Mom_and_Dad

THURSDAYS DRIVE FROM BIRMINGHAM TO FORT PAYNE ALABAMA - THIS IS ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF DRIVE. I FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE BEST TO LEAVE NO LATER THAN 3 PM SO THAT YOU WILL NOT BE IN BAD TRAFFIC. BE SURE TO CALL THE HOTEL IN CHATTANOOGA AND RESERVE THE ROOM TO YOUR CREDIT CARD! IT IS BEING HELD, BUT IT IS NOT RESERVED!! YOU ARE WANTING TO STAY IN CHATTANOOGA ON FRIDAY NIGHT. THE NUMBER FOR THE HOTEL IN CHATTANOOGA IS (423) 265-0008. 1. TAKE I-459 NORTH TOWARDS ATLANTA/GADSDEN AND DRIVE APPROX. 13.4 MILES 2. MERGE ONTO I-59 NORTH VIA EXIT # 33B TOWARDS GADSDEN AND DRIVE APPROX. 81.4 MILES 3. TAKE THE AL-35 EXIT # 218 TOWARD FORT PAYNE/RAINSVILLE AND DRIVE APPROX. 0.3 MILES 4. TURN LEFT ON AL-35/GLEN BLVD AND DRIVE APPROX. 0.2 MILES THE DAYS INN - FORT PAYNE IS LOCATED AT 1416 GLEN BLVD. FORT PAYNE, AL 35968. THEIR PHONE NUMBER IS 256-845-2085. THEY ARE HOLDING A ROOM FOR YOU AT THE RATE OF $59.40 UNDER THE NAME OF STUART LEACH. THEY ARE NOT HOLDING IT WITH A CREDIT CARD, BUT STATED THAT THE ROOM WOULD REMAIN IN YOUR NAME UNTIL 6 PM TONIGHT. THE RATE IS BASED ON YOUR AARP DISCOUNT. Dinner Suggestions: The Peking Gourmet (256) 845-1606 is known for their crab wontons and hot & sour soup. JT’s Fish House (256) 997-0459 is known for their all you can eat shrimp cocktail. (The shrimp is supposedly very good) FRIDAYS DRIVE FROM FORT PAYNE ALABAMA TO MENTONE ALABAMA (CAMP PONDEROSA) - THIS IS ABOUT A 40 MINUTE DRIVE. IN ORDER TO BE THERE FOR THE CHAPEL SERVICE, YOU AND MOM WILL WANT TO CHECK OUT OF THE HOTEL NO LATER THAN 9:00 AM. 1. START OUT GOING EAST ON GLENN BLVD. FOR 0.2 MILES 2. MERGE ONTO I-59 N VIA THE RAMP ON THE LEFT TOWARD CHATTANOOGA. GO APPROX. 12.6 MILES 3. TAKE THE AL-40/AL-117 EXIT #231 TOWARD HAMMONDVILLE/VALLEY HEAD. GO APPROX. 0.2 MILES 4. TURN RIGHT ONTO AL-117/AL-40. GO APPROX. 1.2 MILES 5. TURN RIGHT ONTO US-11/AL-117/AL-7/VETERANS MEMORIAL HWY. GO APPROX. 0.1 MILES 6. TURN LEFT ONTO AL-117. GO APPROX 4.3 MILES. THE NEXT TURN WILL SNEAK UP ON YOU. YOU WILL WANT TO BE LOOKING CAREFULLY FOR IT!! WATCH YOUR MILEAGE!! 7. TURN LEFT ONTO SCENIC DRIVE/CR-89. GO APPROX. 0.4 MILES. 8. TURN RIGHT TO STAY ON SCENIC DRIVE/ CR-89. PORTIONS OF THIS ROAD ARE UNPAVED WITH HUGE POT HOLES! BE CAREFUL!! GO APPROX. 3.6 MILES. 9. TURN A SLIGHT RIGHT ONTO COUNTY ROAD 734. GO APPROX. 0.9 MILES. YOU WILL SEE PONDEROSA BIBLE CAMP. WHEN YOU ARRIVE THROUGH THE FRONT GATES, YOU WILL PASS A COUPLE OF HOUSES WHERE THE FULL TIME STAFF LIVE. THE CHAPEL IS THE LARGE BUILDING ON YOUR RIGHT AND IT WILL HAVE A SIGN THAT SAYS “REGISTRATION”. BRITTNIE WAS IN CABIN #3, WHICH YOU CAN ALMOST DRIVE UP TO. IF YOU MISS HER AT THE CHAPEL (WHICH WILL BE VERY BUSY IF YOU DO NOT GET THERE IN TIME FOR IT TO BEGIN), ONE OF YOU MAY WANT TO GO TO HER CABIN. THERE IS A GRAVEL ROAD ON THE LEFT THAT YOU WILL TAKE TO GO TO HER CABIN. WATCH FOR THE SMALL SIGNS POINTING THE WAY. THE POOL AND THE GYM WILL BE ON YOUR RIGHT. PASS THE POOL AND THE GYM. CABIN 3 IS THE CLOSEST CABIN TO THE FIELD WHERE THE OLD SCHOOL BUS IS PARKED. (SORRY FOR LACK OF BETTER DIRECTIONS, BUT THIS IS GOING FROM MEMORY). IN PACKING BRITTNIE, SHE HAD 2 LARGER BAGS AND 1 SMALLER BAG FOR TOILETRIES. ALL OF HER BAGS HAVE A PINK GUITAR BAGGAGE TAG. SHE MAY NOT HAVE PUT HER FAN BACK IN HER BAG AS I HAD PACKED IT, SO YOU WILL WANT TO BE SURE THAT SHE HAS HER FAN. HER NAME IS WRITTEN ON ONE OF THE FAN BLADES. FROM CAMP PONDEROSA TO CHATTANOOGA: THIS IS ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY FROM CAMP. 1. START OUT GOING WEST ON COUNTY ROAD 734 TOWARD SCENIC DRIVE/CR-89. GO APPROX. 