Imagination

Kim sought some "Mommy time" with Elijah and headed to the Greensboro Children's Museum one Saturday in March.  We had a very active, wonderful visit.  The museum is a great one for the preschool and early elementary school set--lots of opportunities to play pretend!

Set up as a "town," the museum features themed play areas including a post office, a mock campsite, and a construction site complete with a block pit.  The organization has cultivated community involvement, and many play areas incorporate "real" items.  There are several vehicles on display for crawling and exploring, and the supporting details for dramatic play are all present.  For example, the in house fire truck is set up for kids to climb in, and there's also a nearby hydrant and hose.  Elijah's favorite area was the train station, anchored by a kid-sized train with sound effects.  Outside, there's a well-developed outdoor classroom with climbing trees, free-range chickens, kid-tended gardens, and fun paths to explore.  A green emphasis is apparent, and Elijah loved the recycled feed sack constructions he could crawl through.   

Other features include a gross motor play area, toddler area, and visual art zone.  One of our favorite "pluses?"  We ran into so many friendly kids who easily incorporated Elijah in their play! 

If you go, know that there is a large garage near the muesum with free weekend parking.  The Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art, including ArtQuest for kids, is also nearby. 

Relevant Websites:
Greensboro Children's Museum

Relevant Twitter Handles:
GCMuseum

Green Beauty From Old Industry

We knew Chattanooga, TN, had a messy-looking past.  At one time, the city was decaying.  It's had quite a new south renaissance, and it's so hard to envision the past within today's visionary city planning.  There are free electric-powered buses running downtown, reclaimed rail bridges turned pretty pedestrian overpasses, and even decorative manhole covers.  The overall feel is of a welcoming city that's moving forward. 

Arguably, the centerpiece of the "visitor" area of downtown is the Tennessee Aquarium.  The complex is large and attractive, complete with a butterfly garden and a welcoming entry area that includes water features in which children can play.  The jellyfish, penguins, and river otters are "can't miss."  Definitely allow 2-4 hours for a visit. 

Spend time walking the bridges (we recommend the pedestrian bridge) and taking in views of the park and river.  From the bridges, you are close to other attractions like the Hunter Museum of American Art and some shopping and dining on the North Shore.  Coolidge Park is worth a second look; its carousel is a story in itself. 

If you go, take note that you are within walking distance of several yummy restaurants, including Mellow Mushroom, and Chattanooga's signature MoonPie General Store.  While you can pay extra for a hotel extremely close to the aquarium, hotels such as the Sheraton Read House may be less expensive while still quite "walkable" to the riverfront. 

Related Websites:
Tennessee Aquarium

Lookout Mountain!

Our most gorgeous trip of late?  Lookout Mountain, TN/GA, a short drive "up" from Chattanooga.  We spent a stunning spring day atop the mountain, seeing Rock City, riding the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, and walking Point Park. 

Without a doubt, everyone should see Rock City just like the old red barns said.  You should also read Tim Hollis's book on the attraction, as an understanding of its history makes the trip powerful Americana.  Rock City itself is a combination of gardens, kitsch sculpture, and roadside tourist stop.  Justin's favorite part is Fairyland Caverns, a blacklit display of vintage storybook sculptures in a rock-themed environment.  It's a pretty incredible example of US mid-century tourism, fantastic for nostalgia as well as for small children today.  Today, it hosts special events with unique themes, including days with local artists and holiday events. 

The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway is a pretty pleasure ride and a soft thrill.  Surprisingly, it is actually part of the local public transportation system.  From the incline, you can see a cozy shop called Mountain Memories that is worth your time later for souvenirs, chats with friendly shop staff, and a dash of Ruby Falls history.  We rode the incline from the top down and then back up, our recommendation for anyone afraid of heights.  We also discovered that you can park for free at the nearby National Park Service site (3 blocks away) and walk, avoiding metered parking. 

While you're enjoying yourself, it's interesting to note that the mountain was home to an important late battle of the US Civil War.  Impressively, the battle included a Union charge up the steep side of the mountain.  The "battle above the clouds" is showcased with a pay-per-view diorama and a small National Parks Service exhibit.  Point Park itself affords excellent views of Chattanooga and the Tennessee River, and it was the first NPS site for US Civil War history. 

If you go, take a well-prepared camera, as there are stunning views everywhere.  We skipped lunch and returned to Chattanooga for an early dinner, but the mountain is a great place for a picnic.  Our experience was that St Elmo, the town to which the Incline "arrives," was less full of shops and restaurants than we hoped.  Drive carefully on the mountain; it's a residential area with twisty roads, steep grades, and frequent stop signs.  Also on the mountain?  Ruby Falls.  Look for attraction combo tickets if you are visiting more than one place. 

Relevant Websites:
Rock City
Lookout Mountain Incline Railway
Point Park

The Lost Sea

On our drive back from Chattanooga, TN, we visited one of the Southern Highlands Attractions I'd always wanted to see:  The Lost Sea Adventure.  You know:  the caves with the boats!  Growing up, I dreamed of visiting these and would always pick up brochures from travel centers, wondering what it would be like to ride boats on the underground lake in the caves.  It was high time to find out.

Lost Sea Adventure welcomes you with a bright tunnel into the Earth, Elijah's favorite part of the trip.  Then, there's caverns--very open caverns with high ceilings and beautiful lighting.  We learned that the caves were one of the first electrified attractions in the region, and folks once came just to see the lights.  No wonder, as the lighting is some of the most beautiful we've seen in a commercialized cave.  On the tour, you descend slowly towards the famous multi-acre lake, hearing stories along the way (like how civil war soldiers left graffiti on the walls) and taking in various formations (like cave flowers). 

The lake itself is a little treasure, America's largest-known underground lake.  As Justin puts it, it doesn't look exactly like it does on the brochures.  The lighting is more mysterious, and the "glass bottom" boats are boats with strips of glass in the center.  However, you do see trout while riding aboard, and the sensation of looking down 30-50 feet to see the beauty of some lit cavern features is something else.

To fellow roadside attractions fans and families with children, we recommend stopping off in Sweetwater, TN, if you are in the area for the experience; the drive from Chattanooga to Sweetwater is an easy one.  The caverns are humid, limiting the need to "bundle up."  Be prepared for a few heights, and know many pathways are packed clay when picking your shoes.  There is a "village" of other attractions on site, but these were less impressive to us.  We did score vintage souvenirs in one of the gift shops, including old logo tac pins and postcards.  A loss?  No souvenir Christmas ornament. 

Relevant Websites:
The Lost Sea Adventure