Head to the Tennessee Aquarium
This week, I was looking for something fun and educational for my twins and I to do while beating the heat. After looking at a couple of different options, I decided to go to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. It is only about 95 miles from the Rocket City and a very easy drive along U.S. 72 and I-24. The aquarium has two unique displays in two separate buildings.
The first is the River Journey exhibit, which includes several exhibits of different river systems from around the world providing you the opportunity to see a wide range of fish, mammals and reptiles. Your journey begins with a visit to the habitat of two playful river otters.
Then, you entire into the heart of the River Journey building, a four story multi-aquarium with exhibits of the Tennessee River, a flooded Amazon Jungle and the Gulf of Mexico. It is in this part that you move from floor-to-floor gradually down ramps in the multi-story aquariums and in-and-out of unique exhibits and aquariums displaying live creatures from rivers from around the world. On your journey you will see alligators, rattlesnakes, Beluga Sturgeon, Paddlefish, Piranha and much, much more. Also be sure to stop at the Lake Sturgeon exhibit. Here you can pet a Lake Sturgeon.
As you can see, Addie and Alex LOVED this exhibit!
The second major exhibit area is the Ocean Journey. Here you start at the top of the exhibit by entering into a tropical-like jungle. It is in this jungle that you will discover fresh-water rays and be serenaded by two Hyacinth Macaws.
In this area you have the opportunity to pet stingrays and sharks, which I highly recommend. There is also a butterfly habitat. On the next floor, you will start your journey at the penguin encounter where Macaroni and Gentoo penguins can be found. This is a must see, especially right now! There is a 3-week old Macaroni chick and several other penguins guarding their eggs. It was very interesting to watch how protective the parents are of the chick and also how the other penguins in the community reacted towards it.
As you leave the penguin exhibit you enter into the reaf which includes salt-water fish from around the world including sharks.
The aquarium also has a large and extensive exhibit of jelly fish and invertebrates.
As you can likely tell, the twins and I had a wonderful time and I strongly recommend this as a day trip for you and your family as a way to beat the heat.
Dale Bader / Meteorologist, Storm Force 31
