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NOTE: If you have reached this page from a search engine, be sure to click here to discover resources about thousands of wonderful family-friendly places! Updates to Kids Love Tennessee
New Listings W – Memphis. RIDE THE DUCKS IN MEMPHIS. Corner of Third & Beale Streets • Memphis, TN 38103. Phone: (toll free) 1-877-88-QUACK. Laugh and Learn by Land and Sea on Memphis' only Duck Tour. Experience Memphis sightseeing from a duck's-eye view. Travel on land and water for a more fun, more entertaining, more educational, more quack-tacular Memphis experience. Tour Historic Memphis and cruise the backwaters of the Mississippi on Wolf River Harbor. 65-70 minute tours depart frequently from 3rd Street and Union Avenue. Updates: EM – DUTCH MAID BAKERY (pg. 12) is now under new ownership. They still use old recipes and make much the same breads and pastries. Still, too, they offer tours if you call ahead. Their new website is: www.thedutchmaid.com. The café is open for breakfast and lunch beginning at 7:00am most mornings. Thank goodness this old favorite survives! M – Nashville. Rainforest Café (pg. 52). FYI the phone number listed for Rainforest Cafe in Nashville rings to Barnes and Noble. The correct number is (615) 514-3000. But visit the Barnes & Noble bookstore while you’re there, too. They have copies of our books for sale. SE – Chattanooga, RACOON MOUNTAIN PUMPED STORAGE FACILITY (pg. 135). NO LONGER OPEN FOR TOURS DUE TO SECURITY ISSUES. More fun information about: SE - Chattanooga Weekend Ideas. Any weekend is so full of family fun – and so easy – just hopping around downtown. Their FREE Shuttle buses run constantly starting at the Choo Choo Holiday Inn Hotel (pg. 126) all the way around the sites downtown. The CHOO CHOO RESORT is just perfect for families. They offer a warm indoor pool, mini-railroad museum, shops and eateries (kids eat free in the main dining room accompanied by an adult). The outdoor pool areas are nicely landscaped but best on warm summer days. Once downtown by the river, start your excursion by popping the top of a cold cola and snacking on Moon Pies (locally made) while you walk the WALNUT STREET pedestrian bridge over to COOLIDGE PARK (pg. 125). Check out the Sculpture Garden outside the HUNTER MUSEUM (pg. 131) as you enter the bridge. This is truly Americana at it’s best. The carousel was made by another favorite, HORSIN AROUND CARVING SCHOOL (pg. 146) in nearby Soddy Daisy. People will be seen walking, biking, Frisbee throwing, playing badmitten or volleyball, splashing in the fountains or just picnicking on the grass. Maybe you want to take a ride on the CHATTANOOGA RIVERBOAT, SOUTHERN BELLE (pg. 128). If you’re going on a meal cruise, be sure to bring along travel games (cards, coloring books, crayons) while the kids wait for food. The atmosphere is relaxed so it’s a nice cruise for a lazy day along the river. The TENNESSEE AQUARIUM (pg. 125) has expanded (as have most all the museums on the riverfront) and the new prices are: $17.95 adult, $9.50 child (3-12), extended hours on weekends, holidays and summertime. Long known as the world’s largest freshwater aquarium, the addition presents a saltwater adventure that explores the mysteries of the ocean. Ocean Journey is the place to touch sharks and sting rays. Immerse yourself in the Butterfly Garden (very friendly creatures) or dive into a secret cave reef and discover the weird world of boneless beauties. The jelly fish and giant crab were big hits with the kids. Nearby, kids can visit the Little Yellow House or soon, climb up to the Rooftop Fun Factory of the CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM (pg. 129). All around downtown are plenty of eateries – each with a different style of food – most all, family friendly. W – Memphis Weekend Trip - This year Memphis will celebrate 50 years of rock n’ roll with a yearlong celebration to commemorate the birth of a new sound. On July 5th, 2004, Memphis will be the focus point of a “Global Moment in Time” as radio stations across the world are simultaneously encouraged to play Elvis Presley’s first single release “That’s All Right” at the legendary Sun Studios (one of our favorite sites, by the way). While we’re talking about Elvis, we need to let you know Graceland is still a favorite with us and the public (2nd most visited house in the US). Every time you go, you see something new. Look for the “Teddy Bear” chair in the Jungle Room. If you head downtown, be sure to either eat at Elvis’ or the Arcade (both near/on