Last year, I got to take a ride down memory lane with my family when we went on summer vacation to Chattanooga Tennessee. This was actually a trip that I had made with my grandparents in an RV when I was a tween.
I had so many great memories of that summer and wanted my children to have those same experiences.
Hubby went to the task of the planning the trip, and he not only delivered on the fun, but he went above and beyond finding us new places to check out.
Today I am sharing photos from our trip and Vacation Activities for Kids In Chattanooga Tennessee!
Creative Discovery Museum
I really can’t say enough about this museum and these pictures do not even scratch the surface of what there is to do there.
Of course my kids did not want to leave the water area, but there is a music zone, craft sections, hands on experiments, and cool places to check out on the roof.
The admission is $14.95 per person and their times do vary, so be sure to visit the Creative Discovery Museum website to see the hours before you head out.
Tennessee Aquarium
They have opportunities for the the kids to get hands on with sea life and there are exhibits with fresh water and salt water tanks, penguins, lemurs, butterflies and so much more.
They also have an IMAX theatre on site and a ticket or combo package can be purchased for this as well.
We just went with the basic admission which was $34.95 for adults and $21.95 for Children 3-12.
The Tennessee Aquarium is open daily from 10am to 7:30pm. Be sure to check their calendar for events, and they are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Ruby Falls
This is just one of the several attractions to check out while you visit Lookout Mountain.
A few things to keep in mind are, there is a bit of walking, it gets cool down below, there are some tight spaces, and you need to have a decent bladder to make the trip to the falls and back. I made sure my kids went potty a few times before we got on the elevator to head down to the caverns.
Although we didn’t get a chance to try it, they also have a Ziplining course for an additional fee. They also have an awesome gift store as well as a few dining establishments on site.
This photo is just a snap shot of the falls and they do a great presentation when you arrive. Prices start at $21.95 for Adults and $12.95 for children.
In addition, they do offer a combination price for other attractions on the mountain including Rock City and the Incline Railway.
Be sure to visit Ruby Falls for complete ticket details.
Rock City
Another attraction on Lookout Mountain is Rock City and I suggest starting off your day with the Birds of Prey show.
You really get close and the birds fly around the enclosure to the animal trainers.
In addition, you receive a great education on Owls, Eagles, Scavengers, and more.
After we finished up, we started our walking tour of Rock City Gardens. It really is a beautiful place with amazing mountain views and the formations are gorgeous.
I especially love the photo that I took of the Waterfall at Lovers Leap over on Instagram.
Keep in mind that there is a lot of walking with uneven surfaces as well as tight spaces at times.
They do have a cafe and restaurant on site and as you explore, I highly recommend trying the fresh pork rinds.
Along with the rocks, they also have Fairyland Caverns featuring the famous gnomes of Rock City as well as Mother Goose rhyme scenes glowing in ultraviolet light. Definitely something you have to see for yourself.
They are also known for their very cool bird houses (of course I bought one) and an amazing view of the seven states. Hours and ticket pricing do vary so be sure to visit Rock City for more details.
Incline Railway
This was a unique way to see Chattanooga! We actually drove up to the top and then went down on the train. We then took the train back up again to explore Lookout Mountain.
FYI, there do have a cafe at the top and there are restaurants in the historic St. Elmo community below.
When we finished, we had a cool treat and then walked over next door to Point Park for fantastic views of the scenery down below.
(Point Park has an entrance fee of $7.00 per person ages 16 and older, under 15 is free)
The Incline Railroad is open Monday-Friday 9:00 am-6:00 pm Saturday-Sunday 9 am-7 pm.
Ticket prices start at $15 for adults and $7 for children and again there are opportunities to purchase combination tickets to other attractions on Lookout Mountain. For more details visit Incline Railway.
Tennessee Valley Railroad and Museum
Love trains? This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the history of the area and locomotives.
Not only do you purchase tickets from a traditional station, but you get a guided ride through the Tennessee Countryside by the Engineer and his staff.
Seeing a real train in action and hearing the sounds was a wonderful experience for my children. Plus they got to see an engine under restoration and learn about how it was being brought back to its original state.
My husband and I enjoyed looking out the window at the scenery, it was a comfortable ride.
The kids loved stopping at the train depot and we bought them sodas out of regular glass bottles. I kept them as a souvenir and I turned the bottle caps into necklaces. Visit Tennessee Valley Railroad and Museum for a calendar and the costs of the rides.
Check out when we made a trip to the GEORGIA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM in Savannah, GA.
Raccoon Mountain
This is a bit off the beaten path and a rustic tour, but totally awesome. The kids loved it and we went right in when they opened at 9 am.
This is a unique experience because small animal like geckos and crickets can get into the cave, and the tour guide was great about pointing these out.
It costs $17.95 for Adults and $10.95 for Kids for the Crystal Walking Tour. They do have a more advanced expedition tours, but that was a bit over our skill level and does cost more. Visit Raccoon Mountain for more details.
Chattanooga Zoo
The zoo is open daily from 9am to 5 pm and admission is $10.95 for Adults and $7.95 for Children (subject to change).
They do have a Wild Burger restaurant and according to their site, all snack carts are now open daily at 10 a.m. with weather permitting.
My suggestion is to visit the zoo in the morning. We went later in the day and obviously as the day gets warmer, the animals seek out cover and are harder to see.
Plus, the little and big humans enjoy it much more when it is cooler out.
There is also a petting zoo and my daughter was in love!
Visit Chattanooga Zoo for a calendar if upcoming events as well as details on the animals.
As you can see, we had an amazing time in the area and I hope these Vacation Activities for Kids In Chattanooga Tennessee inspire a fun trip for your family as well!
Carlee @ FLL
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