Chattanooga Choo Choo Model Train Museum

The Chattanooga Choo Choo is not just a song or an icon of our fun city; 

it's also a great place to eat, play or hang out!

I've heard several people say that the Model Train Museum there is one of those hidden gems of the city--come and check it out!

You also might want the Chattanooga Choo Choo if you're looking to sleep in an old railcar, be sung to by a waiter, or walk in lovely formal gardens.

PICNIC? I don't see why not. I don't think I would go full out picnic, but hanging out in the gardens and having a picnic snack would probably be fine.

SWIMSUIT? no

COST? Model Train MuseumDaily at 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm: $5/adults; $3/ages 3-12

Trolley Ride: $3/person

(Daily at 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm)

PLAYGROUND? no

AUTHOR'S RATING? five out of five stars

HOURS? 

Sunday - Friday:  1pm - 6pm 

Saturday:             10am - 8pm

From its earliest days, Chattanooga was a river town. But in 1849 the first train arrived, and Chattanooga also became a town of the rails. In 1871 the luxurious Stanton House was opened to cater to the traffic of those rails. After its heyday the Stanton House was neglected and finally leveled in 1906 to make way for the Terminal Train Station, opened in 1909.

This train station bustled until the 60s and then closed entirely when the last passenger train passed through Chattanooga in August of 1970. It wasn't long (just 3 years) until The Chattanooga Choo Choo was opened as a hotel. Cincinnati Southern's engine was brought in to be the official Choo Choo and the bustle of the old railway days surrounds her in the yard of the hotel.

I've given the Choo Choo my highest rating because of its historical place in our city and its variety of entertainment and hotel options. Do you need train pictures of your toddler? A fun date idea? A fancy place for out of town friends to stay? A morning outing for your train-loving son? Shops? Garden background for prom/engagement pics? All of that and more can be found at the Choo Choo!

The Model Railroad Museum has a representation of Chattanooga, her attractions and her resources.

My kids favorite part of the model museum was the few interactive parts of the display. You could push a button to make the Incline Railway run or a lumber jack chop down a tree. They were enthralled!

{map for the Chattanooga Choo Choo}

Towing and Recovery Museum

International Towing and Recovery Museum

If your child is at all interested in trucks, this is the Chattanooga museum for you!

I really didn't know what to expect from this museum that we pass nearly every day and had never investigated.

It is an interesting place!

 PICNIC? no

SWIMSUIT? no

COST? $10/adults; $6/ages 6-14

PLAYGROUND? no

AUTHOR'S RATING? four out of five stars

HOURS? 

Summer Hours (March. 1-Oct.31)

Monday - Saturday 9 - 5 (Last Tour @ 4:15 PM)

Sunday 11 - 5 (Last Tour @ 4:15 PM)

Winter Hours (Nov 1-Feb.28)

Monday - Saturday 10 - 4:30 (Last Tour @ 3:45 PM)

Sunday 11 - 5 (Last Tour @ 4:15 PM)

Closed Major Holidays

The kids REALLY enjoyed the operational, interactive tow truck. I think we could have played on it, taking turns with the controls for hours!

In the gift shop, there are a few old trucks for you to enjoy as well as the interactive tow truck. If you need to purchase a model truck, a truck shirt or a matchbox car, this might be a good time to get in a few of the sights of the museum for free. Come enjoy and interact just in the gift shop for a bit!

But if you're in the mood for some BIG TRUCKS, buy a ticket and head to the back of the museum to tour their trucks.

And check out the wall of toy trucks!

This museum is a kid-friendly place, but explain to your children that most of the trucks in the museum are not to be touched and you'll have a great time looking and marveling at them!

{map for International Towing and Recovery Museum}

Lookout Mountain Incline Railway

I can't think of a better way to view the Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain areas than from the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway! When paired with lovely Point Park on the top of Lookout Mountain, this makes the perfect morning's outing.

PICNIC? yes--at picnic tables at the bottom of the incline

SWIMSUIT? no

COST? $15/adults; $7/ages 3-12

PLAYGROUND? no

AUTHOR'S RATING? four out of five stars

HOURS? 10-6pm every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas

Don't miss the views from the observation decks at the top of the incline!

When getting on the incline, watch your step! The car itself is inclined!

Passing the other train car is one of the thrills of the ride.

I love the windows at the top of the car--the ride is so steep that these windows show the view of the valley.

This is the pulley that holds the whole thing together! When one car goes up, the other goes down.

I definitely recommend the incline!

{map for Incline Railway}

Chattanooga's 175th Anniversary

Hooray for Celebrations! Here are a few that a friend (Thanks, Heather!) let me know about via email. I thought I'd pass it along to any of you who wanted to take advantage...
Expect to see some pictures and write-ups of some of these great attractions after the kiddos and I take advantage of some of these great deals this week!
Happy Anniversary, Chattanooga!

