Rainy-day (indoor) things to do with kids in Chattanooga, TN

Underwater Pumpkin Carving at the Tennessee Aquarium

Tennessee Aquarium (River Journey) — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore

SCUBA divers carve jack-o'-lanterns underwater as fish swirl around them, part of the Aquarium's ODDtober programs.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Included with Aquarium admission
• Indoors

Also Sat Oct 31 at 2pm.

Creative Discovery Museum

Creative Discovery Museum — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore

Hands-on children's museum with a rooftop fun factory, water play, a climbing tower and art and science studios.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Sat 9am-5pm, Sun and Fri 10am-5pm (closed Wednesdays).

Ruby Falls cave walk

Ruby Falls — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · North & Mountains

A guided walk deep inside Lookout Mountain to a 145-foot underground waterfall, plus scenic overlooks above ground.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Open daily; check the site for hours and timed tickets. The Dread Hollow haunted house is a separate, scarier ticket.

Hunter Museum of American Art

Hunter Museum of American Art — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore

American art in a building on a bluff over the river; the outdoor sculpture plaza and Bluff View walk are free.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Open 10am-5pm; check the site for the day.

Tennessee Aquarium

Tennessee Aquarium — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore

Two buildings of river and ocean life: otters, penguins, sharks, a stingray touch pool and daily animal programs.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Usual hours 10am-7pm, last entry 5pm; check the site for the day.

Aquascarium: trick-or-treat at the Tennessee Aquarium

Tennessee Aquarium — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore

The Aquarium's annual family trick-or-treat night with costumed SCUBA divers, music, decorations and candy. Come in costume.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Advance tickets; often sells out
• Indoors

Underwater Pumpkin Carving at the Tennessee Aquarium

Tennessee Aquarium (River Journey) — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore

SCUBA divers carve jack-o'-lanterns underwater as fish swirl around them, part of the Aquarium's ODDtober programs.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Included with Aquarium admission
• Indoors

Creative Discovery Museum

Creative Discovery Museum — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore

Hands-on children's museum with a rooftop fun factory, water play, a climbing tower and art and science studios.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Sat 9am-5pm, Sun and Fri 10am-5pm (closed Wednesdays).

Ruby Falls cave walk

Ruby Falls — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · North & Mountains

A guided walk deep inside Lookout Mountain to a 145-foot underground waterfall, plus scenic overlooks above ground.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Open daily; check the site for hours and timed tickets. The Dread Hollow haunted house is a separate, scarier ticket.

Hunter Museum of American Art

Hunter Museum of American Art — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore

American art in a building on a bluff over the river; the outdoor sculpture plaza and Bluff View walk are free.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Open 10am-5pm; check the site for the day.

Tennessee Aquarium

Tennessee Aquarium — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore

Two buildings of river and ocean life: otters, penguins, sharks, a stingray touch pool and daily animal programs.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Usual hours 10am-7pm, last entry 5pm; check the site for the day.

Sunday Studio: drop-in family art at the Hunter Museum

Hunter Museum of American Art — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore

Drop-in art projects for kids and families, led by the Hunter, the Downtown Public Library and the Houston Museum.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: Youth 17 and under free; adults regular admission (free with a Chattanooga Public Library card when with children)
• Indoors

Creative Discovery Museum

Creative Discovery Museum — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore

Hands-on children's museum with a rooftop fun factory, water play, a climbing tower and art and science studios.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Sat 9am-5pm, Sun and Fri 10am-5pm (closed Wednesdays).

Ruby Falls cave walk

Ruby Falls — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · North & Mountains

A guided walk deep inside Lookout Mountain to a 145-foot underground waterfall, plus scenic overlooks above ground.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Open daily; check the site for hours and timed tickets. The Dread Hollow haunted house is a separate, scarier ticket.

Hunter Museum of American Art

Hunter Museum of American Art — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore

American art in a building on a bluff over the river; the outdoor sculpture plaza and Bluff View walk are free.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Open 10am-5pm; check the site for the day.

Tennessee Aquarium

Tennessee Aquarium — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore

Two buildings of river and ocean life: otters, penguins, sharks, a stingray touch pool and daily animal programs.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Usual hours 10am-7pm, last entry 5pm; check the site for the day.

Creative Discovery Museum

Creative Discovery Museum — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore

Hands-on children's museum with a rooftop fun factory, water play, a climbing tower and art and science studios.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Sat 9am-5pm, Sun and Fri 10am-5pm (closed Wednesdays).

Ruby Falls cave walk

Ruby Falls — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · North & Mountains

A guided walk deep inside Lookout Mountain to a 145-foot underground waterfall, plus scenic overlooks above ground.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Open daily; check the site for hours and timed tickets. The Dread Hollow haunted house is a separate, scarier ticket.

Hunter Museum of American Art

Hunter Museum of American Art — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore

American art in a building on a bluff over the river; the outdoor sculpture plaza and Bluff View walk are free.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Open 10am-5pm; check the site for the day.

Tennessee Aquarium

Tennessee Aquarium — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore

Two buildings of river and ocean life: otters, penguins, sharks, a stingray touch pool and daily animal programs.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid
• Indoors

Usual hours 10am-7pm, last entry 5pm; check the site for the day.

North Pole Limited Christmas train

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (Grand Junction Depot) — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · East

A 75-minute ride on a decorated, heated vintage train with hot chocolate, cookies, a story and a visit from Santa.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Paid: From $38
• Indoors

Season opens Fri Nov 13 (runs to Dec 23); select dates, reserve on the site.

Christkindlmarkt Signal Mountain

Mountain Arts Community Center (MACC) — Signal Mountain · Hamilton Co. · North & Mountains

European-style holiday market with artisan gifts, festive food and cozy mountain holiday atmosphere.

• Ages 0-2
• Ages 3-5
• Ages 6-10
• 11+
• Big outing
• Free
• Indoors

Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-6pm.