If you’re planning a trip to Chattanooga with kids, the Tennessee Aquarium should definitely be on your radar. Sitting right along the downtown riverfront, this two-building aquarium invites families into an immersive journey literally walking from mountaintop streams to the ocean depths.
With thousands of animals and hands-on learning moments, it’s the kind of place your kids will remember for years. In fact, we took our kids once when they were little and again as teens!
Here’s everything we found helpful—plus a walk-through of what you’ll see in each building: River Journey and Ocean Journey.
🌟 Why the Tennessee Aquarium Belongs on Your Family Bucket List
- Two Aquariums in One: With River Journey and Ocean Journey offering totally different ecosystems in two aquarium buildings, you’ll explore everything from Appalachian streams to coral reefs in one visit.
- Great for All Ages: We had fun visiting with our teens, but we also saw toddlers splashing in the water play area and older adults enjoying the exhibits. There’s something here for everyone, no matter their age. Touch tanks, butterfly gardens, penguin name bands, and underwater viewing tunnels keep kids engaged—and adults intrigued too.
- Thoughtful, Easy-to-Explore Design: Start at the top and wind your way down through immersive exhibits. It’s stroller-friendly, well-paced, and refreshingly air-conditioned—perfect for hot or rainy days.
Take a Peek
Watch our trip to the Tennessee Aquarium!
Ocean Journey Exhibits
We chose to start in the Ocean Journey building. It starts with land-based animals and ends in the ocean depths, with plenty of stops along the way to explore sea creatures, coral reefs, and more.
We loved how this building also followed a downward path—mirroring the journey from shore to deep sea.
Here are some highlights from our visit:
- Lemur Forest: It’s always fun when an aquarium throws in a surprise, and this was it. The lemurs were full of personality and fun to watch as they explored their habitat.
- Butterfly Garden: A beautiful, peaceful stop. This warm and lush space is filled with butterflies flitting around freely, and if you’re lucky, one might land right on you.
- Tropical Cove: This was one of the more hands-on areas. Kids can interact with animals in the Stingray Bay touch tank while learning about tropical species nearby.
- Secret Reef: One of the most impressive tanks we’ve seen. It’s enormous—filled with sharks, sea turtles, rays, and schools of tropical fish. We spent a lot of time here just watching the graceful movements and colorful fish.
- Boneless Beauties: This section features jellyfish, squid, and other invertebrates in glowing tanks. It’s an odd but fascinating space—eerie in the best way.
- Penguins’ Rock: Always a crowd favorite. These penguins are energetic and curious, and their color-coded bands (with names!) make it extra fun to spot your favorites.
Tennessee Aquarium Butterfly Garden Photos
Animals Not to Miss in Ocean Journey
🐙 Giant Pacific Octopus
🦈 Sand Tiger Sharks
🐢 Green Sea Turtle
🐧 Gentoo & Macaroni Penguins
🦋 Blue Morpho Butterflies
River Journey Exhibits
We continued our visit by entering the River Journey building to take a freshwater adventure—starting high in the mountains and flowing down through wetlands, rivers, and into global waterways. We really appreciated how the layout guides you through the story of freshwater ecosystems from start to finish. You travel to the top of the building and descend as you go, just like water flowing downstream.
- Appalachian Cove Forest: We started our visit in this forested mountain habitat. It feels cool and peaceful with its flowing waterfall and tree canopy, plus otters.
- Delta Country & Mississippi River: This section feels like stepping into the bayou, with its boardwalk-style paths and swampy ambiance. They are behind a glass, but you actually get pretty close to alligators.
- Tennessee River: We spotted giant catfish and turtles and got a feel for just how many species live in Tennessee.
- River Giants: If you’ve got kids fascinated by big animals, don’t miss this. It features freshwater giants like Arapaima and giant freshwater stingrays. Some of these fish are truly massive!
- Rivers of the World: This part expands the view to global rivers—from the Amazon to the Congo—with colorful fish and eye-catching habitats. The international feel adds a fun and educational twist to the experience.
- Touch and Learn Areas: Keep an eye out for hands-on stations. If you time it right, you might catch a feeding or educational demo.
5 Animals Not to Miss in River Journey
🦦 North American River Otter
🐟 Lake Sturgeon
🐠 River Chub
🐟 Barrens Topminnow
🐟 Arapaima
General Info for Visiting Families
- Stroller-Friendly: All areas are stroller-accessible with a smooth one-way flow. We didn’t use one, but we noticed how easy it would be for families with toddlers.
- Restrooms: Family restrooms are easy to find, and there’s even a nursing room at the lower level of River Journey.
- Tickets: Buy in advance! Timed entry helps manage crowds, and once you’re in, you can stay as long as you like.
- Parking: Expect to pay around $14 max for nearby lots. Weekends fill up fast. Chattanooga does offer a free downtown shuttle.
- Time: We spent around 2 hours exploring the two buildings with a moderate pace.
- IMAX Theater: It’s located just across the plaza and requires a separate ticket.
Dining Near the Aquarium
There is not a food court inside the aquarium, but there are some restaurants near the Tennessee Aquarium. The plaza outside of the aquarium has dining options and space for picnics. Since you enter two separate buildings during your visit, it’s easy to stop outside and eat a snack or lunch between buildings.
The Ice Cream Show is perfect for a post-visit treat. We ate lunch at Agave & Rye—our teens liked the bold decor, and the tacos were a hit (bonus: great Taco Tuesday deals).
Heads-up though: we initially tried walking to the nearby Overboard Bar and Grille, a restaurant on a docked riverboat, but they don’t have bathrooms, so plan accordingly!
Free Water Play Area:
Right outside the aquarium is a free splash-and-play water feature designed like a flowing river. We stopped by in the evening when it was quieter, and it was a great way for the kids to burn off energy before heading home.
Kid-Friendly Extras
- Afternoon is Ideal: Since it’s air-conditioned and indoors, this makes a great afternoon activity—especially in the heat of summer.
- Follow the Flow: One of our favorite parts of the experience was the way each building starts at the top and winds down like a real waterway. In the River Journey, you can even see through the middle of the building like you’re inside a massive river. Some tanks span more than one floor, and it’s a design that really draws you in.
- Interactive Extras: Look for touch tanks (like stingrays!) and live feeding times or talks. We missed one feeding by a few minutes but caught a learning station instead—worth checking the schedule ahead of time.
Our Review: Tennessee Aquarium
As parents who’ve visited several aquariums across the Southeast, we can honestly say this one’s at the top of our list. The way it’s built to flow like a story, the variety of exhibits, and the hands-on moments—it all felt thoughtfully designed with families in mind.
We loved how the entire place unfolded like a journey, from forest streams to deep sea wonders. Our teens remembered it from earlier visits, and we’re glad we went back.
The Tennessee Aquarium
Address:
1 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Tennessee Aquarium Website
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