The Sinyard Family: Spring Break Trip to Chattanooga 2017

This past week we took a short trip up to Chattanooga for a few days during the kids' spring break. We’d been looking forward to it for weeks and watched excitedly as the kids’ paper countdown chain got smaller and smaller. Finally our day of departure arrived. We loaded up the van, double-checked the A/C settings, door locks, and my scattered post-it notes full of reminders, and hit the road.

Because it had only been two weeks since our trip to Savannah, the two hour and twenty minute drive seemed to fly by. Heck, in metro Atlanta, two hours can be spent getting from one side of town to the other if traffic is particularly bad. The kids did great entertaining themselves with “Eye Spy” and conversation. When that grew old, we rocked out to the Troll soundtrack, Lionel Richie station on Pandora, and Alabama (Tennessee River seemed very appropriate!)

We had originally planned to stop at Rock City on the way in and eat a picnic lunch and explore there, but the rainy and chilly weather made us rethink that. Our next idea was to call Ruby Falls and see what their wait time was to decide whether it would be worth it (we’d heard if you don’t get there first thing, it can make for a long line.) The lady on the phone told me it was 45 minutes, which doesn’t sound awful, except that in my experience you need to add at least 20 minutes to whatever time an employee quotes you. We opted to save that for the next day and headed into town for a picnic by the river and a visit to the famed aquarium. It was so nasty outside that we ate our picnic in the van, but everyone kept good spirits about it.

We weren’t crazy about shelling out unplanned money for aquarium tickets, but it sounded better than the children’s museum or the local shopping mall. We started at the lemur exhibit (I know…strange thing to have at an aquarium!) and the stingray touch pool. Both kids hesitated, but eventually gave in and reached in for a petting as they swam by. After that, we made our way to the butterfly house. As we were about to walk out and Audrey was complaining that none had landed on her, one attached to her shoe and wouldn’t let go! We finally got it off and then went through the other exhibits in that building, which included penguins, jellyfish, and a big tank full of all kinds of creatures. Luke’s favorite were the sharks, of course. Actually, that's not true. I think what they both enjoyed the most were the revolving doors that lead in and out of a few exhibits. Well worth the steep price of admission, I suppose.

We finished up at the building and let the kids run around the cool structures and bridges in the outdoor courtyard before entering the next building. This one was full of exhibits of otters, seahorses, huge river fish, and small alligators. After that one we were all getting tired, but decided we had to at least check out the final building, which was a special “Monster Fish” exhibit. It was interesting, but later we all agreed it was our least favorite of the three. We walked back to the van in the misty rain and drove to our hotel. The kids were in awe of the grand two-story lobby of The Read House Hotel that would be our home for the next couple of days. We found our room and made a quick call to a family member who had just texted some awesome news. (More on that in a future post.) We let the kids have a little device time while David watched the Masters and I got us settled in.

When we’d sufficiently rested, we set out to explore the hotel. It was originally built in the mid-1800s, served as a hospital during the Civil War, and then burned down in 1867. It was rebuilt in 1872 but then flooded in 1875. They kept it open for awhile after, but eventually decided to demolish and rebuild in 1926. It really is a gorgeous place, with intricate detailing on the moulding and beautiful Waterford Crystal chandeliers everywhere. We had a cool time walking around and making up stories about the grand balls and receptions that used to take place there.

After we were sure we’d covered every nook and cranny of the hotel, we drove over to the Bluff View Art district. It was still rainy but we tried to make the most of it anyway and explored the quaint little area surrounded by gorgeous historic houses and gardens. After a particularly gusty gail turned our umbrella inside out and left our faces soaking wet, we opted to go ahead and have an early dinner at Tony’s Italian Restaurant. Kara and I had eaten there when we’d come up to Chattanooga a few years ago for one of our girls’ trips. It was as tasty as I remember. We talked about our day and I came up with the “Three L” game. Everyone shared something they “L”oved, something they “L”earned, and something they could’ve “L”ived without. As we talked and laughed through the days’ adventures, I was struck with such a sense of “wow, they are so big and this is so awesome.” We didn’t have to bring entertainment or desperately try to distract them until the food got there. We enjoyed real conversation and their company immensely.