In honor of Chattanooga's 175th Anniversary, some area attractions and restaurants are having specials. 
http://www.cha175.org/events/ 


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8 - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15

In celebration of Chattanooga's 175th Anniversary, from November 8th - 15th, the Chattanooga Choo Choo will be offering $1.75 Trolley Rides (adults and children), $1.75 Model Railroad Museum Admission (adults and children), and $1.75 off all bottles and glasses of wine in the Victorian Lounge when you mention CHATTANOOGA'S 175th ANNIVERSARY!
https://www.facebook.com/events/722334277850421/?ref=5
http://www.choochoo.com/index.php



SATURDAY,NOVEMBER 8

$1.75 All Day @ Bessie Smith Cultural Center
Saturday
Bessie Smith Cultural Center
200 E Martin Luther King Blvd, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403
https://www.facebook.com/events/767992049928842/
http://www.bessiesmithcc.org/
http://www.bessiesmithcc.org/archives/832



MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10

Bonus Taco Day at Mojo Burrito!
Monday, November 10 at 11:00am
Mojo Burrito
Three Locations!, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421
Start your week off right with $1.75 tacos at all three of our locations in honor of 175 years of Chattanooga! Get your choice of Key Lime Chicken, St. Elmo's Fire Chicken, Ground Chuck, or Steak in a soft flour or crunchy corn shell with cheese and lettuce.
For directions and more info, check us out online at www.mojoburrito.com.
https://www.facebook.com/events/485588538249462/



TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11

Veteran’s Day Concert
Tuesday, November 11 at 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium
399 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
The CSO pays tribute to the veterans of our armed forces in this free concert featuring works such as the Armed Forces Salute, John Philip Sousa’s The Washington Post, the traditional Taps, and concluding with The Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Doors to the outer lobby and pre-concert activities open at 6:00p. Concert begins at 7:00p.
This concert is free and open to the public.
In partnership with Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium.
https://www.facebook.com/events/771234639582475/
http://chattanoogaonstage.com/events/chattanooga-symphony-opera-free-veterans-day-concert/
http://chattanoogasymphony.org/event/veterans-day-concert/



WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12

International Towing Museum $1.75 Admission
Wednesday, November 12 at 9:00am - 5:00pm
International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum
3315 Broad St, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37408
Fun and educational for the whole family! Discover the history of towing and recovery. The museum includes a memorial for those fallen in the line of duty as well as exhibits with real towing trucks and equipment dating back to 1916.
$1.75 Admission for adults, seniors and children
https://www.facebook.com/events/642548562524383/
http://internationaltowingmuseum.org/


BOGO at the Hunter
12:00noon - 5:00pm
Hunter Museum of American Art
10 Bluff View St, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403
In celebration of Chattanooga’s 175th birthday, we will offer a “buy one-get one” day pass on this day only!
https://www.facebook.com/events/543070619173139/
http://www.huntermuseum.org/events/2014/11/12/bogo-at-the-hunter


$1.75 @ The Incline Railway
Wednesday, November 12 at 1:30pm - 6:00pm
Lookout Mountain Incline Railway
Chattanooga, Tennessee 40299
Ride the historic Incline at a discounted rate in celebration of Chattanooga's 175th Anniversary.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1548279165390654/



THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13

5:30 - 8 p.m.    
Free Family Night at the Creative Discovery Museum
Creative Discovery Museum
321 Chestnut St, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
Mark your calendar! Tonight is the night to join us for free family fun. Make a splash in RiverPlay! Create a masterpiece in Arts Alley! Dig the dinos in Excavation Station! Bring the family and enjoy art lessons, science demos, a drawing for a free membership, guests from other organizations such as Project Ready for School and much much more!
https://www.facebook.com/events/587809907991314/
http://cdmfun.org/page/calendar



FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14

$1.75 Zoo Admission
November 14 - November 15
Nov 14 at 9:00am to Nov 15 at 5:00pm
Chattanooga Zoo
301 N Holtzclaw Ave, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37404
Come experience the Chimpanzees in the Gombe Forest, the Jaguars and Capybaras in the Corcovado Jungle and the Red Pandas and Snow Leopards in the Himalayan Passage and much much more!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1559243997642476/
http://www.chattzoo.org/


SATURDAY, NOVEMER 15

Clumpies CHA 175 Discount Deal!
Saturday, November 15
Clumpie's
Chattanooga, Tennessee
$1.75 off any purchase of $10.00 or more on Saturday 11/15/14. Cannot be combined with any other offers.
https://www.facebook.com/events/314099158775222/


Happy Birthday Chattanooga!
Saturday, November 15 at 10:00am - 2:00pm
Coolidge Park
150 River St, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37405
Celebrate Chattanooga's 175th birthday at Coolidge Park! This all-ages event will include face painters, a "selfie station" with local mascots, treats from local favorites like Moon Pie and Coca-Cola, bouncy houses, birthday card station with Top Flight paper products, and more. Come join us and make sure to stick around to sing Happy Birthday to our great City!
https://www.facebook.com/events/605996672838291/

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

On Saturday, our family celebrated our first Adoption Day. (Hooray!) We want to celebrate that day well, and the best way I could think of to celebrate was to do something fun in our town that we've never done before.

