I have to admit I have a problem with zoos, aquariums, aviaries, etc., wherever wild animals are confined to small spaces. But as the father of a 3-year-old I have been known to succumb to the lure of having my daughter face to face with the creatures that populate this planet.

A couple of weeks ago we trekked to Gatlinburg to visit Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. Let me say this. For those of you who scorn crowds and lines as much as I do, this is definitely the time to visit Tennessee’s gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The aquarium itself is located in the middle of downtown Gatlinburg. The 115,000-square foot structure took thee years to build. There are more than 1.2 million gallons of water and more than 350 species of aquatic creatures in the aquarium.

It is certainly a fascinating place for interested persons of all ages. But we were there with Izzy, so I thought I would ask her what she thought about the aquarium.

SMN: Hi this is the Smoky Mountain News talking with Isabella.

Izzy: How are you? How are you Isabella?

SMN: Where did you visit last Sunday?

Izzy: To the quarium.

SMN: What was your favorite part of the aquarium?

Izzy: The sharks!

Ripley’s hosts a “Shark Lagoon.” The shark lagoon is an acrylic-bottomed tunnel beneath an ocean of fish including four species of sharks as well as barracudas, sawfish, groupers, sea turtles, moray eels and many, many more. The largest shark in the lagoon is an 11-foot sandtiger shark. A 340-foot-long “glidepath” takes you through the lagoon and there is ample room to step off if something catches your fancy.

SMN: Did you like the stingrays?

Izzy: Uh-huh.

SMN: Did you pet the stingrays?

Izzy: Yeah!

SMN: What did they feel like?

Izzy: Uhhh- sweeaa – sweaty!

SMN: How big are the stingrays?

Izzy: (arms outstretched) They were this big!

“Touch-A-Ray Bay” is one of the favorite attractions at Ripley’s Aquarium. Southern stingrays, eagle rays and cow-nose rays inhabit a shallow lagoon along with bonnethead and leopard sharks. The lagoon bottoms out in a small acrylic amphitheater where aquarium employees in scuba gear feed the rays as patrons watch. After the feeding, patrons can go upstairs where the divers reserve a little food and coax the rays to the edge of the lagoon where those interested can reach in and pet them.

This is definitely enticing to a 3-year-old. Not only do you get to touch an exotic ocean creature that feels “sweaty”, you get to lie on your belly across a stone edge and dip your arms elbow-deep into a pool of salty water – how cool is that?

SMN: What else did you see at the aquarium?

Izzy: Uh, sharks and uh, fishes.

SMN: Did you see any turtles?

Izzy: Yeaah!

SMN: What did the turtle look like?

Izzy: Nemo.

SMN: How big was the turtle?

Izzy: Let me get my flip-flops on (putting on flip flops and backing up on tiptoes with arms outstretched) this big!

SMN: Were there other fun things at the aquarium?

Izzy: Uh – yeah, and I step on a fish and it go boinng-boinng – up and down, boinnng, ahh-ahh-ahh.

This was at the discovery center where there was a play area.

SMN: If Molly or any of your friends wanted to go to the aquarium, what would you tell them?

Izzy: I saw a shark and a fish and a spider crab and I would ask them to go to the quarium with me.

(Don Hendershot can be reached at ddihen@earthlink.net.)