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Some things for fun and entertainment that we've done or would like to do. As we do these things we would like to share the experiences with each other.

Sharing should help us get the most out of the precious time we have with the children.

Any safety issues, resource availability, whatever that can increase the quality of each trip without having to learn it the hard way will be much appreciated.

Canoe ride; Size=180 pixels wide

Canoe (perhaps with a picnic) ?

How about a lovely canoe ride down the Chickamauga creek or on the lake at Chester Frost Park. Also Fall Creek Falls has a beautiful lake to canoe and also is good for fishing.


We've used canoes (life-jackets mandatory) to canoe in the lake at Chester Frost park in Hixson. There are picnic areas - its fun to pack a picnic lunch or dinner and after the picnic go paddling along the lake or the Chickamauga creek

Equipment:

Canoes and paddles are available in many places/or for rent.
Life jackets: Important!


Safety Info:
A. Check each child for secure wear of a fully functional life jacket
B. Show each one how to sit in the conoe and tell him/her what not to do
C. Put an adult in each canoe - and carry an extra paddle ... :)

Hiking or Biking?

There are many wonderful hiking and biking trails nearby.

Hikers; Size=180 pixels wide

There are many wonderful hiking and/or biking trails nearby.

Greenway farms is excellent for biking or hiking. There are some dangerous places immediately off these trails (e.g. steep hills, cliffs, water hazards, etc.) In my experience we've found it necessary to keep closely together (parents with children) to keep safe. Twice a few would want to jet off on their own when biking and twice two of the more adventurous children wanted to climb steep cliffs -- fortunately I was right there and in an intensely assertive mood ...

The State Parks are also wonderful for this purpose. We are blessed with many options for hiking and biking. It will not be too much longer before a large biking and horseback riding trail will be opened in a new park in the old TNT plant area off of Bonny Oaks and Hwy 58.

State Parks

Fall Creek Falls State Park

We've hiked and enjoyed some beautiful local state parks (free admission too!)



Fall Creek Falls (about 45 mins away) Will not be able to see all of this park in one day. May be able to see most of the falls in one day. There are some hazards to be aware of near and on the way to the various falls -- have to stay together and not let children stray off or run ahead. Hazards include steep cliffs, high places, rope bridges, lots of water, lots of woods, large rocks and steep slippery places near the waterfalls. Recommend taking own food and drinks - the park is free admittance but there are few places to eat at resonable prices. As for our trip -- we had an awesome picnic compliments of Ms. Jeanie!

Fall Creek Falls Gallery

overlook2.jpg

pool-at-base-of-fcfs.jpg

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Chester Frost Park
(Big with lake, fishing, camping, and many other amenities -- close by in Hixson)

Chester Frost Park Information

We visited Chester Frost Park again this past Sunday. We saw white ducks on the lake shore and a pelican land on a pier - beautiful. There was a grandfather and three grandsons fishing off another pier ... they were friendly and suggested that our girls reel in some of the small bluegills they were frequently catching with crickets. OBTW; THE best place for buying crickets is "Blaylocks" (located just past the Chester Frost Park turn-off on Hixson Pike) It may seem a bit confusing when you see that the place is a bluegrass music store as well as bait place. We got 50 crickets for $2)

Once before we took a quick picnic lunch and a checkered table cloth -- spread the stuff out next to the beach (yes a nice sand beach ...?) and followed it with a lake race using two of the Bethel canoes. It was an exciting and close race out around the bouys and back to shore. Lots of spirited yelling, splashing, and paddling -- amazing in that many of our young ones had not paddled a canoe before.

Although they will do for now -- we need more life jackets as some of the ones we have are near the end of their life cycle and the size selection is limiting. If you see these on sale or at the thrift shop ... would you let us know please?

I've got two ways to get the canoes to and from: A light-weight trailer or some clamp on van rails. I keep these handy - along with excellent quality tie down ropes.

Horses ?

Horseback riding; Size=240 pixels wide

Looking for horseback riding facilities.

Thus far they are proving elusive ...

Don't know yet if the following are good but if someone has time to check them out?:

Rising Son Stables
(423) 842-0202
6466 Big Ridge Rd
Chattanooga, TN 37343



Caylor Stables
(423) 894-4722
E Brainerd
Chattanooga, TN 37402



Chattanooga City Government: Adm.
(423) 757-5167Â
101 E 11th St
Chattanooga, TN 37403

Stardate 19:10:2005
Well the Lord is amazing ... Paige loves horses and we've been looking for somewhere to let her ride and learn horses ... the other day, as we took a Silverdale schoolmate home on Middle Valley Road, THERE was a sign with phone number about horseback riding lessons. A few days later, the letter from Sharon comes to us about Mr. Hixson offering free lessons for our children! Paige intended to call but had memorized the phone number wrong as she passed by. However, the Lord had the man come by Bethel and make a generous offer. Coincidence? No. LovingKindness. Thank you and Praise Your Name LORD!

