Do you love animals? You’ll love visiting some Smoky Mountain attractions that are all about animals! You can see exotic creatures from other countries, and some animals you might find at a farm. Here are the top 6 Smoky Mountain attractions for animal lovers:
1. Smoky Mountain Deer Farm
Take your kids to enjoy the petting zoo at Smoky Mountain Deer Farm. You’ll see all kinds of cool creatures, from goats to deer to peacocks. There are camels, zebras, zonkies, pot-bellied pigs, and so many more animals you can pet. Purchase a cup of feed and feed all of the animals if you want! There are also pony rides for small children and horseback riding for older kids to adults. Everyone will have fun interacting with the animals at the Smoky Mountain Deer Farm.
2. Rainforest Adventure
Want to see exotic creatures from the rainforest? Rainforest Adventures is a great place to go for animal lovers. You can see and learn about lemurs, hedgehogs, and kinkajous. If you love reptiles, you’ll want to check out the turtles, snakes, and lizards. Other creatures you will see include frogs, birds, and bugs. Kids and adults will love this Smoky Mountain animal attraction.
3. Smoky Mountain Llama Trek
If you want to enjoy the beauty of the Smokies up close and personal while seeing animals, then you should check out the Smoky Mountain Llama Trek. You get to hike with llamas along trails in the mountains. There are a few trails to choose from, and everyone gets to guide their own llama along the way! There’s a short trail, a long trail, and an overnight trek. Even if you don’t want to hike, you can still visit the llamas at their farm.
4. Parrot Mountain
Parrot Mountain is a unique Smoky Mountain attraction for animal lovers. Located on a mountain, this garden has several species of birds to see. People are allowed to hold the birds and walk around their habitats to see how they live day to day. There’s even a baby bird aviary where you can watch them being hand fed!
5. Big Rock Dude Ranch at Ponderosa
When you visit the mountains, you may want to go horseback riding. Big Rock Dude Ranch at Ponderosa is a great place to ride horses in the mountains. Everyone gets to ride their own horse on the 3.5-mile trail. In addition to riding horses, you can also pet animals in the petting zoo and fish in the pond.
6. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
For a different type of animal, you should go to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. At this Smoky Mountain attraction, you’ll get to see all kinds of rainforest creatures, fish, and penguins. There are interactive exhibits where you can touch stingrays and horseshoe crabs. Kids will love playing on the indoor playground and going through the Shark Lagoon tunnel. There are even extra activities you can pay for, such as Penguin Paintings and feeding the sea turtle.
These Smoky Mountain attractions for animal lovers are the perfect activities to do with your family. Want to know about other fun things to do in the area? Look at our Freedom Fun Pass to find deals on local attractions when you book one of our cabins.
