Mimi's Birthday Weekend in Chattanooga

I'm behind on the blog but this early November weekend fell through the cracks. We celebrate Mimi's birthday each fall with a short weekend trip. This year we went to Chattanooga. The kids had a blast and there is so much to do there! Since we didn't have time to do everything on our list, I foresee another visit in our future :-) Friday night was low key since we arrived later than we had planned.
Sweet cousins!

We started the weekend at the Creative Discovery Museum. What a great interactive experience for the children! We started with water play, which they loved and had a hard time leaving to start the tour of the rest of the museum.

But we finally moved ahead and explore some other things

 The workshop was both boys' favorite spot! All of the tools were real, working tools requiring safety glasses and gloves.

 After that, we moved on to circuit building and Uncle Chad even got in on the action.

 

 Another favorite stop! A complete recording studio

Followed by a couple more fun things

 

Before returning to the water play area to end our time at the museum. We didn't even make it upstairs. We will definitely have to come back on our next trip!

 After some lunch, Collier headed back to the hotel for a nap while Mimi, the boys, and I headed to the International Tow Truck Museum. For Caden, who loves all things truck, this stop was a highlight for him! The first thing they get to see is a model sized working tow truck. There were buttons to turn the lights on and...

a working hydraulic lift. Definitely a favorite stop to play!

 

After that, we toured the museum and saw tow trucks and lifts from when they originated throughout the years. Ethan and Caden had a few favorites :-)

 There was a racing tow truck from Pell City, Alabama, where Maw-Maw grew up. This truck raced at Talladega! We thought that was very cool!

 And here is a tow truck that served in the military.

 At the end of the museum, there is the International Tow Truck Hall of Fame and some other notable pictures. Ethan and Caden thought this picture was great because it shows how tow trucks were part of building the Disney Monorail. These boys love Disney!

 After leaving the museum, we headed down to the waterfront to meet everyone else for dinner. There was a huge rowing competition going on and we ate a delicious dinner in front of the river where vendors had all kinds of booths set up. Once we finished dinner and returned to the hotel, we had Mimi's birthday party.

 Her gift was a framed cousins picture including several other individual pictures that she can put in her home and work office as well.

 The next morning we got packed up, ate breakfast, and headed over to ride the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. 

First stop, the Grand Junction train station

 All aboard!

 Collier wasn't quite sure what to think of it yet

 But these boys were excited!

 On our way out of the train yard, we passed a dining car.

 Then we traveled over the river

 And stopped at a rail yard with a working turntable. 

 We got to watch the engine turn around for the return trip.

 What a neat experience for all of us!

 Group picture courtesy of Mimi leaving the train station. Next stop, Rock City!

 We left the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad and headed over to Rock City. 

 I loved seeing the famous birdhouses!

 And thought this was absolutely adorable!

 The view of the valley is spectacular!

 The waterfall near Lover's Leap

  And Fairyland Caverns

We had a great weekend in Chattanooga!