Sandi's Stories: Trains and Falls

We have been gone all day and are all tired but I feel like we haven't done much. Does anyone else get that feeling on vacation? We started our day at the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. Which is a train that runs up the side of Lookout Moutain. It is about a mile long ride and there towards the end you are looking straight down.

Up we go....

And your starting to lose the track.

At the top of Lookout Mountain there are some of the breathaking views. This is Chatanooga that you are seeing.

And the Tennessee River.

On the way down we went from Wheeee

to Zzzzzz in no time at all. (the lady in the background was having some issues of her own and I hate when I get people like that in my pictures cause now she will forever be part of my vacation)

After we left Lookout Mountain we went to Ruby Falls which is known for the "Falls" inside a cave. Before we ventured into that we ate at their cafe and let Lil Hoff play on the playground they had there.

He loved it!

He kept saying "U Ready?" before he slid down the slide and I would say "Yes" and he would come

This time he said "U Ready?" And then something caught his eye and he tumbled coming down face first. I then asked him "Was you ready for that?" and he said "Nope". Too funny!

Here we go into the cave. I know many of you have been shaking your head at my vacation with Lil Hoff. Things I was not prepared for, items I thought he would love and he did not, time allocated that did not work out. But on this I will not be to blame. I read the brochure and there was no mention of what was to come. I really believe there needs to be a brochure printed on EVERY tourist attraction that is written by a parent of a toddler that is impartial and you can then make a informed decision. I expierenced my biggest fear as a mother today. We are deep into a cave and Lil Hoff starts throwing a tantrum. He does not throw tantrums, he isn't that kid, but he picks today in a cave when his voice naturally echoes to throw a fit and be determined to get his way. Betwen Farmboy carrying Lil Hoff, Farmboy holding Lil Hoff's hand. Me carrying Lil Hoff, me holding Lil Hoff's hand, giving him a drink, taking the drink away, making sure he doesn't play in mud, making sure he doesn't sit in mud, making sure he didn't venture off into the cave, making sure he doesn't bonk his head on the cave, and overall making sure that we all have a very good time for the mile round trip hike, we was all exhausted by then end of the cave. Farmboy and I were both ready to split from the group and find our own way out. (NOTE: there was no mention of a mile hike to see the waterfall, that you got 1 minute to look at before the lights went out and you had to leave)

Pessimist hat off, Optimist hat on