Beale Street). Elvis’ is best for a “Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich” and the Arcade was Elvis’ favorite spot for burgers (look for his booth in the corner). If you arrive into town near dinner, parents (and kids 10 and older) must first initiate themselves to Memphis with a visit to Rendezvous ribs! Their dry rub ribs are so tasty and unique, who needs sauce! They’re located in an alleyway near Peabody Place. Ask a local for directions. If you want, just pop in and order carryout – no need to call ahead – they always have ribs ready. (901) 523-2776 or www.hogsfly.com. After you dine at Rendezvous, head over to AutoZone ballpark for good, old-fashioned minor league baseball with a modern twist. Redbirds Baseball. From the “pinball” chute to the playground…you’re guaranteed an exciting and entertaining ballgame…and for a reasonable price. We watched a 10-inning overtime winning game with a solo homerun in the bottom of the 10th! The place went wild with fireworks celebrating the big victory over Colorado. Minor league baseball is a great way to afford a game as a family, without all the Big League celebrity hoopla. For lodging: Our first choice is still Heartbreak Hotel. Who can compete with the “broken heart” pool, the peanut butter and banana sandwiches and the 24 hour Elvis channel. Not that into Elvis? Try one of the four Comfort Suites in town. The suites are spacious with a frig/micro and deluxe continental breakfast. www.choicehotels.com. The next day, plan to spend the whole day at the many wonderful museums (Fire, Riverboat, Children’s) or the Memphis Zoo. Memphis is one of only four US cities with its own pair of rare animals – Le Le and Ya Ya, a pair of giant pandas. Why are they so precious? The entire China exhibit utilizes educational graphics, murals, video, traditional music and artifacts to enrich the experience as it engages each visitor in the culture, history and wildlife of China (extra small charge separate from zoo admission goes towards conservation). While at the zoo, be sure to visit Cat Country. With its shaded boardwalks and easy viewing areas (most animals like to “rest” right near the viewing windows) – make this a hit with kids. Check out the Capybara (giant guinea pigs)! W – Children’s Museum of Memphis (pg. 168). New and upgraded components and activities to the Garage exhibit include: Build-a-car – a computer program allows visitors to build their own car; Tire-changing/jack demo – visitors replace tires using the procedure for real tire changing; Drive train – a partial "transmission" displayed with the crankshaft, gears driveshaft and rear axle; Brake demo – a "pedal" is pushed to show how a disc brake attached to an "axle" stops a car; Career rolodex/career dress-up – information on careers related to auto design, engineering, manufacturing and repair; Minivan – allows kids to role-play driving (includes the gas pump nearby for fill-ups); Engine – a real automobile engine with color-coded components; Virtual Driving Tour of Memphis – a VW chassis with driver’s seat, steering wheel and front end with a running view of Memphis scenery gives the "driver" a sense of motion; Crank-able engine – a real engine block equipped with a hand crank to turn and activate a "spark" and pistons; Happy car/sad car – interactive graphic has flip panels for visitors to make maintenance choices that would make the car "happy" or "sad". W – Memphis, Children’s Museum (pg. 168). SEASONAL & SPECIAL EVENT: Pumpkin Patch: Celebrate with fun, non-frightening activities in an interactive learning environment that offers children excursions through several activity stations. In Autumn Atrium, weigh and measure different size pumpkins, use leaf shapes and stamps to decorate treat bags, and search in piles of leaves for nuts and seeds with a squirrel puppet. In Spider Station, gaze at a live tarantula, make a jumping spider, weave a spider’s web and crawl through a giant spider web maze without getting “caught.” Conduct experiments with wacky concoctions and magnets, make a fizzing “potion,” and play with bubbleology in the Weird Science Lab. In Shadowland, search for animals of the night, investigate a “bone yard,” make a raccoon mask and explore the Cosmic Corridor – a fun glow-in-the-dark hall. All ages. Hours: 11 am-2 pm. Admission: $3 members and $5 non-members. (last Saturday in October) W – Jackson Day Trip - Heading east of Memphis? Well, we have two stops you must make to break up your trip towards Nashville. First stop, Casey Jones Village (one hour from Memphis). Plan