Family-fun adventures make a great spring break

What if you could be a spelunker deep in the heart of a cave, become an aquatic biologist and prepare breakfast for hundreds of animals, trek through an enchanted trail on a RockQuest adventure or pilot a riverboat from the captain’s quarters?

During spring break, Chattanooga-area schoolchildren can pursue these and other adventures as 10 of the city’s top attractions offer Chattanooga Family Adventures. These out-of-the-ordinary activities put kids behind the scenes at some of their favorite destinations.

New this year is the “Chattatouille” fine-dining experience, based on the animated film “Ratatouille.” Held at the Back Inn Cafe in the Bluff View Art District, the program is “meant to educate children about how to eat in a nice restaurant and (to) reinforce the rules of proper behavior and etiquette that many parents want to teach,” according to a news release.

“In the movie, the rat loved to smell his food, to eat it slowly and to savor every bite. This is our attempt at educating children to understand that good food really is something very special.”

To accommodate the different schedules of area school systems, Chattanooga Family Adventures will be offered over seven weeks, March 10 through April 25.

Get the scoop on Chattanooga’s Passport to Spring Break Fun at www.chattanoogafun.com/spring break/.

RUBY FALLS

1720 S. Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain

The adventure: Be a young spelunker on a cavern tour deep inside Lookout Mountain, pan for gemstones, learn about rocks and geology and view the cave’s mysteriouschambers and amazing rock formations while using only the illumination from a handheld lantern or light from your very own hardhat.

To take part:A limited number of participants are allowed on each tour to make the experience more personal. Tickets are sold by reservations, but empty slots are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Times and dates: Every Monday through Wednesday (March 10-12, 17-19, 24-26, March 31-April 2, April 7-9, 14-16 and 21-23). Daytime tours start at 9 a.m. and last two to three hours.

Cost: $20 each.

Groups: Limited to about 15 participants.

Reservations: Call 821-2544, ext. 142, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

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TENNESSEE AQUARIUM

1 Broad St.

The adventure: Be an aquatic biologist to discover what it takes to fix breakfast for thousands of animals, feed the fish, meet penguin keepers, snake and crocodile experts, shark specialists, butterfly experts and some of the aquarium’s most charismatic creatures.

To take part: Morning tour, for ages 5 and older, must be reserved by 6 p.m. the night before and must be paid in advance. Afternoon tours, for ages 10 and older, are sold until 2:30 p.m. the same day.

Times and dates: Monday through Friday, March 17-April 18. Morning adventure: 9-10:30; afternoon adventure: 3-4:30.

Cost: $27; $14 for aquarium members.

Groups: Limited to 15 participants.

Reservations: Call (800) 262-0695, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Bonus: See a splashy new film, “Grand Canyon Adventure,” at the adjacent Imax theater.

ROCK CITY

1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain

The adventure: Be Indiana Jones with a RockQuest scavenger hunt at Rock City Gardens. The Enchanted Trail leads you to view more than 400 varieties of native plants and flowers. You’ll trek through massive rock formations formed millions of years ago and have the chance to be a rock climber on the 25-foot climbing wall.

Times and dates: 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily March 10-April 25. Self-guided tour takes about two hours.

Cost: $12.95 children; $14.95 adults. Adults may add $5 to ticket price to receive RockQuest package items.

Reservations: Not required. For information, call (800) 854-0675, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday.

CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM

321 Chestnut St.

The adventure: Be a banker and see how money is made, spent, earned and saved. Take a trip to “Moneyville,” where you can put your face on a million-dollar bill and even use high-tech equipment to find fake bills in an anticounterfeiting lab. Through a variety of fun, hands-on activities, you can explore the history, science and culture behind money and come away with valuable math and economic skills you can use every day.

To take part: “Moneyville,” which closes May 4, is included in CDM’s regular roster of fun.

Times and dates: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sundays.

Cost: $8.95 per person.

Groups: Limited to 20 participants per group (reservations required).

Reservations: 756-2738.

