City Cafe Diner
$$Broad Street, downtown
A downtown diner that never closes, with big portions, high chairs and a kids’ menu of things children actually eat.
Open 24/7Site ↗ for City Cafe Diner
OCT 16 – 22 Chattanooga · The Scenic City
Chattanooga weekend plans for little kids, found and checked for you.
A diver carves a pumpkin underwater at the Tennessee Aquarium at 2 on Saturday, and Boo in the Zoo runs candy stations and costume shows from 4 to 8. In between, Chattanooga Oktoberfest at the First Horizon Pavilion is free, with pretzels, oompah music and a noon brat toss.
This week: 19 outings at 7 places, each one linked to the page we checked it on. How we check
Top 5 picks
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Saturday, sorted
A Saturday that actually works.
Here’s how we’d do Saturday, Oct 17. Two things from this week’s list, plus one of our regulars from Around town. Tap a stop for the details.
MORNINGChattanooga Oktoberfest10am–8pm · First Horizon Pavilion · Free- LUNCHAround townClumpies Ice Cream Co.Open noon–10pm · North Shore and Southside · $ (opens their site)
- NAPHome by 1:30 for nap. Car seat, stroller, whatever works.
AFTER NAPBoo in the Zoo4–8pm · Chattanooga Zoo · $17.95 ages 3–12, $20.95 adults; 2 and under free (reserve a ticket)
Times come from each event’s page or the place’s own site. Plans change, so check before you head out. Print this plan
Every outing this week
Find your thing
Around town11 spots · checked Oct 16
The Chattanooga places we go back to, again and again.
Not this week’s events, just the reliable stuff. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.
Eat
Kid-friendly restaurants
Places where a dropped fork is no big deal and nobody minds a little noise.
Clumpies Ice Cream Co.
$North Shore and Southside
Chattanooga-made ice cream in two shops. The North Shore scoop shop on Frazier Avenue is a short walk from Coolidge Park.
Fri–Sat 12–10pm · Sun–Thu 12–9pm (North Shore)Site ↗ for Clumpies Ice Cream Co.
Bean Sprouts Café at Creative Discovery Museum
$Downtown
A kid-friendly café inside the children’s museum, so lunch doesn’t mean leaving.
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Chattanooga that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Play
Indoor play and rainy days
For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour.
$19.95per child
Creative Discovery Museum
Downtown
A big hands-on children’s museum downtown, with a PlayGym and programs for little explorers. One price for kids and adults.
Tickets
- Adults $19.95
- Under 2 free
$5 per person with EBT; seniors $17.95
Sun–Fri 10am–5pm · Sat 9am–5pmSite ↗ for Creative Discovery Museum
Free
Downtown Library
1001 Broad St.
The main branch of the Chattanooga Public Library, with baby, toddler and preschool storytimes most weeks.
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Chattanooga that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Splash & ride
Parks and outdoor play
Pools, fountains, zoos and theme parks: the big all-day outings.
North Shore, 150 River St.Free
Coolidge Park
Riverfront lawns on the North Shore built around the Bud Ellis Carousel, a restored 1894 Dentzel. The play fountain runs May through September.
Lookout Valley$
Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center
A nature center and native plant nursery.
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Chattanooga that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Explore
Museums, zoos and big outings
Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.
Tennessee Aquarium
$$$Riverfront, downtown
Two buildings, River Journey and Ocean Journey, plus the new Scuttlebutt Reef. IMAX tickets are separate.
Tickets
- Kids 4–17 $29.95
- Adults $39.95
- Ages 3 and under free
Ruby Falls
$$Lookout Mountain
A guided walk through the cave to an underground waterfall, about 90 minutes and fine for all ages. Timed tickets are sold online only.
Tickets
- Kids 4–12 $19.95
- Adults $29.95
- Ages 3 and under free
Chattanooga Zoo
$$Warner Park
A compact zoo where you can feed a giraffe and meet chimpanzees and jaguars. Buying online saves $3 a ticket.
Daily 9am–5pm (last entry 4:30pm)Site ↗ for Chattanooga Zoo
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Chattanooga that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Stay
Staycations and overnight trips
A night away without a long drive. New bed, same bedtime.
≈25 minutes · Harrison$
Harrison Bay State Park
1,200 acres on Chickamauga Lake with campsites, a marina and ranger-led programs.
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Chattanooga that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.
On the horizon
Coming up
OCT 23 – 29Halloween weekendMore trick-or-treating, a few costume parades and some gentle spooky stuff. The list goes out next Friday.Get it in your inbox →
OCT 31Trick-or-treat night guideNeighborhood hours and the streets that are easy with a stroller. Early ones too, for kids who are asleep by 7.Get notified →
NOVEMBERFirst holiday lightsThe first holiday lights in town, and which ones you can see before bedtime.See it first →
Good questions
Outings for little ones in Chattanooga: the FAQ
What can I do with a little one in Chattanooga this weekend?
This week we found 19 outings that work for kids ages 0–6. Our top three: Boo in the Zoo, Underwater Pumpkin Carving at the Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga Oktoberfest. See the full list.
Are there free things to do with little ones in Chattanooga this week?
Yes, 17 of this week’s 19 picks are free, including library storytimes and Chattanooga Oktoberfest. Tap “Free” in Find your thing.
What are good indoor activities for kids in Chattanooga when it rains?
16 picks this week are indoors, mostly library programs and shows. Tap “Rainy-day OK” in Find your thing.
Where can I find storytimes and toddler activities in Chattanooga?
This week we list 16 library storytimes and baby or toddler programs. Each one links to the library or venue page with the time and place. See them in the list.
How do you pick what goes on the list?
We look at venue and library calendars and local family pages every week. Each listing links to the page we checked it on, and where the organizer or venue has its own page, we confirm the details there. We lean toward things that fit around naps and don’t need a long walk.
How do I get this list every week?
Sign up for the Friday email at the bottom of the page. It’s one short email, and you can unsubscribe any time.
For local businesses
Running something for little kids in Chattanooga?
If it’s good for the under-6 crowd, we’d like to hear about it. Free events go on the list for free, always. If you want a guaranteed spot at the top or in the Friday email, there’s a sponsored option too, and it’s clearly labeled. We’re just getting started, so the first 10 local partners in each city get 50% off your first booking.
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