Back in March, we were able to go for a couple of days during "Spring Break" and take the boys to Chattanooga for some down time. It was great to just leave everything behind, and go have some fun!
We've done Chattanooga a few times in the past, and gone to the Aquarium, the iMAX movie theater, the science discovery center, Rock City, Ruby Falls, etc. So this time it was about mixing in some different things to do.
We left on a Wednesday night, got checked into our hotel, and then went downtown and enjoyed some FABULOUS BAR-B-Q (a family favorite) at "Sticky Fingers." Just as a side note, for a 10-year old, Sam can really put away the RIBS! Grayson usually opts for the largest fancy-burger on the menu.
Then we found a cheap $1 Theater, and went to see "Tangled" again -- we love that movie (even though Grayson is too cool to admit it...)! After that we headed to the hotel to get some shut-eye.
The next morning we headed out bright and early to accomplish a very long list of anticipated FUN! We started with the
"INCLINE Railway," which at about a mile up the mountain is the longest, steepest railroad in the nation! It ends up at the top of
"Lookout Mountain," a significant site in Civil War history. The boys liked how the seats tilted as you climbed, to help you so you weren't laying on your back by the time you reached the top.
 |
| Aboard the "Incline Railway" |
At the top "Lookout Mountain," there are many Civil War sites, and lots of opportunities to see the amazing view from up there! It's easy to see why it was such a great vantage point during the war.
 |
| View from atop "Lookout Mountain" |
We were kind of surprised that once you reach the top of the mountain and walk a couple of blocks, it looks like any other
neighborhood, lots of homes, cars, etc. It's amazing to think that the only way up there USED to be that little railway. Spooky! I don't know that I would have trusted olden-day technology to ride that thing!
 |
| The entry of "Point Park," a Civil War site atop Lookout Mountain |
 |
| Sam & Steve taking it all in... |
 |
| Inside Point Park on top of "Lookout Mountain" |
It was beautiful and sunny, but a
very cold wind was blowing (can you say "earache?"). We walked forever, then went inside long enough to watch the video/diarama of the Civil War battles on Lookout mountain, did our duty and shopped around in all the touristy shops, and had some snacks before we headed back down the Incline to civilization.
Then it was off to lunch at the "CANCUN" Restaurant for some mediocre Mexican food...
 |
| Ready for 'eats' at Cancun! |
...before heading off to see the Holmberg
GLASS Pedestrian Bridge at Riverfront downtown. It's a literal heavy glass walking bridge across a very busy interstate. You can look down and see the speeding cars as you're walking directly over them. It's a very weird feeling! We got just out onto the first part of it, and Steve looked down and got terrible vertigo, so he decided to wait for us.
 |
| Sam & Grayson crossing glass bridge |
 |
YES!! Even with the weird delay on my digital camera, I was
able to capture this photo of a car on the interstate going under
the glass bridge. This would have really freaked Steve out! |
 |
A sculpture in front of a museum on the
other side of the glass bridge. |
 |
| Horse made from branches that were put together to grow that way! |
Then we headed over the BIG
Walnut Street Bridge, another walking bridge, which seemed
v-e-r-y long in the cold wind, across the river to see more sights.
While on the busy bridge, we saw some very interesting characters, some of them probably homeless, others were tatooed, too cool for school, and strutting their stuff -- then we saw the
Delta Queen, an old riverboat that has been converted to a hotel.
 |
| Delta Queen Riverboat Hotel |
Next it was on to the
Coolidge Park Carousel, the oldest carousel in America...and as much as the boys did NOT think they would like it, they found it a nice break from all the walking. And the old, antique, meticulously painted animals were very cool to see! And it actually went around pretty darn fast! I was getting a little nauseus...
Even though it was windy and cold, there's something about
ICE CREAM that just calls out to the Harris Clan...and CLUMPIE'S was very quaint -- the seats were made out of old milk cans with tractor seats as lids! SO RETRO (and made me think of my dad)! We enjoyed some ice cream, then Steve & Grayson were gentlemen enough to walk that long bridge back to where we parked the car...and drive back around to pick me & Sam up.
Then it was off to Sir Goony's, a little mom & pop's amusement park with race cars, bumper cars, mini golf, shuffleboard and foosball! Even with the cold wind giving me an earache, I managed to get NOT JUST ONE, BUT TWO "HOLES IN ONE!" Yeah, I was smokin'...read the sign and weep!
Race Cars and Mini Golf
 |
| Spin Zone Bumper Cars -- FUN! |
Then we drove home, and enjoyed a nice dinner at our beloved
Cracker Barrel. We had enjoyed just about as much fun as we could stand in a 24+ hour period...
