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}

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}

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}

The Tennessee Aquarium

We were members of the aquarium during the 2012-2013 school year, and I taught a preschool/homeschool class where we learned about an animal while we were schooling right next to that animal! During this time, we got to know the aquarium very well, and when we become members again (soon, I hope) we'll feel right at home as we stroll those fish-lined halls.

PICNIC? yes

SWIMSUIT? yes

COST? $26.95/adult; $16.95/child under 3 free

no cost for the wading stream in between the aquarium buildings

Family Membership: $115

(so it's cheaper for us to buy a year's membership than to go in for a day!)

AUTHOR'S RATING? five out of five stars!

HOURS? open daily 10am-6pm

The Tennessee Aquarium is a fascinating place! From fish to sharks to otters to butterflies to bright-colored coral, there is something to amaze and enchant every visitor. There are two buildings for the aquarium; the one you see above is the River Journey building that houses the otters, the River Giants, the sea horses and much more! The Ocean Journey dares you to touch sting rays, flit with butterflies and watch as sharks swim close by. Both of the buildings are full of incredible sights!

In either building, you will begin your tour with a tall escalator taking you right to the top (in the Ocean Journey there are several, but in the River Journey there is only one huuuuge escalator!). There are conveniently located elevators for wheel chairs and strollers.

The River Journey's top features the newly renovated otter exhibit; then you will make your way through many small and large tanks, weaving your way to the bottom. 

Don't forget to check out the beautiful views of the Tennessee River from higher up! 

We love the otters in the River Journey, but I think our favorite fish has got to be the Arapaima! These huge fish steal the show in the River Giants exhibit. (The blue catfish is pictured here.)

And of course who doesn't love sea horses? They are so exotic while at the same time being so cute that, were I to not have five children in tow, I could stand mesmerized by them for quite a while!

We also love the Lake Sturgeons, who find their food with their very sensitive barbels, which to me, make them look like mustachioed fish.

You can even touch the sturgeons (with two fingers) in the sturgeon display!

A very photogenic turtle in the River Giants Exhibit

In between the two aquariums there is a wading stream and splash fountain, so bring the little one's bathing suit! My kids love to splash in this water on a hot day (and if we don't bring a suit, we all just come home soaked anyway!) Everything about this area is artistic from the concrete mountains, some of which you can climb to the top of, to the imprints of leaves or music in the sidewalks. There are also concessions and picnic tables, so feel free to snack there or bring a picnic!

In the Ocean Journey, you'll take several escalators up to room where you can touch a few sting rays or even a small shark! (The stings have been removed for your bravery and safety.) 

Next you'll move into the butterfly room, where interacting with the butterflies is highly encouraged!

As you move through the Ocean Journey you'll see penguins, 

come nose to nose with sharks,

play with gigantic crabs,

encounter jelly fish, and loads more!

So there you have it! We love the Tennessee Aquarium and hope you will too.

Have an insider's tip for us? Please share it in the comments!

{MAP TO TENNESSEE AQUARIUM}