By the time we left, the sun had finally decided to peek out so we opted to give exploring another try. The kids found a gazebo-type structure and promptly put on performances for us. We walked through the sculpture garden and admired the river view before deciding that we really should just see if that nearby adorable coffee house had any of the gluten free goodies that their website mentioned. Thankfully, they did, and thankfully, our full stomachs had just enough room to accommodate a little more. We shuffled back to the van and started the drive to the hotel. On the way we made a quick detour and decided to walk Walnut Bridge, the former-railroad-turned-pedestrian bridge. We climbed the 95 steps up to it from our parking space and then walked across and back the gorgeous structure. It is a really cool thing to be up so high over the river and take in all the views of the city. It was windy, but we didn't mind. The kids ran ahead just far enough to make us call out for them to stop and then waited for a moment before starting off again. We took a few pictures and carefully climbed back down the 95 steps to our van.

Back at the hotel, we got ready for bed. There were two queens and a roll-away twin, which Luke volunteered to have for the first night. We read our Bible story, said prayers, and then they each took a turn singing us a goodnight song. We turned out the lights and ignored Luke's tired giggling while I read and David watched the Masters on his phone. I felt so happy knowing that our little family was all tucked in just feet away from each other. I fell asleep full of peaceful joy and stayed that way until Luke woke me up with a coughing fit a few hours later. I couldn't get back to sleep for quite awhile, but I did finish my book! Oh well. It was nice while it lasted, but maybe separate bedrooms aren't the worst thing in the world.

The next morning I woke up and attempted to quietly take a shower. When I came out, both kids had commandeered my side of the bed with David. We got dressed and ate our breakfast I'd packed from home before hitting the road for our visit to Ruby Falls. Winding up the mountain side, we caught glimpses of the luscious valley views below. An employee in an orange vest ushered us into a parking space and we bundled up against the wind as we walked to the castle-like building that housed the ticket booth and gift shop. Our arrival couldn't have come at a more perfect time since they let us go right down the elevator in front of a huge group of fifth graders that were there on a field trip. We road down 260 feet into the middle of the mountain, watching the grey rock rush by before us through the glass door. When we hit rock bottom (HA!), the door opened and there stood our tour guide, who dramatically deadpanned one word to us: "Run." He laughed and introduced himself as "Andy." We knew right away that he was going to be entertaining.

As we rounded the corner to meet up with the rest of our group, Andy cracked jokes and lightened the mood. I guess something about being enclosed in tight spaces that far away from the sun can make people a little tense. We watched a short intro video and then began making our way along the trail path, stopping to admire the awesomeness of massive stalactites hanging above us. It remains a constant 60 degrees and there are lights all around, so it wasn't as uncomfortable or spooky as I had imagined it would be. It did get a little tight when a group ("survivors", as Andy referred to them) would pass by on their return. The kids did a great job of staying close and only Audrey offered the occasional complaint that it was freaky or scary. After about a half a mile, we heard the sound of the waterfall ahead and knew we were close. Andy pulled us over to let a group pass. As we waited, he gave us some final instruction about not tasting the water before leading us into the large room to behold the namesake prize. It really was amazing. The falls were lit up and there was some cheesy music playing that made it slightly more commercialized than I would've preferred, but it was still an awesome sight. We took a few pictures, swapped picture taking favors with others in our group, and just spent a moment taking it all in. All too quickly we had to line up and begin making our way back. Feeling a little more confident in our cave-touring abilities, we picked up speed and made it back in much less time. We boarded the elevator and said goodbye to the cave below as we ascended quickly back up into daylight.

After some time on the playground and at the top of the castle lookout, we went into the gift shop to let the kids pick out some souvenirs. We spent at least thirty minutes inspecting each and every possibility before they each chose a small pouch filled with rocks and an animal carved out of stone and Audrey got a pink slab of crystal. They paid using their money and then we walked out to the parking lot to find a line winding out the door and filling up the sidewalk queue. Talk about perfect timing! I am not a patient line-waiter (I hate the wasted time and inefficiency), so I am very grateful we missed that mess.

