On Sunday, the kids were exhausted, but we decided to sight-see our way out of town. We let the girls sleep in and then got a slow start over breakfast before making our way across town to the Tennessee Aquarium.
After I realized we would have a few extra days in Chattanooga, I reached out to a few highly-recommended children’s attractions and we were gifted tickets in exchange for a mention on the blog and social media. This is not a sponsored post, but we were so thrilled to visit Chattanooga’s Tennessee Aquarium and share our experience with you!
The aquarium is divided into two different buildings showcasing the Ocean Journey and River Journey. We began with the Ocean building (because it’s our favorite) and started our morning with a quick break in the photo booth. Paige and Ella had been hamming it up for the camera all weekend, so I’m not sure why we thought Sunday would be any different.
One of the very first things we did after getting inside just happened to be an animal encounter. There were small sharks and stingrays in a shallow pool that you could touch with two fingers. My girls always love this exhibit at the McWane Center, too, so I knew we would probably spend a fair amount of time here. Karen and I found a spot to sit and watch while the girls worked up their courage!
Next up is a butterfly house and it is so beautiful! I wish I had gotten a better photograph of the exhibit as a whole, but we were too busy trying to catch the big ones and watch where we were walking. On a funny note, a family walked in right after us with their preschool aged children. Right away, a huge butterfly landed on their daughter’s face and she went nuts. She was crying so hard that her younger brother joined in a sympathy cry. I started laughing immediately and apologized to the father, but he was laughing so hard he could barely speak. The worst part is there are two sets of double doors to get in and out of the exhibit (so they don’t lose any butterflies) and you can’t exactly exit quickly. I thought that poor family would fall apart before the staff could get them out the door.
Next up was a pretty typical aquarium with sea turtles, fish and sharks. Ella tried for the longest time to get a selfie with this massive sea turtle, but he would duck out at the last minute every time. She finally had to settle for a photo with my camera instead.
The “selfie with an animal” concept was a regular occurrence throughout our morning and I finally had to take my phone away from Ella for fear I would run out of storage space! If you follow us on Instagram, you might have caught a penguin selfie pretty early in the day on Sunday.
In between the Ocean and River exhibits, the girls took a quick break outside and we snapped a few photos there, too. When it isn’t so dry, these man made river beds are full of water and you can walk in and around them on huge stones.
I’m guessing because it was a Sunday, the aquarium had volunteer stations set up in different areas with activities for kids. Usually, Ella would avoid anything like this (too juvenile for her), but armed with a friend, she thought these encounters were super fun. In the River Journey, they wore nametags declaring what sort of animal they were (a bird) and then made a mask to match. The older gentleman manning this station was ADORABLE and the girls loved chatting with him.
Where to play: Even though we’ve visited before, the Tennessee Aquarium never disappoints. It would have been so easy for us to get up early and head home, but I’m so glad we spent the day exploring and introducing Ella’s friend to one of her favorite places. We didn’t catch the iMax film this year, but there are tons of things you can add onto your ticket and a great food court area if you need a snack or lunch on your visit. The park area surrounding the aquarium is one of my favorite parts of the city and there is even easy access to walk right down to the river. We are so thankful to the PR department for gifting us these tickets, but we would be willing to pay any day! The staff was super helpful and friendly and the volunteers were our favorite.
Where to walk: Chattanooga has a great system of sidewalks and bridges where pedestrians can walk and run along the Tennessee River called the Tennessee RiverPark. The girls opted to walk to dinner on Saturday night, so we enjoyed taking in the scenery during our mile long walk! I wish I had enjoyed a run in this area during our stay, but it is definitely on our list for next year.
Where to eat: Jennifer recommended so many good Chattanooga restaurants, but my favorite of the weekend was Taco Mamacita. It was a little over a mile from our hotel and I should have called and asked a few questions before we set out on foot, because by the time we got there at 7:30, there was a two hour wait. Whomp whomp. BUT, the staff was super friendly and served the girls chips and queso on the sidewalk and they kept guests entertained with parts of their hip hop routine. There may also have been a very delicious margarita involved (the only one I’ve had this entire year!). We were actually seated within about forty minutes and had the most precious waitress ever. She took great care of the girls and made wonderful recommendations for our meal. If you manage to swing by there on your travels, I highly recommend the Steakhouse and Taco Royale with sweet potatoes on the side.
What to know: The other restaurant I was looking forward to the most was Maple Street Biscuit Company. Since I knew I would be cheating all weekend, the thought of a biscuit sandwich for brunch sounded delicious. It’s too bad I didn’t read their website very well, because MSBC is closed on Sundays! We ended up with a pastry at Panera and the kids were perfectly satisfied, but I’m still dreaming about the Loaded Goat.
