Thanksgiving entertainment: Here's what's open and what's closed

People skate at Ice on the Landing at the Chattanooga Choo Choo on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016.
People skate at Ice on the Landing at the Chattanooga Choo Choo on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016.
photo Country singer Amber Carrington, a semifinalist on Season 4 of NBC's "The Voice," will entertain visitors to Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving, Nov. 24.
photo The Tennessee Riverwalk is a big draw for families on Thanksgiving Day.
photo Bass Pro Shops set up a Santa's Wonderland each season. Among the activities are a craft station, big dig excavation area, Lincoln Logs building area, remote-control trucks, foam toy arcade, laser arcade, activity rugs and free photos with Santa.

For many families, Thanksgiving is a day to stay home and feast. But if you're looking for something to do, we've found several ways to entertain yourself before or after the meal. And if you need a meal, several restaurants around the area will be at the ready.

ATTRACTIONS

* Bessie Smith Cultural Center: Closed Thanksgiving Day.

* Chattanooga Zoo: Closed Thanksgiving Day.

* Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park: Both Chickamauga Battlefield, 3370 LaFayette Road in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and Point Park, East Brow Road on Lookout Mountain, will be open for normal operations on Thanksgiving Day. A story about special programming is on Page H21.

* Columbus replica ships: Closed Thanksgiving Day.

* Creative Discovery Museum: Closed Thanksgiving Day.

* Escape Experience Chattanooga: 1800 Rossville Ave. This immersive enterprise is taking bookings between 1:30 and 9:15 p.m. for any of its three adventures. The C-Block Prison Break is a Shawshank-inspired prison breakout; your group has 60 minutes to escape before the guard returns. The Inheritance is a Clue-like escape room that is part mystery and part mission. Vaccine: Search for the Cure is a post-apocalyptic virus-infested experience in which participants must save the world from a global pandemic. Cost is $28 per person. 423-551-3306, www.escapeexperiencechattanooga.com.

* High Point Climbing & Fitness: Closed Thanksgiving Day.

* Houston Museum of Decorative Arts: Closed Thanksgiving Day.

* Hunter Museum of American Art: Closed Thanksgiving Day.

* Ice on the Landing: 1400 Market St. This ice-skating rink, newly moved to the Chattanooga Choo Choo complex, is open 2-11 p.m. $10 adults, $8 children 12 and younger. www.iceonthelanding.com.

* Incline Railway: Closed Thanksgiving Day.

* Insane Paintball: Closed Thanksgiving Day.

* Jump Park of Chattanooga: Closed Thanksgiving Day.

* Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center: Closed Thanksgiving Day.

* Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights: 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain. This spectacular walk-through light show is open from 6 to 9 p.m. Amber Carrington, a Season 4 semifinalist on NBC's "The Voice," will perform in the North Pole Lodge starting at 6:30 p.m. Admission is cheaper on a weeknight as well: $19.95 adults, $11.95 children 3-12 (compared to $22.95 and $12.95 Friday-Sunday). Daytime tours also are available between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. 706-820-2531, www.seerockcity.com.

* Ruby Falls: 1720 S. Scenic Highway. Tours to see the namesake waterfall and the geological wonders to be found along the way happen from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is $19.95 adults, $11.95 children 3-12. 423-821-2544, www.rubyfalls.com.

* Superfly Extreme Air Sports: Closed Thanksgiving Day.

* Tennessee Aquarium: Closed Thanksgiving, as are its River Gorge Explorer and Imax 3D Theater.

* Tennessee Riverwalk: This linear park is always open, and there's a new section to explore this Thanksgiving. A 3-mile extension debuted in August, beginning just in front of Cameron Harbor down Cameron Hill from the Blue Cross BlueShield headquarters. The route parallels the river for a few blocks, then doglegs into what is left of Chattanooga's once thriving industrial zone and on into St. Elmo, just a few blocks from trailheads that lead to hundreds of miles of hiking and mountain biking paths around Lookout Mountain. The extension brings the total length to 13 miles, starting at Chickamauga Dam.

* Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: Closed Thanksgiving Day.

* Walnut Street Bridge: This lovely pedestrian span across the Tennessee River is always open and another great place to walk off too plentiful portions.

CHARITY RUNS

If you're up and around early, consider one of the three charity runs in Hamilton County.

The Grateful Gobbler Walk will start at 8 a.m. at Coolidge Park. The Turkey Trot steps off at 8:30 a.m. at Sportsbarn East on Lee Highway. The Stuffing Strut will start at 8 a.m. at Chester Frost Park. In Dalton, the Turkey Trail Trot starts at 8 a.m. at Raisin Woods Bike Park. The Cleveland Turkey Trot has been postponed until 2017. Find out more on Page H15.