0.9 MILES. 2. TURN SHARP RIGHT ONTO SCENIC DRIVE. GO APPROX. 2.8 MILES 3. SCENIC DRIVE BECOMES COUNTY ROAD 198/OLD STREET. GO APPROX. 1.5 MILES. 4. TURN RIGHT ONTO CR-95/YANKEE ROAD. GO APPROX. 0.8 MILES 5. TURN LEFT ONTO CR-95/YANKEE ROAD. CONTINUE TO FOLLOW YANKEE RD. GO APPROX. 3.4 MILES. 6. TURN LEFT ONTO GA-157. GO APPROX. 8.3 MILES. 7. TURN LEFT ONTO GA-136. GO APPROX. 9.2 MILES. 8. TURN RIGHT ONTO US-11/ S MAIN ST. / GA-58 AND GO 0.1 MILES 9. TURN LEFT ONTO GA-136 AND GO 0.2 MILES 10. MERGE ONTO I-59 N TOWARD CHATTANOOGA AND GO 7.8 MILES 11. MERGE ONTO I-24 E TOWARD CHATTANOOGA AND GO 10.6 MILES 12. TAKE THE US-11 / US-41/ US-64/ BROAD ST EXIT # 178 TOWARD LOOKOUT MT. AND GO 0.5 MILES 13. TAKE THE EXIT ON THE LEFT TOWARD SOUTH BROAD ST/ LOOKOUT MTN. AND GO 0.1 MILES 14. TURN A SLIGHT RIGHT ONTO WILLIAMS STREET. YOUR HOTEL FOR THE NIGHT, COMFORT SUITES IS LOCATED AT 2431 WILLIAMS STREET AND SHOULD BE ON THE RIGHT. THEIR PHONE NUMBER IS (423) 265-0008. THE ROOM RATE THAT I WAS QUOTED WAS $77.39 AND THAT WAS FOR 2 DBL BEDS. THIS ROOM IS NOT RESERVED ON A CREDIT CARD. THE GENTLEMAN I SPOKE WITH WAS RICK. You will be at your hotel around lunch time. I suggest grabbing a light lunch somewhere and enjoying an early dinner at Mt. Vernon Restaurant which had very high reviews. (423) 266-6591. I know Mom doesn’t do desserts often, but one thing people kept saying is to “experience” the Amaretto Cream Pie. This restaurant is just a little over a mile from your hotel. THE AQUARIUM IS LOCATED AT 201 CHESTNUT STREET IN CHATTANOOGA. FOR THE AQUARIUM ONLY, TICKETS WILL BE $24.95 A PIECE. THIS WILL COVER BOTH THE RIVER JOURNEY AND THE OCEAN JOURNEY AQUARIUMS. FOR $15 MORE, YOU MAY BUY A “BACKSTAGE” PASS WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO ALLOW YOU TO TOUCH AND FEED THE AQUARIUM ANIMALS. THE TOURS FOR THE BACKSTAGE PASS ARE AT 11 FOR THE OCEAN JOURNEY AND 1:30 FOR THE RIVER JOURNEY. KEEP IN MIND THAT THEY HAVE THE AQUARIUM BROKEN INTO 2 SEPARATE AQUARIUMS, ONE IS THE RIVER JOURNEY AND ONE IS THE OCEAN JOURNEY. THE TICKET CENTER IS ACTUALLY CLOSEST TO THE OCEAN JOURNEY AQUARIUM IN THE “VISITOR CENTER” AREA. THERE IS AN ELECTRIC SHUTTLE ON THE SIDE OF BROAD STREET AND 2ND STREET, AND PARKING AREAS ALL ALONG 2ND AND BROAD. ****** I thought that this below is a GREAT alternative!!!!! ******* APPARENTLY THERE IS ALSO A NEW TOUR WHICH IS THE RIVER GORGE EXPLORER, AND MAY BE A GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO THE AQUARIUM (WHICH I KNOW ROB TOOK HER TO A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO). THE RIVER GORGE EXPLORER IS $29 A TICKET AND IS A 2 HOUR EXCURSION, UNLESS YOU TAKE THE SUNSET TOUR WHICH IS A 3 HOUR TRIP. I’M JUST THINKING THAT THIS MAY BE BETTER BECAUSE LESS WALKING WOULD BE INVOLVED