On the last day of my Chattanooga Thanksgiving getaway a flip of the coin landed me at the world renowned highest rated aquarium in America, the Tennessee Aquarium. Known greatly for its 10,000 animal collection including amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals, plants, reptiles and butterflies my anticipation grew to an un-measureable level just thinking of the possibilities to come. Upon arrival to the aquarium and purchasing my ticket, I was swept upstairs by an escalator to an enchanted water village with calypso music wafting in the air from a band playing in a lobby area below. After exiting the escalator I was granted the opportunity to be up close and personal with some of the aquatic animals on display. I had the likelihood to place my hand, two fingers please, in a water tank and stroke the Southern Stingray and Shovelnose Guitarfish. Both these fish were very receptive to touch and came up to the edge of the water tank to greet all onlookers. With mist falling from water lines above, I noticed certain areas of the aquarium can become rather humid yet the animals will amass your attention away from the temperature.
The aquarium exuded an excellent decorum, for all the areas I visited replicated areas in which particular animals originated. In some areas of the aquarium you get the sensation of being drawn away to a tropical wonderland and in other areas a swamp land. The Tennessee Aquarium offered other things for the aquatic enthusiast like the IMAX 3D theater and River Gorge Explorer. The IMAX Theater allows patrons the option to view new IMAX 3D movies in a plush air conditioned environment. These movies grant you to plunge into amazing underwater adventures or travel to fascinating lands. With a six-story IMAX screen considered the largest in the region, the screen allows for a life size blue whale to be seen at its actual size. At 89 feet wide and 66 feet tall, the Aquarium’s IMAX 3D Theater has one whale of a screen, to say the least, which almost doubles the size requirements needed to earn them the title as Chattanooga’s only Certified Giant Screen. This IMAX Theater within the aquarium is like no other, granting patrons an engaging movie going experience to last a lifetime.
Another additional attraction of the Tennessee Aquarium includes the River Gorge Explorer and all its wonders. This speed boat or speed luxury cruise liner is a 70 passenger catamaran and the first of its kind in the southeast. The boat transports guests downstream into Tennessee’s Grand Canyon (Tennessee River Gorge) on a 26 mile/27,000 acre voyage of protected land. The waterway is home to an array of plants and animals, wildlife and historic points of interest all identified by an aquarium naturalist aboard the ship leading the excursion. Four water jets propel this hydrofoil-assisted craft smoothly and swiftly downstream. Angled seating allows each guest to relax in a climate-controlled cabin and enjoy the scenic beauty and wildlife through oversized windows enhancing the experience to the fullest. Aboard this vessel guests are shown notable military points between Downtown Chattanooga and historic Pot Point. The Tennessee Aquarium naturalists highlight strategic locations for passengers aboard the River Gorge Explorer as well to give a more thorough sense of what the Civil War was like on the Tennessee River valley.
When thinking of the Butterfly garden well it was astounding to see the large display of butterflies soaring freely amongst the guests and landing upon our heads and shoulders. Surrounded by the sounds of wild birds in the air the Butterfly garden had the distinct factor of coming alive right before my eyes. Another discrete area was the Penguin’s Rock where I and other guests got face to face with Gentoo and Macaroni penguins behind a protective glass. These frigid temperature loving birds never appeared to miss a chance to swim, dive, or waddle around while on-lookers stared at them through a huge protective glass. At the entrance way into the Penguin’s Rock guests flock at the chance to take pictures next to the large sized mannequin penguin at the doorway. This site appears to be a vacationer’s delight as the line for the traditional picture began to swell. With kids running freely pointing and shouting, Happy Feet, the penguins commenced to put on a deep water display of swimming mastery. The entire aquarium was a delight to say the least with the leveled corridors that allow you to coil in and out to different scenic areas delivering an experience to remember. Other key points of interest were the Cove Forest, Delta Swamp, Tropical Cove, and Secret Reef. This experience granted me the chance to witness the largest turtle shell ever, a curved-necked turtle and a catfish weighing in at nearly 150lbs. Oh the wonders of the world and how they never seem to let us down when it comes to shock value.
My visit to the Tennessee Aquarium was one of amazement and wonder, joy and intrigue, all on a learned level. A level that will draw me back to the site in the future for more since the aquarium is in the process of building another area for more salt and deep water animals which will more than likely include more alligators and sharks of larger size. I must say for a Thanksgiving getaway this had to be the best ever. This Thanksgiving, considering it didn’t include anything traditional tops them all with the things I had the opportunity to encounter. At the present moment this experience will subsist in my mind forever for the joy it delivered at a necessary time.
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