogafun.com. If you're looking for a fun family vacation, definitely keep Chattanooga in mind!
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