to stop for a few hours. Stretch your legs leisurely wandering through the many shops, railroad cars and museum and a game of mini-golf. Save your appetite, because you’ll have to try at least one of the Old Country Stores Southern buffets. A great value (kids pay 50c times their age), the food here is so fresh. Every meal serves up something from the griddle. Say hello to the owners: Clark (usually makin cracklin’ corn bread at the griddle) or Juanita in the gift shop. Tell them KIDS LOVE TENNESSEE sent ya. Now, if you’re enjoying yourself too much, how about an overnight (for reasonable cost) in one of their cabooses or rail cars? Because they’re real railroad cars, space is limited, but what fun! (by the way, for safety, don’t use the top bunk…no railing to prevent little ones from rolling out and falling). W – Camden/Birdsong Resort Day Trip - Pack up the van and head further east to Camden and Birdsong Resort/Marina and Pearl Farm. Yes, a freshwater pearl farm (one of a kind in the U.S.) right in Western TN! Every visit is a wonderful memory of this relaxed area, fun boating, swimming or tubing, spacious cottages, and good food (the Catfish Place in town – get it Cajun or fried). Learn new things about aquatic nature. We highly recommend calling ahead to reserve a tour and overnight stay (cottages, RV or camping). If you just pop in, at least look through the museum and watch the video. Be careful ladies, it’s hard to resist buying a set of uniquely natural pearls (great prices for the real stuff!). ME – Knoxville Day Trip/Weekend - First of all, if staying overnight…and, you want to be in the middle of it all…we might suggest HOLIDAY INN SELECT, Downtown @ Convention Center (525 Henley Street, 865-522-2800). They offer seasonal Family Packages (see www.knoxville.org) and have a mini-fridge in the room. Their indoor pool/whirlpool was clean and warm. Kids eat free with paying adults in their restaurant. The best part is its location. Within walking distance is the EAST TN HISTORY CENTER (pg. 76) and the CANDY FACTORY (pg. 83) or UT CAMPUS (pg. 85). Now, if you willing to travel from you hotel by trolley, walk or short (1 mile) car ride for half the day…the best place to head is VOLUNTEER LANDING (pg. 78-81). Our favorite site in Knoxville is still the WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME. Boys and Girls love this interactive spot where you’ll at least spend some time “hanging with coaches/players” or shooting hoops on a real half court. Across the street is JAMES WHITE FORT where the docents offer very good guided tours. What kid wouldn’t love a fort? After this, walk down to the marina area and stop in at the friendly, and very informative GATEWAY REGIONAL VISITORS CENTER. Purchase tickets for a lunch or sightseeing tour on the STAR OF KNOXVILLE Riverboat tour. Their staff our very friendly and their food is wonderful! The lunch tour is great if you want to combine a fair price for yummy buffet food along with a nice historic commentary of the sites/events along the river. If you want to head just outside the downtown area a few more miles (15-20), check out MARBLE SPRINGS Farm Home of John Sevier, 1st Governor of TN (pg. 83). Again, the docents love what they do and offer group or family tours during posted hours. You’ll hear about the magic carpet rules and how more than one dozen kids lived in one house, sleeping in one room…together. Another park setting, even better for mild hiking, is IJAMS NATURE CENTER (pg. 82). We noticed unique exhibits like the Bird’s Nests (even spider nests!), a live beehive and the Conservation Cottage (great ways to apply new recycle habits to your home as you walk thru the pretend house). Of the Hiking Trails, we liked the Tennessee River boardwalk best. The winding boardwalk runs along the River Trail on the banks of the Tennessee River. You’ll find many little critters, even Great Blue Herons, and even a small cave. M – Day Trip / Nashville. Begin your overnight stay at the Embassy Suites Nashville Airport Hotel (just southeast of town, 615-871-0033). Included with your reservation is a deluxe, hot, made-to-order full breakfast with loads of very fresh breakfast items available – complimentary to guests each morning. You can even take an early swim in their large, clean indoor pool. Every room here is a suite with plenty of room to spread out. Now, while it’s early yet, head over to the NASHVILLE ZOO AT GRASSMERE (pg. 47) in the morning when the temperature is just right and the animals are alert and feeding. Along with the newer spaces: Bamboo Trail and the Meerkat exhibit, you will probably want to catch the new Elephant Habitat. It includes several viewing points, as well as wading pools for the pachyderms and tall trees for shade. Also opening in 2004 is the Lorikeet Habitat. Guests enter this habitat near the new elephant area and walk a winding path lined with beautiful landscaping as up to 50 lorikeets move freely inside the meshed habitat. They’re very friendly and love to be feed treats. Some exhibits that have been there a while are still our favorites. Unseen New World still has many reptiles that are humungous! …the largest turtles, salamanders and snakes we’ve ever seen. Maybe you like to spend a good amount of time at the Jungle Gym. Tall treetop towers, a walk-in snakes’ mouth, lots of bridges and climb, climb, climb to your little heart’s content. Our favorite animal in the zoo is still the Siamang Gibbons. Their huge throat sac inflates and they make loud calls while they swing. What hams! Speaking of hams, we recommend every visit to Nashville include a walk down BROADWAY STREET (pg. 39), downtown. The amusing characters you’ll see is enough entertainment in itself! Our kids love spending time looking and stopping in places like Tootsies or Wildhorse for a snack and beverage. You never know who might be singing their way to stardome that day…just waiting to be discovered…it’s magical on Broadway. If you haven’t visited the COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME (pg. 41) recently, it’s nearby (walking distance) and always worth your while. Back out to the suburbs before dinner, maybe wandering thru CHEEKWOOD GARDENS (especially during kid-friendly special exhibits outdoors) or visiting BELLE MEADE PLANTATION (pg. 44). Check out the family portraits in the foyer…they’re horses, not people. After dinner, (maybe at Opry Mills), entertain your whole family at “A TRIBUTE TO THE KING” or some other such show at the TEXAS TROUBADOUR THEATRE (pg. 52). This is a family-friendly, two hour show. This “Elvis” has all the right moves and sound. It starts out calm…but by the end, “there’s a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on!”. You might steal a kiss from “Elvis”, girls! W – Memphis. Children’s Museum of Memphis. Breakfast with Frosty the Snowman: Come to our special winter wonderland and have a magical good time with everyone’s favorite winter character, Frosty the Snowman. This fun-filled event allows kids to meet the lovable Frosty in person, eat a picnic-style breakfast, make a magic hat, sing-a-long with the Frosty song, color special art pages, see the animated Frosty cartoon and more. Parents are encouraged to bring cameras to capture that special moment. Hours: 8 or 10 am. Admission: $12 per person (under 1 free). Reservations required. Call 901-458-2678. Seasonal & Special Events Update: W – CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MEMPHIS. CMOM has snow-making equipment sponsored for this and all future winter seasons. On winter days that are 28 degrees or below, the museum will have the equipment producing mounds of snow on the front lawn! The museum will then inform the local weather forecasters that snow is on our grounds for members and visitors to come out and play in – for friendly snowball fights, building snowmen, etc. The snow equipment will produce 3,000 square feet of snow 1-3 inches deep every hour. As long as the temperature remains below 28 degrees, the machines will be left on to produce mountains of snow! In keeping with the museum’s mission, educational materials will be available to teach children how and why it is snowing. For additional information, please call the museum at 901-458-2678. ME - Norris Dam State Park Holiday Homecoming-Celebrate the Holidays by strolling through the decorated cabins at Norris Dam State Park. The cabins will be decorated in different themes that depict a different Tennessee Holiday homecoming. The planned themes consist of a Coal Miners’ Cabin, Christmas Bakery, Soldier’s Cabin, CCC Memorial Cabin and many more. Christmas Caroling and craft making will also be occurring throughout the cabin area. There will be old time music in the Tea Room where Santa will also be available for taking wish list and pictures. For more information, contact the park at 865-426-7461. (second Saturday in December) ME - River Ridge Farms on the Clinch River, 220 Mike Miller Lane, Clinton, 37716 will be offering Horse Drawn Caroling and Moonlight Tours The tours will include hot chocolate and a bon fire. The tours will be cancelled if it is raining or snowing. For more information, please call 865-457-6774 or www.riverridgefarmtn.com. Admission (age 5+).(last three weekend evenings in December)
