Papanooga
Today’s menu consist of a sun butter and banana sandwich with honey, apple slices, circle cheese, and carrots with hummus.
Covering all my required dietary bases while #keepingitkosher and #allergyfriendly!
If you pack a lunch or serve it at home, what do you like to give your little people for lunch?
(If you know anything about Chattanooga you know that it is an event city: music festivals, farmers markets, marathons, marathons, marathons, ultra-marathons, bike races, the Little Debbie Ironman, and more marathons. Or at least it seems that way if you try to spend time near the First Horizon Pavilion on the weekends. We have had the misfortune of hyping up the skatepark only to (1) not be able to go or (2) have to park blocks away and walk because of seemingly countless events. Don’t get me wrong, I love that Chattanooga is an event city, but if you don’t proactively plan in the “good” weather months of the year than you might find yourself in endless traffic and detours.)
This morning Lynae, my wife, went out to grab coffee with a friend at Mean Mug on Northshore. After dropping her off we scooted over to the Chattown skatepark near Finley Stadium and the First Horizon Pavilion. Well, there was another event blocking off the whole area near the skatepark, but today it wasn’t some athletic event, it was a car show, the Riverside 7 Spring Meet. I walked and the boys rode their bikes a few blocks to get to the skatepark as I reminded them again and again to “keep your eyes forward”. It’s easy to get distracted with super fancy lowriders cruising right next to you, pull your bike handlebars towards the direction of your eyes, and then scratch a car that is worth more than an average house prior to the 2020 market inflation.
After some time refining BMX skills we walked through the rows and rows of shiny, “race cars”. Again I had to remind my boys to keep their hands to themselves and look where they were walking. But, I can’t blame them, the cars were pretty awesome. 90% of the cars were homogenous, but there were some very unique cars. In papanooga-style, I took time to point out the vans that were dropped down low, loaded with custom rims and interiors. There were two Honda Odyssey’s and one old model Toyota Sienna. I’ve seen my fair share of MTV’s Pimp My Ride and I can recall one particular episode with a lowrider, hot pink older Dodge Caravan. These weren’t quite tacky, in fact they were very tasteful.
We stopped for some snacks of oranges, kid protein bars, and some jelly beans from a nice vendor, put in some more time at the skatepark, and then walked/rode back to the car to pick up mom from Northshore. It was a nice surprise to our morning, especially when I saw the traffic and road closures expecting yet another marathon. Looking forward the St. Elmo Corgi Parade on April 3rd and the 4 Bridges Art Festival by the Association for the Visual Arts on April 9th-10th.
Get out there and have fun!
Last week I wrote a post about my feelings regarding the demolition of the St. Elmo wooden playground to make way for the new Blue Cross Healthy Place playground. You should read the post, but suffice to say, I am not happy.
To my knowledge there are now only two wooden playgrounds in Hamilton County and Scramble Alley is one of them. The wooden playground on Lookout, in St. Elmo and in East Ridge were considered “dangerous” and were all replaced with plastic structures, however, this one in Soddy Daisy isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. There is a small wooden plaque with an engraving of the year 1995. If this park was actually built in 1995, it is in amazing condition. It is pristine, primeaux, that good good!
My boys and I went with a friend and his kids to Scramble Alley on the last snowy day of the winter of 2022. It looked like what a Hogwarts winter would be if the construction wizards chose wood as the chief material instead of magical stone. We started out gingerly walking around the structure carefully, so as not to slip and fall, but before long a massive snowball fight ensued. Now, bear in mind we are talking two fully grown, adult men and four children aged 2, 3, 4, and 5. So, maybe “massive” isn’t the best adjective, but it gets the point across.
Although this would be an ideal location for a paintball, airsoft battle, or at the very least capture the flag. (Probably don’t do the gun battle thing because it is probably illegal and the Soddy Daisy police station is right across the field.) There are wooden castle turrets, tunnels, slides, bridges, and more. It is very similar to the old wooden playground at Charlie Daniels Park in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee where I grew up. My mom would work with fitness clients around the running track while their kids and I would pretend to be jedi knights saving the day….Ah… memories… Well, where was I, it has:
I found it on Yelp and decided that I was going to find the perfect day for the drive all the way out to Soddy Daisy to play on a playground. Man, was it worth it. HIGHLY recommend this playground for chase games, imagination play, and general jubilation.
Rating: 5 out of 5
We all try to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. However, sometimes things never go according to plan. You run out of snacks. You are in the middle of an outing. You need food, but don’t want to break the bank. What do you do? Dads, I got you.
