I remember taking my daughter there maybe 20+ years ago. Not much after they opened. Kids love it and my 6 year old grandson wanted to stay when I was ready to leave after 3 hours :-) If you go be sure to look around because there are tons of activities and things for kids to do and explore. They also have a cafeteria, which I found by accident. The only complaint I might have is some of the activities on the second level were in disrepair or not well maintained. Still if you have kidlets, highly recommended. Don't forget if you have an aquarium membership, you get a discount!! read more

We took our son to Chattanooga for a surprise birthday trip and concluded our weekend visit with a trip to the Creative Discovery Museum and I am so happy that we got a chance to visit. This place is absolutely amazing and so much fun for both kiddos and parents! Since we stayed at a nearby hotel, we walked about a block to the museum but there is plenty of parking available behind the building but I am not sure about the cost. We arrived just as they opened and the staff member that assisted us was super sweet and because it was my son's birthday, she gifted him with free admission which was a huge win for our budget. As soon as walked into the actual museum, the first thing my kiddos saw was the water area which of course the only thing they wanted to play with. The water area is setup in a way that kids can play with toys, learn about water conservation, build bridges, and have a wonderful time prior to getting into the nitty gritty of all the museum has to offer. They have aprons so my kiddos weren't drenched but just know that area gets a bit congested. There are sooooo many things to do from art to a robot car build and challenge to playing musical instruments. There is also a fun little outdoor space with a cool play area, fun artwork, and games. We had sooooo much fun and it is truly a wonderful place to try and learn new things. There is also an area for the tinier ones where they can "ride a tractor", take care of bunnies (stuffed of course), set the dinner table, cook, and do other household chores. I mean there is soooooo much to do and so much fun to be had. I cannot recommend this place enough and I promise by the time your leave, the kiddos will definitely have a blast as will you! read more

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So fun had a great time with my family and friends today hope you will have fun there to

So fun, it was hard to pry my 3 year old away! There are so many fun, hands-on experiences for kids of all ages, including infants. The nursing room was clean and comfy. I especially appreciated the "ick buckets" throughout to place any toys a child had put in their mouth, so they could be cleaned. I wish we had a place like this in my city! read more

Creative Discovery Museum - T-Rex - Museums Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

This museum has a lot of really great activities and exhibits. My kids really enjoy going and I feel like they truly learn new things during our visits. However, this place needs to step it up on the cleaning, especially in the river play area. The floor is caked with dirt and the water play exhibit itself has grime on the outside. The actual part where the kids play in the water has visible black and pink mold. The mildew and mold situation has worsened since our last visit over the summer. The overall state of the museum has declined. Several exhibits had broken and otherwise run down aspects that interfered with the children's ability to interact with the exhibits. read more

Creative Discovery Museum - Dirty buildup on dam in the river play exhibit. - Museums Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

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I would not take a child there over age 7. I'm sure it is great for the young children. We took a 9 year old that was a little bored. Only stayed an hour. It may have been late in the day but many activities were in disarray. Some needed a little guidance on what to do with it. No one was around to help. Can not recommend. read more

We went to this museum while in Chattanooga for our son's birthday and both our kids(2 and 10 years old) loved it.

Could be much better. We are members there and the kids still like it, but there is a ton of stuff that does not work and the workers do not fix. like all the buttons that kids press are broken and do nothing. also there are things upstairs that are busted and nobody fixea them and its been months. mostly the upstairs has the broken things! also there are video interactive things upstairs that really don't do anything or teach anything. could be run much better!!! read more

Absolutely positively super duper amazing. The grandkids loved it. But, one of them fell into the water table! Goodness me..

We really enjoyed this museum. There are many activities for kids to do. Wish we have this kind of museum closed to our house.

Best children's museum we've been too. We are visiting from Nashville for the weekend and found this museum to take our 20 month old too alongside the aquarium. They were the perfect combo for a long weekend. The museum is so hands on and children focused and friendly. There were so many activities for her to do and she loved it. I wish we had this museum in nashville. Thank you for a great visit! read more

Absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. Always come here when I'm in Chattanooga with my kids. They give a first responder discount (!!!), and my kids are complete opposites and both love this place. The staff is so nice, parking is easy, and you really can spend a whole day here. Amazing! read more

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This location was MORE THAN ENOUGH for the cost of entrance. We brought children 10 & 12 yrs old. This was fun for them but mmmuuccchhh more entertaining for younger kids less than 8 or 9 yrs old. There was about 3 hrs worth of fun in this place. They even offer a Science show that is a must-see for children. Which also has a concession stand - reasonably priced on the outside of the show. Great price, location and great fun. read more

