Last week, we took an overnight trip down to Gatlinburg, TN. While there, we went to the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. The first day was a bit rainy, so we decided spending it indoors at the aquarium was the best idea.
This is the view from the ticket window at the storm that was side-swiping us. Later that afternoon, it had all cleared out and it was a gorgeous evening.
Giant eels. They were in a tank that had a big tube, so these were above me as I was laying on the floor to get the shot.
(Yes, it was a little bit creepy.)
I wish I could remember what kind of fish these are. I just thought it looked funny how they all had a gaping, wide-open expression on their faces.
Dan and Molly looking at the many types of colorful fish in this tank.
Molly loves the seahorses.
We spent a lot of time at this tank.
A sea dragon.
A leafy sea dragon.
The leafy sea dragon is an amazing creature found off the southern and western coasts of Australia. Very delicate and nearly endangered from divers taking them thinking they can care for them in a home aquarium. They really need professional marine biologist care in captivity or better yet, to be left alone in their natural habitat. Their ability to camouflage amongst the leaves is truly incredible...visual poetry.
Don't believe me? Watch for yourself.
The light in this tank was beautiful....but hard to fully capture in a photo. They are so mesmerizing to look at.
A nicely painted ocean scape in one of the tank areas.
The jelly fish were so graceful and strange looking...like a big lava lamp.
Molly, standing behind a scuba diver statue.
(hehe)
At first, I was filming the puffer fish, and then this little girl popped up out of nowhere, making silly faces.
Molly found a friend at the penguin exhibit.
Walking in the tunnel in the shark tank.
Shark overhead. There were so many sharks in here.
Nautilus.
Outside near a penguin statue.
See, it turned into a glorious evening.
Beautifully sun-speckled stream just outside of the aquarium.
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