FOR MOM. THE BOAT IS A 70 PASSENGER HIGH SPEED CATAMARAN AND IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE SOUTHEAST. THE BOAT BOARDS TWO BLOCKS FROM THE TENNESSEE AQUARIUM, AND REFRESHMENTS AND RESTROOMS ARE ON THE BOAT. THE BOAT SCHEDULE FOR THE 25TH IS 1 PM, 3:30 PM, AND 6 PM (THE 6 PM BEING ONE OF THE SUNSET CRUISES WHICH ARE ALSO AT 4, 4:30, 5, OR 5:30 AND 6). ***** This is what I would do ****** 1. check in at hotel - make reservation for the 3:30 cruise - make dinner reservations at Mt. Vernon (423-266-6591) if need be 2. grab a light lunch somewhere 3. go on cruise then go to dinner at Mt. Vernon at 6:00 pm The phone number to the Tennessee Aquarium is 800-262-0695. You can purchase tickets in advance by calling that number between 8:30 am and 4:45 Eastern. This may help you a little by not having to stand in a long ticket line! REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU GUYS WANT TO DO AT THE AQUARIUM, THIS IS HOW TO GET FROM THE HOTEL TO THE AQUARIUM AREA. IT IS 2.1 MILES AWAY FROM YOUR HOTEL, AND ABOUT A 4 MINUTE DRIVE. 1. HEAD SOUTHWEST ON WILLIAMS ST. TOWARD W 25TH STREET. GO ABOUT 164 FEET. 2. TAKE THE 1ST RIGHT ONTO W 25TH STREET. GO 0.1 MILE 3. TAKE THE 2ND RIGHT ONTO BROAD ST. GO 0.2 MILES 4. MERGE ONTO US-27 N VIA THE RAMP TO DOWNTOWN/RED BANK. GO 1.3 MILES. 5. TAKE EXIT 1-A FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD. TOWARD DOWNTOWN. GO 0.2 MILES. 6. MAKE A SLIGHT LEFT AT PINE STREET. GO 371 FEET. 7. TAKE THE 1ST RIGHT ONTO W 8TH ST. GO 0.1 MILE. SATURDAYS DRIVE ONCE YOU ARE FINISHED IN CHATTANOOGA, HERE IS HOW TO HEAD HOME TO BIRMINGHAM :) IT’S ABOUT A 2 HOUR, 20 MINUTE DRIVE, AND IS ABOUT 151.23 MILES. 1. STARTING FROM CHESTNUT STREET BY THE AQUARIUM... GO SOUTH ON CHESTNUT STREET TOWARD W 3RD STREET. GO 0.2 MILES 2. TURN RIGHT ONTO W 4TH STREET. GO 0.1 MILES. 3. MERGE ONTO US-27 S TOWARDS I-24. GO 1.4 MILES. 4. MERGE ONTO I-24 WEST TOWARDS NASHVILLE/BIRMINGHAM. GO 10.2 MILES. 5. MERGE ONTO I-59 SOUTH VIA EXIT 167 ON THE LEFT TOWARD BIRMINGHAM. GO 124.1 MILES. 6. MERGE ONTO I-459 SOUTH VIA EXIT 137 ON THE LEFT TOWARD TUSCALOOSA/MONTGOMERY AND GO 13.0 MILES. 7. MERGE ONTO US-280 VIA EXIT 19 TOWARD MT. BROOK AND GO 1.2 MILES Brunch on Saturday' The City Cafe is highly recommended! They are at The Best Western on Lee Highway (423) 485-8222 and The Day’s Inn on Carter Street (423) 634-9191. It looked to me as if they have some wonderful omelette’s and a Lite Menu as well. THINKING BETTER OF IT, THESE ARE THE DIRECTIONS FROM YOUR HOTEL TO THE INTERSTATE.... 1. START OUT GOING SOUTHWEST ON WILLIAMS ST. TOWARD WEST 25TH ST. 2. TURN RIGHT ONTO W 25TH ST. GO 0.1 MILE 3. TURN RIGHT ONTO BROAD ST/US-11 N/ US-64 E/ TN-2 E AND GO 0.4 MILES 7 4. TURN RIGHT ONTO WEST 20TH ST / US-11/ US-64/ TN-58 AND GO 0.1 MILES 5. TURN RIGHT ONTO WILLIAMS ST. AND GO 0.2 MILES 6. MERGE ONTO I-24 WEST TOWARDS NASHVILLE/BIRMINGHAM. GO 10.4 MILES. 7. MERGE ONTO I-59 SOUTH VIA EXIT 167 ON THE LEFT TOWARD BIRMINGHAM. GO 124.1 MILES. 8. MERGE ONTO I-459 SOUTH VIA EXIT 137 ON THE LEFT TOWARD TUSCALOOSA/ MONTGOMERY AND GO 13.0 MILES. 9. MERGE ONTO US-280 VIA EXIT 19 TOWARD MT. BROOK AND GO 1.2 MILES - AND I THINK YOU KNOW YOUR WAY FROM HERE :)