1. McDonald’s
I know. It isn’t the “healthiest”, but your kids are beating each other with their shoes and you need cheap, yummy food fast! Whether it’s breakfast time or after, you can grab a couple things from the $1 or $2 menu and a large Sprite for under five bucks.
2. CVS
If you aren’t a CVS Carepass member you are missing out my friend. Not only do you get enough coupons to turn your preschooler into a mummy for Halloween, you also get a $10 reward a month. It’s literally free money, but you’ve got to spend it all in one go. If you are in a pinch hit up your local CVS and splurge on some bars, chips, and drinks to keep the little monsters at bay.
3. Little Caesars
Yes, the pizza isn’t authentic Italian, but it is good enough and it’s cheap. You can share a whole pizza with your kids for $5.55. There literally isn’t a better deal out there that won’t give you worms.
Have fun out there dads!
Since we don’t live in southern California, we have to deal with precipitation of all types. There certainly are days when I prepare to take my kids out into the rain to get wet n’ wild, however, that often isn’t the case. If I am looking to take my kids out to explore and move their little bodies but I am needing to stay dry these are my go-to options.
I have broken them down into three price tiers.
Free Option Number 1:
This one is actually a circuit: Chattanooga Choo Choo → Warehouse Row → Downtown Public Library → Chattanooga Choo Choo.
My kids love the Chattanooga Choo Choo, although don’t tell the management that we haven’t ever spent a dime there. They love to play on the train, play with the bocce balls, walk around the bushes that are trimmed into “mazes”, and jump around on the “spent” ice from the ice rink’s zamboni and look at the giant tree during the winter months.
We love Warehouse Row because there is a glass elevator, a bridge hallway that connects the two sides, giant decorative tires, and stores to explore. It may not be exciting to your kids, but for whatever reason my kids LOVE Warehouse Row. The elevator lets you go up to the commercial offices where there is super cool seating and decorations, but if the security guards catch you they will have you leave and shame you for taking your children up there. But honestly, I get it. So, don’t do that.
The library in our previous home was really lame. Chattanooga’s Downtown Library is on a whole ‘nother level. They change out the scavenger hunt weekly, there is a ping pong table, rotating craft stations, magnatiles, legos, coloring, scrapbooking, video games, corn hole, toys and dolls, play house, obstacle course, and of course books.
The way to travel between these locations is with the free CARTA shuttles. The stop at every block between the Choo Choo and the Tennessee Aquarium and it runs every 15 minutes. We usually start at the Chattanooga Choo Choo because it is the depot for the CARTA shuttles, but you could totally start anywhere along that path. If you are needing a pit stop along the route (potty/snack break) then just hop off and hit up one of the many restaurants and get back on the next shuttle.
Yeah, I know that other than the library this free option may seem super lame, but hey man, we like what we like. Don’t knock until you try it.
Free Option Number 2:
If the mood is less “let’s roam” and more “let’s stay home”, but you still need to get them out of the house then I got you. There are over twenty thrift stores around Hamilton County and most of them have a toy section. I’ll literally take my kids to the thrift store to just play with the toys and read the kids books. Again… don’t knock until you try it.
Here are a couple of my favorites:
Inexpensive:
If you are looking for something else, but aren’t wanting to break the bank for an outing then I suggest you check out Red Bank Bounce. It is a small warehouse on Dayton Boulevard with four MASSIVE bounce houses and a fully padded central movement space. It is $10 for kids 2-11 (kids 12 and older are considered too big and aren’t allowed) and kids under 2 are free with a paying child.
They advertise that you only get two hours of jump time, but a little bird told me that there isn’t anyone watching the clock. Just kidding, it was me. I am the little bird. Anyways, it’s a great option for kids 11 and under.
Although, word to the wise: CALL BEFORE GOING. Their hours are OFTEN changing due to parties and holidays.
Expensive:
If money isn’t a consideration I would consider Synergy Climbing and Ninja. Have you ever seen American Ninja Warrior and thought, “Gee willikers, I have a hankering for some dangle rope climbing.” Well, today is your lucky day. For anyone 13 and older it is $25 and for anyone 12 and under it is $21.50 for a full access to the gym, including bouldering, fitness, and ninja climbing sections. They have punch card deals if you are interested in more of an investment or just a day pass for a one-off visit. I might suggest High Point too, but their deal is more lead rope climbing. They do have bouldering and a kids section, but everything is wall climbing. Synergy has wall climbing and an obstacle course in the Ninja gym section.
Have fun out there dads!