NE – Elizabethton. Sycamore Shoals Celtic Festival
Saturday & Sunday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; Saturday Concert at
8:00 pm NE – Piney Flats, Spirit of the Harvest When: Mid-October Where: Rocky Mount Museum, Piney Flats What: Join the Cobb family and their friends as they celebrate the harvest. Blacksmiths will be in the blacksmith shop, watch as volunteers and staff make soap, apple butter and apple cider on the historic site. Storytelling, music, and other activities will take place throughout the day. Cost: $5 for everyone aged five and older. NE – Piney Flats, Candle Light Christmas Tours When: First 2 weekends in December. Tours from 4:30 – 8:00 pm. Where: Rocky Mount Museum, Piney Flats What: Join the Cobb family as they celebrate Christmas in the 18th Century. Cost: $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for children ages three to seventeen. Reservations are recommended. SE – Chattanooga, New Year’s Eve at Noon When: New Year's Eve from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Toast at NOON! Where: Creative Discovery Museum What: Kids can make party hats at Creation Station all day long and enjoy our "Cool Wonders" exhibit and science demonstrations. As our "New Year’s Eve at Noon" countdown with Father Time culminates promptly at (what else) Noon, everyone can toast the New Year with apple juice and a kazoo rendition of “Auld Lang Syne.” Contact: 423-756-2738 W – Memphis. Enjoy Affordable Family Fun in Memphis during Spring Break. The Children’s Museum of Memphis, Memphis Zoo, Peabody Place Museum, Embassy Suites and Peabody Place Entertainment & Retail Center Team Up to Bring Family Fun Safari Package to Consumers The Children’s Museum of Memphis, Memphis Zoo, Peabody Place Museum, Embassy Suites and Peabody Place Entertainment & Retail Center have teamed up for a fifth year to bring affordable family fun to out-of-towners for 2005. With packages starting at around $190.00 for a family of four, it makes a wonderful getaway for families looking to experience a fun, educational and affordable spring break. With major expansions completed at the attractions and more underway, it just doesn’t make sense to hear your child say he/she is “bored” again this spring or summer break. Call the Embassy Suites at 901-684-1777 to reserve your package or for more information – or visit the package web site at www.cmom.com/familyfunpackage.htm. W - Have Breakfast with Benny the Bunny at The Children’s Museum of Memphis– Celebrate Easter at The Children’s Museum of Memphis during Breakfast with Benny the Bunny on the Saturday morning of Easter weekend. Children pet live rabbits, decorate Easter hats and bags, make bunny ears and surprise eggs, get their faces painted, have fun with carnival games, and meet Benny the Bunny at this “eggs-tra” special event. Children can also get their photos taken with Benny the Bunny for an extra $3 fee. Breakfast snacks will be served. Admission to Breakfast with Benny the Bunny is $7 for museum members and $12 for non-members (includes museum admission that same day). The event is appropriate for children ages 2-8 years old. Space is limited – advance reservations are required. Call the museum at 901-458-2678. W – Children's Museum of Memphis. Pumpkin Patch. www.cmom.com. Celebrate Halloween with fun, non-frightening activities in the Pumpkin Patch. This interactive learning environment offers children and families excursions through Autumn Atrium, Spider Station, Weird Science Lab and Shadowland. Visitors to Autumn Atrium weigh and measure different size pumpkins and can use leaf shapes and stamps to decorate their own treat bags. They also help a squirrel puppet search for nuts and seeds in piles of leaves. Children gaze at a live tarantula and make their own jumping spider in Spider Station. They also weave a spider’s web and try to maneuver their way through a giant spider web maze without getting "caught." Conduct experiments with wacky concoctions and magnets in the Weird Science Lab. Children even make their own fizzing "potion" and try out new bubbleology activities. Visitors to Shadowland search for animals of the night in a giant maze, investigate a "bone yard," make a raccoon mask and play with animal shadows. They also explore Cosmic Corridor - a fun, glow-in-the-dark hall. Admission. (last Saturday in October)
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