Detail Doc · Activities
What we're doing — and how to book it
Every anchor activity with the booking link, price, age & access rules, what to bring, and the leave-by clock. Built to drive the meal & shopping plan next.
🔖 Still to book / decide
- ✅ Ocoee — BOOKED. Thu Jul 9, 11:45 AM, Booking #359376355, OAR.
- Raccoon Mtn (now Tue) — reserve walking-tour count + any wild-cave spots (ages/heights).
- Barnsley (now Wed) — reserve the morning sporting clays window (poll: clays only, morning shoot, home to relax). Call to confirm lightning/weather cancellation policy.
- Lookout (Fri, the plan) — buy the Triple Play combo online; confirm exact pricing.
- Fishing — buy TN day licenses for anyone casting.
- Bat cave — no kayaks at the cabins (confirmed); free boardwalk overlook needs zero planning; check if the FL family can bring theirs, or the guided tour is the paid fallback.
- Aquarium — only if a day washes out; held in reserve, no advance booking needed yet.
- High Point Climbing — rain-day backup only; no booking needed, just show up. Markells bring own gear ($0 extra), others $31pp.
The Anchors
in trip orderSun · Jul 5
Downtown Chattanooga Walking Tour
The plan
Free Walk Chattanooga — a tip-based guided walking tour with consistently strong reviews, covering the city's history: Civil War, Trail of Tears, segregation-era history, the downtown revitalization story, the Chattanooga Choo Choo. No advance ticket, pay what feels right at the end.
Pair it with Walnut Street Bridge, the Tennessee Riverwalk, and a North Shore stroll — all flat, walkable, and free. Roll into Dinner Out #1.
Backup option
If the guided tour's timing doesn't line up, Preserve Chattanooga's Architectural Walking Tour is fully free and self-guided — 25 historic downtown buildings, download the map and go at your own pace, no schedule to chase.
🌧 Rain-day contingency
Tennessee Aquarium
The plan
Held in reserve, not on the default calendar — at ~$40–45/adult for 11 people, it's a real cost ($400+), better spent on an actual washed-out day than as a routine stop. Two buildings — River Journey (freshwater) and Ocean Journey (penguins, sharks, jellies). Plan ~2–3 hours, fully indoor, genuinely weather-immune.
If a day gets rained out badly (Barnsley's the current watch-flag — see the Master Plan weather section), this is the clean pivot: book same-week if slots are open, or pull the trigger a day or two ahead if the forecast firms up.
Booking
Timed-entry tickets, reserved online. Availability is generally easier outside the holiday weekend itself.
🌧 Rain-day contingency
High Point Climbing & Fitness — Downtown
The plan
Indoor climbing replaces the outdoor trad climbing that got cut for the heat/storm risk — same climbing itch, zero weather exposure. 45-ft rope walls, 100+ boulder problems, auto-belay, and a Kid Zone for younger non-climbers. Open 6am–10pm weekdays, 10am–10pm/8pm weekends. Right downtown, close to the aquarium, Walnut Street Bridge, and the North Shore dining cluster — easy to pair with lunch or a walk after.
Gear & cost
The Markells bring their own gear (harnesses, shoes, chalk bags, top-rope gear for 4 — see the packing list), so it's just the day-pass cost for them. Non-Markells pay $31/person for day pass + gear rental — confirmed current price. First-timers get a free orientation; a belay check is required to top-rope with your own partner (the Markells should clear this without issue).
Non-climbers
Spectating is free. The Kid Zone gives younger family members something to do without climbing. Otherwise, pair the day with the aquarium or a North Shore lunch — everything's walkable from the same downtown cluster.
Booking
No reservation required for general climbing — walk in, sign the waiver (can be done online ahead of time or on a gym tablet).
Thu · Jul 9 ✅ BOOKED · Booking #359376355
Middle Ocoee Rafting ✅ BOOKED
Confirmed
OAR · Booking #359376355 · Thu Jul 9, 11:45 AM–3:15 PM ET · 10 people · 629 Welcome Valley Rd, Benton TN 37307 · (423) 338-5746. Check-in 11:15 AM ET. Leave cabin ~8:45 AM CT. Off water 3:15 PM ET → home ~4:00 PM CT.
Cancellation: now within the 2-week window — cancellation = trip voucher only (good through 2026 season), no cash refund.
⚠ Waiver
Everyone rafting must complete a waiver BEFORE arriving on site. Forward this link to all 10 participants — OAR can see who has completed it. Fill out individually.
