Ripley’s Aquarium Of The Smokies
Located in Gatlinburg, TN
We had the opportunity to visit the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in exchange for this review but all opinions are our own.
First of all this place is so much fun. Bub is a shark person. He has always enjoyed seeing sea life so anywhere we go we check out the closest Aquarium. This will be our fourth visit to this one. Each time has been just as interesting and fun as the first. It is a very clean and well kept facility. I would suggest a visit if you have the opportunity. It’s a fun trip for the entire family.
The view from the floor is something. There was a new section open we were excited to see. It was all about Swarms. I couldn’t wait!
There were more new exhibits and activities since the last time we had visited. There is an open area in the middle that is hands on. From learning stations to games to play area, there is something for each kid to get excited about.
Bub’s favorite part has always been the touch pool where you can touch sea creatures with your hands. CB isn’t much of a toucher and was rubbing hand sanitizer on her hands just at the thought of sticking her hands in the water.
Lou loves the educational displays. I am sure she pushed ever button they had. This was her domain. There was lots of stuff her size to do in this room and she loved every bit of it.
There are plenty of sharks to look at in amazement in the shark tunnel. The tunnel has always been my favorite part because you can just stand on the moving floor and watch these huge sharks swim right over your head.
Here is the tunnel at a better angle. It is always a site to behold. Although they do have a plaque that details an actual shark attack which Bub loves to point out.
You can also get an above view of the shark tank. I was so close to these sharks that I am glad they didn’t jump.
Everywhere you look there are things to learn. You could spend all day in the Aquarium and still probably not read everything there is to read.
This is another fish the kids were quite interested in. Can you name it?
The Penguin Playhouse is a fun addition. It was there the last time we visited but who could ever get enough of Penguins? Bub is still talking about the penguin named Derby. He tells everyone how the penguin followed him around.
There are tunnels the kids can crawl in and get a better view of these wonderfully cute little creatures. Did I mention penguins were one of my personal favorite animals?
It really was an awesome visit and tons of fun! We had a blast and plan on returning soon!
That sounds like such a fun place to spend a day! My kids LOVE going to aquariums and they would be in their glory there.
I really want to go to an aquarium again. The last time I went to one was in Vancouver when we were on vacation, it was huge!
What a fun place. My kids love marine animals and we love visiting aquariums.
I didn’t even know there was a Ripley’s Aquarium! This would be a very cool place to visit. Thanks for sharing your trip!
That aquarium looks like so much fun. Any place that lets the kids get a little hands on is always a winner for me.
This place looks so cool! I would love to visit here someday with my little one. We love adventures like these.
This is awesome! I would love to explore that with my kids, I am sure they would have a blast too. Thanks for sharing.
Isn’t this place awesome? I have been to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies on several occasions. I love it every single time and cannot wait to go back!
That looks really awesome, what a great time! I love aquariums, though I haven’t been to one in a long time.
My sister took her kids there before she moved back to Ohio. The kids had alot of fun. looks like your family did to. I love the photos.
It’s always great to learn more about wild animals. The learning exhibits at this place look great.
We love this aquarium! I think we visit every time we visit gatlinburg!
We love Gatlinburg! We never got to check out Ripley’s but it looks like a lot of fun! My kids want to go back next year.
This looks like a wonderful place to go visit. You took some wonderful pictures of your adventure. Thank you for sharing them with us.
This sounds like a fun place to visit. I love taking the kids to places like this because it’s educational. Most of the time kids don’t even realize that they are learning when it’s fun.
The tunnel is so cool.
This would be an amazing way to spend the day. I love to go to aquariums and see all the fish. I will share this with my friends with kids.
I have been here once. It was an amazing experience and my kids loved it!
What a great family activity. My little brother loves the aquarium we have in our town, he especially loved touching the jelly fish. I once went to a wedding that was held at the aquarium and it was SO gorgeous!
Looks like y’all had a total blast!!! I went there years ago and wanna take my daughter super bad!
Looks like lots of fun. Such an awesome place. We were at the Ripley’s in Baltimore about a year ago. We had a great time.
I have always loved visiting aquariums but haven’t been to one in a long time. I would really like to take the family to the Smokies some day.
My daughter and I were just talking about taking the little guy to an aquarium this summer. I love to watch the sharks.
My family and I have been to the Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum in Branson, Missouri and we enjoyed it immensely. Therefore, I know that we’d love this aquarium just as much!
This seems like a fun place and you and your family had so much fun. I like that you could get up and close with sharks, usually the view is not so great to the ones I have visited. Need to plan a visit.
This looks like a wonderful day you have spent with your family! We have been to lots of Aquariums, and the experience is always unforgettable. I love the shark pictures you got!
What an amazing looking place to visit. I would love to go there too, and your pictures are great.
It looks like you had an awesome time! We love the Ripley’s aquarium here in Toronto too! We love the aquarium!
I need to hit up the aquarium with my kiddos. We aren’t in TN, but I’ll add this to my growing to-visit list if I get the opportunity to go.
We have one in Orlando but I’ve never gone. It looks like an amazing place to spend a day!