10 things to do with an extra hour of sunlight

The Tennessee Aquarium's new exhibit, Alligator Bayou, opens to the public on Saturday. But you can get a sneak peek on Friday at 6 p.m. during the Bayou Bash.
The Tennessee Aquarium's new exhibit, Alligator Bayou, opens to the public on Saturday. But you can get a sneak peek on Friday at 6 p.m. during the Bayou Bash.

While you were sleeping last night, Daylight Saving Time arrived at 2 a.m.

Springing ahead means an hour of sleep lost, but also an hour of daylight gained. No longer is it dark when you get home from work so there's a little wiggle room for late-afternoon/early evening play before dinner, kids' homework and bedtime.

To help you make plans, here are 10 ideas for activities that adults and children can do over the next couple of weeks with that extra hour of daylight.

See You Later Alligator

Get a sneak preview of the Tennessee Aquarium's new Alligator Bayou exhibit at the Bayou Bash on Friday at 6 p.m. Reservations are required for the family-friendly party, which is free to aquarium members, $14.50 nonmember adults, $9.50 for nonmembers' children ages 3 to 12.

"Instead of one big alligator, we have a baker's dozen of mid-length alligators," says aquarium spokesman Thom Benson.

"Most people probably view alligators as reptiles with small brains, but they are really pretty smart animals. They do a lot of communicating amongst themselves with vibrations or jaw slaps. The females have strong maternal instincts. Sometimes you'll even see mama alligators carrying babies in their mouths if they stray too far from the nest."

At the Bayou Bash, aquarium educators will discuss these traits while the gators patrol the water in front of the exhibit's's Cajun shack. There will be additional animal programs in the aquarium's Delta Country exhibit that night, too. For example, an aquarium herpetologist will wade into the turtle pool for a talk on little-known facts and habits about the shelled reptile.

Alligator Bayou exhibit opens to the public on Saturday. The opening day's theme is "Day on the Bayou," with special activities planned from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No reservation is required because activities are included in regular aquarium admission, says Benson.

Put a Step in Your Spring

Maybe you're not the next Derek or Julianne Hough, but you're never too old to learn a new dance step or two. An introduction to ballroom dancing starts Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Ballroom Magic Dance Center, 4200 N. Access Road. It's fun and will help you keep your New Year's resolution to exercise. The Intro to Ballroom class is $10 per person. For more information, call 771-3646.

Inspire Your Daughter

Take her to hear female storytellers tell tales about groundbreaking women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math at the Chattanooga Public Library, 1001 Broad St. The free, hour-long event at 5 p.m. Tuesday is in honor of Women's History Month.

Try a New Trail

With winter ending, there's no longer any excuse to hibernate in the house. The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that a study of 50,000 women ages 30 to 55 showed that every two hours logged in front of the TV increases the odds of obesity by 23 percent and diabetes by 14 percent. So turn off the tube and take an after-dinner walk -- whether it's just around the neighborhood block or along one of Chattanooga's many greenways. You'll still be home in time for "Scandal."

Clean Up Winter Debris

Gardeners planning their spring flower or vegetable plots know that, after all of February's rain and snow, our soil is still too wet to till right now.

"If you turn the soil when it's wet, the more compacted the soil gets," explains Faith Sharp of Ooltewah Nursery and Landscape Co.

She suggests gardeners pull out winter vegetables from last year's garden along with any stray weeds that may have popped up. The plant material can be composted but not the weeds.

Gardeners who haven't already started seeds indoors might want to do so.

"Our last frost date is around April 15. Four to six weeks ahead of that is about the start seeds need to germinate. Check the back of seed packets for specific times needed," she advises.

Also, rake up leaves and stray limbs that came down in the yard over the winter, she says.

Great American Pastime

At youth ballfields as far north as Athens, Tenn., and south to Atlanta, Dizzy Dean Baseball will open its youth-league season on Saturday, March 21, says Bobby Dunn of Harrison, national vice president of Dizzy Dean. That leaves two weeks to get in a little backyard spring training with your son or daughter. Help them hone their skills before the season starts with some hitting and catching.

Cruise the Tennessee River Gorge

Watch Tennessee's hillsides get their spring green on while aboard the Tennessee Aquarium's River Gorge Explorer. A 5 p.m. cruise has been added to the catamaran's schedule today and Saturday-Sunday, March 14-15. Beginning March 21, 5 p.m. cruises will be added daily through April 18.

The River Gorge Explorer departs Chattanooga Pier for a two-hour sunset cruise down the Tennessee River. A Tennessee Aquarium naturalist is on board to point out wildlife along the way. It's so much fun, the kids won't even realize it's educational.

Tickets are $32 adults, $24.50 children ages 3-12, and $18 for children under 3.

Thar She Blows!

Everyone knows whales are big mammals, but wait until you see one in 3D on a six-story screen.

"Humpback Whales 3D" opens this weekend at the Tennessee Aquarium Imax Theater. There are 5 p.m. showings Sundays through Thursdays -- leaving plenty of time to take in the 45-minute movie before homework on a school night. There are also 7 p.m. screenings on Friday and Saturday nights.

"Humpback Whales" is narrated by actor Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi in "Star Wars, Episodes I-III"). The movie follows the mammals through spectacular water scenes in Alaska, Hawaii and the islands of Tonga in the South Pacific, giving audiences a close look at how the 50-ton animals communicate, sing, feed, play and care for their young.

Parents of preschool/kindergartners might prefer "Island of Lemurs," the other early evening Imax movie which has daily 4 p.m. screenings as well as 6 p.m. shows on Friday and Saturday.

Narrated by actor Morgan Freeman ("The Shawshank Redemption," "The Dark Knight"), the lemur movie takes its audience to Madagascar to follow nature's little explorers. The aquarium's Benson says the lemurs' bouncing and jumping will capture the attention of preschoolers during the 40-minute film.

Tickets for either of these movies are $9.95 adults and $8.50 children ages 3-12.

They'll Make Your Stress Disappear

Members of the Chattanooga Magic Club are hosting their annual Family Magic Night on Saturday, March 14, at 6:30 p.m. in Chester Frost Park pavilion. The guys will do card tricks, illusions and sleight of hand to amuse and astonish all ages, says club president Michael Frisbee.

Tickets are $5 per person or $15 for a family of three or more. Because the room only seats 300, reservations are required by Tuesday. Call 842-6748.

Tried-and-True Favorite

Whether it's date night or a family night, an early evening stroll around Coolidge Park and a ride on the 1894 Dentzel carousel can't be beat for an inexpensive outing with lots of photo-op backdrops.

Admission to the North Shore park is free; a carousel ticket is only $1 for ages 3 and up. Right now, the carousel is open until 7 p.m. on Fridays, 8 p.m. Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays.

Finish off the night with a stroll across the historic 1890 Walnut Street Bridge, the first to connect Chattanooga's downtown with the North Shore. According to the Historic American Engineering Record, the bridge was the first nonmilitary highway bridge to cross the Tennessee River.

Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.

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