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Tennessee

Underwater and Outer Space: Chattanooga With Your Grandchild

Program No. 17691RJ

Learn all about Chattanooga and beyond as you and your grandchild ride a historic train, experience a space simulator, visit an underground waterfall and spend a night at an aquarium!

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6 days

5 nights

12 meals

5B 3L 4D

Check-In, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner

Chattanooga, TN

History, Train Ride, River Boat Cruise, Choo Choo Terminal

Chattanooga, TN

Horsin' Around Carving School, Coolidge Park, Space Center

Chattanooga, TN

Rock City and Ruby Falls, Sleepover at the TN Aquarium

Chattanooga, TN

Behind the Scenes TN Aquarium, Duck Boat Land to Sea, Music

Chattanooga, TN

Wrap-up Session, Program Concludes

Chattanooga, TN

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At a Glance

This adventure with your grandchild will launch you far beyond the borders of Chattanooga and into your imaginations as you play and learn together. Become an astronaut for a day at the Challengers Space Center as you fly a simulated space mission. Imagine you’re a conductor or an escaping outlaw as you climb aboard an old-school train for a ride on the rails. And transform yourself into a fish or favorite marine animal as you sleep among your finned friends during an aquarium sleepover! After a week of science, history and a little make believe, you’ll head home with unforgettable memories under your belt!

Activity Level

Keep the Pace

Walking up to two miles a day over uneven terrain and including stairs.

What You'll Learn

Ride the rails across Chickamauga Creek, and sleep among the sharks at the Tennessee Aquarium.
At the Challenger Space Center, get “launched” into space and conduct research in a real Space Lab.
Hear tales of notorious outlaws, Civil War Soldiers and Native American warriors and discover an underground waterfall at Lookout Mountain.

General Notes

Program is for grandchildren ages 9-12.

Featured Expert

All trip experts

Justin Strickland

Justin Strickland has been fascinated by trains his entire life. His first "railroad" job was with the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway at the age of 15, where he eventually became a conductor. Justin has also worked with the Southeastern Railway Museum, Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. He authored the only book dedicated to the Terminal Station in Chattanooga and has been interviewed for the railroad documentary "Tracing the Tracks."

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Justin Strickland View biography

Maury Nicely View biography

Maury Nicely is a lawyer and historian in Chattanooga, Tenn., and author of the “Chattanooga Walking Tour & Historic Guide” and the “East Tennessee Walking Tour & Historic Guide.” Maury has served on the boards of Chattanooga History Center and Cornerstones, Inc., Chattanooga's historic preservation organization.

Carol Burton View biography

Carol Burton attended Dalton State College, where she began her 16 years as a Road Scholar coordinator with its Center for Educational Adventure. Married to her childhood sweetheart, she grew up in Hampton, Va., and moved to Georgia in 1970. Carol said she was born with a love for animals and volunteers with her local humane society.

Tom Morley View biography

Tom Morley’s musical career spans thirty years and a host of genres. He's played Celtic, bluegrass, classical, swing, Americana and country honky tonk, earning a gold album for his work with “new traditionalist” country artist John Anderson. Classically trained with a degree in music education, Tom's followed his passion for Irish traditional music for the past two decades. Tom teaches privately and at fiddle workshops and string camps around the U.S., including Boston's Fiddle Hell Gathering and the John C. Campbell Folk School.

Suggested Reading List (3 books)

Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop

You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

Search for a Title

Underwater and Outer Space: Chattanooga With Your Grandchild

Program Number: 17691

My Tripp to Chattanooga

by Linda Winters, Micki Brawley Amos

Told through the eyes of eight-year-old Micki as she relates her adventures in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She takes you to an aquarium and an amusement park; to an underground waterfall and a Civil War Battlefield; on a fast ride down the River Gorge and a fast slide down a hill on a piece of cardboard; a walk across a glass bridge and a stroll along a train depot. She rides a Duck and holds a creepy, crawly hissing cockroach; and much, much more.

Chattanooga's Terminal Station (TN)

by Justin W. Strickland

Long before Glenn Miller made the world-famous "Chattanooga Choo Choo" an American icon, Chattanooga was already a bustling railroad community. By the beginning of the 20th century, passenger trains overwhelmed Chattanooga's two railroad depots and a larger station was needed. The solution was Terminal Station, which rivaled most Southern depots in size, expense, and aesthetic beauty. Providing transportation to cities throughout the country, the terminal made its mark as the gateway for rail from the agricultural south to the industrial north. Following its closure, the terminal was reopened as a renowned hotel and entertainment complex in 1973, becoming one of Chattanooga's many exciting attractions. Images of Rail: Chattanooga's Terminal Station follows the history of this depot in both stories and photographs.

Chattanooga Landmarks (TN): Exploring the History of the Scenic City (The History Press) [Paperback]

by Jennifer Crutchfield

Chattanooga's history and heritage are embodied in the historical sites, structures and groundbreaking feats of engineering that have defined the city from its beginning. Many of the Scenic City's most important landmarks are still preserved. Yet with so many fascinating historic sites and storied destinations, seeing them all is no easy task. Fortunately, Chattanooga Landmarks offers a helpful survey of the most historically significant sites in the city and the surrounding area. Join Chattanooga local Jennifer Crutchfield as she guides you through the city's historic wonders, both natural and man-made. From the top of Lookout Mountain down to the banks of the Tennessee River and through downtown, Chattanooga Landmarks covers the breadth of the historic sites that make this Tennessee city a landmark all its own.

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Meals

12 Meals

5 Breakfasts

3 Lunches

4 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Vegetarian, Gluten Free

Lodging

Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.

Display

Jun 23, 2024 - Jun 28, 2024

Jun 23, 2024 - Jun 28, 2024
Jun 16, 2024 - Jun 21, 2024
Jun 23, 2024 - Jun 28, 2024

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chattanooga Downtown

5 nights

Chattanooga

The DoubleTree Hilton Hotel Chattanooga Downtown boasts an ideal location just off I-24/Highway 27 in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. Our hotel is situated only minutes from Rock City, the Tennessee Aquarium, all of Chattanooga’s riverfront attractions, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). Shop, dine and stroll the Scenic City that waits right outside our doors. We have complimentary wired and wireless Internet access throughout, including guest rooms and suites. Check email in our inviting lobby or with a cold beverage at the H2O lounge. Our hotel offers a vibrant choice of dining and rejuvenation options. Dine on bistro-style dishes at ELEVEN, plunge into the pool or reinvigorate at the fitness center. Our 11,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space and downtown Chattanooga location makes us ideal for meetings, weddings and social events. Nearby Chattanooga tourist attractions include Historic Chickamauga Civil War Battlefield, Lookout Mountain, Rock City and the Tennessee Aquarium. The hotel is close to several businesses including Alstom, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, CIGNA, Unum Group and Volkswagen. Set on two lakes and surrounded by mountain vistas, Chattanooga, Tennessee is a scenic city. With a unique blend of urban and rustic charm, the riverside city offers a mix of shopping and dining experiences. Our hotel is steps away from the city’s riverside attractions including the TN Aquarium, IMAX 3D Theater, and the Creative Discovery Museum. After a family day at the aquarium, cinema and museum, enjoy a dinner cruise along the Tennessee River on the Southern Belle Riverboat. Spend an enchanted day at Lookout Mountain, minutes from our hotel. Trek through Rock City and admire views of the Chattanooga Valley. Discover the waterfalls of the Ruby Falls underground cave, and ride the Incline Railway, the world's steepest passenger railway.

TripAdvisor Reviews

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chattanooga Downtown

5 nights

Chattanooga

TripAdvisor Reviews