SOUTHERN BELLE

201 Riverfront Parkway

The adventure: Be a pilot house mate on the Southern Belle riverboat as you join the captain to navigate the Tennessee River. You’ll be perched on the highest platform of the boat as you cruise by Lookout Mountain, under Chattanooga’s four bridges and along Chattanooga’s riverfront. Then cruise around Maclellan Island to identify the birds, animals and landmarks. The fully narrated 1.5-hour cruise includes a deluxe deli buffet.

Times and dates: Monday-Friday, March 10-April 25 (based on availability).

Cost: $21.50 adults, $9.50 children 3-12 (one child free with every paying adult).

Groups: 20 or more when paid by one person.

Reservations: Call 266-4488, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

BACK INN CAFE

411 E. Second St.

The adventure: Be a food critic for a day like in the hit movie “Ratatouille” with dinner at the Back Inn Cafe in the Bluff View Art District. Armed with your critic’s notebook and a nose for good food, discover how much fun it is to eat in a “fancy” restaurant with your own special menu, lots of delicious food and even the chance to give your comments to the chef at the end of the meal. Courses will include “Little Chef’s Soup,” ratatouille (prepared like it was in the movie), macaroni and cheese, dessert and a soft drink. In true fine dining style, the food will come out in courses.

Times and dates: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, March 10-April 25.

Cost: $20 per child.

Reservations: Call (800) 725-8338, ext. 1. Ask for a manager and request the Chattatouille package. Not recommended for children younger than 8.

7 HUNTER MUSEUM

10 Bluff View

The adventure: Be an art explorer with a kit that gives you the inside scoop on different works of art and the stories behind them. Enter the magical landscapes of artist Charles Burchfield in the new exhibition “The Seasons.” A free family guide is available to help parents and kids discover nature, color and movement found in Burchfield’s vibrant works of art.

Times and dates: Daily, March 10-April 25. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, noon-5 p.m. Wednesdays; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays and Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sundays.

Cost: $8 per adult; $4 per child.

Reservations: Not required. For information, call 267-0968.

CHATTANOOGA WATER TAXI AND FAT CAT FERRY

Ross’s Landing and Coolidge Park

The adventure: Be an explorer on a tour of Maclellan Island. A map from Outdoor Chattanooga will be your guide to exploring this 18-acre downtown wildlife sanctuary that was once home to American Indian and European farmers. Take a scavenger hunt along the easy 2-mile loop trail to find habitats for great blue herons, osprey, muskrat and river otters. Explorers are encouraged to pack food and drink, and take advantage of picnic areas and rest stops along the way.

Times and dates:

On the hour, from noon to sunset, only on weekends until April when schedule expands to Wednesday through Sunday.

Cost: $5 children, $7 adults.

Groups: Discounts available.

Reservations: Call 756-5060. 9&10

TENNESSEE VALLEY RAILROAD, CHATTANOOGA CHOO-CHOO

TVRM, 4119 Cromwell Road; Choo Choo, 1400 Market St

The adventure: Be a train conductor for the day. Jump aboard the authentic New Orleans trolley and tour the Chattanooga Choo-Choo, ride aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s locomotive along Missionary Ridge and even spend the night in a Victorian traincar.

Three bonus adventures include one or two nights’ accommodations at the Choo-Choo Holiday Inn, with the package price depending on type of room booked. Ride the Rails features rides on a Tennessee Valley Railroad train along Missionary Ridge and the Incline Railway up and down Lookout Mountain. The Mountaintop Adventure includes a ride on the Incline Railway and visits to Rock City and Ruby Falls. The Children’s Fantasy Package includes a tour of the Tennessee Aquarium, Creative Discovery Museum and Chattanooga Zoo and an Imax movie. All packages include tickets to the Model Railroad Display & Museum and two Choo-Choo engineer caps and whistles. Kids (12 and younger) eat free at the Choo-Choo’s Gardens Restaurant.

Reservations: For train rides, call Tennessee Valley Railroad at 894-8028; for room/adventure packages, call (800)TRACK29 or 266-5000. Advance reservations are recommended.