What did I love most about the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga? So many things, but my favorite had to be the giant, red octopus. I’ve never seen one so large and active in an aquarium before.
The aquarium was fully accessible. Each of the two buildings has an elevator to take you up to the top floor where your journey begins. The line for the elevator was long though, because of all the families with strollers, so you’ll need to allow time to wait. From there, the only thing I couldn’t access was the touch tank because you had to reach up and over the ledge and then lean down into the tank to interact with the marine life. When I was little and visiting aquariums with similar tanks, my parents would pick me up and lay me on my belly so I could lean down in and reach, while they held onto me so I didn’t end up falling into the tank! We’ve also encountered some aquariums that have an elevated tray they can bring out when they see someone in a wheelchair that won’t be able to reach down into the tank.
Parking is found in several lots around the aquarium plaza, which you’ll want to explore anyway. Especially in the summer when they turn on the water features! This is a very busy area though, so if you can’t park in the closest lots there are nearby garages a short walk away. They do have a drop-off circle, so if you have someone who can stay with you while the car gets parked, this might be a great option.
They sell timed-entry tickets, so you’ll want to plan ahead for your visit. Our visit was made possible by Chattanooga Tourism Co., thanks guys, we loved checking out the aquarium!