30+ Indoor Activities for Kids in Chattanooga

The weather doesn’t always cooperate. Which begs the question, “Where do you go when you and the kids need to get out of the house, but it’s just too hot, cold, or rainy to be outside?” If we were honest, sometimes, fighting cabin fever in kids requires getting outside of our four walls.

30+ indoor activities for kids in Chattanooga, TN www.chattanoogafamilies.com

Eat & Play

Chick-fil-a Gunbarrel Point
1804 Gunbarrel Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37421
423-485-0777

Chick-fil-a Oak Park Town Center
5740 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343
423-877-5504

Chuck E. Cheese’s
22 Northgate Park, Chattanooga, TN 37415
423-870-3215

McDonald’s (Gunbarrel)
2017 Gunbarrel Road, Chattanooga TN
423-510-1661

McDonald’s (Hixson)
4123 Hixson Pike, Chattanooga TN 37415
423-877-9056

Shop & Play

Hamilton Place Mall Play Area
At Dillard’s Men/Kids/Home Lower Level Entrance
2100 Hamilton Place Boulevard, Chattanooga, TN 37421

Northgate Mall Play Area
At Belk Entrance
271 Northgate Mall, Hixson, Tennessee 37415

Indoor Activities

Battles for Chattanooga Museum
1110 East Brow Road, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350

Creative Discovery Museum
321 Chestnut St, Chattanooga, TN 37402
423-756-2738

Gymnastic Center of Chattanooga (preschool open gym on Fridays)
6855 Mountain View Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363
423-238-5258

Hamilton Skate Place
7414 Goodwin Dr, Chattanooga, TN 37421
423-899-1788

High Point Climbing
219 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN 37402
423-602-7625

Holiday Bowl Brainerd
5518 Brainerd Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37411
423-899-2695

Holiday Bowl Hixson
5530 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343
423-843-2695

Hunter Museum of Art
10 Bluff View, Chattanooga, TN 37403
423-267-0968

International Towing and Recovery Museum
3315 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37408
423-267-3132

The Jump Park
1810 Chestnut St, Chattanooga, TN 37408
423-531-8688

Chattanooga Libraries (take your pick–they’re all great!)

Model Railroad Museum (at Chattanooga Choo Choo)
1400 Market St, Chattanooga, TN 37402
423-872-2529

Pin Strikes
6241 Perimeter Dr, Chattanooga, TN 37421
423- 710-3530

River City Pottery
1414 Jenkins Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37421
423-553-0612

Ruby Falls
1720 South Scenic Highway, Chattanooga, TN 37409
423-821-2544

Superfly
7455 Commons Blvd., Chattanooga, TN 37421
423-825-9320

Tennessee Aquarium
1 Broad Street,Chattanooga, TN 37402
800-262-0695

Tennessee Bouldering Authority
3804 Saint Elmo Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37409
423-822-6800

Urban Rocks Climbing Gym
1007 Appling St, Chattanooga, TN 37406
423-475-6578

Winner’s Circle Family Fun Center (laser tag, indoor batting cage, arcade)
59 Kellerhals Lane, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
706-858-0950

The YMCA
423-266-YMCA

If visiting an area attraction, be sure to check for coupons from the Chattanooga Visitor’s Bureau…who cares if you aren’t a tourist 😉

Movie Theaters

Majestic 12 Cinema
311 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN 37402
423-826-2370

Northgate 14
310 Northgate Mall Dr, Hixson, TN 37343
423-870-9833

Rave Motion Pictures East Ridge 18
5080 South Terrace, Chattanooga, TN 37412
423-855-9652

Regal Cinemas Hamilton Place 8 Movie Theater
2000 Hamilton Place Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37421
423-855-5951

Regal Cinema Hamilton Place 10-17
2000 Hamilton Place Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37421
800-326-3264 ext. 353

Tennessee Aquarium IMAX Center
201 Chestnut St, Chattanooga, TN 37402
423-266-4629

Did we miss your favorite indoor activity for kids in Chattanooga? Tell us in the comments and we’ll add it to the list!

Lowe’s Build & Grow: Black Widow’s Sky Cycle (7-11-15)

It’s time to sign up for another Lowe’s Build & Grow Workshop! Take your child to Lowe’s and let them build Black Widow’s Sky Cycle inspired by “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble.” Kids love the chance to build with the small hammers and bang to their heart’s content–just watch your fingers if you’re helping them! This is a perfect indoor activity for kids in Chattanooga.

