With Spring Break looming, and spring weather finally reaching the frozen tundra that is the Northern United States, many people are looking forward to a change of pace and scenery. While it has been warmer recently, it’s not quite “spring” north of most of the Mason-Dixon. This year, why not head to the “Scenic City” of Chattanooga? This fun and funky metropolis located in Southeastern Tennessee is known as such for it’s bevvy of outdoor activities and natural beauty.
It’s easy to get to, and to get around in. Long considered “The Gateway to the South”, this little city is also a short distance to Georgia (you may find yourself driving into and out of GA repeatedly as you travel Chattanooga), Alabama, and North Carolina boarders. Slightly further away are Kentucky, South Carolina, and Virginia. All of these are a few hours drive or less.
Each year, Chattanooga has it’s Spring Break Safari for families to enjoy fun and adventurous learning experiences. Head to any participating venue to receive a “passport” booklet full of the year’s Spring Break Safari activities. Kids can participate in scavenger hunt questions and receive a prize at each location for completing their quest. There are also free interactive apps at some of the locations, such as the Tennessee Aquarium. Visit http://www.chattanoogafun.com/spring for a full list of participating locations.
If you’d like to see an amazing view while experiencing some beautiful surroundings, head to Rock City Gardens. This 13 acre outdoor garden first opened in 1932, when Frieda and Garnet Carter developed the property into one large “rock garden”. The motto of Rock City is “Created by God and enhanced by man”. The site is “natural” in that it is set in nature and is quite scenic, with amazing geological formations, waterfalls, and lovely gardens, but has been cultivated to be what it is today. You and your family can walk the paths around the ancient rock formations, view the botanical delights of the gardens with more then 400 species of plants, visit the gnomes and fairies that inhabit Rock city, read the legend of the tragic Native American “Lover’s Leap”, gaze at a waterfall you won’t even know is there until you turn the right corner, and stare into the aforementioned 7 states at once from panoramic mountaintop scenery.
You will see signs on barns, birdhouses, and more as you get closer to the gardens- the souvenir “See Rock City” birdhouses are some of the most popular sellers in the destination’s shop.
If you haven’t had your fill of rocky scenery, head to Ruby Falls. While you may have been on cave tours before, this one is fairly unique in that it holds an underground waterfall. Your tour begins with an elevator ride into the caverns of Lookout Mountian that Leo Lambert discovered in 1928. As you are guided through the cave, you are given not only the story of the cave and of those who discovered it, but shown various formations as you head toward the waterfall. Sadly, and strangely, pieces of the cave were broken off as “souvenirs” for some time, and you are able to see that as well. One interesting formation is hollow, and when you thump on it (yes, you are told where it is, and are allowed to do so) it sounds like a drum. This is extremely unusual, and very unique. Of course, you also see the “cave chips” and “bacon” and get “cave kisses” as you walk along.
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