What an awesome children's museum! My kiddos loved every minute spent here. We were able to get a stamp on our hands so that we could exit and return the same day. Which we did! We left to grab lunch and came back to continue playing until close. We were able to purchase tickets ahead of time online and select an arrival time that best for our schedule. Once we arrived, all of the staff members and volunteers were super sweet and friendly. They had plenty of sanitation stations with hand sanitizer available. Downstairs, they have restrooms near the front entrance and also another separate women's restroom with mother's lounge (for breastfeeding, diaper changes, or just quiet/down time.) There is SO much to do here - so many spaces to learn and play. You can definitely spend HOURS here. Downstairs has a mini clinic for kids to pretend to be doctors, a dinosaur space, sand box space, and even a soft play area for toddlers. Upstairs was another world! STEM activities galore. Even a rooftop space to play outside with other fun features. They had a library space perfect to wind down for some quiet time. They have music and theater rooms, paint and coloring spaces, the list goes on and on. Truly - you'll never run out of things to do here. Worth every penny! And it's actually pretty affordable. Great location! read more

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This was a great way to spend a rainy day with the family! This museum is taking major COVID precautions, which is excellent, especially with a place filled with children. There are no walk-ins, it's by appointment only. This keeps the capacity at lower levels and allows the team to close up and clean the entire place in between appointments. They are currently offering AM times and PM times, with a two hour buffer in between to sanitize everything. There are a ton of things for kids to here; a water and splash area, music center, Dino digging, art and crafts and a entire rooftop with filled with gardens and a play area. You can easily kill three hours in here and get those kids tuckered out! There is parking in the back of the museum, so don't pay for street parking like we did. Enjoy! read more

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If you have little kids, this is absolutely a 5 star place to come. The admission is a bit pricey: $16.95 as of Jul 2023. That includes anyone from ages 2 and up. If you are part of Military, Police, Fire, EMT; you get a discount. But I think the price is worth it if you have kids that need some energy to expend. You can also get a stamp to leave and return on the same day if you have to take a break from all the fun. For parking, it is in the heart of downtown Chattanooga. So you should be able to find a lot of paid parking. There is one conveniently in the back of the museum. This is a 2 story building filled with fun things for your kids to do. For adults, you have benches and places to park your stroller. So you can sit your tired, old butt down on the bench as your kids play. They have all sorts of sections with specific themes to stimulate your kid's mind, I guess. Honestly, it's just a glorified playground. The marine section was probably the "worst." My kid loved the section with the farm and kitchen. That was probably the best section. The other sections were a fake doctor's area, the water place where kids can play with huge water tables with dams and boats. They even provide a smock so your kid won't get wet. They have a place for dinosaurs, where they can dig up fake bones. They have a place for technology where they can control things with joysticks, build miniature cars to race. They also have a bunch of playground like areas to just run and play. There are so much stuff to do for your kids, it's like heaven for parents so they can take a breather while your kids run around and expend their energy. The place looks fairly clean and well maintained. If you have kids, you have to come here. read more

We had a great time with our 8yr old grandson and great pricing for military families. Even us adults got engaged with the fun exhibits and interactive experiences. Friendly staff and a lot of fun. read more

Creative Discovery Museum - Museums Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

LOVE THIS PLACE! We stopped over on our trip down to Florida to let the kids run around a bit- it did not disappoint! My 6 year old and 3 year old had a blast here I really wish it was closer to Cincinnati. They have a wide range of activities a water table area, an excavation area where you can dig up dinosaur fossils. You can create your own music video, and learn how to play multiple instruments. They also have a fabulous art room with lots of projects the kids can participate in. They have a section dedicated to creating a roller coaster, and large building blocks to create an archway. They also have an adorable little area for babies babies full of mirrors so they can crawl around and look at themselves in the mirrors. It's also reasonably priced I believe the tickets right now are around $14 read more

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Every time we vacation in Tennessee, we make sure to visit this place. There is literally not enough time to explore every area of this museum in an entire day. So much to do! I've been coming here every year for the past 3 years! Very clean, very much worth the price even though u do have to pay for parking. A+ all the way! New re-done gift shop as of 2023, and so many of the attractions that were under construction last year are now complete. The place looks great! read more

Creative Discovery Museum - Theater play (new as of 2022) - Museums Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

My 5 year old and his friend had a great time at this museum over the weekend. So much packed into a surprising space. There was a room for everyone. There is so much to keep the kids entertained... when it was time to go they were not ready.. even after 3 hours! Also love and appreciate that they give teachers' discounts. read more

We spent 6 hours with a 8 yo and 4 yo. And they didn't want to leave. The place closed for the day. There is something for every kid there. From ships to doctors to bones to stem. Lots of physical activity for the kids. AND grandparents can occasionally find a seat. read more

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I absolutely love this children's museum! We have been to the Chicago, Atlanta, and Greenville (SC) children's museum and this one is definitely up there with the Chicago one. At first glance around, you wouldn't think this museum is very large but it just keeps going. There are tons of rooms and areas and we spent a good three hours there. We loved all the hands on activities. My daughter had a blast. The facility was very clean and organized. Glad we made the drive to Chattanooga! read more

It was a quick trip up from ATL and a day well spent in Chattanooga. My kids had a ball going from spot to spot. There's a lot to keep the kids entertained for a few hours. I can certainly see why this spot is considered the best kids museum in America. We'll certainly be back to explore this museum more and explore more of Chattanooga. read more

