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22 reviews for Tennessee Aquarium
Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. I heard good things about this aquarium. In my mind I thought - It's an aquarium in TN; could it really compare to say Chicago's or Monterey's aquariums?
The answer is YES! Tennessee you just keep blowing my mind! Just when I think you can't any better you prove me wrong!
This place is gigantic. You can spend hours in here and we did! There's an array of fish to see and turtles, sharks, snakes, and alligators!! The seahorses and jellyfish were cute. Who doesn't love watching River Otters play?
They had a great butterfly exhibit too..yes a butterfly exhibit in the aquarium. Odd? Yes, but fascinating. They fly right up on you! It's really cool!
The area itself is great too. Lots of little restaurants around and very scenic along the river. My suggestion is to cross over the river to the Northshore area. Tons to do and eat!
Have fun!
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This is a great aquarium! I visited here with friends this past weekend and completely enjoyed the experience. The Tennessee Aquarium has two buildings, River Journey and Ocean Journey. We started in the River Journey building, which is four floors of various exhibits of animals and fish from around the Tennessee area's rivers. I particularly enjoyed the River Otters, they were fun to watch as they played and swam around. There were also small alligators, turtles (some of them are huge), and many, many fish. The size of the tanks are impressive... some of them as deep as the four floors of the building!
At various points around the Aquarium, they have a phone number that you can call from your cell-phone and you can hear more about the exhibit you are looking at. I tried this a couple of times and was impressed. The recordings are lively and interesting and not all read by the same person. The phone system is "smart" and recognizes when you've called back.
After spending a good two and half hours in the River Journey building, we visited the Ocean Journey building. In both buildings you start at the top floor via elevator or escalator and wind your way down. At Ocean Journey's top floor you not only get to see some stingrays, you get to pet them too. There is an expert at the petting "zoo", who explains that the stingrays are used to being petted and that their stingers are cut back so that they can't sting you. There are plenty of stingrays that go around the large exhibit so there's plenty of places to pet them... kids love it! Parents will be glad to know there are hand-dryers in the nearby "sharks mouths" and sanitizer nearby too.
Also on the top floor is the butterfly exhibit, while not an "Ocean" creature, they are still fun to look at. I like watching butterflys and all their colors, so we didn't nearly spend enough time in this part of the exhibit for me! But there was more to see! As we ventured downstairs, we got to see the penguins (yet another exhibit I could watch all day), sharks, and the colorful fishes of the saltwater variety. Down on the first level is the Aquariums latest exhibit, the Jellyfish. I thought that the jellyfish "artwork" was very interesting and that even the jellyfish exhibits themselves were like a work of art. I was very impressed.
This is one huge aquarium. Plan at least four hours to see everything (unless you want to rush through it). They have a lot of animals and exhibits here and if you like the aquatic life like I do, you'll definitely want to take your time to see everything.
They also have a "Behind the Scenes" tour and a "River Gorge Explorer" tour, that I didn't do this time, but I will certainly be back to check these out!
This is most definitely a "no frills" aquarium, but you know what? It's awesome! We went here for Christmas a few years ago, and I was blown away by the variety of fish they have. And the place is HUGE! We spent at least 3 hours going thru the entire place.
I also love the setup, very easy to get thru it and the foot traffic flowed well - not a lot of folks bumping into each other like at other aquariums.
Enjoyed the IMAX theater show too, that was a cool addition that the GA Aquarium should think about adding.
Wish it was closer would most def go here before going the GA Aquarium again.
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I love this aquarium! I used to have a membership, when I lived in TN, so I would go pretty often. It never got old. The enclosures were created in a very thoughtful manner and they seem to maintain it very well. I love the huge tanks and multiple views that the layout allows for. Also, there's a very good mix of fresh and salt water animals. One of my favorite things to do in Chattanooga.
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Great Place.
Price is reasonable. It is very well designed and well kept up... the museum and the actual exhibit spaces are very clean and nice.
The signage is very good to explain everything you're looking at. It's spacious enough to see all the exhibits and not feel cramped (even with tons of kids, strollers, etc).
I've been to the Shedd in Chicago, Georgia Aquarium, Baltimore/National Aquarium and I would put the Chatt aquarium up with all of them ..... they don't have the Wow creatures that some have but the diversity of species and design of the museum is fantastic.
