Am thinking of taking a train-loving toddler to Chattanooga in March. What train related things are there for us to see? We also know about and plan to see the aquarium as well. Also would little ones like Rock City? What exactly is Rock City? Thank you all.

http://www.seerockcity.com/Flash/index.htm

http://www.choochoo.com/

http://www.tvrail.com/

http://www.tvrail.com/DOWT/ - Day out with Thomas

http://www.fabuloustravel.com/usa/ch.../choochoo.html

http://www.lookoutmountain.com/

There's a restaurant on Lookout Mountain that has a kids-eat-free night in the middle of the week. The food is very good. I'm just blanking on the name. Ask someone on the mtn if you are there mid-week. The town/mtn is small - they'll know.

See the Children's Museum and the aquarium.

If you want to wait until the end of April or beginning of May, Thomas will be here then.

tvrail.com

You can purchase package tickets that include Rock City, Ruby Falls and the Incline Railway.
http://www.lookoutmountain.com/pages/tickets.html.

I used to live in Chattanooga and we took kids several times, starting at pre-k. We all loved it. We now live in Knoxville and still go back for the occasional visit, especially Rock City at Christmas. (They turn it into a Christmas light show.) We also love the aquarium.

Just a word of caution if you're considering an overnight stay at the Chattanooga Choo Choo in a RR car. These rather pricey accommodations have lost their victorian charm. You will find bright white walls with blinds rather than the lovely dark wood paneling and velvet curtains of the past. Although you can sleep in a railroad car, the whole experience left me feeling rather short changed as well as a bit short on change..... Ask to see your room before they swipe your credit card.

Thank you all so much for that great information. We wanted to go in March so we'd miss the Day out with Thomas, but we did that when he came to our city.

That Incline Railway looks a little scary (for me not the kid). And thank you, Retired Teacher for the hotel rail car room warning. It sounds like a small room.

The rail car rooms at the Chattanooga Choo Choo are very rundown. Motel 6s are much nicer. Even my young kids thought the room was bad even if it was a railcar.

Incline Railway is not scary and your child will love it.