If you’ve got a case of cabin fever, one great cure is a trip to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. It is easily one of the top-rated aquariums in the United States, making it a favorite destination for both visitors and locals. With numerous attractions throughout the facility, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re on a date or planning a family outing, a visit to the aquarium is a unique, fun-filled experience.
You should allow yourself a minimum of two hours to tour the aquarium. Many patrons end up staying much longer as they stroll by the exhibits watching with amazement at the interactions of all the different species of aquatic life. If you have children, you might want to allot more time for the soft play area inside. The building has an upper and lower level, with different displays on each. Let’s take a quick look at what you’ll find on each level.
The upper level contains the Ocean Realm, Touch-A-Ray Bay, Shark Lagoon, and Tropical Rainforest. On the lower level, you can visit the Discovery Center, Coral Reef, Gallery of the Seas, Stingray Bay, and Penguin Playhouse.
Ocean Realm
Here you’ll witness schools of fish swimming together, just as they would in the wild. Highlights of this exhibit are the Weedy Scorpionfish and the Spotted Garden Eel. Can you find them?
Touch-A-Ray Bay
This is your chance to get up close and personal with a ray! As they swim by, you can reach out and touch the tops of their bodies. They have an extremely smooth feel, almost like very soft leather. Educators are always on site to oversee the interaction and answer any questions that you may have.
Shark Lagoon
This is the hot spot of the aquarium. Get ready to travel along a 340 foot glidepath where the sharks are the stars of the show! You’ll also see tarpons, green moray eels and a green sea turtle. As you travel through the Shark Lagoon, the tunnel allows the animals to get so close that it feels like you’re swimming with them!
Tropical Rainforest
The “big attraction” here are the very tiny poisonous dart frogs. These beautiful black and blue frogs are highly poisonous and can even be lethal to humans. Native hunters of the rainforest sometimes use the poison from these frogs on the tips of their arrows when hunting, to help them take down their prey.
After you’ve hit all the stops in the upper level, it’s time to take a trip down to the lower level where there is just as much excitement! You’ll get to experience the following exhibits.
Coral Reef
This is probably the most colorful place in the entire aquarium. Here you will see species of fish from the indo-pacific such as the regal blue tang and the clown triggerfish. Live dive shows occur regularly in this tank. If you are interested, be sure to check out the dive schedule here.
Discovery Center
Get ready to get interactive! Here you can touch jellies and horseshoe crabs, play games and solve puzzles. The best way to learn about wildlife is through hands on experience and that’s just what you’ll get at the Discovery Center!
Gallery of the Seas
Have you ever wanted to meet an octopus? Well here’s your chance with this beautiful collection of colors, shapes and species. The sea creatures in this exhibit are truly underwater works of art.
Stingray Bay
In the wild, the stingray spends its days buried in the sand to protect itself from predators. At Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies they take the spotlight, entertaining visitors and interacting with divers. Come experience the many different varieties of rays at Stingray Bay.
Penguin Playhouse
This area is setup as an indoor/outdoor habitat to enable you to get the full penguin experience! Watch them from above outside or below in the tunnels, where you’ll be face-to-beak with these amazing birds.
As you can see, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies has so many amazing exhibits for visitors to enjoy. This has been a quick overview of what to expect, but be sure to explore their website for more information on group outings, shows and all the unique experiences they have to offer, such as sleepovers and behind-the-scenes tours.
