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Program No.
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days
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Activity Level — Varies
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ROOMING OPTION PRICING
The figures below indicate the rooming options available.
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| DATES | ||||
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Jul 9 - Jul 14, 2023
1,999
1,249
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Jul 9 - Jul 14, 2023
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1,999 / Adult
1,249 / Child
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1,999 / Adult
1,249 / Child
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2,549 / Adult
1,249 / Child
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Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon: Program Registration. After you check in and have your room assignment and key at the front desk, please go to the conference room located near the lobby area to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID protocols and will adhere to applicable requirements and guidelines throughout the program. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren at all times. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Transportation will be via private motorcoach/bus unless noted otherwise. We will have meals featuring local cuisine in the hotel and local restaurants. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: We’ll have a “Getting to Know You” activity with grandparents and grandkids. This program features many different opportunities for learning and doing things together. Intergenerational relationships are the key as we learn with and from one another. Continue getting to know you fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; driving about 25 miles, approximately 1 hour. Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; paved and uneven terrain. Getting on/off a train with 3 steps up.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will begin today’s learning adventure with a history of Chattanooga given by an expert who has taught for numerous Road Scholar programs in Chattanooga. Kids will enjoy this summary of history, as well as adults. Next, we’ll take a motorcoach ride to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, where we’ll hear from an expert about the exciting history of Chattanooga following the call for “all aboard” on a shortline railroad ride. We’ll cross Chickamauga Creek and pass through the pre-Civil War Missionary Ridge tunnel that became the hub of local railroading activity in the early 1900s. We’ll see a turntable demonstration and explore the railroad repair shop, where we’ll learn how the railroad was built, how railroads are maintained today, and about the lives of those who fought here. We will ride back to the hotel after our field trip.
Lunch: At the hotel.
Afternoon: Next, we will walk two blocks from the hotel to the Tennessee Aquarium with its six-story IMAX screen, the largest in the region, that raises the science of cinema to amazement. We’ll see a film focusing on some of the many species of animals at the Aquarium. Back at the hotel, we’ll have some time for swimming or socializing with newfound friends.
Dinner: At a local restaurant.
Evening: We’ll board the motorcoach and ride to the 106-year old Chattanooga Choo Choo Terminal. We’ll enjoy stories about this majestic station, see train cars, and learn more about the famous Terminal significant in its role of the train era with its “Track 29.” Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening will be free.
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; driving about 40 miles, approximately 1 hour. Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; some uneven, paved terrain.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will board the motorcoach and ride to Soddy Daisy, Tennessee, for a field trip to the Horsin’ Around Carousel Carving School, the only one in the country. We will see firsthand the students’ carving ability and master carvers at work as we learn of their role in the restoration of the antique 1894 Dentzel carousel with 54 carved animals at Coolidge Park on the Chattanooga waterfront. We will then ride to the carousel and pick a favorite animal to ride before returning to the hotel.
Lunch: At the hotel.
Afternoon: For our next field trip, we will ride to the Challenger Center. The UTC Challenger Learning Center is a member of the National Challenger Center Network that has 45 centers located in the United States, Great Britain, South Korea and Canada. The Challenger Centers were built as a living memorial for the crew of the Challenger Space Shuttle mission that ended in tragedy on January 28, 1986. In the Mission Control room, designed after NASA Johnson Space Center and an orbiting space station, we will “fly” simulated space missions before returning to the hotel.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: We’ll enjoy a musical presentation for kids and grands.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 15 miles, less than 1 hour riding time. At Rock City, walking 100-foot trail; 35 stairs in sets of 4-5 stairs with handrails; uneven, inclines. Ruby Falls building entrance handicapped accessible, cave not wheelchair accessible. Elevator down to starting point of cave walk, approximately 4/5 of a mile each way; hard packed dirt, uneven paths, no seating. Be prepared to stand comfortably up to 90 minutes.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We’ll hop aboard the motorcoach for a field trip to Lookout Mountain, famous for its many unusual geological features, and Rock City. Situated atop the mountain at 1,700 feet above sea level — with a 100-foot waterfall that cascades down the mountain and the famous Swing-A-Long Bridge that spans nearly 200 feet — Rock City is a true marvel of nature, featuring massive ancient rock formations, gardens with over 400 native plant species, and breathtaking panoramic views of seven states. We’ll take an unforgettable journey along the Enchanted Trail, where each step reveals natural beauty and wonders along the woodland path. The magic of Fairyland Caverns is a favorite for kids and grands.
Lunch: At a restaurant atop Lookout Mountain.
Afternoon: We’ll continue our learning adventure on top of Lookout Mountain as we explore Ruby Falls. It is unique: a 145-foot underground waterfall more than 1,120 feet beneath the mountain’s surface. The fascinating story of the formation of Lookout Mountain, the cave, and Ruby Falls itself, all on the banks of the Tennessee River, is told by the rocks that formed each of these wonders. We’ll learn about the rich history of this cave from a Ruby Falls docent — a story that includes Native Americans, cave explorers, notorious outlaws, Civil War soldiers, and even a President of the United States. Returning to the hotel, we’ll have some to time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Dinner: At a local restaurant.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 5 miles, approximately 1/4 hour riding time. Getting on/off duck boat, 4-5 steps up/down. Walking during field trips, approximately 1-2 hours at each location.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will take the motorcoach for a field trip to the Chattanooga Zoo, a 13-acre zoological park. This zoo is designed specifically to view the animals up close and personal. The zoo always has special programs for visitors but at this time we don’t know which program is available but our group will get to see and hear up close as always. Next, we’ll ride to an authentic World War II amphibious landing craft built for the D-Day invasion. We’ll hop aboard and ride through downtown Chattanooga to Ross’s Landing on the Tennessee River where we’ll splash down for an historical and ecological exploration of the river and the Chattanooga Waterfront.
Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon: We’ll meet up at the Tennessee Aquarium at a designated time. We then take a remarkable journey through the aquarium’s two buildings: from a cove forest high in the Appalachian mountains to a coral reef in the blue depths of the Gulf of Mexico. We’ll explore and learn about life above and below the water’s surface.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure. You might like to get together at the pool for one last swim together.
Activity note: Hotel check-out 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We’ll meet in the hotel classroom with our Group Leader to review what we’ve seen and learned as share our fondest memories of this time together. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!