Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

FTC Disclosure: This post about Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies contains affiliate links, which means that ImagiNERDing receives a percentage of sales purchased through links on this site. Thank you for your support!

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is a great addition to your Dollywood and Gatlinburg trip. Whether you’re with a family or traveling as adults, the aquarium is impressive and offers something for everyone. The aquarium takes about three hours to experience everything and there is a small quick-service restaurant called Feeding Frenzy near the sting ray exhibit area. It’s more than halfway through the aquarium and they offer burgers, chicken fingers and soda. It’s a great place to take a break and refill…or rest for a few minutes.

Make sure to buy your tickets in advance, since there is always a huge line for the first two hours. You can skip the line and go right to will-call to get your tickets. You can save at  least 30 minutes.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Video

Check out the video of my most recent trip to see some of the highlights of the aquarium.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

The aquarium building looks as if it’s nestled into the Gatlinburg mountains. You can park behind the aquarium building or take one of the local trolleys. Just make sure to plan in advance.

There are several areas in Ripley’s Aquarium that offer hands-on exhibits for adults and children. There are also a few good places for the kids to burn off some energy in between the displays.

The Shark Lagoon is always a favorite. The 340-foot moving walkway keeps the traffic from bottling up and you can get some great photos of the sharks and other sea life.

I didn’t do the Glass Bottom Boat Adventure, but it looked like the people were having a good time. It’s about a 15-minute excursion and according to the website, there’s only three inches of glass between you and the sharks. If you time it right, you can get some shots of the underside of the Glass Bottom Boat!

The Penguin Playhouse offers indoor and outdoor viewing areas for the cute little guys. The penguins are very social and seem to pose for photos and selfies. We did the Penguin Encounter in 2015 and it was worth every penny for the special experience.

Have you visited Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies? What’s your favorite exhibit?

FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that ImagiNERDing receives a percentage of sales purchased through links on this site. Thank you for your support!