During winter months, with shorter days and colder temperatures, it’s easy to keep the family indoors. With young children at home, this can be particularly challenging and give even the most patient moms a touch of cabin fever. While it’s easy in the winter to defer to sedentary activities such as watching television or playing computer games, there are many options in Chattanooga and the surrounding areas – even in the winter – for exercise, learning, fun and inhaling fresh outdoor air.
Here are a few activities to consider – classes and excursions close to home and some that require a little planning. Be sure to check each destination for special winter events, classes and hours – and have fun!
INDOOR ADVENTURES
Museums and Attractions
Tennessee Aquarium
Offers educational programs for children and adults throughout the year.
www.tnaqua.org
(423) 267-3474 or 1-800-262-0695
Creative Discovery Museum
Offers a weekly PlayGym program for parents and children.
www.cdmfun.org
(423) 756-2738
Hunter Museum of American Art
Offers art classes and programs for children and adults throughout the year.
www.huntermuseum.org
(423) 267-0968
International Towing & Recovery Museum
www.internationaltowingmuseum.org
(423) 267-3132
Tellus Northwest Georgia Science
Museum (Cartersville, GA)
Also features planetarium, fossil gallery and solar house.
www.weinmanmuseum.org
(770) 606-5700
Booth Western Art Museum (Cartersville, GA)
Features contemporary Western American art. Includes Civil War art and gallery of Presidential portraits and letters.
www.boothmuseum.org
(770) 387-1300
Indoor Play Areas
Indoor play areas are a dream for kids and parents – the kids can climb, jump and run off excess energy and calories, and then they are tired. What more could a parent ask for? Remember to bring a pair of socks for each child to play in.
PlayWorld Down Under
www.playworlddownunder.com
(423) 892-7529
Partyville
www.mypartyville.com
(423) 870-7827
Sports Activities
Winter sports can help keep kids active, healthy and feeling good. There are many organizations in town that provide training and classes for a wide variety of sports and activities – this list can get you started.
Sports Barn – Northgate
Offers various sports and activities for children.
www.sportsbarn.net
(423) 870-2582
YMCA
Offers various sports and activities for children.
www.ymcachattanooga.org
(423) 266-9622
The Little Gym
Offers movement and gymnastics for babies and children.
www.tlgchattanoogatn.com
(423) 296-9001
Tennessee Academy of Gymnastics (TAG)
Offers gymnastics and tumbling.
www.taggym.com
(423) 697-1824
Music & Art Classes
Listed are a few of the places where children can begin to learn and grow in their experience with music.
Center of Music for Early Development
Offers music and movement classes for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and early elementary students.
www.songchildchatt.com
(423) 875-0320
Kindermusik Classes
Offers an international music program for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and school age children through age 5.
• Cadek Conservatory of Music:
www.utc.edu/kindermusik
(423) 425-4651
• First Baptist Church School of
Fine Arts:
www.fbcchattanooga.org/kindermusik.htm
(423) 265-2257 ext. 601
Cadek Conservatory of Music at UTC
Offers private instruction and programs for students age 5 through adult.
www.utc.edu/Outreach/CadekConservatory
(423) 425-4624
KidzArt
Offers on-site and school art classes.
www.kidzart.com
(423) 847-6880
Rock Climbing Walls
and Gyms
Chattanooga is a world-class rock climbing destination, so it makes sense to introduce climbing into a family’s recreational choices. Children as young as age 5 can learn to rock climb (with special safety equipment).
Urban Rocks Gym
www.urbanrocksgym.com
(423) 475-6578
TBA Bouldering Authority
www.tbagym.com
(423) 822-6800
Roller Skating Rinks
Roller skates have changed a bit since many parents last tried to skate; however, all types of skates are rented and sold by these rinks. Roller skating is good exercise, lots of fun and can help develop coordination.
Hamilton Skate Place
www.hamiltonskate.com
(423) 899-1788
Roller Coaster Skate World
(Ft. Oglethorpe, GA)
(706) 861-1100
Jepco Skating Center
(Ft. Oglethorpe, GA)
(706) 861-5404
Cleveland Skate Place
www.clevelandskateplace.com
(423) 472-1010
History Explorations
Learn more about Chattanooga’s rich history, from the ancient history of the American Indians to the battles of the Civil War to the cultural history that formed this town. Every corner of Chattanooga has a story – learn more about these stories as a family by visiting the many monuments and museums in Chattanooga.
