Tennesee Aquarium (Need some input please)

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Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jun 9, 2008
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Ne, IN
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I have been to 2 different Aquariums in recent years, Chicago and Niagara Falls.

Chicago is the Shedd Aquarium as most of you know, and it's amazing.

The Aquarium in Niagara Falls NY, was a big let down... It was TINY.

Now, the Tennessee Aquarium seems pretty nice on the website but the fish list seems small, I assume maybe they don't list them all on the site.

If you have been, please give me some input. I have a week off next month and I want to drive down there with my GF and show her some Monsters. I'd likely stay in TN for a couple days. Do the Aquarium one day and who knows what else. They have some other stuff listed on the site too, an Imax show and a River Gorge explorer ride of some sort.

This all sounds good but so did the Niagara Aquarium and it wasn't but an hours worth or stuff to look at and we took our time at that.

Does the TN Aquarium have a nice South American exhibit? I see they list Arapaima gigas on the fish list, I can only assume they share a tank with some other SA fish.

TIA.
 
The TN Aquarium is one of the best for fresh water IMO. You will NOT be dissapointed. Where are you coming from? If you come down I-71/75 you can stop at the the Newport Aquarium in KY just across the river from Cinci. Its ok too, though not as nice for FW as the TN Aquarium.

Go, you wont be disappointed. Just dont compare it to the Shedd!
 
Newport isn't bad, I have been a few times now that I live in Cinci. They have a real nice african cichlid display, some HUGE oscars/FH's AND YOU CAN PET THE SHARKS! ..ok sorry, little kid moment there.. uhhh yeah, Newport is pretty cool, lots of good food while you are there as well. I would stop in, it's only like 16 bucks a person, not that bad imo.
 
I am coming from NE Indiana, I will be coming down 75.

I have never heard of the Newport Aquarium, I'll have to look it up.

And Thanks for info on the Tennessee aquarium, that is what I was hoping to hear. My Nikon will be getting a workout for sure.
 
ive been to the niagra falls aquarium, it was a pretty big let down :(
ive heard that the tennesee aquarium is really good and the CA cichlid display is supposed to have some monster dovii
 
Definately worth a stop at newport then, its 5 min off of 75 right after you cross the river. Like said there are also several good places to eat in the are as well.

Search Tennessee Aquarium and Newport Aquarium here on the forum if you havnt already and you will get an idea of what to expect. Ive personally put up several pictures of Newport.
 
The Tennessee Aquarium is awesome. It's medium-sized, but probably has more gallons of freshwater than any other aquarium in the world. It's also more educational than many aquaria- it doesn't just have tanks filled with random fish species, it has carefully assembled biotopes with lots of informative signs.

If you want to drive a couple hours more, you can hit the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. It's HUGE and has gigantic exhibits, including whale sharks.

I don't know how into outdoors activities you are, but the Chattanooga area has tons of stuff to do. There's Lookout Mountain, Rock City, Ruby Falls, and Chattanooga/Chickamauga National Battlefield right on the edge of town, and you're close to some prime hiking, biking, snorkeling, and whitewater areas in the nearby mountains, not to mention great bass fishing on the reservoirs. You're right on the border between the two most biodiverse river systems in North America- the Tennessee and Mobile. It's definitely worthwhile to get a temporary fishing license and do some netting.
 
i prefer the tenn. to the georgia aquarium. the tenn. has much better FW exhibits. their amazon tank is amazing as well as their cichlid tank. they opened another building a few years ago with a big SW exhibit and a new amazon exhibit with rays and arowanas
 
The Tennessee Aquarium is awesome. It's medium-sized, but probably has more gallons of freshwater than any other aquarium in the world. It's also more educational than many aquaria- it doesn't just have tanks filled with random fish species, it has carefully assembled biotopes with lots of informative signs.

Thanks for the feedback, we are getting pretty excited. Good to hear it's not just random exhibits, I enjoy it more when they make the entire tank look real. And not just a clear box with fish from random parts of the world.


If you want to drive a couple hours more, you can hit the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. It's HUGE and has gigantic exhibits, including whale sharks.

Atlanta would be a nice stop but I think we'll limit this trip to 2 Aquariums and leave ATL for next time. I would likely have overload anyway and forget all the cool stuff if I see to much in that short of time.


I don't know how into outdoors activities you are, but the Chattanooga area has tons of stuff to do. There's Lookout Mountain, Rock City, Ruby Falls, and Chattanooga/Chickamauga National Battlefield right on the edge of town, and you're close to some prime hiking, biking, snorkeling, and whitewater areas in the nearby mountains, not to mention great bass fishing on the reservoirs. You're right on the border between the two most biodiverse river systems in North America- the Tennessee and Mobile. It's definitely worthwhile to get a temporary fishing license and do some netting.

Oh I didn't even think about that stuff, what kind of critters can you net down there? I wouldn't have a clue where to go but if there are some cool natives it may be worth it. We plan to do at least one more activity while in Tennessee, thanks a million for all the ideas. Hopefully we can find some sweet river trails to walk so I can collect some driftwood and rocks for my tanks.



Sean, thanks for adding that. Now that I know they have Aro's and Ray's I am drooling. :)
 
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