Life is better inside of an aquarium, and it just so happens, you can try that out at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

This amazing aquarium was voted the #1 aquarium in the United States, and the reasons are very clear.  It is awesome!  There is an underwater tunnel the size of a football field, kid-sized tunnels and corners throughout the building, and tons of amazing underwater life to explore.

My kids loved seeing so many species they had only ever seen in books.  Around our house, sharks are life, and this experience was truly a dream come true for my Littles.

I think they climbed inside these tanks a million times.  I mean, they got to meet Nemo up close and personal.

I have never seen tanks this beautiful and full of life.  We even got to eat our snack overlooking a tank full of stingrays.  It was magical.

The aquarium is very stroller and kid-friendly.  You can rent a stroller for $3 if you aren’t able to bring your own.  There are various parking areas nearby in Gatlinburg.  There is a city-owned parking garage directly behind the Aquarium. The city charges a maximum of $6.00 per day.  Also, active and retired military families receive a discount on Aquarium tickets.

My sweet girl even grabbed our e-cloth to make sure the penguins could see through the glass.

We were able to see all of the exhibits in about two hours.

If you plan to stay in the Gatlinburg area for a while, Ripley’s offers a great combo ticket deal on their attractions.

• Aquarium + 2 Attractions
• Aquarium + 3 Attractions
• Aquarium + 4 Attractions
• Aquarium + 5 Attractions
• Aquarium + 6 Attractions
• Aquarium + 7 Attractions