Chattanooga History Center
Offers a variety of historical tours of
Chattanooga and educational programs for schools.
www.chattanoogahistory.org
(423) 265-3247
The Battles for Chattanooga Museum
www.battlesforchattanooga.com
(423) 821-2812
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
www.tvrail.com
(423) 894-8028
Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site (Cartersville, GA)
www.GeorgiaStateParks.org/ EtowahMounds
(770) 387-3747
New Echota Historic Site
www.GeorgiaStateParks.org/NewEchota
(706) 624-1321 or 1-800-864-7275
Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
www.nps.gov/chch/
Chickamauga, GA Visitor Center:
(706) 866-9241
Lookout Mtn. Battlefield Visitor Center: (423) 821-7786
Tennessee State Parks
Tennessee State Parks received the Gold Medal Award from the National Recreation and Park Association in 2007. With 54 state parks and 77 state natural areas, Tennessee offers a wide range of recreational opportunities and natural experiences for visitors.
www.tnstateparks.com
(888) 867-2757
Georgia State Parks
Georgia operates 48 state parks and 15 state historic sites, offering a wide range of activities that include overnight accommodations, outdoor activities, historical programs and group facilities.
www.gastateparks.org
(706) 657-4050
Alabama State Parks
Alabama’s 22 state parks provide visitors the opportunity to share the natural, cultural and historical assets of the state.
www.alapark.com
(800) 252-7275
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a hiker’s paradise with over 800 miles of maintained trails ranging from short leg-stretchers to strenuous treks that may require backcountry camping.
www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/
things2do.htm
Visitor Information (recorded message): (865) 436-1200
Outdoor Recreation & Attractions
Tennessee is considered to be the biologically richest inland state in the nation, with more than 300 birds, 89 mammals, 70 amphibians and 61 reptiles native to the state. The following organizations and attractions offer a variety of ways to experience and enjoy the beauty of the Southeast.
Chattanooga Nature Center
www.chattanooganaturecenter.org
(423) 821-1160
Reflection Riding Arboretum
& Botanical Garden
www.reflectionriding.org
(423) 821-9582
Chattanooga Hiking Club
See Web site for email contacts
www.hiking.chattanooga.net
Outdoor Chattanooga
Provides a resource for outdoor activities in the Chattanooga area.
www.outdoorchattanooga.com
(423) 643-6888
Rock City Gardens
www.seerockcity.com
(706) 820-2531 / (800) 854-0675
Chattanooga Zoo
www.chattzoo.org
(423) 697-1322
Cave Tours
Tennessee has over 8,700 caves – more than any other state in the U.S. While it might be 30 degrees above ground, Tennessee caves are generally a constant 56 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit. Take the winter to explore Tennessee’s underground wonders.
Raccoon Mountain Caverns
www.raccoonmountain.com
(423) 821-9403 / (800) 823-2267
Ruby Falls
www.rubyfalls.com
(423) 821-2544
The Lost Sea (Sweetwater, TN)
www.thelostsea.com
(423) 337-6616
Tuckaleechee Caverns (Townsend, TN)
www.tuckaleecheecaverns.com
(865) 448-2274
Cumberland Caverns (McMinnville, TN)
www.cumberlandcaverns.com
(931) 668-4396
Sequoyah Caverns & Ellis Homestead
(Valley Head, AL)
www.sequoyahcaverns.com
(256) 635-0024 / (800) 843-5098
Ice Skating
If ice skating is on your radar screen, there are several rinks within two hours of Chattanooga that are open to the public. Call before you go to check for specific hours of operation.
Ober Gatlinburg Ice Rink (Gatlinburg, TN)
www.obergatlingburg.com
(865) 436-5423
Ice Chalet (Knoxville, TN)
www.chaleticerinks.com
(865) 588-1858
Icearium (Knoxville, TN)
www.coolsportstn.com
(865) 218-4500
Centennial Sportsplex Ice Arena
(Nashville, TN)
www.centennialsportsplex.com
(615) 862-8480
Southern Ice Arena (Franklin, TN)
www.southerniceskateschool.com
(615) 778-9825
Snow Skiing
Although there isn’t an abundance of snow in our area, there are resorts that manufacture it for fun skiing in the South.
Cloudmont Ski & Golf Resort
(Mentone, AL)
On a cold day, the snow-covered slopes at Cloudmont Ski & Golf Resort are a dream for those who enjoy skiing but live in the South. Two “pony lifts” pull skiers to the top of two 1,000 foot beginner-intermediate slopes that have an elevation of 1,800 feet and a vertical rise of 150 feet.
www.cloudmont.com
(256) 634-4344 (Call to check snow conditions)
Ober Gatlinburg (Gatlinburg, TN)
Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort offers 8 trails for skiing and snowboarding fun, with rental equipment in a variety of sizes. The winter season typically starts in early to mid December and ends in early March, depending on the weather.
www.obergatlinburg.com
(865) 436-5423
Snow report line: (800) 251-9202
Tawnee Isbell Stimson has been a resident of the Chattanooga area for 28 years. She studied psychology and screenwriting at the University of Arizona and UCLA respectively. She is the President of Tawnee Stimson Designs and Essence in a Bucket Greeting Cards.