Fun With Four-Legged Friends

Posted by Phil Rodgers in Things to Do

We don't call ourselves Goats on the Roof for nothing. In the tradition of the original Goats on the Roof attraction, which has been a mainstay on the Wisconsin tourist scene for decades, we feature live goats on the roof our main building. This time of year is prime goat season, because it's warm enough for our friends to relax and graze up on the roof, but it's not too hot for them to be outside.

Guests of all ages love going upstairs to visit our goats. You can watch them do goat stuff from a close distance, take some cool photos or actually have a hand - or foot ­­- in feeding them. On the ground level of our attraction are a couple of Goat Cycles. They're stationary cycles that you pedal, and that pedal power transports containers of goat feed upstairs, where the goats go to town chowing down.

We're one of several attractions in Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Gatlinburg where you can interact closely with live animals. Allow us to introduce you to just a few more:

Rainforest Adventures Zoo

This attraction has been going strong in the Governor's Crossing development in Sevierville for more than two decades now. Its many indoor and outdoor exhibits allow guests to explore the rainforests of the world, as well as other regional climates, and experience up-close encounters with some of the most exotic life forms on the planet. In all, the zoo is home to hundreds of animals from tropical and temperate zones alike, divided primarily into reptiles, mammals, birds, bugs and amphibians. Within the various categories, look for species of snakes, lizards, lemurs, hedgehogs, cockatoos, parrots, tarantulas, scorpions, frogs and many more. In all, they showcase more than 600 animals representing more than 130 species. Zoo handlers periodically bring creatures outside their habitats to interact with guests.

Smoky Mountain Deer Farm And Exotic Petting Zoo

Talk about hands-on experiences… At this petting zoo in Sevierville, guests get to pet and feed the many critters that live on site. And it's not just for kids. Folks of all ages love getting up close and personal with everything from Rocky Mountain elk, camels and baby goats to zebras, emus and pot-bellied pigs. Those are just a few of the many types of animals showcased at the zoo. The farm's full-time zookeeping staff provide regular veterinarian care for the animals, which live in a clean and healthy environment. The most fun part is feeding the residents; you can purchase a 22-ounce cup of feed for only $2.50.

Parrot Mountain

You'll find this amazing bird sanctuary not far from Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge. As the name suggests, it's all about parrots and other exotic bird species from around the world. You'll not only get to enter the habitats of parrots, parakeets, toucans and more, you can interact with them if they choose to land on your shoulders. From Parrot Mountain's secret garden and its 70-something birds on open perches to the baby-bird nursery where hatchlings are hand-fed by staff, you're in for a unique experience.

Ripley's Aquarium

Downtown Gatlinburg is where you'll find this world-class aquarium, which opened its doors in 2000. Its multiple levels and exhibits house exhibits of sea creatures from all over the globe, including sharks, octopuses and more. But there are also interactive aspects of this attraction. In Touch-A-Ray Bay, guests can pet stingrays under staff supervision, and they also have add-on experiences that allow for more personal interaction. One example is the penguin encounter, in which guests get to shake flippers with some of the aquarium's most adorable creatures.

This content posted by Goats on the Roof of the Smoky Mountains. Visit our home page, goatsontheroofofthesmokies.com for more information on the goats and their coaster.

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