During your stay in the Great Smoky Mountains, do not miss the chance to see Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, voted America’s Number One Aquarium by TripAdvisor Travelers. The 1.4-million-gallon world-class aquarium features thousands of exotic sea creatures and the world’s best shark exhibit in the most spectacular underwater aquarium tunnel.
Take a stroll through Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies and see some of the ocean’s most interesting animals firsthand. Journey through a lush tropical rainforest with piranhas and pacu. Experience the beauty of the coral reef and its inhabitants. Come face to face with a giant Pacific octopus and play peek-a-boo with a puffer fish in the Discovery Center. Make your visit one to remember when you pet stingrays at Touch-A-Ray Bay, or for the more adventurous types, do not miss the opportunity to touch a horseshoe crab.
Hourly dive shows are held at Stingray Bay and Coral Reef exhibits and are included with the price of admission. The shows provide a great opportunity to learn about underwater sea life. Young children can also participate in a number of interactive and educational experiences to help build an understanding of the aquatic world, as well as the need to conserve and protect it.
Every year, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies gives its guests a new interactive, entertaining and educational display. In past years, they have presented Titanic, Island of Life, The Abyss, Pirates: Predators of the Sea, Mars, and Living Babies in Incubators. Don’t miss the chance to see for 2009 the new exhibit Lethal Weapons featuring venomous and deadly animals from the sea. You can experience a new, fabulous exhibit free of charge during your visit to the aquarium.
With all the adventure and fun at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, it’s a “must-see” attraction located in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg.
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is located at traffic light #5. Open 365 days a year, Memorial Day through Labor Day from 9am to 11pm. The remainder of the year the aquarium is open Sunday-Thursday, 9am to 9pm and Friday-Saturday, 9am to 11pm. |
