# Tennessee Valley weekend getaways with kids

Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/weekend-getaways/tennessee-valley/

> Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Birmingham and Huntsville. Chattanooga is the hub, two to two and a half hours from each of the others, and Huntsville is about two hours from Birmingham, Chattanooga and Nashville. Here's the best weekend trip in the region for each of the next 6 weekends, and what to do once you get there.

Last checked: 2026-10-18. Every event links to its official page.

## Weekend of Oct 23–25

**Pick: Birmingham.** Hoots & Howls is Halloween in daylight, 10 to 4, and Dino Safari's robotic dinosaurs are in their last weeks. You'll be done before nap.

- **Hoots & Howls**, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Birmingham Zoo. See the zoo's ticket page. Daytime Halloween with candy stations around the zoo. Runs through Oct. 31. Official page: https://www.birminghamzoo.com/events/
- **Dino Safari**, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Birmingham Zoo. See the zoo's ticket page. Ends Nov. 1. Official page: https://www.birminghamzoo.com/events/

## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1

**Pick: Nashville.** Boo at the Zoo's final three nights: 10 trick-or-treat stations for ages 2 to 12, free carousel spins, and Día de los Muertos activities on Sunday.

- **Boo at the Zoo**, Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1, 5–9 p.m., Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. $23 Fri–Sun for ages 2 and up; under 2 free; parking $10. 10 trick-or-treat stations for ages 2 to 12, free carousel spins, and Día de los Muertos activities on Sunday, Nov. 1. Billed as spooky, not scary. Official page: https://www.nashvillezoo.org/boo

## Weekend of Nov 6–8

**Pick: Nashville.** A Country Christmas opens Friday at Gaylord Opryland, with ice! featuring "Home Alone," ice tubing and more than 5 million lights.

- **A Country Christmas and ice! featuring "Home Alone"**, Fri Nov 6, Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, See Gaylord Opryland, Gaylord Opryland Resort. Tickets for ice! and activities sold separately. Ice sculptures, ice tubing, skating and more than 5 million lights around the resort. Opens Nov. 6. Official page: https://www.christmasatgaylordopryland.com/

## Weekend of Nov 13–15

**Pick: Birmingham.** Disney On Ice is at the BJCC's Legacy Arena Thursday through Sunday, the first of three Disney On Ice stops in the region this month.

- **Disney On Ice**, Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15, See the tour page for show times, Legacy Arena at the BJCC. See the tour page. In Birmingham Nov. 12–15. Official page: https://www.disneyonice.com/en-us/tickets/

## Weekend of Nov 20–22

**Pick: Knoxville.** Disney On Ice is at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum Thursday through Sunday.

- **Disney On Ice**, Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, See the tour page for show times, Knoxville Civic Coliseum. See the tour page. In Knoxville Nov. 19–22. Official page: https://www.disneyonice.com/en-us/tickets/

## Weekend of Nov 27–29

**Pick: Chattanooga.** Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights on Lookout Mountain, lit nightly from Nov. 13.

- **Enchanted Garden of Lights**, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Nightly, Rock City, Lookout Mountain, Ga.. See Rock City for tickets. Nightly from Nov. 13; closed Dec. 24. Official page: https://www.seerockcity.com/enchanted-garden-of-lights/

## FAQ

**Which Tennessee Valley city is best for a weekend with little kids?**
It changes every weekend. Over the next 6 weekends our picks are Birmingham, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, chosen for what's actually on: zoo events, holiday lights and shows with dates we checked on the official pages.

**How long are the drives?**
Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Birmingham and Huntsville. Chattanooga is the hub, two to two and a half hours from each of the others, and Huntsville is about two hours from Birmingham, Chattanooga and Nashville. Drive times on this page are normal driving times without traffic.

**What if a weekend says “No standout yet”?**
It means we couldn't confirm anything worth the drive. We'd rather leave the slot empty than fill it with filler. Check back after the Thursday refresh.

**Are the prices right?**
They're what each official page showed on Oct 18, 2026. Tap the official link before you buy, since venues change hours and prices.