📋 Complete your waiver
https://ubok.me/5xeaz3/2
Scan to fill out
The trip
5 miles of continuous Class III–IV, 17 named rapids (Grumpy's, Double Trouble, Table Saw, Hell Hole), ~1.5 hrs on the water; plan ~3.5 hrs total with shuttle, briefing, and changing. 10 rafters (Jackie at base camp) across two guided rafts of 5 + guide each. Age 12+ strict — all five teens clear.
Leave by
Leave cabin ~8:45 AM CT → arrive 11:15 ET → launch 11:45 ET → off water 3:15 PM ET → home ~4:00 PM CT. Longest day away from base camp — crockpot started at 8:30 AM CT gives 7.5 hrs on low by the time you're back.
🏊 On the way home
Parksville Lake sits right on US-64 on the drive back — two public swim areas, $3 parking. A natural cool-off stop before the final stretch.
Bring / wear
Closed-toe water shoes or tennis shoes (no flip-flops), quick-dry clothes/swimsuit, sunscreen, strap for glasses. Leave phones/keys in the car. Trips run rain or shine; OAR halts in lightning.
Tue · Jul 7
Raccoon Mountain Caverns
The plan
A constant 58°F — the perfect mid-week heat break. Pick your level:
Crystal Palace walking tour (~45–55 min, lit paths, steps & handrails) — easy, educational, great for the whole group. Wild-cave expeditions — a 2-hr canyon crawl (~$60) or a 3.5-hr waterfall-dome route (~$125) with crawling, climbing & the "49-cent squeeze," for the adventurous splinter.
Access
Even the walking tour has stairs and narrow passages; wild-cave routes add crawling and carry age/height/weight limits (walking tour excludes kids 3 & under). Anyone not up for it can fish or relax instead.
Wear (wild)
Full-length sturdy pants (jeans/cargo — not elastic/leggings, they snag on belly crawls), long-sleeve lightweight top, lace-up closed-toe shoes with traction. Helmets, lights, gloves & kneepads are provided — no personal caving gear allowed. Shorts/short sleeves = turned away.
Booking
Open daily 9–6 (first tour 9:30, last ~4:30; Sat till 5:30). Reserve ahead — midweek is easier than weekends. 319 West Hills Dr · (423) 821-9403. Gem panning add-on for the kids.
✅ Weather
Placed on the highest-risk day on purpose — three forecast sources all flag Tue 7/7 as the trip's worst-confidence weather day (heaviest precip totals, lowest agreement). A cave 58°F underground doesn't care either way, which is exactly why it sits here now instead of clays.
Plus fishing
Casting can run in parallel or as the afternoon add-on — Nickajack / Hales Bar, or the TVA reservoir on top of Raccoon Mountain. See the On-Site section below.
🌮 Dinner stop
On the drive back, swing by Kirkpatrick's Foodland (South Pittsburg, TN, right on I-24) for taco-night fixings — see the Meals doc for the full list.
Wed · Jul 8
Barnsley — Beretta Shooting Grounds
The plan
Morning sporting clays only — two 15-station courses, covered five-stand, and the Italian Helice (ZZ) game. Experienced self-guided. Home by early-mid afternoon to relax at the cabin.
Beretta Shooting Grounds · 597 Barnsley Gardens Rd NW, Adairsville GA · Outpost: (770) 773-7480. Matt brings his own 12 & 20 gauge + vests; rentals & ammo available on site.
Clays $
$65 / 100 rounds · $35 / 50 · add gun rental $40 · cart $25 · shells $15/box (12 & 20 ga on site).
Non-shooters
Intro five-stand, UTV ride through the foothills, spa, pool. Golf is bookable at the public rate (~$140/18, call Golf Shop 770-773-2555) if anyone breaks off — but the group poll is clays only.
Bring / pack
12 & 20 gauge guns (cased, unloaded for transport) · shooting vests · ear & eye protection · shells (if room in Rivian — 12 & 20 ga available on site as backup) · clays shooting glove(s).
Booking
Call the Outpost to reserve a morning window — ask about the lightning/weather cancellation policy when booking (see weather flag below).
⏱ Time cost
Worth being upfront about this — it's a full-day commitment: ~1.5 hrs drive out + 2–3 hrs clays + lunch (resort dining or Adairsville) + ~1.5 hrs back ≈ 6.5–7.5 hrs round trip, even shooting morning-only. Not a quick outing — factor that against a lighter, heat-easier day.
Leave by
~1h30 drive + the −1 hr shift. For a 9:00 AM ET start → depart ~6:30 AM CT. Morning shoot done by noon ET → home ~1:30–2:00 PM CT. Afternoon is free at the cabin.
