The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, located at 4119 Cromwell Rd in Chattanooga, TN, is a fun place to take the kids for a weekend getaway. This historic railroad offers short trips through Chattanooga that take about an hour to long trips to Chickamauga, GA that take around 6 hours. They even offer charter trips for large groups. If you want to take your child on an educational weekend getaway, this is the place to do it.
For two weekends this spring, the Tennessee Valley Railroad will host Thomas the Train. He’ll travel all the way from the Island of Sodor with Sir Topham Hat to visit the your children. Times are available from April 27 through 29 and May 4 through 6. Trains depart every hour to hour and a half starting at 9:00 a.m. You’ll enjoy a $25 minute ride on Thomas the Train, meet Sir Topham Hat and enjoy storytelling and live music. They’ll have lots of activities set up for the children including temporary tattoos, arts and crafts and picture taking with Sir Topham Hat.
This event is for children of all ages. They offer “stroller parking” for use during the train ride. Tickets must be purchased for children ages 2 and up. The price is $16 per ticket. Tickets can be purchased in advance and it’s recommended that you do so. Visit http://www.tvrail.com/DOWT/ for more information on this location. Check out http://www.thomasandfriends.com/usa/parents/dowt.html for other locations.
Want more railroad fun? Visit The Chattanooga Choo Choo while in town. While the Tennessee Railroad used to offer the Downtown Arrow rides directly to the Chattanooga Choo Choo this service has been discontinued. The Choo Choo is located in downtown Chattanooga, only about 10 miles away and offer a variety of attractions. These include a railroad museum for your little train lover, and an old tyme portrait shop where you can take your children to have an 1800’s photo taken complete with costumes for all ages. They’ll also enjoy the Sweet Stop Ice Cream and Candy Shoppe and the arcade which has air hockey tables, 11 racing video games and more. Sweetly Southern is the Thomas the Tank Engine retailer for Choo Choo customers.
Make it a full weekend all about trains by booking hotel accommodations stay at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel which is the local Holiday Inn.
For more exciting things to do while in Chattanooga, visit http://www.chattanoogafun.com/ for all the upcoming events.
