April has arrived in the blink of an eye and the end of school will be upon us tomorrow. People have started to ask if we have any fun trips planned for the summer and I can’t help but look confused because I haven’t even planned next weekend yet. People are already thinking about summer? We are walking into a new season with our kids and I don’t want to rush it by just filling the calendar. Now that the kids are older, we don’t have to work around naps and things are more enjoyable. I want to explore Chattanooga more this spring and summer, and take it slowly to enjoy the time that seems to be rushing by.
Spring means baseball and one of the things on our checklist is to attend a Lookouts game. We haven’t been to one since we had kids and we’re excited to finally introduce them to baseball. The Lookouts’ opening day was Tuesday and what better way to have a family fun day than supporting our team. I can’t wait to see the look on my son’s face when he experiences his first game. I don’t think they’re quite ready for a CFC or Red Wolves soccer game yet, but maybe in a few years. Although the grass seating at CFC is helpful for families with little kids who want to run around.
Chattanooga and the surrounding area is not short on outdoor activities.
I recently took some pictures of different places for Walker County and I discovered there’s a whole area of trails and parks to explore. There’s the Zahnd Wildlife Management Area, the Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail, Crockford-Pigeon Mountain, and The Chattahoochee National Forest, just to name a few. There are also several Georgia State Parks within an hour’s drive that you can camp or rent a cottage. An area staycation doesn’t sound like a bad idea this year. We got a membership to Reflection Riding for Christmas and we will be putting it to use as the weather gets warmer. If you’re a music lover, they have a Campfire Concert series throughout the months of April and May. Kids 12 and under are free. Of course downtown Chattanooga will have Riverfront Nights at Ross’s Landing and Nightfall in Miller Park again starting in May.
We can’t forget about all the markets popping back up now that market season has returned.
There’s the Chattanooga Market, of course, with several locations around town. Shop The Market and Charlotte Grace Events are two other companies that host markets around the area. Massey’s Kitchen also hosts a market every third Saturday of the month. Do your produce shopping while also supporting local businesses in the great outdoors.
Several of my childhood memories are bowling with my family.
My grandfather was a bowler and my mom took up bowling with a team at one season in time. And when you’re a military kid on base in the summer with nothing to do, you either go bowling or to the movies. If you need something to do with the kids this summer, sign up for passes from Kids Bowl Free. You still have to pay for shoes, but the game is free. If you know you are going to go multiple times during the summer, you can also purchase a family pass for adults. I’ve signed up for this pass the last two years, but never used it. I think my kids are now in a place where they would think it was fun, at least one time. So it’s on the summer checklist too.
Love movies?
AMC has a Summer Movie Camp every year. They haven’t released the movies for 2025, but make sure to keep an eye out. My kiddos saw their first movie in the theater over Christmas and it wasn’t as terrible an experience as I thought it would be. I’m hoping there will be some good movie options this summer at less than $5 a ticket.
I think about all the events and all the things that happen in our wonderful city and there is no lack of things to do. The library has a list of never-ending things for adults and kids, the Discovery Museum has an upcoming 30year celebration, the aquarium has Sleep in the Deep nights, and Outdoor Chattanooga has outings and gatherings.
While I could pack our schedule with things to do just here in town, I can’t help but yearn for a ’90’s summer. Give me all the outside play, swimming, popsicles, picnics, knee scraping, and playing after dinner till the lights come on. I sat on the stairs the other night watching my kids eat popsicles and run around in our cul-de-sac and I couldn’t help but be filled with joy and satisfaction.