👀 Weather
Moved here from Tuesday since this is the trip's one fully-outdoor, lightning-sensitive activity. Three sources agree Tuesday was the worst day, but which day past that is genuinely best is still unsettled — AccuWeather and meteoblue disagree on Wed specifically. Confirm Barnsley's cancellation/lightning policy at booking, and re-check the forecast closer in before locking the date if you have flexibility. See the Master Plan weather section for the latest cross-source read.
Rule
No alcohol before or during shooting — bank the beers for back at the cabin (chicken's waiting).
Mon · Jul 6
Foster Falls swim day
The falls
60-ft plunge waterfall in South Cumberland State Park, Marion County — a genuinely great pick given the heat, since the payoff is a real swimming hole, not just a viewpoint. Three trail options depending on appetite:
🟢 Overlook Trail
0.4 mi round trip, ~15 min, easy. A short, mostly flat walk to a view of the falls — no descent, no scrambling. Good for anyone who just wants to see it.
🟡 Base Trail — the main event
0.6 mi round trip, ~30–45 min, moderate (144 ft elevation change). Rocky, steep in spots, crosses a suspension bridge, ends at the plunge pool and swimming hole. Reviews consistently flag it as slippery when wet and rocky the last stretch — water shoes or grip sandals matter more than sneakers here. This is where the group should plan to spend real time.
🔵 Climbers Loop — for anyone wanting more
1.8 mi loop, ~1–1.5 hr, moderate. Runs the rim on the Fiery Gizzard Trail past the climbing-access bluffs before dropping to the same base pool. More views, more distance, still ends at the swimming hole — a good option for whoever wants a proper hike before the swim.
Tips from trail reviews
Start early — the base trail gets crowded and hot by midday in summer. Dogs allowed on leash. Trail is open year-round; best February–November. Rocky and genuinely slippery when wet — worth checking the morning forecast before committing to the base trail specifically.
Bring
Water shoes / grippy sandals (not flip-flops — several reviews specifically warn against them on the rocky final stretch), towel & swimsuit, plenty of water, sunscreen.
Friday's Heat Bailouts
Lookout's the plan — these are the fallback if the morning's too brutal🌲 Big Frog drive
Mostly vehicle AC, with a swim payoff. The Ocoee Scenic Byway (US-64) is the same road you already drive to rafting — it's the first-ever National Forest scenic byway, winding through the Ocoee Gorge past Parksville Lake and into the Big Frog/Cohutta backcountry. Two ways to use it:
Easy version: just the byway drive + a stop at Parksville Lake (two public swim areas, $3 parking) — genuinely on the way home from the Ocoee, no real detour.
Bigger version: continue past the rafting outfitters deeper into the gorge on Forest Service roads toward Big Frog Wilderness — officially "Big Frog Road" on Trails Offroad (Matt's a member, full route/waypoints there). Address for nav apps: Big Frog Rd, Copperhill, TN 37317. Per the trail guide: unmaintained, ~1,000 ft of elevation gain, nothing technically difficult but scattered rocky patches need driver attention — the Rivian handles it fine, with a charging top-up worked into the route via ABRP if needed. Rated 4.7/5, and notably quieter than the popular trails nearby. Ends at Tumbling Creek, a quiet inlet on Ocoee Lake #3 good for a real swim. This is a genuine half-day-plus add, not a quick stop — it continues further east, away from home, before you double back. Budget accordingly.
Bonus from the same trailhead area: the Hemp Top Trail climbs to Big Frog Mountain's summit at 4,000+ ft — a serious hike, not a quick add, but worth knowing it's there if anyone wants more than the drive.
Note: the Ocoee Whitewater Center itself burned down in 2022, but the Tanasi trail system and the gorge views remain.
🛶 Second raft day
Given OAR's pricing, a second Middle Ocoee run is a real heat-relief option — cold dam-release water is the most reliable AC on the trip, and it's a proven hit from Monday. Worth it if the group would rather have more whitewater than more sightseeing. Same booking flow as Monday (group rate, 10:30 ET slot if available).
Fri · Jul 10 · the headline bonus day
Lookout Mountain — Rock City · Ruby Falls · Incline
The plan
Kate's top pick for the trip, and the day built around it. The classic Lookout triple, each separately ticketed but bundled in the Triple Play combo:
Ruby Falls — 260-ft glass-front elevator descent into the mountain, guided cave walk to the tallest underground waterfall open to the public in the U.S. Allow ~2–2.5 hrs.