Mr Hixson
760-1754
Was offering free basic lessons on Saturdays; 1.5 hour lessons for two children per session (8-15 yrs old)

After the basic lessons he is willing to consider continuing with children who reamain interested.

OUTDOOR RECREATION AT ITS BEST





Posted: Thursday, April 14, 2005

Contact: Candace I. Davis

Chattanooga Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

423/424-4430







From hang-gliding to walking and everything in between, Southeast Tennessee offers visitors a wealth of opportunities to experience outstanding natural resources and scenic attractions. The Southeast Tennessee Region stretches south to Chattanooga, west to the breathtaking Sequatchie Valley, east to the mountain-lined Tennessee border, and north to TVA’s Watt’s Bar Lake. There are scenic trails, rivers, byways, skyways and overlooks that offer opportunities for walking, hiking, biking, canoeing, rafting and hang-gliding. Some areas even offer llama trekking.



In the Chattanooga area …

The Tennessee Riverpark includes parks, fishing piers and playgrounds that extend along the shores of the Tennessee River. Highlighting the park are several miles of walkways that connect the Tennessee Aquarium and Ross’s Landing to the Bluff View Art District, the Chickamauga Dam to the C.B. Robinson Bridge, and Tennessee American Water Works and the Rowing Center. The Riverwalk also includes the Walnut Street Bridge, the longest pedestrian walkway bridge in the world. The existing fifteen miles will eventually extend for 20 miles along the south shore of the Tennessee River from the Chickamauga Dam through downtown Chattanooga out to Moccasin Bend.



Recreational walkers and canoe enthusiasts can explore 14 miles of trails and scenic Lookout Creek by visiting the Chattanooga Nature Center and Reflection Riding Arboretum & Botanical Garden. Nature lovers can view more than 1,000 species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers. Historical and education exhibits keep visitors informed of the history and heritage of the Chattanooga area.



Walkers and cyclers can also enjoy the North Chickamauga Greenway. The two-mile greenway winds through the hills and forests surrounding Chickamauga Creek and connects to Spangler/Greenway Farm, where picnic facilities are located.



At Signal Point atop Signal Mountain hikers can travel one portion of the Cumberland State Scenic Trail and view the scenic Tennessee River Gorge. The gorge has long been known for its superb vistas of both the river and the surrounding Appalachian Mountains.



As America’s largest hang-gliding school, Lookout Mountain Flight Park and Training Center certifies one in every five Novice-rated pilots in the United States. The park not only offers lessons and certifies gliders, but they also feature tandem flights. Tandem flights allow an inexperienced hang glider to simply ride with a trained glider. The take-off, flight, and landing are all performed by the trained glider with both the “driver” and passenger hooked securely to the glider.



While on Lookout Mountain, hikers should explore the 38 miles of hiking trails that start at Point Park and extend around the side of the mountain. Not only can hikers experience a sweeping view of Chattanooga and the Tennessee River, but they can also enjoy the abundant Civil War history on Lookout Mountain.



For those interested in caving, Raccoon Mountain Crystal Caverns are some of the Southeast’s most active and scenic caverns. They offer two types of tours. For the leisurely explorer, guided walking tours are available. The adventurer can choose to explore the unlighted and undeveloped portions of the caverns with an experienced cave guide on a “Wild Cave Tour.”



As for fishing, North and South Chickamauga Creek and Lookout Creek boast a full stock of rainbow trout. Possum and Soddy Creeks are noted largemouth and spotted bass creeks, and also contain crappie, bluegill, shellcracker and catfish. The Nickajack Reservoir is the portion of the Tennessee River that flows past Chattanooga into the gorge. The scenery is beautiful and the fishing is even better. Fishers find smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass, panfish and catfish.



In the Sequatchie Valley area …

The Sequatchie Valley and Cumberland Plateau boast some of the most breathtaking scenery in the Eastern United States. One might guess then, that they also offer some of the finest recreation to be found. Visitors can hike, camp, fish, cycle and canoe.



