One of the most difficult parts of surviving COVID-19 for us has been struggling to spend time with our little grandchildren. At 6 and 3 years of age, they change so quickly. They grow so fast. They learn at such an amazing speed. Even with FaceTime and Zoom, we struggle to keep up with them.
Recently, we met up halfway between us and our daughter’s family in Memphis for a couple of days of quality outdoor time. Chattanooga was the perfect location with lots to do outside that were safe during a quarantine.
We rented a cabin that overlooked the plateau north of Chattanooga. The cabin was cute, but the views were spectacular. An unexpected treat for us was the unbroken view of the night sky. I don’t ever remember seeing so many stars at night except when we’ve been at sea. Evenings were spent out on the cabin’s deck, wrapped in blankets, using a star-gazing app to help us identify what we saw.
During the days, we set out to find outdoor adventures. The first day was spent in Chattanooga. The second day was spent outside the city. Here’s what we found:
The Chattanooga Choo Choo
We’ve visited the Chattanooga Choo Choo several times in the past and have stayed in its hotel a couple of times. This time, we went back with children who are crazy about trains. They reacted like they had gone to Disney World.
We were able to wander around the grounds, and the engine and the caboose were available to climb into or onto.
While there, I snapped a photo of my grandson walking across a bench. It may be my favorite photo at the Choo Choo. It reminded me of the thousands of people who had passed through the station when it was in use for trains––people waiting on trains to take them places or bringing someone to them. It’s a nostalgic place. The children loved visiting the Choo Choo and we thoroughly enjoyed watching them explore the place.
There is no charge to visit the Chattanooga Choo Choo and its gardens, but there could be a charge for parking if the area is busy. Masks are required inside the station and recommended while visiting the area.
The Sculpture Garden
The Sculpture Garden is a world-class art museum displaying sculptures from international artists. The garden is a public park with 33 acres of sculptures to see. Within the 33 acres are forty different sculptures. Built over an old dumping ground, the garden has reclaimed the area for the enjoyment of visitors. There is an app you can download and listen to as you tour the sculptures which includes interviews with each artist. Sadly, we didn’t know that while we were there.
The garden is open to the public during daylight hours and there is no charge for visiting. At this time, social distancing and wearing masks are encouraged, even though it is an outdoor exhibit. The garden is located at 1800 Polk Street.
Point Park
Our next stop was Point Park atop Lookout Mountain. Point Park is a ten-acre memorial to those soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle above the Clouds during the Civil War. The park was built as a reminder of the peace and reconciliation the nation reclaimed after the war ended.
The views are spectacular and those interested in Civil War history will enjoy it. The entrance fee was $10 a person and seemed a little pricey to me. However, since I’d never been, it was something I wanted to do. The fee covers the museum as well, but we chose not to visit it. Social distancing and masks were recommended.
For the children, this was their least favorite thing we did. There wasn’t much there to grab their attention and we had to keep a close eye on them. The park was fairly crowded, the drop-offs on the side of the park are steep, and parking was limited. However, it did provide some special daddy/daughter time.
Outdoor Lunch
After a full morning of adventures, we ate a late lunch at 1885 Grill, a restaurant with patio dining located at the bottom of Lookout Mountain in St. Elmo, a trendy neighborhood outside Chattanooga.
The food was wonderful, and the atmosphere was great. We also walked across the street for ice cream for dessert. The ice cream totally made up for boring the children at Point Park.
A day with waterfalls, caves, and skipping rocks
On day two, we headed away from Chattanooga and took back roads to South Cumberland State Park. The park is located outside Altamont, Tennessee. We drove to Greeter Falls in search of the children’s first waterfall and their first cave.
Greeter Falls is off the beaten path, and even when you find the parking lot, you may not know where to start. We ate lunch first in the picnic area. Then, to start the hike, go back toward the road you drove in on, and you’ll see the path entrance.
The hike covered just over a mile and was more difficult than we had anticipated for the little ones. It was rocky, often uneven, and had sharp drop-offs on one side. To be honest, though, the children out-hiked the adults and did great.
Along the way were several outcroppings that create small cave-like areas. In the children’s eyes, they had definitely found their first cave.
When we reached the waterfall, the water was calm enough for the children to wade in and they tried skipping rocks for the first time. The children also enjoyed adding rocks to the standing stones already collected–another first. For the little ones, it was a day of firsts.
We stopped at Dutch-Maid Bakery in Altamont. Dutch-Maid Bakery was opened in 1902 and is the oldest family owned bakery in Tennessee. We sampled both the coffee and the cookies. It was a perfect way to end the day.
Why Chattanooga?
Chattanooga has tons of activities that are designed for families. We chose not to take in places like the Aquarium, the Incline Railroad up Lookout Mountain, travel on a train, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, Rock City and Ruby Falls, or taking a boat tour of the Tennessee River. We skipped these to avoid inside spaces. And, we just scratched the surface of State Parks to visit.
We would go back gladly. Next time, hopefully when COVID-19 is no longer, we’ll take the children on the train. I can’t wait!
