ripley's aquarium of the smokies

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is one of the best Gatlinburg attractions you will want to visit while you’re in town! Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg is a great attraction for kids and adults of all ages! Everyone will enjoy the sights of 12-foot sharks, a giant sea turtle, and numerous fish as you make your way through the unique exhibits. Check out these 5 reasons why you should visit Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg.

1. Convenient Location

ripleysLocated right on the Parkway in Gatlinburg, the Gatlinburg aquarium is easy to spot! As you pull into downtown Gatlinburg, you are sure to see the huge Gatlinburg aquarium since it’s one of the largest buildings in the area. You’ll also love how easy it is to walk to from anywhere in downtown Gatlinburg! You’ll love the location of the aquarium!

2. Reasonable Prices

Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg offers a reasonably-priced adventure for the entire family. Tickets can be purchased in advance to save money and time at the Gatlinburg aquarium. With all of the interactive portions of the aquarium and the amazing creatures you can see and learn more about, the price to visit this attraction is well worth it!

3. Hands On Experiences

One of the most exciting aspects of the aquarium in Gatlinburg is the up close and hands-on experience. Throughout the Gatlinburg aquarium, visitors will be able to see sea creatures up close.  At Touch-A-Ray Bay, visitors have the ability to touch live stingrays as they swim through the water. In the Discovery Center, you can even hold horseshoe crabs! The most popular is the Shark Lagoon, though. Underneath the Shark Lagoon is a 340-foot long path that glides visitors through an underwater tunnel. While gliding through the tunnel, visitors will be surrounded with huge sharks, large sea turtles, eels, sawfish, and all animals in the underwater habitat.

4. Fun for the Entire Family

The Gatlinburg aquarium is a spacious, clean, and family friendly Gatlinburg attraction. Fun for the entire family, the Gatlinburg aquarium has many exhibits, each filled with educational and fun facts about each creature. Also at most exhibits, children will find activities and games to play. Dive and feeding shows occur throughout the day, in many parts of the aquarium.  Chances are, if you are spending the day at the aquarium, you will see divers in the tanks swimming with the animals.

5. Group Friendly Attraction

shark at ripley's aquarium of the smokies in gatlinburgRipley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg is one of the best places to take an entire group! The Gatlinburg aquarium has a lot of space, so large groups can stay together to enjoy an adventure through the aquarium. If you are visiting the Gatlinburg aquarium in a large group, there are group tickets available. The Gatlinburg aquarium also accommodates birthday parties, overnight slumber parties, weddings, and reception parties! No matter the occasion, the aquarium in Gatlinburg can set up a great time for everyone in your group!

Looking for other animal attractions while you’re in town? Check out these places to go horseback riding in Gatlinburg!

After a fun day at Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg, you will want to come back to a cozy cabin where your family can rest. Look through our Gatlinburg cabin rentals and book one today for your next trip to the Smokies!