Vacations sure do look different than they used to. Blake and I used to both travel a lot for work. We would piggy back onto each other’s work trips and enjoy different cities, eating all the foods each city had to offer, shopping and exploring without a care in the world. Theeeeeeen entered our kids…
Of course, this changed everything. Don’t get me wrong, I love doing fun things with them and seeing how excited they get at the most simple of things is truly a joy. It does, however, require a different level of planning and packing and preparing. We recently wanted to get away for a mini vacay with our kiddos. Chattanooga is only 2 hours from Nashville and we had heard great things from all our friends who had taken their kids there. Today I am showing you what we did, all my travel essentials and most importantly, WHAT WE ATE!Because, that is actually what we plan our vacations around.
ITINERARY:
Day 1:
We left right after church and headed that way hoping the kids would sleep in the car – that was a no-go for Eden, but it was snack time when we arrived. Naturally we headed for Ice Cream
Clumpies Ice Cream
3:00 PM
Clumpies Ice Cream – This was a really cute spot right off of Coolidge Park. Everyone suggested it. The ice Cream was good (still prefer Jeni’s) but the highlight for me was their waffle cones. They are some the best I’ve had. We watched them make them, so they were super fresh and delicious. I highly suggest getting your ice cream in one. They also had “pink” ice cream and sprinkles, so Eden was happy.
Clumpies Ice Cream
What we ate:
Blake – 1 scoop of Whiskey Caramel Cornflake Crunch and 1 scoop of Blueberry White Chocolate Chunk in a waffle cone
Sarah – 1 scoop of Coffee Toffee, 1 scoop of Whiskey Caramel Cornflake Crunch in a waffle cone
Eden – Strawberry with sprinkles in a cup
Clumpies Ice Cream / Rylee & Cru Shine Top / Sunglasses (similar)
4:00 PM
Coolidge Park – This was a great place to go after being in the car for a couple hours so the kids could run around after being cooped up. They have a huge indoor antique carousel that is only $1 per ride that Eden LOVED.
One mistake we made was not having their swimsuits on hand. They have an interactive fountain feature that the kids would have loved playing in. Next time, we will definitely do that.
Coolidge Park / T-shirt / Camo shorts
Coolidge Park / Rylee & Cru “Shine” shirt / Sunglasses (similar)
Coolidge Park / Rylee & Cru “Shine” t-shirt / Demin shorts / Adidas Tennis Shoes
Coolidge Park / Rylee & Cru “Shine” t-shirt / Demin shorts / Adidas Tennis Shoes
5:30 PM
Slick’s Burger – We headed to dinner at Slicks. This place was great! The burgers were so flavorful and their fries were great, too. Also, they have a “baby” burger for $3.25 that was perfect for our kids. It was a super casual place and there was live music the night we went which the kids always think is fun.
Slick’s Burger
What we ate:
Blake – Fig-Goat-About-It Burger – Housemade Fig Chutney with Chevre and Balsamic Reduction
Sarah – BYO – Lamb Burger with House Seasoning, Feta Cheese and Benton’s Bacon
Eden & Ezra – “baby” burger (plain)
DAY 2:
7:30 AM
Mean Mugs – we originally heard about this place on a food network show that featured their cinnamon rolls. The day we went, their flavor of the day was Orange Cinnamon Rolls and it was seriously amazingly. We also tried their Strawberry & Chocolate Chip Scone, which was a HUGE highlight….one of the best scones I have ever eaten. They have Avocado toast for those trying to be healthier and the kids shared a breakfast plate. They roast their own coffee beans which we always appreciate, too. Also, they had some great photo-op areas!
Mean Mugs / Rylee & Cru t-shirt
Mean Mugs / Huxbaby Hamburger Tee
What we ate:
Blake – Egg & Avocado Toast and Cold Brew & Tonic
Sarah – I nibbled on the pastries with a side of bacon and a Cappuccino
Eden & Ezra – shared a Breakfast plate – included scrambled eggs, cheese grits (eden’s favorite), bacon and a biscuit. We also ordered them a side of seasonal fruit.
