Chet’s birthday was yesterday, so this past weekend, we took a day trip to Chattanooga to visit the Tennessee Aquarium. Here are a few pictures I snapped with my phone, if you’d like to see…
The aquarium is separated into two buildings — Ocean Journey and River Journey. The former houses the saltwater habitats and showcases playful penguins, touchable stingrays, beautiful butterflies and a spectacular coral reef with big sharks and schools of fish.
They also had a HUGE jellyfish exhibit featuring every type of jellyfish you could imagine plus a bunch of art inspired by the species! I loved how extraterrestrial these guys looked…
…and these glass blown pieces were STUNNING.
Digger and Louie the otters! You can read more about the Tennessee Aquarium enrichment practices HERE.
If you didn’t know, Chet adores visiting aquariums and creating/maintaining little sea-life ecosystems of his own is one of his most beloved hobbies. (We even visited the Newport Aquarium the day we got engaged!) Needless to say, he had a ball!
The River Journey building included exhibits featuring rivers nearby (like the Tennessee River) and around the world (like the Amazon). The Mississippi Delta exhibit, and Alligator Bayou specifically, felt very familiar.
Random highlights? Pig-nosed turtles…
…a Twitter powered by Electric Eels…
…and a tank dedicated to the very lake we drove across to get to Chattanooga!
Such a magical way to spend the afternoon. Just observing all the beautiful creatures…
…and making wonderful memories!
Thanks Tennessee Aquarium! We had a wonderful visit and hope to visit again soon.
The birthday boy gave this adventure a big TWO THUMBS UP!
Here are a few other adventures we would recommend:
Salato Wildlife Center
Florida Everglades
Festivals Acadiens
Finding delight. 
I haven’t been to an aquarium in years but I think we may visit one while we’re at the beach in August. I love when they have the tunnels that are all around you and full of color.
The tunnels are definitely the best part!!
What a fantastic day out!! I love aquariums and made sure to visit the one in Monterey when we were there. The Ocean Journey habitat looks amazing here – that would be such a special birthday treat! 🙂
The one in Monterey is definitely on my husband’s bucket list! I’d love to plan a trip out there in the near future.
Seems like you had a lot of fun. 🙂 This aquarium looks so cool and i would also love to visit this place one day. 🙂
I would highly recommend it! 🙂
I love aquariums!! Always so fansinating. Such a great way to spend a birthday!
https://chausadventure.com/
We had a marvelous time!
Oh what a lovely thing to do on a birthday! I’m a bit afraid of aquariums for some reason haha 😀 happy to hear he enjoyed it!
I could see why they’d be a bit scary. There were a few families there that brought kids who I thought might be too young for some of the exhibits (like the sharks!). Their little ones looked terrified.
Such a magical place! I love aquariums and I remember how excited I was in Barcelona’s. Happy Birthday to your man dear!
Thank you, Helene! ❤
Always have a love/hate places with aquariums and zoos, but I enjoy going to see how the animals are kept.
I haven’t been to the Tennessee Aquarium but it looks amazing! Lots of great animals and love your photos!