We drove back down Lookout Mountain and into the North Shore side of Chattanooga to eat lunch at a local spot called "Good Dog." They were, indeed, good hot dogs (and fries) and we all ate hungrily having worked up an appetite hiking through a cave all morning. After lunch, we hit a couple of stores near there and were starting to drive back to the hotel when we made a last minute plan change and opted to hang out at Coolidge Park. We were originally going to go back to the hotel to swim, take showers, and rest, but decided it would make much more sense if we saved the swimming and showers until just before bedtime. It turned out to be a good call and the kids didn't even gripe about the switch up.

The first thing we did at the park was take a ride on the indoor antique carousel they have. Audrey initially chose a cat to ride on, but changed her mind last minute to jump on a horse. Luke chose a ferocious-looking tiger. We rode around and then headed outdoors to let the kids climb all over the animal statues and roll down the small hills in the grass. While Audrey and David played hopscotch, Luke and I found a perfect spot to sit right in front of the river. It wasn't long before the view wasn't enough to hold his attention, so we all found a couple of different places to get close enough for them to touch the water and collect a rock or two. We let them run around, check out an interactive metal musical structure, and then broke the news that it was time for ice cream. They were obviously heartbroken. We walked over to "Clumpies", which is a terrible name in my opinion, and had quite possibly the best ice cream I've ever tasted. It was so fresh and creamy! The kids seemed pretty beat (read: Mommy and Daddy were tired), so after one last stop at a store where the lady gave them each a himalayan salt crystal for free (I was confused too, but why not?!), we made our way back to the hotel and put our feet up for an hour.

Once we got our second wind, it was time for a little more exploring. We walked from the hotel about five blocks to the Moon Pie General Store and moseyed around there for awhile. I let the kids each pick out some candy for the trip home the next day (nerds and bubble gum, in case you were curious.) David went back to get the van at the hotel while we walked down a little farther through town. He met us in a parking lot and we loaded up for dinner. Driving across the river, we made our way to Taco Mamacita, another tasty local spot that had a gluten free menu. We ate on the patio and the food was delicious. We played our usual "Three L" game and ate way too much cheese dip. It was perfection.

Back at the hotel we changed into our swimsuits and went down to the indoor pool. Even though it was heated, it still felt pretty chilly. Thankfully it was all 3-4' feet, so the kids were able to splash and play all over. The only other family there left after about twenty minutes, so we had the place to ourselves the rest of the time. After about an hour we decided it was time to head up for showers. The kids were reluctant, but didn't protest too much. Luke kept telling me he was "dead" and then later explained that "what he meant by that was that his feet and legs were so tired he couldn't feel them anymore." I could believe it! We had walked quite a few miles that day and I was amazed at their good spirits and attitude during it all. Of course, they were both out pretty quickly after we got cleaned up, read our Bible story, and sang goodnight songs.

I woke up early the next morning with the goal of sneaking down to the Starbucks onsite and starting this blog post. Unfortunately, they don't open until 7am on Saturdays, so I had to find a quiet corner to tuck away in until then. As I searched for a spot, an older gentleman remarked about how he couldn't believe they weren't open yet. I told him I agreed and we joked about how the day is half over by 7am. When you're comparing your sleep patterns with someone in their 70s, it may be a sign you're an old soul.

At 6:55, I headed over to wait by the door and bounced on in right at 7am. I got my coffee, settled in, and wrote until 7:45am, when David texted me that they were awake. I went back up to the room and we all got ready. We packed up, checked and double-checked for any items left behind, and went to check out. Rock City was on the docket for the morning and we wanted to get there before the crowds.

