I occasionally afford myself the luxury of visiting places without really knowing what to expect…read more This park just wasn't that clear to me in its purpose, but it became more so after arrival, with a visitor center focused on Native American history and identifying this as a Cherokee Nation headquarters. A spread of recreated buildings outside offers opportunities for perusal. The most aesthetically distinctive site is a large spring of the sort that seem more common in Kentucky than Tennessee, which evinces a robust blue color and empties into a clear stream. The spring itself is off-limits, but the stream is open for wading. All of these sites are within sight of the initial entrance, but a trek uphill reveals picnic areas, an amphitheater, and a couple of mile trail through the woods. Between the different elements of the park, it was easy to spend a couple of hours there, and best of all, it's free, though the gift shop warrants examination.

Extremely nice! Not a bad price either You can bring your own food which is nice. A great way to…read morehave a family day

I had more fun than my 2yo grandson! So many options to explore! Great layout & spread of all…read moreinteractive exhibits. I even got to race a squirrel & won! You'll have to experience it to understand. I could have stayed all day! The rates were not posted & we were inadvertently overcharged. 2yo was charged full price, & i did not get the senior citizen discount. I will consider the extra dollars a donation since it is such an incredible place.

Amazing learning activities for children. If you haven't been please go out and support them.read more

Went here in the afternoon with my husband and kids (age 7&8). We did the guided tour and it was…read morewonderful! The inside museum is self guided. We took probably 20-30 minutes inside, then hopped on a golf cart for the guided part of the tour. It ended up taking about an hour to an hour and a half. Our guide was so knowledgeable and made learning fun (per my kids!). If you want to learn a little history in a relaxed and engaging environment, you should stop in here! Keep in mind that most of the tour/museum is outside, so if you don't want to get wet or be too cold or too hot, plan your visit with the weather in mind.

Our guide, Jody, made it great! Upon driving up to the museum, we didn't expect much and inside the…read moresmall museum wasn't much. But once we boarded the golf cart on the guided tour with Jody, that all changed. The weather was great, which always helps but the knowledge Jody shared at each stop took us back in history. As a teacher, I appreciated each detail and he (Jody) was always ready to answer questions. The property around the museum is where all of the history took place and Tunnel Hill takes great pride in their local treasure. I was surprised to learn all the seemingly small place had to offer. Kudos to all the people who work hard to keep this place alive. My kids and I had a great visit! I will note that it is more for middle school and up. And it's good for the kids to already have some knowledge about the Civil War. I only rate it one star less than perfect because the displays and mannequins need quite a bit of updating. You do have to have a good guide!

If you're visiting Chattanooga, do yourself a favor and don't skip the Coker Museum. Whether you're…read morea lifelong car enthusiast or someone who couldn't tell a Model T from a Mustang, this place is absolutely fascinating. It ended up being one of my favorite museums I've ever visited. The museum is built around the incredible collection of the Coker family, who made their name through Coker Tire, and you can feel the passion behind every display. I had the chance to meet Casey, who now helps lead the family business, and she was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable. It was so refreshing to see a family-run museum where everyone genuinely loves what they do. The collection is unbelievable. You'll find everything from antique automobiles and classic sports cars to vintage trucks, motorcycles, race cars, buses, and even airplanes hanging from the ceiling. They also have a working restoration shop where you can watch vintage vehicles being brought back to life, plus displays of the original tires and automotive memorabilia that tell the story behind the collection. One of the coolest pieces was the historic Yellowstone tour bus used in filming, which was such a fun surprise. (Content Rhino) At $25 per person, this museum is worth every penny. We spent far longer here than we expected because there was always something new to discover around every corner. Even if cars aren't normally your thing, the history, craftsmanship, and stories behind these vehicles make this an experience you won't forget. Hands down, this is one of the best museums I've visited, and it's now at the top of my list of recommendations for anyone visiting Chattanooga.

This museum is a real gem! My husband and I have been to…read moreseveral car museums, but this one is truly special. Starting with the owners of the museum. Kind, polite, personable, and very passionate about their collection and their family. The vibe of the museum was our favorite part too. The garage vibe isn't something I've seen yet, and honestly, it's really something special in their favor. We took three laps around the museum and found something new every time. My favorite was the Piper Cub. I rode in one myself in high school. I never thought I'd see one again so it was a very special moment for me! I highly recommend this museum whether by yourself, with your family like I was, or for an event.

My nephew and I recently toured Falcon Rest Mansion & Gardens. Our tour guide George was very…read moreknowledgeable and an awesome tour guide. We got to see the room where my sister and I were born when it was a hospital. The house has been beautifully restored. I would highly recommend anyone to take a tour of this historical Mansion.

Hubby & I enjoyed our day at Falcon Rest! George & Charlene has single handedly renovated this…read morebeautiful home and grounds for decades. That sweet couple saw an abandoned place (a land mark community hone) and knew they could fix it to nearly the original splendor. It is soooo worth spending the day there, and take advantage of the sweet little cafe. We just loved our lunch. The home was built with all the modern conveniences when indoor plumbing or electric were unheard of! It saw many different owners, including a doctor who turned the home into a hospital! It was even where the first hip surgery was ever done in the county. A must see!!!

