Zoo Knoxville and Pigeon Forge mini golf spot win best of the year honors! Here’s why

• Sky Pirates of Mermaid Bay claimed the USA TODAY 10BEST top spot for best mini golf. It offers pirate- and mermaid-themed courses.
• Zoo Knoxville’s amphibian and reptile exhibit was praised for housing 95 species and its conservation efforts.

Although adorable otters and playful red pandas have stolen the spotlight recently, it’s time for pythons and frogs to shine at Zoo Knoxville.

The zoo’s amphibian and reptile conservation area has been recognized as one of the country’s best zoo exhibits in the spring USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards, earning praise for its range of species and educational components. Also receiving honors is a Pigeon Forge mini-golf attraction, which claimed the top spot in its category.

These East Tennessee destinations are making big splashes this spring. Here’s why they were crowned 10BEST winners and why you might want to visit.

Best Mini Golf

Are you a mermaid or a pirate? Sky Pirates of Mermaid Bay features two unique putt-putt adventures that go from the deepest depths of the sea into the clouds.

“Spend the day swinging and swashbuckling through 18 holes of the Clouds Sky Pirate Golf Adventure, then head indoors for the Under the Seas Mermaid Golf Adventure, with another unique 18 holes featuring coral reefs and giant sharks,” 10BEST notes.

1. Sky Pirates of Mermaid Bay (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee)
2. Can Can Wonderland (St. Paul, Minnesota)
3. Stagecoach Greens (San Francisco, California)
4. Twilight Zone Mini Golf (Las Vegas, Nevada)
5. Peter Pan Mini Golf (Austin, Texas)
6. Golfing to the Sun (West Glacier, Montana)
7. Tin Cup Grill Putt Putt (Cumming, Georgia)
8. Mt. Atlanticus Minotaur Golf (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina)
9. Hinkle Fun Center (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
10. Philly Mini Golf at Franklin Square (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Earlier this year, 10BEST named Sky Pirates of Mermaid Bay the No. 1 best new attraction, deeming it a “must-visit experience for all ages.” Lost Mine Mountain Coaster and Mini Golf in Pigeon Forge came in No. 2 in that category.

Best Zoo Exhibit

The Clayton Family Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Campus at Zoo Knoxville houses over 95 species of reptiles and amphibians. The 2.5-acre, 12,000-square-foot state-of-the-art area is a leading conservation center, the zoo's website says.

“During a visit, guests can marvel at venomous adders, massive pythons, dart frogs and rare predators like the Cuban crocodile,” 10BEST notes. “Other areas range from an outdoor wetlands section to a specialized space that allows visitors to watch the zoo's herpetologists perform their daily duties.”

1. Desert Dome at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo (Omaha, Nebraska)
2. Rocky Mountain Wild at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
3. Hippo Cove at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (Cincinnati, Ohio)
4. Penguin & Puffin Coast at Saint Louis Zoo (St. Louis, Missouri)
5. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Campus at Zoo Knoxville (Knoxville, Tennessee)
6. The Great EscApe at Oklahoma City Zoo (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
7. David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center at ZooTampa (Tampa, Florida)
8. Primate Expedition Cruise at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens (Naples, Florida)
9. Flamingo Mingle at San Antonio Zoo (San Antonio, Texas)
10. Toyota Elephant Passage at Denver Zoo (Denver, Colorado)

The USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards highlight the best in travel, food and drink, and lifestyle, and are voted on by the public. A panel of industry experts nominate their favorite interests and attractions across a wide range of categories every week, and then 10BEST editors vet these nominations and select a final set of nominees to be presented for a public vote.

Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com. On X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208. 

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