Lowe's Build & Grow Black Widow Cycle

 

Date: July 11th, 2015
Time: 10:00 am
Where: Lowe’s
The workshop is FREE, but you do need to REGISTER ahead of time.

Happy Building!

River City Archery Olympic Day & Open House

Have you always wanted to try archery? Well, now is your chance! Join the growing group of archery enthusiasts in Chattanooga.River City Archery Olympic Day

River City Archery is holding an Olympic Day & Open House where you can give archery a try for FREE! This is the perfect chance to try archery before you sign up for a class. Participants in “Try-it Sessions” must be age 8 and up. The fun starts at 2:00 pm and will last until 7:00 pm. (Try-it sessions end at 5:00 pm.)

Celebrate, play games, and see what makes the Olympic sport of Archery so great! And don’t forget the door prizes!

Details

River City Archery
1304 McCallie Ave,
Chattanooga, TN 37404

Time: 2:00–7:00 pm

 Why Archery?

Archery is an amazing sport and pastime that has existed for centuries. The number of people that are discovering the fun as well as the benefits of archery is growing at an explosive rate. Join one of the classes and experience the benefits for yourself. Archery classes and clubs provide an opportunity to get out of the house and make new friends. Archery is an inclusive sport that not only attracts the young, but also the young at heart. Someone can excel in the sport of archery regardless of how far they throw a ball, whether they like to compete from a wheelchair, or even if they were born without arms.

Lowe’s Build & Grow: Captain America Motorcycle (6-27-15)

It’s time to sign up for another Lowe’s Build & Grow Workshop! Take your child to Lowe’s and let them build a Captain America Motorcycle inspired by “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble.” Kids love the chance to build with the small hammers and bang to their heart’s content–just watch your fingers if you’re helping them! This is a perfect indoor activity for kids in Chattanooga.

Lowe's Build & Grow Project: Captain America Motorcycle

Date: June 27th, 2015
Time: 10:00 am
Where: Lowe’s
The workshop is FREE, but you do need to REGISTER ahead of time.

Happy Building!

Honk! Children’s Musical at Covenant College

Honk! children's musical at Covenant CollegeThe Covenant College theatre and music departments will present the children’s musical Honk! on March 27, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanderson Auditorium at Covenant College. Honk! brings Hans Christian Anderson’s The Ugly Duckling to life through song and dance, creating a show appropriate for all ages.

Honk! will open with a preview performance on March 27, at 7:30 p.m. for a discounted ticket price of $7 for adults; $4 for students, staff, faculty, and seniors; and $1 for children.

The show will run March 28, 29, April 3, and 4 at 7:00 p.m., with a final performance on April 5, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased by calling 706.419.1051 or via email at boxoffice@covenant.edu.

Ticket Prices:
Adults$10
Students, staff, faculty, seniors $5
Children $2

Chattanooga Fun for Kids at the Creative Discovery Museum

As a mom of two active little boys, I love the chance to get out in a public place where it is ok to touch everything in sight! A place where things are encouraged to be explored.  A place where everything is secured and we don’t risk breaking anything. Can I get an “Amen” from the two-year-old crowd?

Creative Discovery Museum dinosaur bone dig

The thing is, I’m pretty sure my little guys like the same places for the very same reasons–because if the risk of getting in trouble is low, mommy will be a little more low-key and let them play to their heart’s content!

As an early childhood educator turned homeschool mom, I love places jam-packed with fun, hands-on learning activities for kids–places where the line between learning and fun is so blurry that they just melt into each other…because that’s the way learning should be.

Creative Discovery Museum

I think that’s why we’re so drawn to the Creative Discovery Museum.

It’s one of our favorite indoor activities for kids in Chattanooga. We’ve been there in every season and every type of weather. In the winter, it’s perfect for a day out of the house and fighting cabin fever in kids. In the summer, it has air conditioning, water play, and doesn’t require wrestling a toddler to apply sunscreen.

Creative Discovery Museum water play

The rotating exhibits are always so impressive. Just when I think they can’t top the last one, they bring in a new one just as exciting as before! So far, this mom’s favorite has been the Magic Treehouse Exhibit, but I can’t wait to see the Wizard of Oz that is coming in May 2014.

Creative Discovery Museum exhibit

When I asked my boys what their three favorite areas were, they told me the Rooftop Fun Factory, Performing Arts Gallery, and Riverplay, but ultimately, they love everything there! The Creative Discovery Museum is one of our go-to spots around Chattanooga.