8:30 AM
Walnut Street Bridge – We ate breakfast at 7:30 and planned to head to the Aquarium that day which didn’t open until 10, so we headed to Walnut Street bridge so the kids could get out a little energy. This is a huge Pedestrian bridge that connects downtown to the North Shore area of Chattanooga. The kids had a blast walking across the bridge and looking at the water. It had great views of the city, too.
Rylee & Cru T-shirt / Gap Denim Shorts / Adidas Tennis Shoes
10:00 AM
Tennessee Aquarium – This is the main reason we came to Chattanooga. The kids LOVE their huge fish tanks at school and we wanted them to experience this. They have 2 buildings – the Ocean Journey & the River Journey. We spent the morning in the Ocean Journey. Eden was slightly afraid of the butterfly room and REALLY wanted to be brave enough to touch the sting rays, but didn’t quite work up the courage. Otherwise, they are both fun exhibits. She did, however, LOVE watching the sharks and fish swimming in the HUGE tanks.
Tennessee Aquarium / Huxbaby Hamburger Tee / Uppababy Cruz Stroller / Snack Cup / Oxo Sippy Cup
Tennessee Aquarium / Rylee & Cru T-shirt
Tennessee Aquarium / Rylee & Cru T-shirt / Gap Denim Shorts
Tennessee Aquarium / Rylee & Cru T-shirt / Gap Denim Shorts
11:30 AM
Rembrandt’s Coffee House – This place is a sweet, European style cafe with coffee, pastries and deli food. The food was good, but the patio where we ate was really delightful. We were hoping to try a pastry, but my 3 year old decided to have a meltdown about having to wear her clothes, instead of pajamas, for nap. I got a iced coffee to go and we headed back to the hotel so the kids could take a bit of a nap.
Rembrandt’s Coffee House / Huxbaby Hamburger Tee
What we ate:
Blake – Bluffaletta – Grilled Chicken, Genoa Salami, Mozzarella and Artichoke Tapenade on Sourdough
Sarah – Up All Night – Espresso-Rubbed Pork Loin, Ham and Swiss Cheese on Focaccia Flat Bread
Eden & Ezra – shared a Say Cheese – Mozzarella, Cheddar, Swiss Cheese and Truffle Oil on Wheat Bread
3:00 PM
Tennessee Aquarium – After naps we headed back to the aquarium for the River Journey. We didn’t really enjoy this one quite as much as the Ocean Journey, so we headed back over to look at the sharks again. I’m glad we did both, but if you only have time for one – the Ocean Journey is the way to go.
Rylee & Cru T-shirt / Gap Denim Shorts / Adidas Tennis Shoes
Rylee & Cru T-shirt / Gap Denim Shorts / Adidas Tennis Shoes
5:30 PM
Southside Pizza – We were originally going to walk to Lupi’s Pizza for dinner as everyone recommended it, but, turns out it is closed on Mondays. We quickly did a yelp search and ended up at Southside Pizza. We were so glad we ended up here because the pizza was amazing and it had a huge front patio that was perfect for loud children who barely took naps and had been over-stimulated all day.
Southside Pizza / Huxbaby Hamburger Tee / Oxo Sippy Cup
What we ate:
Blake, Sarah & Eden & Ezra – We all shared a Large Pie (which is 20″!) with half pepperoni and half genoa salami & honey.
Southside Pizza / Rylee & Cru T-shirt / Gap Denim Shorts / Adidas Tennis Shoes
DAY 3:
7:30 AM
Maple Street Biscuit Company – We heard great things about this place and headed there for breakfast. This meal was really, REALLY yummy. You should read about their concept of “community” restaurants.. It’s a really cool and sweet way to do business.
Maple Street Biscuit Company / Denim Overalls (similar) / “Love Your Neighbor” T-shirt
What we ate:
Blake – Bam!YoYo – Housemade Vanilla Waffle with Asiago Cheese and Pecanwood Smoked Bacon baked in, topped with Fried Chicken and topped with Honey Butter & Maple Syrup.
