Ripley's Aquarium
From LoveToKnow Travel
Ripley’s Aquarium can be found in two gorgeous locations, both of which are ideal for a family vacation. One of these magnificent aquariums is found in Gatlinburg, Tennessee on the outskirts of the Great Smoky Mountains and the other can be found in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Both aquariums offer fantastic up-close views of sea creatures, including ferocious sharks and a variety of gentle rays.
History of Ripley's Aquarium
The two Ripley’s Aquarium locations were designed with the purpose of providing visitors with the best possible facilities for encountering sea life. As a part of their mission, the Aquariums strive to educate guests about conservation while instilling a love and appreciation for the creatures of the sea.
Ripley's Aquarium Exhibits
The Ripley’s Aquariums have many interactive exhibits and fascinating features that make them the perfect place to stop while on a family vacation.
Shark Lagoon
Perhaps the most popular of the exhibits found at both aquariums is the shark tunnel. This tunnel, which is actually a 750,000 gallon tank, includes a 330 foot moving glidepath. The glidepath moves visitors through the tank as sharks and other sea creatures swim all around and overhead. Children delight in this up-close experience and marvel at the awesome beauty of the sharks.
Touch-A-Ray Bay
The Touch-A-Ray Bay offers the entire family the opportunity to learn about a variety of rays. As the name of the exhibit implies, guests can even lean over into the bay and touch one of these gentle creatures for themselves. Often, an aquarium employee can be found nearby or even in the bay itself to provide information about the rays and to answer the many questions your children will be sure to have.
Discovery Center
Both museums also offer a multitude of hands-on exhibits in the Discovery Center. Here, your children can pretend to be scuba divers or they can feel what it is like to be a fish as they view the world from the inside of an aquarium. They can even learn more about how the aquarium manages to keep so many gallons of water clean and to care for the many sea creatures. All the while they can pull on levers and play with other exciting gadgets. While here, they can even hold a horseshoe crab!
Tropical Fish
Tropical fish and other interesting species of sea life can be located throughout both Aquariums. At Rainbow Rock in the Myrtle Beach location, your children will be amazed as they see thousands of brilliantly colored fish from around the world. They will especially love trying to find “Nemo” within the tank. A similar exhibit can also be found at the Gatlinburg location.
Both aqariums also feature spectacular rain forest exhibits. Here, you and your family can learn more about sea anemones, octopi, living corals, sea dragons, jellies, and sea horses, all of which are on spectacular display.
Visiting the Aquariums
Both aquariums are open every day of the year, including holidays. The Gatlinburg location is open Sunday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. On Fridays and Saturdays, it is open from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm. The Myrtle Beach location is open Sunday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm and on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm. Children under two are admitted free. Both aquariums also offer special discounted package deals when tickets are purchased for other nearby Ripley’s attractions.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 1,125 times. This page was last modified 12:30, 5 April 2006.
© 2006-2009 LoveToKnow Corp.
Print this page
Follow ltk on twitter
Visit us on facebook