Rock City — rock gardens, narrow passages, Lover's Leap, sweeping views. Allow ~1.5–2 hrs.
Incline Railway — one of the steepest passenger railways in the world, "America's most amazing mile," up to a mile-high overlook. Allow ~1 hr.
Order & timing
Start by ~10 AM ET to comfortably fit all three — sources confirm a 10 AM start is the standard recommendation for a same-day triple. Ruby Falls first is the smart sequence: the cave's a constant cool temp, good while the morning's still bearable, before the heat builds for the more exposed Rock City and Incline later. ~15 min drive between each site.
Full day budget: ~2–2.5 hrs (Ruby Falls) + ~1.5–2 hrs (Rock City) + ~1 hr (Incline) + ~30 min total driving between ≈ 5.5–7 hrs, plus lunch. An all-day outing, not a half-day add-on.
Lunch
Rock City has on-site dining (Café 7); Ruby Falls has a café too. Easiest to eat at whichever site you're at around midday rather than driving off-mountain and back.
Pricing detail
Triple Play combo runs ~$46–48/adult, ~$24–25/child depending on source — confirm exact at booking. Individually: Ruby Falls alone ~$18 adult, Incline alone ~$17.60 round trip adult. The combo is the better value if doing all three.
If it's brutal heat
Mostly paved, but real sun exposure at the overlooks. Two heat-bailouts stay on the table if the morning forecast looks rough: a second OAR raft trip (cold water), or the Big Frog scenic drive + swim (mostly vehicle AC). See those cards above/below. Lookout sits right by St. Elmo, so it flows straight into Dinner Out #2 either way.
Booking
Buy the combo online to skip lines; Ruby Falls in particular uses timed entries in summer.
Leave by
~45-min drive + the −1 hr shift. For a ~10 AM ET start → leave the cabin ~7:15 AM CT.
On-Site & Low-Key
the basecamp itself · all Central time🦇 Bat cave
The base-camp headliner. Nickajack Cave — right across the water from the property — is a summer maternity roost for 100,000+ endangered gray bats. From late April to early October (peak June–July), at dusk they pour out in a continuous stream for ~45 minutes. The host's "nature reserve down the hill" is the Maple View Public Use Area: boat ramp, swim beach, and a 1,000-ft boardwalk to an observation platform.
Three ways to see it, cheap to splurgy:
1) Free — the boardwalk overlook. Walk the 5-min boardwalk at Maple View to the viewing platform. No boat, no cost, no booking. One reviewer specifically called this out as the budget move — full view of the emergence, just from land instead of water.
2) FL family's kayaks, if they have them. Confirmed: no kayaks are provided by the cabins — the property's site advertising "kayak rental" doesn't pan out on the ground. If either FL family owns kayaks and is willing to bring them, that solves the paddle option for free. Worth a quick check with them.
3) Guided sunset paddle tour — the full experience. ~3-mi paddle, all gear + narration provided, max 20 (fits all 11). Costs more but handles the logistics (lights, route, bat/bird info) end to end — the fallback if the resort kayak count comes up short.
Emergence ~30 min after sunset (~8:25–8:30 PM CT in early July; Maple View gate closes 9 PM CT). The cave interior is gated/closed to protect the bats regardless of how you view it. Bring binoculars, and a headlamp/light if paddling back after dark.
🛶 Paddle & boat
Calm-water paddling right off the property — but the cabins don't provide kayaks (confirmed, despite the property's own site advertising "kayak rental"). Bring your own or check if the FL family can. Towing a boat? Several day-use areas around Nickajack have boat ramps, including the one down the hill, plus a roped-off swim area. No commercial kayak/canoe rental shops found nearby — Hales Bar and the other area marinas rent powerboats/pontoons, not paddlecraft.
🎣 Fishing
Nickajack is good for bass, crappie & catfish. Cast from the property, the day-use ramps, Hales Bar Marina, or the TVA reservoir atop Raccoon Mountain.
Anyone 13+ fishing needs a Tennessee license — a short-term/day permit runs roughly $11 (confirm current rate & buy online first).
🏊 Pool & swim
The compound's pool plus the roped swim area / swim beach down the hill. Ridge views and the grills anchor the cook-in nights — a full menu of do-nothing between bigger days.
🎆 Jul 4
Neighbors around the lake shoot off fireworks (visible from the resort); sparklers & pop-its are fine on-site, full fireworks aren't (fire risk). The formal show is at Coolidge Park in Chattanooga (~40 min) — but road-weary, the base-camp combo of grill + sparklers + bat paddle wins.