Sharks overhead, penguins underfoot
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies sits just off the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg, and it is the town’s big indoor attraction. The route runs over two levels. Upstairs, Shark Lagoon is the one everyone comes for: a moving walkway, the glidepath, carries you through an acrylic tunnel while sharks, sawfish and green sea turtles swim around and above you. Also upstairs are Touch-A-Ray Bay, a tropical lagoon where you reach in and touch the rays as they pass, Ocean Realm, with schooling fish and camouflaged flounders, and a Tropical Rainforest with poison dart frogs, arapaima and piranhas.
Downstairs, the Coral Reef gallery is an Indo-Pacific-style reef of warm-water fish, the Gallery of the Seas has a Pacific giant octopus, anemones and weedy sea dragons, and Stingray Bay is where divers hand-feed the big rays. The Penguin Playhouse houses a colony of endangered African penguins, and the Discovery Center has hands-on exhibits children can crawl through.
The daily penguin parade through the aquarium is included with general admission. Penguin feedings and dive shows in the ray and reef tanks, where divers feed and interact with the animals, also run on the day’s schedule.
The reason to go is simple: it is the easiest way in the Smokies to put children this close to sharks, rays and penguins, and it works in any weather.
How to get the most out of it
Allow real time. The aquarium recommends at least two hours. That is about right for a steady walk through both levels; add time if you want to wait for the penguin parade or a dive show.
Plan around the schedule. The penguin parade, feedings and dive shows run at set times that change, so look at the day’s schedule on the aquarium’s page before you go and time your arrival to catch the parade.
Bring the stroller. Strollers and stroller wagons are allowed, strollers can be rented at Guest Services, and wheelchairs are available there too.
Sort out parking. Parking is paid, in lots and garages nearby. Check the City of Gatlinburg’s live parking information before you drive in, or leave the car at a cabin close to town.
Know where the discounts are. Military, first responder, AAA, AARP and senior discounts are given only at the ticket counter, with ID, not online. If you qualify, compare that with online prices before booking ahead; if you don’t, buying ahead saves the queue.
The trade-offs
It is not a Smokies experience. The animals come from oceans and rainforests, not these mountains. On a clear day in the national park, two hours indoors downtown is a real cost; this is at its best as the plan for a wet afternoon, or an evening after a day outdoors.
Rainy days are everyone’s rainy day. When the weather turns, families all over town reach for the same plan. Expect company in the tunnel and at the touch pool on a wet summer or holiday afternoon.
Extras cost extra. Admission covers the galleries and the daily penguin parade. The penguin and mermaid breakfasts, the sleepovers and anything from the Cargo Hold gift shop, which sits inside past the ticket check, are on top.
It adds up per head. Tickets are priced per person. For a family of five, compare the total with a free day of waterfalls and overlooks before you commit.
Who should skip it: couples or hikers with only a few dry days, travelers on a tight budget, and anyone who has recently done a big city aquarium and wants something only the Smokies can give.
