Ripleys Aquarium of the Smokies
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30 families found this helpful
"This is always a hit"
This is the kids favorite place to visit. I wish the traffic wasn't so bad getting to Gatlinburg. We go here about twice a year and the kids (and the adults) always have a blast. It's a bit pricey but it's always worth it. The new penguin exhibit is really great, there is a tunnel that goes under part of it and the kids can watch the penguins from a glass bubble in the middle of exhibit. Remember your camera (I always seem to forget mine).
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'11, '12
1 family found this helpful
"Unbelieveable - Beauty Meets Education - Two Thumbs Way Up!"
As a mama to a little girl who loves sea creatures, we have visited our fair share of aquariums. They are always a fun time and we always enjoy watching Lily Bean light up with excitement as she explores tank after tank of fish folk.
As I gathered info and planned for our road trip last month, I got a TON of recommendations to check out Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, TN. The feedback was so overwhelmingly positive, I decided to add it to our trip itinerary.
From our first few steps inside this aquarium, something was very obvious: this was a learning environment. Above and beyond the usual facts and informational displays about ocean life, this place has all sorts of behind-the-scenes exhibits. For example, you could look down into the huge area that holds the filtration tanks and basically see the process that occurs for all of the water in the building to be cleansed.
We had a great time exploring!
Lily Bean found these gigantic fish, who seriously appeared to be singing to her. She responded by singing a couple choruses of Baby by Justin Bieber to them. :)
I just loved the jelly fish and the sea horses- they were fascinating to watch.
We LOVED the children’s interactive area. From a hands-on horseshoe crab display to aquariums that you could pop your head “inside” of, this portion of the building was so fun for the three of us to check out!
One of the most impressive areas of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies was the glass tunnel. A moving sidewalk glides you underneath the wonders of the ocean. Sharks glare down at you and other fish zip by as you just take it all in. This was one of my very favorite parts!
A new addition to the aquarium is the Penguin Playhouse. Oh! How CUTE they are! I’m a sucker for penguins- they just always make me smile. They seem so carefree and silly. Penguin Playhouse had an indoor and outdoor area for the penguins to swim and lounge. We had a great time watching them!
Wow!
We seemed to visit the aquarium at the perfect time… it was a weekday evening in late fall and the crowds were non-existent. We had plenty of time to explore, discover and enjoy without feeling rushed or crowded.
I have to say, I would recommend Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies to anyone who happens to visit or stop through Gatlinburg, TN. Any age would be the perfect age to visit. Tickets start at $4.99 (ages 2-5) to $21.99 (adults) and guess what? There are coupons for this attraction ALL OVER the place. Just keep your eyes peeled for coupons in the different travel magazines, brochures, etc. The aquarium also has a special combo deal with The Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, TN which will save you money on admission to both.
0 families found this helpful
"Great, but expensive"
I would have rated this aquarium higher, but the cost of admission is quite high for a family. The aquarium is well done and is a nice retreat from all the shopping found in Gatlinburg. We had a nice visit, but didn't stay more than an hour. Due to the cost, I would recommend planning to stay a few hours to get your money's worth.
0 families found this helpful
"just so so"
My husband and I took our daughter to the aquarium thinking we would have a great time. The cost of tickets is insanely expensive. I couldn't believe it cost so much. We went during the week thinking it wouldn't be as crowded. WRONG! Ther were several school groups there. The kids were bascially unsupervised and rude. We were shoved, interrupted, stepped on, pushed, etc. which I will admit added to my being unimpressed with th aquarium. I felt like the displays could be more exciting and interesting. It gets old having to read those signs to my daughter who can't read. We did enjoy the little play area (until the school kids got to it) and petting the stingrays.
0 families found this helpful
"Ripleys aquarium"
We have went here only once last year and will not be back. When you compare it to other places it does not match up, for myself the tickets were too pricey for the experience which were long lines,very stuffy and small glasses and tanks to look through. they should only let a certain number of people in at a time just so that families wont feel rushed.
1 family found this helpful
"Had more fun than I thought I would"
I was expecting this aquarium to not be that exciting. I was very wrong. The shark tank is incredibly large, and we found that we could have stayed at that exhibit for hours. Set within the heart of Gatlinburg this aquarium seems to rise out of the creek that runs beside it. Our family had a lot of fun on this outing.
0 families found this helpful
"Found Memories of This Aquarium!"