GIFT SHOPPING

First, what's closed?

All four area shopping malls will be closed Thanksgiving Day: Hamilton Place and Northgate in Chattanooga, Bradley Square in Cleveland and Walnut Square in Dalton. However, some restaurants and anchor stores with outer entrances will be open.

Also closed: Cabela's, HHGregg, Home Depot, Lowe's and Office Depot.

So what's open?

* Bass Pro Shop: Open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Free photos with Santa will be made between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and there are free wooden picture frames for those photos while supplies last. Kids can play in Santa's Wonderland throughout the day, and take part in a free craft session set up from 3 to 5 p.m.

* CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens: Most stores are open regular hours Thanksgiving Day; pharmacy hours may vary.

* Dollar General: Open 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

* Gander Mountain: Open 8 a.m.-midnight

* Kmart: Open at 6 a.m. (Thanksgiving Day sales run until 5 p.m., then Black Friday specials start at 7 p.m.)

Most of the big department stores will start their Black Friday sales later today. Here's where you need to be when.

3 p.m. J.C. Penney

4 p.m. Old Navy

5 p.m. Best Buy, Stein Mart, Toys R Us

6 p.m. Dick's Sporting Goods, Kohl's, Michaels, Sears, Shoe Carnival, Target, Ulta, Wal-Mart

GROCERIES

Need groceries today?

Food City locations will be open until 3 p.m. Publix and Aldi stores are closed.

FOOD

Nobody cooking at home? You can expect to find most Huddle House, IHOP and Waffle House locations open today.

Here are some restaurants around Chattanooga serving up Thanksgiving feasts today.

* 212 Market: 212 Market St. Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Cost: Menu prices. Reservations: 423-265-1212.

* Back Inn Cafe: 411 E. Second St. Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost: $34.95 per adult, $17.95 for children 12 and under. Reservations: 423-265-5033, ext. 4.

* Beast + Barrel Gastro Smokehouse: 16 Frazier Ave. Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Cost: $39.95 adults; free for kids 10 and younger. Reservations: 423-805-4599.

* The Chattanoogan: 1201 Broad St. Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost: $38.95 adults, $18.95 ages 6-12; free for children under 6. Reservations: 423-424-3700.

* City Cafe Diner: 901 Carter St. and 7641 Lee Highway in Chattanooga, 919 25th St. NW in Cleveland. Cost: $16.95 for turkey dinner, $14.95 for spiral ham and $15.95 for pot roast. Information: 423-634-9191 Carter Street, 423-485-8222 Lee Highway, 423-790-7460 in Cleveland.

* Five: 200 Manufacturers Road. Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost: Free, but donations for the Chattanooga Community Kitchen are requested. Last year, about $3,500 was given by diners. Reservations: Not accepted, but Five asks for a heads-up if you're bringing eight or more. 423-777-4120.

* FoodWorks: 205 Manufacturers Road. Hours: 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Cost: $32 per adult, $15 for children under 12. Reservations: 423-752-7487.

* Puckett's Grocery and Restaurant: 2 W. Aquarium Way. Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost: $26.99 adults, $13.49 for kids 12 and under. Reservations: www.puckettsgro.com/chattanooga or 423-708-8505.

* Ruth's Chris: 2321 Lifestyle Way. Hours: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Cost: $39.95 adults, $12.95 children. Reservations: 423-602-5900.

* Southern Traditions Restaurant: 3224 Dayton Blvd., Red Bank. Breakfast bar 6-10 a.m., dinner 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 423-877-9295.

All eight restaurants in the Tennessee State Parks system are serving Thanksgiving feasts, including Homestead Harvest Restaurant at Cumberland Mountain and Gaul's Gallery Restaurant at Fall Creek Falls. All will have hot, cold and dessert buffets with plenty of traditional favorites.

At Cumberland Mountain, the cost is $15.95 for adults, $7.99 for children 6-12 (does not include beverage, tax or gratuity). Call 931-484-6138 for more information.

At Fall Creek Falls, the cost is $15.95 for adults, half price for children 6-12 (does not include beverage, tax or gratuity); seniors 62 and older should ask server about a 10 percent discount. Call 423-881-5241 for more information.

Complete information on meal options can be found at http://tnstateparks.com/restaurants.

Remember also there are Black Friday hikes at all 56 Tennessee state parks (see a story on Page H22).

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