Impressive facility in a town the size of Chattanooga.
This was wonderful!
Make sure you have at least 2-3 hours to spend. There are 2 separate aquarium buildings - the River Journey (freshwater) and the Ocean Journey (saltwater). This is the largest freshwater aquarium in the country (and maybe the world?) and was so amazing. You can't believe all the exhibits they have, and how big it is. When we were there they had a new seahorse exhibit, which was well worth it.
There's also an IMAX, but we chose not to see it.
There's a lot of walking involved, and few benches or places to sit, so keep it in mind if taking older guests.
One of the best aquariums in the world sits right in Chattanooga, TN. I never would have imagined it, either, but there you have it. I've visited many aquariums near and far, and while the Monterey Bay outfit remains my absolute favorite, this one comes in a close second.
Reiterating what all whom have come before me have stated:
::: Well-designed. It is housed in two buildings, salt water and fresh. The exhibits are arranged thematically, organically flowing from one to the other: moving from graduating elevations through various bodies of water. This makes for leisurely and uncrowded viewing. I can't stress how refreshing I find it when people actually know what they're doing.
:: Informative. Adults and children alike will open their eyes wide. It's not dumbed down nor is it out of reach. The hands-on opportunities with stingrays, nurse sharks and other creatures are wildly entertaining. Especially if you're afraid of such things.
:: Penguins and butterflies and otters! Oh my! They don't only have the things you'd expect to find in your friendly neighborhood fish tank, but also the things that make you ooooooooh and aaaaaaaah for hours on end. The penguins alone will entertain even the most a.d.d-ridden of children. And boyfriends.
Will you look at that? I just talked myself into going for the umpteenth time.
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I love the layout of this aquarium. This was the first time that I have been back since they added the new wing and I enjoyed it as much as their original exhibit. In addition to fish, they have a butterfly exhibit. This is an aquarium that I could spend many hours in by grabbing a seat, relaxing and enjoying the sea life doing their thing.
Brilliant Day Out.
Superb aquarium. Very nicely presented and well thought out. It is split into River Journey and Ocean Journey. The first building houses exhibits from various rivers around the world and a huge Gulf of Mexico tank. The second houses the Marine displays including Penguins and a 3 story reef and shark tank. The coral is fake and superbly done, no destruction of the Coral reefs to form this exhibit.
The icing on the cake however (and the cake was pretty excellent) was the behind the scenes tour. It was very informative for me, an engineer who wants to know how things work, and my daughter, an 11 year old who wants to see how the animals are kept and fed.
Great aquarium and great day out.
Easily the best aquairum ever. But everyone says that about everywhere, so allow me to define it.
1) Huge.
2) Well structured by eco-system, and stocked with lots of useful information. For a counter example, go to Atlanta.
3) Lots of stuff to touch. Some aquariums are all "oh, here's a starfish" or whatever. Not this place. Sturgeons, nurse sharks, rays, and then just gobs of fish I can't remember.
4) The butterfly house. My friend, St. Frances of Assisi herself, spent an hour letting butterflies land on her and then putting them on small children. It was like a Disney movie, but less gag inducing.
5) The redeveloped waterfront area. Let's be honest, you're coming to Chattanooga for the day (or more). The free shuttle takes you anywhere you want. The waterfront and pedestrian bridges are beautiful. They have Mellow Mushroom pizza. What else could you ask for.
Oh yeah - booze on Sundays. None of that here. You were warned.
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Definitely the best aquarium I have ever been to. I haven't been everywhere in the world, so I can't claim it's the best anywhere, but someone would really have to do something excessively stellar to compete with the Tennessee Aquarium. Coming into Chattanooga, it's very hard to not notice that the most fascinating architecture in downtown are two giant triangular prisms on the Tennessee Riverfront. This is the Tennessee Aquarium. The West building is the River tour. The East is the Ocean tour. Both are necessary to see and both were amazing. Unlike most aquariums, this had hands-on features to it. You got to pet lots of sea creatures from sting rays, to sturgeons, to sharks. Some things I loved about this aquarium:
- The atmosphere. The rooms are well-conditioned, have a perfect dark lighting, and even have fitting music to go with the theme of what you're studying. For instance, when you're studying the Mississippi Delta, there is kind of a light blue grass music in the background.
