A new cruise option will be available to passengers aboard the Tennessee Aquarium’s River Gorge Explorer starting Saturday. The Seven Bridges Cruise will head upstream from the Chattanooga Pier to Chickamauga Dam.
Beginning with Chattanooga’s downtown bridges, the seven key points of interest are the Olgiati Bridge, John Ross/Market Street Bridge, Walnut Street Bridge, Veterans Bridge, C.B. Robinson Bridge, Cincinnati Railroad Bridge and the Wilkes T. Thrasher Bridge.
The landmark structures have fascinating timelines that Aquarium naturalists will bring to life, as well as an eighth landmark, the “Ghost Bridge.”
Passengers will discover little-known facts about the people and historic sites viewed from aboard the Explorer along the route.
“We have done a lot of research for these trips and have uncovered some really interesting nuggets of history,” said Aquarium naturalist John Dever. Passengers also may be surprised by wildlife sightings along the route. On one recent upstream cruise, Dever spotted two bald eagles, several hawks, osprey, both blue and green herons and a colony of nesting cliff swallows.
Captains have charted the cruises to allow for nearly an hour and a half to move about the vessel and enjoy the views from deck. The last cruise of the day will return guests downtown as the sun is setting.
Both the new Seven Bridges Cruise and River Gorge Cruise will be available through the end of September. On most days, the Seven Bridges Cruise will be offered at 2 and 7 p.m.
To view the daily schedule and purchase tickets online, go to www.tnaqua.org/RiverGorgeExplorer/RiverGorgeExplorer.aspx.