We drove the now-familiar Lookout Mountain, following the famous "See Rock City" signs. It was a chilly morning but we bundled in our jackets and applied sunscreen to the fairest Sinyard faces before making one last pit stop and then hitting the trail. Each kid got a map so they could play tour guide, but it wasn't long before the maps were forgotten in favor of devoting their full attention to the gorgeous views around. We walked through the paved paths, some pretty narrow (one part of a trail was titled "Fat Man's Squeeze"!), but most were wide and sunny. There was a suspension bridge that definitely had my stomach in knots, but the kids did great on it. In fact, Luke kept turning back to make sure I was okay! We saw the "lookout" part of Lookout Mountain, where supposedly seven states are visible (TN, GA, AL, SC, NC, KY, and VA), "Lover's Leap" where legend says that two Native American teens from warring tribes died, and "Balance Rock"...which is a huge rock balanced on two smaller rocks. The guard rails were all a little too low for my liking and I was a nervous wreck at the high parts along the edges of the mountain. I don't know how more kids haven't plummeted to their deaths there. Of course maybe they have and they just decided that wouldn't be very good PR to advertise. Audrey and Luke would climb up on the back side of the telescope stands and I'd lunge for them, nearly breaking their arms as I swung them back towards me. "The good news is that you didn't fall and die today, children. The bad news? Mommy dismembered you in one of her fearful panic attacks."

Somehow we all survived and ended with Mother Goose Village, which was way creepier than cool to me. Black lights illuminated scenes from famous tales like Jack and the Beanstalk and Goldilocks. Something about black lights and the dated, weird looking characters just didn't sit well with me. I don't think Luke cared for it either, but Audrey thought it was neat. We emerged from the dark exhibit into the light and rounded the corner to the final part of the trail, which dead ended into the gift shop. (Of course.)

The kids chose their final souvenirs (a pen and journal for Audrey, a golf ball and pen for Luke) and I got us an adorable "See Rock City" birdhouse Christmas ornament for our "travel tree" we put up at Christmas. After a quick debate about what to do for lunch, we opted to drive the few extra minutes back into town to eat at a local hamburger spot that boasted good ratings and gluten-free buns. It ended up being a great choice as we sat on the patio soaking in the warm beautiful sunshine and playing our final round of "Three Ls". Personally, I loved the views and flowers, could've lived without the Mother Goose stuff, and learned that I'm a lot more squeamish in tight spots and high altitudes than I thought...at least when my kids are involved.

Lunch was delicious and afterward we slowly and reluctantly dragged ourselves back to the van. We drove by the Chattanooga Choo Choo but decided not to stop. We'd been nickled and dimed to death like the suckered tourists we were, especially with parking. It just didn't look appealing enough to make us put off the inevitable drive home any longer. As I like to say when we leave something undone in a town, we have to save something for next time!

So we hit the road. As we navigated our way out of town, we waved goodbye. As silly and overdramatic as it sounds, I turned away and teared up. It had been such a phenomenal weekend. Everyone had been mostly healthy (a few stuffy noses, but nothing major) and everyone had mostly had great attitudes (a few sibling spats and snapping between adults). Overall though, I was pleasantly surprised by how amazing everyone did. The kids never once complained about being tired of walking or griped about changing plans or whined about food. Except for bathroom breaks, they were incredibly independent and we never had to carry any "gear" with us. Meals out weren't a mad dash to shovel in food while keeping them entertained...we actually took our time, talked, and genuinely enjoyed each other's company. Of course, it's not that we don't enjoy each other at home! It's just that when you're in the middle of day to day drudgery, it can be easy to take each other for granted. Or to get in a mindset of ticking off to-do lists and fulfilling obligations...nagging about homework or putting away dirty clothes and dishes. "Vacation Mommy" gets to say yes a whole lot more. (I think it must be the lack of laundry, cooking, and cleaning that puts her in such a good mood.) "Vacation Daddy" is a lot more carefree and goofy. Getting out of our usual surroundings and routine for a couple of days was such a wonderful reset for all of us. Seeing all of the amazing sights together was a big added bonus.

Truthfully, I've been a little pouty today. I teared up again dropping Audrey off at school this morning. I'm sure the kids would've been at each other's throats and driving me nuts in another day or two, but I wish we could've had just a little bit longer. It was a fantastic trip and I can't wait to do another one with these awesome people of mine. Thanks for a great time, Chattanooga. As the locals say, " 'ppreciate ya."