Enter the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.

We took the Missionary Ridge Local service beginning at the Grand Junction Station.

PICNIC? yes

SWIMSUIT? no

COST? $17 for adults and $11 for children age 3-12.  There is no charge for children age 2 and under. 

PLAYGROUND? no

AUTHOR'S RATING? four out of five stars

HOURS? find complete schedule HERE

It was great to get so up close and personal with the fully-refurbished, beautiful 1910 locomotive. 

The kids loved finding our seats on one of the three train cars--also refurbished with loads of history. (The one we rode in still had a dividing wall for when the train cars were segregated.)

The very best part was that we got off at the East Chattanooga restoration shop and got to see the locomotive engine turn on a turntable. It is hard to put into words how impressive and beautiful that was! When this turntable was new, it was so well balanced that it could be turned by four men. It's still well-balanced, but today it turns with a small engine. 

After a quick tour of the restoration shop, it was back to the train for the return trip through a tunnel and over bridges back to the Grand Junction Station.

Oh! And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the two biggest kid-related events for TVRM:

Day Out With Thomas

Thomas the Tank Engine (as close as you're going to get to the real thing) actually pulls the train.

and

North Pole Limited

Ride the train in the evening to see Christmas lights, hear Christmas stories and have a special Christmas guest.

Don't let the location fool you; it's just a hop and skip from downtown!

{MAP FOR TENNESSEE VALLEY RAILROAD MUSEUM}

Renaissance Park

PICNIC? yes--at plenty of picnic tables throughout the park

SWIMSUIT? no

COST? none

PLAYGROUND? no, but there's box sledding : ) and plenty of room to run around

AUTHOR'S RATING? four out of five stars

HOURS? 9-5pm

If you're looking for an artsy, woodsy stroll, Renaissance Park might be the place for you. Of course, if you're looking for picnicking or box sledding, this park is also the one! Add in bridges, amphitheaters, scenic berms, wetlands, historic markers, an outdoor pavilion and restrooms and you have a bit of an idea how Renaissance Park can serve and delight the local Chattanoogan as well as the tourist. 

In my opinion, the best views of downtown are from the several viewpoints of Renaissance. 

And yay for kids getting active and reusing those boxes! Just hop on one and take a thrilling ride down the side of one of the berms scattered throughout the park.

All of the amenities are great, but I think my favorite part of Renaissance is that there are 23 acres around you and not all of them are perfectly manicured and filled with the manmade. There is space to breathe and trees to remind you that the city and the country to not have to compete here in this Southern town.

Renaissance Park also offers the convenience of being adjacent to Coolidge Park and tied into the Tennessee Riverpark System.

{MAP FOR RENAISSANCE PARK}

Fall Festivals

It is fall! Hooray! And it is time to enjoy all of the great festivals our city offers.

Check out these festivals over the next few weeks and months!

Lookout Mountain Elementary School Festival 
Today! Tuesday September 23
3-7pm
Rain Date September 25
Located at the Lookout Mountain Commons
Games, bounce houses, pony rides, hay ride, bake sale and more!
Cost of activities ranges from $.50-$2
(My kids favorites: getting their hair colored, bounce house--slide, and riding the ponies!)
All proceeds benefit Lookout Mountain Elementary School

Map for Lookout Mountain Commons

Go!Fest Chattanooga
Saturday, September 27th
10am-3pm
Located at the Chattanooga Zoo
FREE entry to the Chattanooga Zoo as well as activities and information about disabilities awareness

Map for Chattanooga Zoo

Autumn Festival
Saturday, October 4
1-6pm
Tennessee Riverpark
Games, bounce houses, pony rides, petting zoo, snacks, prizes
Cost of activities ranges from $.50-$3
All proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House

Map for Tennessee Riverpark

Old McDonald Farm

Saturdays and Sundays, September 20 &21-November 1&2

10am-7pm

Pumpkin patch, Hay rides, Hay maze, Corn maze, Critter Barn, Combine Barn, Wagon Ride, and more!

Admission is $12 per person, 2 and under are free

(Farmer's Golf and Pumpkin Slingshot are a little extra.)

Located at 16705 Coulterville Road, Sale Creek, TN 37373

Map for Old McDonald's Farm

Know of other festivals in the area? Please let me know!