As a frugal mom, the price for a yearly membership is just about perfect. I love the bang-for-your-buck that you can get when you add in all the special events the museum hosts. If our family of four were to pay full price for 2 trips to the Creative Discovery Museum, we would end up paying the yearly membership price.

Because we love it so much, we want to bless one of you with a chance to enjoy it, too! Creative Discovery Museum has partnered with us at Chattanooga Families to offer our readers a chance to win a Family Four Pack of Tickets!

Creative Discovery Museum Giveaway

Mandatory entry: Leave a comment answering the question–What is your favorite exhibit at the Creative Discovery Museum?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chilly Willy Wednesdays at Chattanooga Zoo

Peacock at the Chattanooga Zoo www.chattanoogafamilies.com

Every Wednesday through February 26, 2014, the Chattanooga Zoo will be hosting Half-price “Chilly Willy” Wednesdays.  Bundle up and get out to the Zoo to take advantage of this deal.

Half-price Ticket Prices:

Adults: $4.48
Seniors (age 65+): $3.48
Kids (ages 3-12): $2.98
Kids age 2 & under: FREE

Hours of Operation:

9:00 am–5:00 pm

 

10 Free Ways to Fight Cabin Fever in Kids

It’s flu season, which means a lot of us are going to be stuck inside with sick kids, recovering kids, or healthy kids driving us crazy while we’re sick. At our house, being cooped up means that my boys are bouncing off the walls, fighting with each other, and acting just plain wild! It is in those times that momma needs a little sanity break. Can I get an “Amen” from all the parents?

So what’s a parent to do when Cabin Fever starts? Get creative and switch things up.

10 Free Ways to Fight Cabin Fever in Kids www.chattanoogafamilies.com

Rotate Toys

Pull out something from the back of the closet or a board game that hasn’t been played it a while. You’ll be surprised at how this simple switch can bring new life to playtime. Often, the kids have forgotten about this long lost treasure and will get lost in playtime for hours…you’re welcome.

Bionic Blox a STEM building toy

Kids in the Kitchen

Pull up a stool and hand your kids a wisk. It doesn’t have to be gourmet, but an afternoon treat that they helped make is a game-changer for my kids. If I bake with my oldest during naptime, he’s a completely different boy. He loves to help and get one-on-one time with me…the snack isn’t so bad either. If baking isn’t your thing, make some easy homemade playdough or make a volcano with kids.

Popcorn Picnic

This is a favorite at our house. My boys love to have a “Popcorn Picnic” in the living room while watching a movie. I place a quilt on the floor to catch the crumbs and give them a drink that won’t leak to prevent major messes.

Build a Blanket Fort

It’s a classic. Kids love it. It’s a win-win.

Get them Moving

If the kids are well enough, get them moving. Set up an obstacle course, see how long they can keep a balloon in the air, play Just Dance on the Wii…the only thing that matters is that they are burning energy.

Party Bath

Occasionally, we have what we call “Party Bath” at our house. Party Bath is simple, really– just throw in some bubble bath and a package glow sticks from the dollar store or Halloween clearance. Next, add some fun music from Pandora, and turn off the lights! The kids think it’s hilarious and have a lot of fun.

Bring out the Craft Supplies

I always keep a few craft things, purchased on clearance, on hand for the kids to do. Another option is to make a Collage Box and let the kids create to their hearts content. Coffee Filter Snowflakes are always a hit, too.

craft supplies

Change of scenery

Sometimes, simply moving to a different spot in the house for a regular task is the change of scenery we need. If you normally read books on the couch, move to the bed. If the kids normally play in the living room, let them take a toy to a new location.

Open the Blinds

This one does wonders for me. Even if it is a little gloomy, I try to open the blinds for a while during the day. If it is sunny out, the natural sunlight will boost your spirits.

Take a Walk

Even if is only to the mailbox, take a walk. If they are well enough, getting outside for a few minutes will clear everyone’s head and provide some fresh air. Often times, I avoid taking the kids outside if it is too cold, but the kids don’t seem to care as long as they are bundled up. I once heard it said, “It is never too cold, but it may be the wrong kind of clothing.” Dig out your gloves and talk a walk. (P.S.–Do you think we’ll EVER get snow again? This weather is such a tease.)

child in the snow www.chattanoogafamilies.com

Tell me in the comments: What is your favorite way to fight cabin fever?