Fall Creek Falls State Park, named for a 256-foot waterfall, contains more than 20,000 acres of cascades and trails. The 13.7-mile-long Cumberland Scenic Trail is located within another outdoor paradise, Prentice Cooper State Forest. Walk, hike or bike Mullen’s Cove Loop and Pot Point Loop for magnificent scenery and Native American history. The same goes for South Cumberland State Recreational Area, a 12,000-acre park rich with landscapes and waterfalls. Hikers can follow Fiery Gizzard Trail along 13 miles of the Fiery Gizzard Creek gorge to the rim of the scenic Foster Falls TVA Recreation Area.



Nickajack Lake and the TVA Shellmound Recreation Area provide visitors with a variety of outdoor activities. As the host to the annual Fall Color Cruise and festival, Nickajack Lake offers some of the most splendid scenery in Southeast Tennessee. Shellmound contains campgrounds, hiking and biking trails, recreation and swimming areas, and excellent fishing.



The Sequatchie River offers great canoeing. Gliding along Class I and II rapids, canoers will be overwhelmed by the rock-lined wall of the Cumberland Plateau to the west and Walden’s Ridge to the east. Canoe the Sequatchie will supply all of the gear and equipment needed.



Fishing opportunities abound in the area west of Chattanooga. Fishing for rainbow trout is excellent in the Sequatchie River and the creeks throughout the county. The Nickajack Reservoir is famous for its varieties of bass, catfish, panfish and sauger.



To the north of Chattanooga …

In Rhea County, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the resources of four natural wilderness areas. Trails lead walkers and hikers through forests and mountain gorges and around unique rock formations. Waterfalls are visible throughout the areas. Also located in Rhea County is the 38,000-acre Watts Bar Reservoir. The lake is located above Watts Bar Dam and boasts some of the finest sport fishing in the state. Chickamauga Reservoir is noted for its bass and walleye fishing.



Portions of both the Watts Bar and Chickamauga Reservoirs run into Meigs County, where the waters hold bass, catfish and panfish. Wildlife viewing in Meigs County is at a premium, with cranes and blue heron in abundance along the Chickamauga Reservoir. Also in abundance are the campground areas throughout the historic county.



In the Tennessee Overhill and east of Chattanooga …

The Tennessee Overhill region is named after the Cherokee towns that were situated “over” the “hills” from the Carolina colonies in what are now McMinn, Monroe and Polk Counties. In an area that is rich with Native American history, visitors can discover scenic byways, trails, lakes, rivers and forests.



The Cherokee National Forest (CNF) owns much of the land throughout these three counties, thus it boasts most of the outdoor recreation in the area. The lakes, rivers, and mountains in the CNF offer not only some of the most exquisite scenery you’ll find, but they also provide the backdrop for outstanding recreation. Whitewater rafting, boating, hiking and mountain biking are just some of the opportunities available in the forest.



For world-class rafting, canoeing and kayaking, visit Polk County and take a trek down the site of the 1996 Olympic Whitewater Events, the Ocoee River. The Ocoee offers Class III and IV rapids that are considered to be the best in the eastern United States. Divided into three sections, the river offers canoeing, rafting, kayaking and tubing. There are 23 rafting companies that take riders down the river with experienced, licensed guides. Contact the Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (423/756-8687) for a complete list.



The Hiwassee River was the first to earn the Scenic River distinction from the state of Tennessee. This river flows through Bradley, Polk and McMinn counties, and offers a somewhat calmer ride that is perfect for the beginning canoer or kayaker. Class I and II rapids will guide riders down what is called the “showplace” of the Tennessee and Tennessee Valley Authority water system.



The Overhill area is more than just whitewater. For outdoor recreation, the possibilities are endless. Visitors can rappel down a mountain, trek through the forests with a llama, fish portions of the Hiwassee, Ocoee and Parksville Lake, glide in a sailplane and ride on horseback. Details about any of these activities can be obtained by calling the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association at 423/263-7232.



Adjacent to Tennessee Overhill is Bradley County. The Red Clay Historical Area is rich in Cherokee history and offers scenic nature trails that combine recreation and education. Leisure walkers can take to the streets on the Cleveland Downtown Historical Greenway, a walk that features more than 20 historical sites throughout a quaint, downtown area. Class I, II and III rapids on the Consauga River challenge rafters, canoers and kayakers.









For more information contact:

Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

2 Broad Street

Chattanooga, TN 37402

(423) 756-8687 | (800) 322-3344

www.chattanoogafun.com

* Poindexter Cottage *