Sarah – The Sticky Maple – Biscuit with Fried Chicken, Pecanwood Smoked Bacon and topped with Maple Syrup
Eden – Little Grace – Chocolate Chip Waffle with Strawberries and topped with Powdered Sugar
Ezra – Biscuit (and shared a little waffle with big sister)
* We also all shared an Iced Cinnamon Biscuit
9:30 AM
Creative Discovery Museum – After breakfast we went back to the hotel, packed up the car, checked out and then walked over to the museum to spend the rest of the morning. I think a lot of the exhibits were geared towards older children. Eden loved the jungle gym area with water features and could have spent the whole morning climbing and sliding down the slide.
Creative Discovery Museum / Denim Overalls (similar) / “Love Your Neighbor” T-shirt / Adidas Tennis Shoes
Creative Discovery Museum / Gray T-Shirt / Gray Shorts
There was a toddler area that was perfect for Ezra to run around in, which I appreciated. They both enjoyed the music area where they could test out different musical instruments. Overall, it was a great place to spend the morning, but I think it would be better to go back when they are both a bit older.
Creative Discovery Museum / Denim Overalls (similar) / “Love Your Neighbor” T-shirt / Adidas Tennis Shoes
Creative Discovery Museum / Denim Overalls (similar) / “Love Your Neighbor” T-shirt / Adidas Tennis Shoes
Creative Discovery Museum / Denim Overalls (similar) / “Love Your Neighbor” T-shirt / Adidas Tennis Shoes
11:00 AM
State of Confusion – We had heard nothing but great things about this place, so we headed here for lunch. It also had a great patio area to sit in and was a really fun atmosphere. Side note: Every restaurant we went to had great outdoor sitting areas which we really loved about Chattanooga. None of us were terribly hungry after our huge indulgent breakfast, so I just got an appetizer and Blake tried their ceviche which was a nice lighter option.
What we ate:
Blake – Mexican Ceviche – Citrus Cured Mahi, Avacado, Salsa & Cotija
Sarah – Fried Calamari Steak Strips
Eden & Ezra – shared Chicken Strips with a side of Fruit
12:00 PM
Velo Coffee Roasters – We had to fuel up for our ride home so we stopped here to do just that. Blake, being the coffee snob he is, heard it was the most hispter place there was in Chattanooga and it definitely was.
Velo Coffee Roasters / Denim Overalls (similar) / “Love Your Neighbor” T-shirt / Adidas Tennis Shoes
What we drank:
Blake – Peg’s Day Off – Grapefruit Espresso with Coconut Cream
Sarah – Iced Coffee
Eden – Juice (we on vacay)
Travel Essentials:
Here are some things that make traveling a bit easier for us and hopefully for you too!
Uppababy Piggyback Ride Along Board – This saved our lives on this trip. Eden has really outgrown strollers and we knew she would get tired of walking. She LOVED riding on this. She called it her “skateboard”. This one is meant to fit the Uppababy Cruz Stroller, but I recommend looking up whatever attachment your stroller may need. Most strollers today have these types of attachments. If you can’t find one for your particular stroller, here is a universal one that I have read good reviews for.
Oxo Tot Booster Seat – We use this at home and decided to bring with us since we have found that a lot of restaurants don’t have booster seats readily available. Eden has to sit on her knees to reach the table, but is definitely too big for a high chair. This booster folds up and is light to carry around. It has worked perfectly for us.
Snack Cups – Snacks are a must for every outing – far and wide. We love these snack cups. I also love these sippy cups for Ezra and these water bottles for Eden.
Travel Crib – We always take our own crib with us when we travel and we have loved this one since Eden was little. Eden was big enough to sleep in a “big girl” bed which I think might have been the biggest highlight of her trip, but Ezra still sleeps in this.
Travel Toys – Magnetic Lap Drawing Board & Water Wow Pads – These 2 things are the items that MUST be in the car when we travel. Both of the kids love them and keeps them quiet for at least a half hour.
WISH LIST:
Packing Cubes – This is something I have on my list to get before we travel again. I see them all over the ‘Gram and they seem to make everything so organized. Trying to find ways to pack everyone’s things and still keep them separate and organized is always the most stressful part of packing for a trip. I’ve got my eyes on these Cal-Pak ones.
If you live in Tennessee, I highly recommend making a trip to Chattanooga. It was a really cool, artsy and very walk-able city. If you don’t live close by, just plan a few more days to see what else the city has to offer.