Tennessee - Day 3

Cumberland Caverns

We drove about 40 miles northwest of Chattenooga to the Cumberland Caverns. It turns out a lot of school classes chose today for their tours. We got to tag along for a discounted rate. It was very interesting. The caverns reminded us of the book The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald that we read a while back.

Here's Clara in front of the Moby Dick Pool.


Waterfall

Stalactites, stalagmites and columns

In the hall of the mountain king.

Tennessee - Day 2

Today, we spent a day at the Tennessee Aquarium and went on a little river cruise.


Lots of pretty flowers in the butterfly/stingray exhibit.

Butterfly on Clara.

Getting ready to see the sharks.

Big crabs.

Lots of jellyfish.

Japanese Sea Nettles

Upside Down Jellyfish

Sea Walnuts

Check out the flashing lights on these guys. So cool!

West Coast Sea Nettle

Caverns

Lunch Break

After lunch we took a break from the aquarium and went on a river boat cruise down the Tennessee River. Here's a boat we saw at the dock (not ours).

Clara and Nicholas are excited for their first boat ride.

Family photo.

We enjoyed beautiful scenery and saw lots of birds. Pappy, you would have liked it!

After our river excursion we continued at the aquarium. They had a special seahorse exhibit.

It really looked more like smores.

Clara and Nicholas inside the tank.

Scary Snapping Turtle.

Tennessee - Day 1

We're in Chattanooga, TN!

Some of you may know of our plan to visit all 48 continental U.S. states by the time the kids are ready for college. We usually go to visit the Pappas clan in Greensboro, NC for a week this time of year, but initially weren't going to have much time to make the long trip worth while.

Although we couldn't get away with missing orchestra rehearsals, it turns out we were able to excuse Clara from one week of dance classes. So, we decided to add to our list of states visited.

Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park

The battle above the clouds.

The National Parks offer a Junior Ranger program for kids grades 3-8. You receive a workbook that must be completed in order to earn a badge. Clara was able to earn 2 badges for completing the work for Lookout Mountain and Chickamauga Battlefield. Let's just say, you really have to earn these badges!

Clara researching at the visitor center.


The entrance to Lookout Mountain.

Spectacular views.

Nicholas shooting a cannon at Orchard Knob.

Monument research at Orchard Knob.

Picnic lunch.

Chickamauga battlefield - one of many monuments honoring Ohio soldiers.

Clara gathering information for her badge.

Captain's tent

Gun collection

After a long day we enjoyed a nice dinner at Logan's Roadhouse.