LEISURE
CHATTANOOGA GHOST TOURS – The Little Curiosity Shoppe, 138 Market St. Walking tours through downtown, ghost hunts through University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Citizens Cemetery, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday by appointment. $15.95 adults, $10 ages 12 and younger. 423-821-7125.
CHATTANOOGA MODELCON – Chattanooga Convention Center, 1150 Carter St. Chattanooga Scale Modelers Association hosts scale-model convention with categories for aircraft, armor, autos, diorama, figures, science fiction and ships; vendors, air-brush demonstrations, 2-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7. Best time for public viewing is noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. $5 adults, free for youths 16 and younger (tickets good both days). 423-756-0001.
GARDENING SEMINAR – Green Spaces, 63 E. Main St. Daniel Simberloff discusses problems related to regional invasive species, 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9. Free. 423-648-0963.
HIKES, TENNESSEE – Led by Soddy-Daisy Hiking Club. Bring water and snack. Carpool locations given for those who want to meet group. 423-842-3619, George Bonneau at george.r.bonneau@gmail.com.
* Saturday, Jan. 7: Heiss Mountain to Retro Hughes Trailhead, strenuous 10 miles. Will stage vehicles. Meet at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy-Daisy at 9 a.m.
* Tuesday, Jan. 10: Savage Gulf day loop, moderate 4 miles. Meet at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy-Daisy at 9 a.m.
* Saturday, Jan. 14: Prentice Cooper, strenuous 12 miles. Meet in Red Bank Food City parking lot at 9 a.m.
ICE ON THE LANDING – Chattanooga Choo Choo, 1400 Market St. Ice skating rink with rink-side concession vending, 2-9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 2-11 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 22. $10 adults, $8 ages 12 and younger, includes skate rentals and two-hour skate session. www.iceonthelanding.com
LEARN TO RIDE A BICYCLE – Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. Certified instructors teach balance, starting and stopping, basic maintenance, safety rules, 4-5:30 p.m. or 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9. All participants must wear helmet. Bikes provided for adults and older children; children shorter than 4 feet must bring own bike. 423-643-6888.
SANDHILL CRANE CRUISES – Sale Creek Marina, 3900 Lee Pike, Soddy-Daisy. Tennessee Aquarium sponsors cruises aboard River Gorge Explorer to see migrating sandhill cranes and other wildlife at Hiwassee Island, departing at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Jan. 6-8 and Jan. 13-16. $35 members, $45 nonmembers. Tickets must be purchased in advance: www.tnaqua.org/sandhill-crane-cruises.
SPLASH DEEPER INTO THE TENNESSEE AQUARIUM – Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. Behind-the-scenes tours to see animals and meet the staff members who care for them, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7. $60 aquarium members, $80 nonmembers; ticket includes lunch. Reservations: 423-267-3473.
TRAIN RIDES – Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, 4119 Cromwell Road. 423-894-8028, www.tvrail.com. Missionary Ridge Local is 6-mile, 55-minute ride through East Chattanooga to TVRM’s repair shop. January schedule: Trains depart every Saturday at 10:40 a.m., 12:05, 1:15 and 2:25 p.m. $17 adults, $11 ages 2-12.
WORLD OF WHEELS – Chattanooga Convention Center, 1150 Carter St. Annual auto show with displays, vendors and special guests, 3-10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8. $16 adults (purchase in advance at any O’Reilly Auto Parts store for $3 discount), $5 children 6-11. worldofwheels.net/chattanooga-tn.
CHILDREN/TEENS
CHATTANOOGA PUBLIC LIBRARY – 1001 Broad St. (main library) and branches at Eastgate, Northgate and South Chattanooga. 423-757-5310, www.chattlibrary.org.
* Lego Clubs: Downtown branch, every Monday, 5-6 p.m., for ages 5-11, free; Northgate branch, first Saturday of each month, 2-3 p.m., for ages 3 and up, free. 423-757-5314.
* Toddler Time: Learning program for ages 18-36 months and parents/guardians, advance registration not required. Wednesday: 10:30 a.m. Eastgate Library, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Northgate Library. Saturday: 11 a.m., downtown branch.
* Baby Bounce: Wednesday and Saturday, 10-10:30 a.m., Eastgate branch. Finger play, songs and stories for infants up to 18 months and their parent/caregiver.
* Jan. 7: Saturday Cinema: “The Secret Life of Pets,” 2:30 p.m., Eastgate branch, free. Bring own snacks and beverages with lids.
CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM – 321 Chestnut St. $13.95 adults and children.756-2738, www.cdmfun.org.
* Sensory Free Nights, 5:30-8 p.m. today, Jan. 5, for children with autism spectrum disorders and their families. Included in CDM admission, but reservations required.
* Free Family Night, 5:30-8 p.m. Jan. 12.
* “Kings, Queens & Castles” exhibit opens Jan. 14.
DALTON-WHITFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY – 310 Cappes St., Dalton, Ga. 706-876-1360.
* Friday, Jan. 6: Young Adult Fandom Friday, 4:30 p.m., celebrate the upcoming sequel to “Alice in Wonderland.”
* Saturday, Jan. 7: Spanish storytime, 11 a.m., stories and crafts conducted entirely in Spanish.
* Monday, Jan. 9: Girls Who Code, 5 p.m. for girls in grades 6-12, no previous coding experience necessary. Continues Jan. 23 and 30. Limited to 20; RSVP to powellb@ngrl.org.
* Tuesday, Jan. 10: Story hour, 11 a.m.; docudrama about 2010 oil-rig disaster, rated PG-13, 5 p.m.
* Tuesday, Jan. 10: Beginning of seven-week, family course on cooking and stretching your food budget, 15-minute meals and stress-free meals.
NORTH GEORGIA ZOO AND FARM – 2912 Paradise Valley Road, Cleveland, Ga. Admission $28 adults, $26 children ages 2-11 for guided zoo tour and petting farm. 706-348-7279. Winter Wonderland tours, guided exotic animal tour, wagon ride through hoof stock area, feed and pet animals, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays through February (dress warmly). $28 adults, $26 children. Also offered are winter wolf encounters, $100 per person, assist with training. Reservations recommended for either tour.
DANCES
BALLROOM – The Ballroom, 7001 Middle Valley Road. Learn ballroom dancing, Saturdays. Group class, 7:30 p.m., $5. Dancing, 8:30 p.m., $10. No partner required; casual dress. 423-394-6428.
BALLROOM – Ballroom Magic Dance Center, 4200 N. Access Road. Dance, 8:30-10:30 p.m. Fridays. $10. 423-771-3646.
RHYTHM BALLROOM – The Ballroom, 7001 Middle Valley Road. Learn fundamentals of rumba, cha cha, East Coast swing, 6 p.m. Mondays, 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Casual dress; no partner required. $5. www.theballroomathixson.com.
SATURDAYS AT THE SUITE – 2193 Park Drive, Suite 101. Nonstructured class using dance for health and wellness benefits, 10-11 a.m. Saturdays. $5; free mimosas. 423-316-5319.
SHAG, BOP, SWING, JITTERBUG – Elks Lodge 91, 1067 Graysville Road. Dance with Choo Choo Shag Club members, 7-10 p.m. Thursdays. $5 members, $7 guests.www.choochooshag club.com.
SINGLES DANCE – First-Centenary United Methodist Church, Mohney Hall, corner of Houston and Vine streets. Positive Christian Singles hosts Winter Wonderland dance, 7-10 p.m. Jan. 14. Bring snacks to share. $8. 423-756-2021.