Tellus Science Museum

On I-75 70 miles outside of Chattanooga, in the middle of seemingly no where, there is an interesting building off to the right that for many years I either wondered about or just ignored. Finally our family checked it out, and it is amazing! We've been many times since then and have been members of it or a reciprocal museum for 5 years now.

PICNIC? yes! 

SWIMSUIT? no

COST? 

Adults: $14 + tax

Children (3 – 17): $10 + tax

PLAYGROUND? not really, 

but the "My Big Back Yard" room is very play ground like

AUTHOR'S RATING? five out of five stars!

HOURS? 10am-5pm

Closed Major Holidays

We love that the scale of the exhibits when you are in the parking lot and when you first walk in is

BIG.

We love the dinosaurs (although we often remind ourselves that, even though the information on the dinosaurs speaks as if the scientists are absolutely sure of their dates and facts, all they can do is make some educated guesses.)

Don't miss the panning for gems room that is located on a hallway branching off the transportation room. We didn't visit this our first time and really missed out! You get to keep a little bag of the real gems that you find! Behind the gems room is a dinosaur dig room where you can keep one fossil that you find. 

The transportation room goes from bicycles and buggies to space and aeronautics. We love it!

There are great picnic tables (under a huge pavilion) outside for picnics, and we often end our morning at Tellus enjoying food brought from home out there. 

{map for Tellus Science Museum}

Foster Falls

PICNIC? yes! 

SWIMSUIT? yes!

COST? none

PLAYGROUND? no

AUTHOR'S RATING? five out of five stars!

HOURS? sunrise to sunset

Last summer we took family to Foster Falls to hike and see the falls. 

Here's the map of the trails around the pool where the falls are. The big loop is a really long trail. We hiked from the parking lot to the right around the pool and made it to where the two trails get very near. (That was about a mile away from the parking lot.) There is a way to get from one side to the other there, but you have to do some pretty advanced climbing/scrambling. We hiked to the right of the circle first,

and found a great stream to start our wading in and to eat our picnic by.

The kids caught crawdads.

We hiked more around the rim and then backtracked around to the falls.

The hike down to the falls is a rocky staircase,

and a cool swinging bridge.

The falls are amazing! I wasn't planning to swim, but got in the water anyway. All of us swam under the falls, which is extremely exhilarating. The kids swam across and under the falls using swim rings. The water is COLD, but refreshing, and being out in the middle of the pool with the cliffs going up around you is am awe-inspiring experience. 

{map for Foster Falls}

The Pumpkin Patch

PICNIC? yes! 

SWIMSUIT? no

COST? none

PLAYGROUND? yes

AUTHOR'S RATING? five out of five stars!

HOURS? sunrise to sunset

When it comes to creative, exciting, fun-for-everyone kinds of playgrounds, you can't beat the Pumpkin Patch on Signal Mountain.

From the winding woodsy trails, to the tire dragons to the hillside slide, everything is a fun discovery and adventure for many different ages of kids. And you have to love a playground that has "Be kind" as its first rule!

This playground is always in the shade and with the elevation, pretty cool for most of the summer. The trees do bring in the bugs, so be sure to wear some spray!

I love the picnic area at this playground. It is close to the action, but very picturesque.

Put the Pumpkin Patch on your summer bucket list!

{map for the Pumpkin Patch}

Camp Jordan Park and Arena

The kids and I were at Camp Jordan for a 5k Color Run and festival on Saturday and we were surprised to see some big changes. There is one of the most interesting play structures I've seen on the far side of the park right next to a new restroom. (Hooray for lots of restrooms in large parks!)

When you add that play structure to big open fields, a 2 mile hiking path, a huge event arena, a picnic pavilion, a fishing/duck pond, and a disc golf course (coming soon) you get what I would say is a major force in the Play Chattanooga world!

PICNIC? yes! 

SWIMSUIT? maybe, when the weather is right and you don't mind your kids wading in a muddy creek

COST? none

PLAYGROUND? yes

AUTHOR'S RATING? five out of five stars!

HOURS? n/a

For information about hosting events at Camp Jordan, go to

East Ridge Parks and Recreations.

{MAP FOR CAMP JORDAN}

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}

Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center

The Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center is quite a mouthful, but it's true to its name and has plenty to entertain! 

Our family simply calls it the "Nature Center," and we like to duck in here for a quick walk to see the red wolves or take a drive around the Reflection Riding Loop or take an hour or two for a canoe ride. 

PICNIC? yes

SWIMSUIT? not really, though you might get a bit wet on a canoe ride!

COST? $10 adults, $7 kids

I highly recommend a year family membership if you have intentions of going more than once. At $65, it helps the Nature Center meet their costs and gives your family unlimited access to enjoy the area!

PLAYGROUND? yes, a small one

AUTHOR'S RATING? five out of five stars!

HOURS? daylight to dark

I rarely give a pay-for-visit park a five stars, but this is one exception. I love the fact that there are so many different kinds of things to do, and I appreciate that, especially as a homeschooling family, we have 317 acres at our disposal to explore and guides to help us learn as we do so!

There is a short board walk kind of hike out to the "Discovery Forest Treehouse," which can be rented for parties, but is just fun to explore as you walk around the short hike.

The Discovery Forest Tree House

Paddler's Perch is an adventurous way to experience the Nature Center at night. With an enclosed room and a composting toilet, you can camp above Lookout Creek in style! $35 for 2, $10 for each extra person, 8 person limit

(members or those paddling down the Tennessee River Blueway only)

Speaking of paddling...

After watching a short video (if it's your first time), and checking out your gear, you can hike down to the creek, unlock your canoes, and get going!

While paddling or hiking, keep a lookout for great wildlife discoveries!

Don't forget to enjoy the quiet, natural beauty!

If you don't turn off the path towards the canoes and Paddler's Perch, but keep walking, you'll come to a wonderful tiny bit of zoo hidden away in the woods. It is here at the Wildlife Wanderland that the nature center keeps the red wolves that are on loan for the US Fish and Wildlife Services. These wolves are endangered and the Nature Center is breeding them in hopes of raising numbers--we were able to see the tiny puppies that were born a few years ago, and it was pretty neat!

Our favorite animal at the Nature Center is the Bobcat. He came to the Nature Center after being kept illegally as a pet, and he usually comes around if you call for him. It's fascinating to see him look so much like a house cat but be so much bigger and stronger. He kind of emenates power.  

Wherever you are at the Nature Center, expect surprise visitors!

Back in the welcome center, there is a little exhibit for their red wolves, 

and a large exhibit of C. E. Blevins Nesting Birds art work. These lovely nest and egg replicas are worth walking through and gasping over!

My kiddos love the "come and touch and see" attitude of the Nature Center!

Behind the welcome center there is a park with a small "playscape".

And of course a few snakes; no nature center would be complete without them!

There is so much more than I have pictured at the Nature Center! Check out their classes, their tours, or their camps. Look up their availabilities for meetings or weddings. Play in their bamboo forest; admire their cabins and lakes; ride horses! 

{MAP FOR REFLECTION RIDING ARBORETUM AND NATURE CENTER}