5 Best Things to Do at Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg

Thinking about going to Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg, Tennessee? Let’s make it happen!

My family and I recently explored the Gatlinburg area, and we had an absolute blast visiting the aquarium, this mountain town and Smoky Mountain Resort!

^{Some trip highlights were the aquarium (of course), Dollywood (pictured here) and the resort’s water playground!}

I’ve always loved aquariums. Not only are they full of animals and sea life, but they’re also just majestic and beautiful.

I knew this one was highly recommended and rated, so I couldn’t wait to go there with the kids!

Needless to say, from the moment we walked in, we were in awe of everything all around us.

There were so many fun things to look at and see that we lost track of the hours! It’s the perfect place for families and kids.

Below are 5 things we loved about our trip to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, plus some tips I learned along the way, so you’re going to find some true gems here...

Pro Tip: Be sure to plan ahead and check the website before you arrive just in case there are any last-minute changes or to see what fun exhibits they have going on.

1. Glass Bottom Boat

^{Photo courtesy of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies}

This was the coolest! It was one of my boys’ favorite things to do at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, and I have to say I agree as well.

Being able to see through the bottom of the boat is an amazing experience and one that I was so happy to share with the kids.

The boat ride took us right into the heart of Shark Lagoon, so there are literally three inches of glass separating you and the giant 12-foot sharks swimming below.

And it was fun counting how many creatures we saw underneath us!

In fact, that area has over 8,500 different sea creatures so you’re going to see something for sure. We saw SO MANY SHARKS — it was insane!

You do have to buy tickets before hopping on the boat, so keep that in mind. But with a boat tour leaving every 20 minutes, it’s a great add-on to your visit.

Ticket prices are $9.99 per person, and I do recommend buying them early as they sell out quickly.

2. Penguin Playhouse

Where else can you be surrounded by the cutest penguins ever? The Penguin Playhouse housed so many penguins and they were all super active and adorable.

I just love seeing them walk around and communicate with one another. They’re literally the cutest!

There’s also a live penguin cam you can check in on if you’re not able to be there. The kids thought this was a pretty cool perk, too!

3. Stingray Bay

^{My two boys and my niece at Stingray Bay}

I never knew my boys liked stingrays so much until we visited Stingray Bay. They were obsessed with finding out about all the different types of stingrays and enjoyed spotting them all.

If your kids are into it, they can even learn how to pet and touch these sea creatures. The boys had a blast getting to feel a baby stingray, and loved how it felt like a smooth surface.

Considering my oldest has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), I was rather impressed he wanted to pet them because he’s picky about what he touches.

It was interesting to see so many in one location when I’d never actually been around them before. I think I learned just as much as the kids!

---

Planning a Gatlinburg getaway?

• Top 5 Day Trips from Gatlinburg
• Top 10 Best Things to Do in Gatlinburg
• Your Guide to Hiking in Gatlinburg: Trails, Tips, Food & More

---

4. Touch Tank

^{Interactive exhibits like the Touch Tank and Create a Jelly are great learning experiences for kids. (You can’t touch the jellyfish, but you can admire their squishiness.) Photo courtesy of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.}

The Touch Tank is awesome for kids who like to feel with their hands. There were several activities where the boys could actually touch various things there.

From different types of shells to unique items (that I’m still not sure what they were!), they loved getting their hands wet and feeling anything and everything they were able to.

Any time the kids can use these senses, I think that it just adds to the overall learning experience for everyone involved.

They also got to see pufferfish here, which they thought was incredible!

5. Gallery of the Seas

^{Photo courtesy of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies}

If you’re a fan of art, you’re not going to want to miss this underwater gallery.

It’s a compilation of sea creatures that look like works of art, and it’s such a cool way to see some unique and fun things!

My boys LOVED the octopus because we could get up close and personal with it. They’d never been that close to one, so they couldn’t stop talking about all his tentacles!

They also thought that the Lionfish and the Japanese Spider Crab were really cool. They enjoyed the bright colors and how the gallery was just like walking into a real-life art exhibit but full of sea creatures.

All the way home, they couldn’t stop talking about them!

More Water Fun at Smoky Mountain Resort

There were so many fun things to do in Gatlinburg, but we appreciated being able to relax by the pool and splash around at the Splash Hollow water feature at Smoky Mountain Resort.

I’m not one for going down waterslides or doing cannonballs in the pool, but my kids are all about burning off that energy.

You’ll find me with my feet up, relaxing and thinking about the day.

^{Everything about Smoky Mountain Resort was amazing (especially Splash Hollow)!}

Aside from all that water fun, I loved staying at this resort for two very big reasons...

1. Best Location Ever

It’s literally just a few short minutes away from Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg!

And it was smack dab in the middle of everything else we wanted to do like Dollywood^® and Dolly Parton’s Stampede.

It was super nice for us to get out and about without having to travel a huge distance.

If you want to go explore locally (or even on a day trip), you’re close enough to everything and can do just that. But if you want to have a downtime day, that’s possible, too!

2. Super Clean

For me, this is a big deal. When we’re on vacation, the rooms need to be immaculate because that’s where I’m sleeping with the kids. It’s one of my top priorities.

The good news is that you (and I) can rest easy because this resort is super clean!

And one more perk for the road: The Signature Collection three-bedroom villa we stayed in had more than enough room for us all to be comfortable during our stay!

^{The spacious (and spotless) three-bedroom Signature Collection villa at Smoky Mountain Resort}