- Extensive. They cover ALOT from penguins to "boneless beauties" as they call it. (jellyfish and octopus) to Moray eels. You will be awe-struck at some of the strange sea creatures you will encounter including some strange species of sea horses.
- It is well organized. Information will flow logically from one topic to the next. Having it split into freshwater and saltwater was a great idea.
- The ability to call a number and press a button for more information on what you're looking at.
- The staff's willingness to let you stay after hours if you get in before close to see everything at your own pace.
- The myriad of extra information you get. For instance, you don't just simply see animals and move on. You learn about them, their environment, their statistics, interesting facts about them, and even information not relating to animals but to geology, rivers, natural formations, erosion, and a river's ecosystem and how it impacts our environment.
- The butterfly room is awesome. They trust you to handle the butterflies and you're in a room covered in all different kinds of butterflies.
My favorite area is definitely the jellyfish and octopus area. They offer the perfect mix of beauty, mystery, and perceived danger.
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This is actually a really great aquarium. The price is pretty steep, but it's well worth it. You can spend hours in here since it's so large. It's located right on the waterfront, so there's plenty of great photo spots inside and outside.
Best Aquarium in TN, hands down. I own an annual membership since I come here that often. It's far bigger, and more advanced than any tourist attraction(RIPLEYS) aquarium in TN. The selection is huge, with two buildings for fresh and salt water. Such a beautiful place, in a great location, If you ever come to visit Chattanooga, this place is definitely supposed to be on your agenda.
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A regular stop for field trips during my school years, the Tennessee Aquarium is/was the highlight of Chattanooga's major downtown renewal in the late 80s-early 90s. It's a gem of a museum in an area filled with excellent attractions for those interested in nature, science, or history.
My nieces adore this place. They're otter freaks and huge fans of aquatic life in general, so since my brother first had a condom break my family's been going here pretty frequently. Looking at fish in huge tanks is both incredible and a bit freaky for me, and I blame this place in part for my shift to vegetarianism.
Warning: Everything in the gift shop is so adorable that your kids will want to take it all home...and you will, too.
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The Tennessee Aquarium is much better than the Georgia Aquarium. If you're ever in Chattanooga, I recommend you go check it out. I really enjoyed it.
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Always worth the visit, and I highly recommend season passes!
This is a must see. I brought my family down on business during spring break. We spent an afternoon at the acquarium, and it ranks among the best we have visited (and we've visited several). The original section is freshwater, and extremely well done. I learned a lot about our nation's river systems and the animals that live in them. The exhibits held my kids' attention (ages 9 and 11) which is, of course, a plus.
The saltwater side is newer and pretty similar to any other saltwater acquarium you might visit. I did like the fact that you can view the large acquarium from multiple levels (water depths) which was pretty cool.
Parking is very convenient and reasonably priced. There are museums, restaurants, and an IMAX theater in the immediate area, which makes this a great one-stop day for you and your family.
If you are traveling to or through Chattanooga, try to allow a few hours for an acquarium visit. You won't regret it!
I loved this aquarium. Chattanooga, TN was surprisingly a very beautiful. Loved the exhibits. Everything was my favorite place. Will return (see picture)
Best bargain in town when friends and family come in. Great area to showoff to folks. Lots of places around area to eat and shop as well.
The TA is by far one of the big attractions in Chattanooga and the surrounding area. Its also well deserved. I can say with certainty that I have been to the TA at least 7 times if not more. Every time I go I can see new things that were not previously on view.
I had my first kiss at the TA. No joke. I should quit referring to it as ta b/c I think I might give you the wrong impression. Her name was Candy and we kissed underneath the over walk in the front of the building. I even gave her my class ring. After we broke up, she refused to give it back . That's a whole other story.
The outside is a sight to begin with. They have running water all around the building and you can get in and play. Its really fun. I'm not too proud to admit I have jumped in several times with friends.
The inside is really fun too. You have to just enjoy the ride and be willing to learn new things. Its not just for kids. Anyone can enjoy the different exhibits. I love nature and wildlife so this place is great for me. Hope you enjoy it too!
Love it! So much better than the Georgia Aquarium. For you Atlanta natives, make the trip. It's so worth it!!
Its a pretty awesome aquarium and there are tons of little shops and restaurants in this area of town. The only thing is that now there is the Atlanta Aquarium... so this one isn't really worth a special trip anymore.
