Top 4 Smoky Mountain Attractions for Animal Lovers

If you love animals, you’ll be in heaven with a vacation to the Smokies! In addition to all of the exciting wildlife viewing opportunities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there are several attractions in the area where you can get up close with some of your favorite critters! Whether you want to meet an adorable black bear family or pet some beautiful deer, you can do it just minutes from our cabins! Here are the top 4 Smoky Mountain attractions for animal lovers:

1. Wildlife Habitat at Ober Mountain

The Wildlife Habitat at Ober Mountain is a privately funded, municipally sponsored zoo that offers the opportunity to view native wildlife up close in a safe environment! You’ll have the chance to see bobcats, foxes, birds of prey in an enclosed aviary, and river otters playing in an underwater viewing area. You also won’t want to miss the Nocturnal House, which is home to raccoons, skunks, flying squirrels, turtles, and snakes! Of course, a highlight of any visit is the black bear family, including BJ, Holly, and Chief!

2. Smoky Mountain Deer Farm and Exotic Petting Zoo

Another one of the top Smoky Mountain attractions for animal lovers is the Smoky Mountain Deer Farm and Exotic Petting Zoo! This attraction offers an unforgettable experience where you can walk among deer and even hand-feed these delicate creatures! You’ll also have a blast interacting with the other critters at the farm, including camels, zebras, goats, reindeer, miniature horses, ostriches, donkeys, and so much more! If you are a horse lover, saddle up for some equestrian fun at the Deer Farm Riding Stables for a relaxing ride through the woods!

3. Rainforest Adventures Discovery Zoo

The Rainforest Adventures Discovery Zoo is home to hundreds of tropical and temperate animals from around the world, so you’ll definitely want to put this attraction on your itinerary! Altogether, there are more than 130 species of tropical animals on more than 2 acres among the gorgeous backdrop of the Smoky Mountains. You can even sign up for special activities such as the Sloth Encounter, where a tour guide takes you behind the scenes and lets you get up close to feed the sloths their favorite treats!

4. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

For those who love animals that live under the sea, be sure to visit Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies! This is a fun chance to immerse yourself in thousands of awe-inspiring aquatic animals, complete with interactive, hands-on experiences! During your visit, you can ride a moving glidepath through a shark lagoon to come face-to-face with sharks, sawfish, and green sea turtles! You can even make a new friend in the Touch-a-Ray Bay by reaching out to a ray as they glide through a tropical lagoon! The aquarium also features a unique penguin habitat where you can discover the playful personalities of endangered African penguins!

Check out all of our cabins in the Smokies today to stay just minutes away from all of these wonderful Smoky Mountain attractions for animal lovers! We look forward to seeing you soon!