Part history museum, science museum, and children's museum. There's a little something for everyone…read moreat the American Museum of Science & Energy. The museum tells the story of Oak Ridge's role in World War II and the top secret Manhattan Project. The way the museum is laid out tells the story in a chronological way where you'll begin by learning about how Oak Ridge came to be, its role in the war, and its role in nuclear research in the years since the hydrogen bomb was first dropped over Japan. Plan to spend about 2 hours here depending on how hands on you want to be. As you progress through the musuem it becomes more hands on and reminiscent of a children's museum where you can get hands on with science theories. The space has multiple exhibits, an introduction video, and gift shop. On certain days/times a bus tour is offered to the plant sites that will also include admission to the museum but I was not visiting on one of those days but would like to check it out if Im ever in the area on the right day.

Located in Main Street in Oak Ridge at the end of the shopping strip. Much larger inside than…read moreanticipated and many interactive exhibits, movies, and teaching sessions. An affordable option ($10 per adult and $5 per child) in comparison to other local museums, too. I would say the best ages for this spot would be 8 and up. There is quite a bit of reading and many of the hands-on displays are complex. It is great for adults, too, and I learned so much about our city and nation's history...and science tidbits I had forgotten in the (longgg) time since high school. There is quite a bit of information on the Manhattan Project and the formation of Oak Ridge as a whole, including videos in the auditorium and in that specific section of the museum. We loved learning more! Did you know that when FDR died, his VP had no clue that M. Project was even underway? Or that Oak Ridge had over 75,000 people but did not show on a map? We loved the staff interaction, including the sessions that they lead throughout the afternoon in the auditorium. The one about static electricity was really cool and informative. My squirmy 10 yo was captivated! There were so many STEM exhibits and one of the lab rooms was open with many stations to build circuits, look into microscopes, etc. My kiddo enjoyed what he referred to as "practice for the claw machine," as well. Side notes: The gift shop had some really neat items (typical gift shop pricing) and the water fountains had the bottle filling spout. There are benches everywhere you look and it is all one level, making this a highly-accessible spot to visit. You will likely spend at least 1.5-2 hours here. Definitely worth the money!

Wow, way more than I expected. Staff was fantastic wealth of knowledge, static displays are well…read morepresented, everywhere you look is something else that's unexpected. Not only do they have tow vehicles spanning over 100 years, they have recovery apparatus, recovery pedal car display, Matchbox car display. What ism saying there is some thing for everybody.

This was a very unique and memorable museum with a very neat collection. From antique cars, toys,…read morepedal cars and oil and gas memorabilia this is sure to delight fans of the tow industry or just vehicle enthusiasts. This is a great place for kids as there are several vehicles kids can sit in and one at the end children can turn on lights, etc. Very kind people working. Our family learned a whole part of our TN history we didn't know. Definitely a worthwhile trip!

I have visited here twice on field trips with my students. I love this museum! There's so much to…read morelearn and if you're into science like me, this is definitely your place. There are self-guided tours, guided tours for groups and hands-on classroom experiences. You can meet an actual NASA scientist, learn about our solar system in the planetarium, and enjoy the various rides that are included with admission. There are other fun things to do but I believe those events/rides cost extra. You can even enjoy lunch under the trees or in the food court area inside. Pro Tip: Plan to visit at least two days to take it all in! It's definitely an out of this world experience!

If you have even the slightest interest in space, this place is a must-see!…read more The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville is the largest space museum in the world -- and it shows. From the moment you walk in, you're immersed in the story of humanity's journey beyond Earth. The exhibits walk you through our humble beginnings in rocketry, the intensity of the Space Race against the Soviets, the tragedy of Apollo 1, and the evolution of technology that eventually put humans on the Moon. You'll see command modules, landers, rovers, military applications, the role animals played in early testing, quarantine procedures after splashdown, and in-depth looks at International Space Station and Skylab. And then there's the jaw-dropping moment when you enter the massive building housing the fully displayed Saturn V rocket. It's hard to put into words how enormous and impressive it is stretched out above you. Seeing it in its entirety is worth the visit alone. We easily spent five hours here -- arriving shortly after opening and leaving about an hour before closing -- and still felt like we could have spent more time reading and exploring. There are over 1,500 artifacts on display. Every corner has something fascinating. One of my favorite parts? Actual rocket scientists were onsite at the Saturn V exhibit, ready and excited to answer questions. Talking to people who genuinely worked in the field adds a depth you just can't replicate with signage alone. I also highly recommend catching a show in the planetarium. We saw the presentation on the James Webb Space Telescope, and it was incredible. Pro tip: get there about 20 minutes early and line up. The shows are popular, and early arrival means better seats. Bonus -- you can bring in popcorn, candy, soda, or Icees if you're feeling snacky. Parking is huge and well organized. While they cap attendance each day at several hundred visitors, we had no issue getting tickets. The onsite cafeteria looked large with several food options. I noticed vegetarian choices but didn't confirm vegan availability. If I had one small critique, it would be that I wish there were even more actual flown-in-space artifacts. There are some, but many displays are trainers and simulators. That said, I understand that many space-flown items aren't recoverable, so replicas and trainers make sense. I also appreciated that the museum doesn't stop in the past. It brings the story into the present, covering modern space ventures like Blue Origin and SpaceX. Bottom line: this place is absolutely worth the trip. Plan for at least four hours -- five if you really want to dive in. There is so much to read, see, and experience. Space nerd or not, you'll leave inspired.

Andrew gave us a great tour! So much to see and many interesting facts! The guys working there…read moreenjoyed telling us information as much as we enjoyed hearing them. There were artifacts donated from all over the world. We will go back again to see things that I'm sure we missed!

Small museum with history buffs showing you around. We spent a couple of hours as there was so much…read moreto see.