Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Family Friendly Fishy Fun!

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies was a great place for a rainy day in the mountains. The exhibits were well laid out and featured plenty of of viewing spaces with children in mind. The shows were educational, but also interactive to keep your focus. The shark tunnel gives you a unique perspective, getting you up close and personal. They also offer opportunities to touch some of the creatures. I recommend making this a stop on your Smoky Mountain adventure.

Great place to visit solo, as a couple, and especially for families. There's so much to see, different ocean life, and loads of descriptive information for what you're looking at. They have stingray shows to see professionals swimming with the stingrays. A location to pet the stingrays and sanitize your hands afterward. Besides the occasional shouting of excited children, it was quite relaxing.

I wasn't sure what to expect going in but after entering I was pleasantly surprised. There is a nice variety of marine life. And the penguin parade was just adorable. And there is a tunnel under the main aquarium with a moving walkway that took you through it which was nice.

My family went right after the new Year on a weekday. We showed up at about 9:30 and finished going through all the exhibits at about 11. When we were leaving at 11 the parking lot was packed and there was a line down the road for people trying to get access. There was also a line at the ticket booth of people waiting to get tickets. I would recommend going first thing in the morning, or towards closing, to skip the lines and crowds. Additionally, I had bought our tickets in advance online and got to skip the line altogether, so I highly recommend it! You do not save anything by purchasing in person and your tickets are good for a year from the date of purchase.

With that being said, the aquarium itself was fantastic and it is no wonder it was so busy! If you're visiting or traveling even remotely close to this place I would dare to say it is a must visit. We do not have children, and as two adults, we had an absolute blast. The facilities are beautiful, clean, and top of the line. There were so many cool creatures and things to do. There is a touch pool for manta rays, which includes the option to feed them, there is a penguin parade where they bring the penguins out, and there are educational talks. There was also a penguin encounter, which we paid extra for, and was well worth it! It was a group of about 10 people and we got to talk to staff 1 on 1, pet the penguin, and get a great picture (included in the price). This added about another hour onto our visit.

Throughout the aquarium there were food facilities and plenty of places to sit. The aquarium also includes eye level exhibits, exhibits you can see from above the water, and even a walk through exhibit that was surprisingly long and included a conveyor belt ride, which is also a novelty.

Lastly, when leaving, we got to see the gift shop which has something in the price range for everyone. The shop even includes art done by the penguins, which is pretty unique. We walked away with two items from the shop for a affordable $25.

All in all, if you or your family are even the least bit interested in animals or nature, visit. If you're still on the fence, they had a trophy saying they were voted the best aquarium in America in 2018. If you don't go, it is your loss!

Really nice aquarium. Our kids are animal lovers and we often plan trips around a zoo or aquarium. This was the one destination we planned to attend on our week here and were not disappointed. We'll layed out, beautiful and unique exhibits, the playground in the middle gave the kids a chance to burn some energy as well. Sting ray feeding was a blast. They also do a penguin march everyday where they walk penguins through the aquarium. Kids loved it. Highly recommend!

We had a lot of fun here. We were inside for well over an hour, and you could spend many hours here if you check out everything in great detail. There is lots to do and see. I would definitely recommend to everyone. Fun for kids and adults. We bought the aquarium + 2 attraction tickets online. It was a great deal you basically got another attraction for free considering the aquarium and museum tickets alone cost more than the combo price. Plus you can scan your phone and walk right in, no need to wait in line.

The aquarium is amazing! Beautiful, vibrant, tanks are everywhere, with elaborate details and finishes, and the animals seem very well cared for. The underwater tunnel is the best part, and everything is so clean! Some of my favorite creatures are shared a few here, but the pictures really don't do the experience justice.

We were there for a birthday party for our granddaughter. This place is absolutely awesome. The staff is very accommodating very friendly I have never met anybody in this aquarium that is not polite and helpful. The animals and the place seems to be taken care of very well. And my granddaughter had an absolutely wonderful birthday party which was just fantastic.

The aquarium was amazing and I loved the underwater tunnel! There are plenty of sea creatures to see here and you could literally spend the entire day with their shows and exhibits and even do the underwater tunnel several times and probably still not see everything. I would highly recommend this place!

Better than Georgia Aquarium? Not quite. F
Still a fantasic aquarium? Yes!
Enjoyed it. Especially the jellies. Didn't get to pet ones but we saw a penguin parade. Recommend for families, couples, or even solo.

My family loves aquariums and this one did not disappoint. Our favorite was most definitely the tunnel under the sharks; truly breathe taking! We loved the penguin viewing area where kids can crawl through a small passage to peak their heads out right next to a penguin.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies offers a captivating underwater experience that immerses visitors in the wonders of the ocean. The vibrant marine life, from graceful sea horses to mesmerizing jellyfish, creates a mesmerizing spectacle. The interactive exhibits and knowledgeable staff enhance the educational aspect, making it enjoyable for all ages. The well-designed layout allows for a seamless journey through diverse aquatic environments. Overall, a must-visit destination that combines entertainment and education, leaving visitors with a deep appreciation for the mysteries of the deep blue.

Always a necessary stop on our trip to Gatlinburg. My daughter has been going to this aquarium for years and still loves the exhibits. The interaction activities are fun and engaging, and some of the animals we haven't seen at many other aquariums.

We visited on a Friday evening in January and there were very few other people.

Despite being pricey at nearly $50.00 for a adult, what a great Aquarium, the exhibits were set up and spaced nicely so that you could take your time at the ones you wanted to and not be in the way of other families.
Alot of different play areas, a hands on and touch exhibit and a nice cafe as well.
Especially enjoyed the moving floor through the shark tank area where you could see everything swimming all around you, even above you.

Upon arriving we watched the penguin parade as the walked around the aquarium. This was an unexpected surprise. As we were leaving the penguins were being fed and we enjoyed that as well.
The coral had the most beautiful colors and I used one of the pictures I took of it as my Screensaver.
The staff was helpful. Kind and informative. Altogether a wonderful experience.

Loved the tunnel, it was the best part. We could have stayed in there and watched the sharks for hours. The stingray tank was gorgeous

I can’t say how much we all loved our time at Ripley’s Aquarium. It was crowded but not so much that any of us felt pinched in. I loved watching my grands look at all the different fish with such wonder in their eyes. They loved the tunnel and the moving sidewalk. We will definitely come explore again!

Absolutely amazing experience with our family! There was so much to do and see. We walked through tunnels while sharks swam overhead, touched jellyfish, and stood near the water as the stingrays came to the surface for interaction with us. There was even an area where children had one way in and out, so they could play on this two story playground area while parents watched.

This was the absolute best sensory experience. Everything was beautiful, the tanks were clean and fish were so happy and healthy! Would go back here 1000%, was a little expensive, but the sharks and jellyfish made it all worth it!

This is one of my family’s favorite aquariums! The exhibits are very well done and the amount of activities for kids is great. We took our 10mo and she was captivated by the lights and different fish. The people mover by the shark tank was a game changer and I appreciate how long it was. We found if you buy tickets in advance you can go straight in - we didn’t wait in any lines! We’ll be back!