They have activities for all ages. My 18 month old twins absolutely LOVE coming here to play! Lots of sensory play! read more

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Always fun trip. Kids love it! Great for all ages and abilities. The make lab was really cool to be able to use the sewing machines and iron. The new tree house outside is amazing. read more

They not only entertain children, they'll keep the adults busy too. One lazy Tuesday my mother in law, my daughters (3yo and 1yo), and myself decided to give this place a try. They parking was easily accessible, a very short walk to the museum. The cost is definitely affordable, you pay once for the whole day. We were able to leave for lunch and return later the same day. There are SO many activities and "work" stations for kids of all ages. They offer a toddler section for kids 1-3 years old with a small play area for kids that are crawling, not walking. (Although be careful cause parents will let their older kids in the area with no regulation). We will absolutely be returning, and highly recommend for a fun family trip. read more

Great Place to take a kid! My granddaughter loved it! Yours will too! There's also plenty of interactive opportunities for very small kids!

Great place for the kids. They really enjoyed the attractions and the play area. The art studio was fantastic. Recommend this place for anyone with kids under 10 read more

Great turnout today for our American Red Cross "Military Kids Serve Too" event . Ninety-Six people showed up at the Creative Discovery Museum to help us honour these young family members of our service men & women. A special coining was ceremony conducted by Lt. Commander Tanner, U.S. Navy. Thank you Creative Discovery Museum for hosting us! Any one with kids, I would definitely recommend this place. Not only this place is full of fun entertainment for the kids, there are opportunities for both patents/guardian & kids to learn. I hear they have adults nights as well. read more

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We live in Nashville & have a membership here for the occasional weekend trip. My kids love this place & we have been known to go on an afternoon, spend the night with family & then go for a couple more hours the following day before heading home. There is so much to do & they bring in new exhibits & activities often. I just wish Nashville had a kids museum as fun & engaging as this one! read more

Perfect museum to take the kids. It's location right beside AT&T baseball field for the Chattanooga Lookouts. They close early like at 5 pm on Saturdays. So , you have to get there early to have time to see every thing. As far as parking is concerned, I usually just find a meter to park at off one of the secondary roads. read more

Creative Discovery Museum - Museums Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

Our one and six year old loved spending the afternoon here! Kept us all busy. Definitely recommend,

Creative Discovery Museum is a wonderful place to bring the kids in your life. The playful interactive exhibits are educational as well and our grandkids have had so much fun coming here! We just renewed our family membership so we come spend a day or a few hours any time we have an opportunity. So worth the money and time to experience the wonders here! read more

This was our first visit in a few years here and the kids still love it! The "water play" area was closed for renovations while we were there, but there was still so much to see and do! Our first grader's favorite part was the "pulley seats" in the outdoor portion. Our fourth grader's favorite was the "Make It" area, along with many others. Daddy loved banging on the drum in the "music" area! Highly recommended! read more

Great place for adults and kids alike. Very STEM focused. They sell tickets for 2 hour blocks which control the crowds which is vital since there is so much hands on. Worth every penny to support this place. read more

The kids absolutely LOVED this place! We decided to go here since it was rainy one of the days on our trip. We ended up staying half the day. And even then they didn't want to leave!! It has enough to keep the kids entertained for hours! And it's educational as well! This will definitely be a stop on our next visit! read more

Creative Discovery Museum - Museums Near Me - Chattanooga, Tennessee

I've been here once, when I first moved to Chattanooga. I really need to go again, but I don't have any kids. LOL. My best friend and her two young children came to visit me, so of course we had to go to the kid's museum. Lots of stuff to see and touch and interact with. You must climb to the top of the staircase to see all of downtown. It was the summertime when I went and it was nice to be indoors and nice and cool while the kids ran around and got tired out. LOL. read more

Why 5 stars? Who says you have to be a kid to have fun? We took our kids and they had fun but I think the adults had even more fun. This place was clean, welcoming, decently priced and had great options for the group. They had fun learning, playing and getting creative with all the fun. The staff was very friendly and helpful in making sure we got the most out of the visit. I think this is the biggest factor in 5 star reviews as staff can make or break your visit. read more

We have visited a number of children's museums with our kids. This place is really a top pick. With a 4 year old and 2.5 year old we are always looking for quality things to do that will not only engage them, but get some of their energy out. This place checks all the boxes. Plenty of space and unique exhibits for nearly every interest. Physical play, crafting and so much more. They are currently adding even more exhibits right now. We will be back every time we are in the Chattanooga area. read more

We decided to take the children here for the second time. The last time the traveling exhibit was a medieval theme. This time it was a Dino train theme. I like the medieval theme better (I'm partial to that time period though) but my daughters just adore this museum and it is absolutely worth going to. We spent almost all day there and they definitely wore themselves out. We did not eat there but they do have a nice looking menu with many options. They also have science shows that they put in throughout the day which are super cool. read more

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