One of eight Ripley's attractions in Gatlinburg, the aquarium is a convenient rainy-day destination – just be aware that everyone else downtown will have the same idea and that the exhibit areas can get unpleasantly crowded. Making the aquarium worth the price of admission is the 340ft-long transparent glide path that tunnels beneath the Shark Lagoon and its mesmerizing inhabitants. And everyone loves the Penguin Playhouse.
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
7.15 MILES
The story of the Smoky Mountains began in primordial times when clashing supersized continents created a chain of mountains that are today among the…
16.45 MILES
In Appalachian parlance, a cove means a valley, but Cades Cove is far more than that. One of the most popular destinations in the Tennessee section of…
5.96 MILES
Mt LeConte (6593ft) is the park’s third-highest peak and one of its most familiar sights, visible from practically every viewpoint. The only way to get to…
19.33 MILES
This remarkable modern museum traces Cherokee history from their Paleo-Indian roots onwards. Its villain is the perfidious Andrew Jackson, who made his…
8.22 MILES
On April 15, 1912, the steamship Titanic sank on her maiden voyage after colliding with an iceberg. The ship's history and the stories of many of her…
20.64 MILES
To get bread on the table, early residents of Cades Cove first had to mill their grains and corn. Above all other staples, corn was the most important…
10.47 MILES
‘On top of Old Smoky’ is Clingmans Dome (elevation 6643ft), the park’s highest peak. At the summit, a steep, half-mile paved trail leads to an observation…
17.61 MILES
One of the park's most picturesque 19th-century buildings, the Mingus Mill is a turbine-powered mill that still grinds wheat and corn much as it has since…
Nearby attractions
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A 'chondola' whisks visitors from downtown Gatlinburg to this playground in the sky, where views of the Great Smokies are superb. Once atop Anakeesta…
2. Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts
0.18 MILES
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0.34 MILES
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4. Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway
0.59 MILES
Ride the scenic 2-mile aerial tramway to the Bavarian-themed Ober Gatlinburg ski resort and amusement park. At the amusement park you'll find an indoor…
0.97 MILES
If you don't have time to take a chairlift from downtown Gatlinburg to a scenic lookout, you can enjoy a lofty view of downtown and the surrounding…
3.87 MILES
This scenic overlook provides a sweeping view of the various types of forests covering the slopes to the east. You'll see spruce-fir forest at the top,…
5.72 MILES
Elkmont has much history hidden in its woodlands. Just south of the campground (crossing the bridge over Little River), you'll find a clubhouse and…
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Mt LeConte (6593ft) is the park’s third-highest peak and one of its most familiar sights, visible from practically every viewpoint. The only way to get to…
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