I went to this aquarium when I was a kid and have many fond memories of the place. This aquarium is HUGE! I even got to see the piranhas get fed! That was the best part! The moving belts are also a really neat way to help the traffic flow in the aquarium. The aquarium is very organized and neat. I love this aquarium!
0 families found this helpful
"HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"
I would recommend this to anyone. Rumor has it that you can even spend the night in the aquarium for an added fee. My 3 year old LOVED this. It was a nice two hour air conditioned break. The shark tank was awesome and she especially loved the new penguin exhibit. There are some hands on activities as well.
0 families found this helpful
"Best Aquarium"
Can't wait to take the kids this year! This aquarium is superior to any other we have been to. They have fabulous exhibits and lots of fun ways for kids to learn new information while having fun! It's a little pricey, but well worth it for sure! You certainly won't regret taking the family to this place!
0 families found this helpful
"Nice fish"
I expected some really bizarre stuff from the Ripleys Aquarium. What we got was a bunch of nice, exotic, but normal, fish. I guess I just had different expectations. I will say, though, that they had a really nice place to pet sting rays! That was definitely the coolest part. All in all, kids love it because they get to stare at sharks and seahorses.
0 families found this helpful
"Really good Aquarium"
We love to take the kids to the aquarium! This is a great family friendly place to go! They have a great set up with lots of differents kinds of fish and other things! They have a great tunnel with a thing that takes you through. You do not even have to walk! As you go through you are "underwater" and the sharks and fish are going over your heads! Awesome time!
0 families found this helpful
"Great time"
The only complaint I have about Ripleys here in the smokies is the parking, but thats something you have to deal with everywhere in the smokies. You have to walk half a mile to get into the place it feels like. Anyway, the aquarium is great and full of fun things to do and lots of cool sea life to look at. Great family fun.
0 families found this helpful
"Great tank"
This aquarium has an awesome tank that you ride through on a belt. My kids love that part. Sharks were swimming over and around you. There was also a place for them to touch some sealife, they also liked that activity. The aquarium as a whole had se ggod things, but we felt there should be more for the money.
0 families found this helpful
"Love it!!"
My son absolutely fell in love with this place!! It was huge and up on the side of the hill in downtown Gatlinburg. They had lots of differnt types of fish and sharks. My son loved the fact that you didnt have to walk. You stood on a conveyer belt type thing and it carried you through. The fish swam all around you, even over your head. He also loved the penguins and getting to get so close to them. I highly reccommend!!
0 families found this helpful
"Cant wait"
This was a awesome trip. I cannot wait to return. We took our daughter and she had a ball. It is a bit smaller than the Aquarium in Chattanooga but very worth it just to go through the glass tunnel and see all of the sharks. There was some hands on educational things to do too. You can even pet the small Rays. Just added this year was the penguin exhibit and they are fascinating to watch. There is a glass plate in the floor to watch them swim from one of the room to the other and glass tunnels for the kids to climb through to see the penguins close up. Was really a wonderful time.
0 families found this helpful
"great aquarium!"
This is a great aquarium to go with kids! There is enough to do that they won't get bored, but not too much that it's overwhelming! You can spend just a couple hours or all day. Plus - you are in Gatlinburg, so there is plenty to do before and after!
0 families found this helpful
"Worth the cost"
It's pricey to get in here, but well worth the money. The number of exhibits is amazing, they have huge tanks of colorful fish. My kids absolutely loved it, we spent almost 4 hours here. They have a touch tank and kids activity area. I would recommend for sure, we will go back next time we visit!
0 families found this helpful
"Beautiful!"
This aquarium is beautiful! There are so many aspects that my husband and I enjoyed as much as our 5 year old daughter. The layout is very stroller-friendly with lots of ramps and very few steps. We enjoyed the walk-through tunnel so much that we went twice. We also had our nephew with us, who has autism and he loved it! It was not over stimulating to him.
0 families found this helpful
"So much fun! "
The Ripleys Aquarium of the Smokey Mountains is one of my favorite places to visit with my family when we are in Tennessee! The exhibits are amazing and very kid friendly. There are areas where the children can actually touch certain sea life as well as a play exploration area. My Daughter loves the "ride through" tunnel where the sharks and fish swim over your head. This is a very fun as well as educational place to take your family- highly recommended!
1 family found this helpful
"best ever!"
This is hands down the best aquarium I have ever been to. The colors and exhibits are alluring and creative. There is lots for kids to do. Pick up a coupon book and find some fun coupons for free stuff at this place. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the sting ray petting area.
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